Winchcombe - town in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Winchcombe is a town of 5,300 people (2019) in the Cotswolds. Winchcombe is a popular destination for walkers and history fans. With people often visiting the running Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage Railway steam train that connects it to Broadway and the Cheltenham Racecourse; and Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Queen Katherine Parr, that lies on its outskirts.

Understand

Get in

By car

Winchcombe is isolated from motorways and main A-roads. If you are driving in you will be relying on rural B-roads:

• From Cheltenham, Winchcombe is a drive along the B4632.
• From Evesham, on the B4078.
• From Tewkesbury, on the B4077.
• From Stow-on-the-Wold, on the B4077.

By bus

Marchant's buses run the W1 and W2 from the Royal Well bus station in Cheltenham to Winchcombe and are reasonably frequent.

W1 and W2 (Marchant's) – Cheltenham → Prestbury → Southam → Bishop's Cleeve → Winchcombe → Prestbury → Cheltenham

By train

The nearest train station is Cheltenham Spa in Cheltenham, which has connections to London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

Evesham station in Evesham is also nearby, which has connections to London Paddington, Oxford and Worcester.

Get around

By car

Parking is available around the town and isn't expensive.

• Back Lane car park, Back Ln, GL54 5PZ (next to Winchcombe Library). Charges apply M-Sa 8AM-5:30PM and Su 12:30-5:30PM. Only a few minutes' walk from the High Street. All day: £1 2017-12-20
• Bull Lane car park, Bull Ln, GL54 5HX. Charges apply 8AM-5:30PM. Also close to the High Street. Up to 1 hour: £1, up to 3 hours: £2, Over 3 hours: £4.00, motorbikes are free 2017-12-20

See

• Belas Knap, GL54 5AL, 51.927222°, -1.970833°. A Neolithic barrow dating back to around 3,000 BC, making it one of the oldest structures in the UK. 2017-12-15
• Hailes Abbey, Hailes, GL54 5PB, 51.969022°, -1.928841°, +44 1242 602398. adults £4.40, children £2.60, concessions £4.00
• St. Peter's Church, Gloucester St, GL54 5LU, 51.952513°, -1.967958°, +44 1242 602067. 2017-12-15
• Stanway House and Gardens, Stanway, GL54 5PQ, 51.9899°, -1.9122°, +44 1386 584469. Jacobean manor house with gardens and a fantastic fountain, which is the tallest in Britain. 2017-12-15
• Sudeley Castle, GL54 5JD, 51.94737°, -1.956387°, +44 1242 602308, enquiries@sudeley.org.uk. Historic fortified house/castle with a long and turbulent history. Visitors can visit parts of the castle itself which hosts many exhibits (including a display of all of Henry VIII's wives) or work their way around the extensive grounds surrounding it. Afterwards they can visit the cafe/restaurant or purchase a souvenir from the gift shop. (Admission as of 2019, online booking save 10%) Adult £16.75, child (3-15 years) £7.75, infants (under 3 years old) free, family £45.00 (2 adults & 2 children aged 3 - 15 years) 2016-10-22
  • A structure was built on what would later be called Sudeley Castle as far back as the Anglo-Saxon Princess Goda (1004-1027).
  • The castle itself and many surrounding buildings such as the chapel was constructed in 1442 by Ralph Boteler, when he acquired the title Baron Sudeley from King Stephen. Unfortunately Boteler had allegiance to the Lancastrians, which meant Sudeley Castle was requisitioned by King Edward IV and given to his brother Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King Richard III to plan for the Battle of Tewkesbury (which they'd later win). Henry VII, Richard III's successor inherited the property and gave it to his uncle Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford. Then Henry VIII and his then wife Anne Boleyn visited Sudeley Castle in 1535. His 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr died in the castle and was buried in the chapel, which is unusual for any monarch.
  • In 1837, Sudeley Castle was bought by the Dent family, a glove magnate from nearby Worcester whose clientele include the royal family and the actors Daniel Craig and Jack Nicholson. Since 1972, it has been owned by Lady Ashcombe (the widow of the late Mark Dent-Brocklehurst) and her family. A 2007 BBC documentary Crisis at the Castle suggested there was a family feud over whether Lady Ashcombe should have moved out to the dowry house on the estate.
• Winchecombe Museum (Folk & Police Museum), The Old Town Hall, High St, GL54 5LJ, 51.953583°, -1.964049°. M-Sa 10AM-4PM (April-October). 2017-12-15

Do

• Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB, 51.968251°, -1.924473°, +44 1242 602123. Pick your own fruit in the summer (usually June or July), follow the Nature Trail (from Easter-October), do a spot of fishing or some clay pigeon shooting. 2017-12-15
• Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage Railway (GSWR), 10 The Chesils, Greet, GL54 5NW, 51.966025°, -1.962326°, +44 1242 621405, info@gwsr.com. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage Railway (or GSWR) operates out of Winchcombe station in nearby Greet. The line runs through Toddington, Hayles Abbey Halt, Gotherington and the Cheltenham Race Course. 2017-12-17

Walks

Winchcombe is surrounded by beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, with many walking trails passing through it.

• The Cotswold Way. A trail from Bath to Chipping Campden. 2017-12-17
• The Gloucestershire Way. A trail passing from Chepstow in Wales to Tewkesbury. 2017-12-17
• The Wychavon Way. 2017-12-17
• St Kenelm's Trail. 2017-12-17
• St Kenelm's Way. 2017-12-17
• The Warden's Way. 2017-12-17
• The Windrush Way. 2017-12-17

Buy

Being a small Cotswold town, Winchcombe's shops are mostly convenience stores such as The Co-operative or independently owned businesses. The nearest large supermarket is the Tesco's in Bishop's Cleeve.

• Farm Shop, Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB. 9AM-5PM (closed on Mondays from January-March). Sells locally sourced produce including apple juice and cider that is made on-site. 2017-12-15
• Winchcombe Pottery, Broadway Rd, Greet, GL54 5NU, 51.966718°, -1.955977°, +44 1242 602462. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su (May-Sept) noon-4PM. One of the oldest craft potteries in the country. 2017-12-17

Eat

Budget

• Orchard Tea Room, Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB, +44 1242 602123. 9AM-5PM. A small cafe. Booking isn't essential unless you are travelling as a group of 6 or more. 2017-12-15

Splurge

• 5 North Street, 5 North St, GL54 5LH, 51.953769°, -1.964033°, +44 1242 604566. Dinner: Tu-Sa 7-9PM, lunch W-Su: 12:30-1:30PM. 1 Michelin starred restaurant. 2017-12-15
• Wesley House, High St, GL54 5LJ, +44 1242 602366. 2017-12-20

Drink

Winchcombe has a few pubs and inns.

The town has its own brewery, Goffs Brewery; serving brews named after medieval military units such as Goffs Jouster (though this brand seems to have had a lukewarm reception ) due to the town's proximity to Sudeley Castle.

• The Lion Inn, 37 North St, GL54 5PS, +44 1242 603300. Inn with eight bedrooms. 2017-12-15
• The Plaisterers Arms, Abbey Terrace, GL54 5LL, 51.952588°, -1.965686°, +44 1242 602358. noon-11PM. 2017-12-29

Sleep

Winchcombe primarily offers B&Bs and rooms within pubs. However there are also self-catering cottages dotted around the town.

Budget

• Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB. Hayles Fruit Farm offer a campsite for tents, caravans and motorhomes. There is a showerblock and chemical waste disposal facilities. 2017-12-15

Mid-range

• The Lion Inn, 37 North St, GL54 5PS, 51.954449°, -1.965036°, +44 1242 603300. Inn with eight bedrooms. From £79 2017-12-15
• Wesley House, High St, GL54 5LJ, 51.953187°, -1.964233°, +44 1242 602366. Su-F from £75, Sa from £145 2017-12-20

Splurge

• Sudeley Castle Cottages. Sudeley Castle rents out 15 cottages in the area. All offer free Wi-Fi and complimentary entry tickets to Sudeley Castle in the price. 2017-12-15
  • Sudeley Castle Country Cottage, Castle St, GL54 5JA, 51.952177°, -1.961929°, +44 1242 602308. A large cottage with accommodation for 6 guests. 2 nights minimum for £550 (flat price, regardless of guest number) 2017-12-15

Connect

Winchcombe has its own community-funded FM radio station. Radio Winchcombe broadcasts at 107.1 MHz and can also be streamed online via services such as TuneIn.

Despite being part of the Tewkesbury district, Winchcombe uses Cheltenham's telephone area code of 01242 (or +44 1242). After the area code, most phone numbers have a prefix of 602.

• Winchcombe Library, Back Lane, GL54 5PZ, +44 1242 602772. M 10AM-2PM, Tu-W 10AM-1PM and 2PM-5:30PM, F 10AM-1PM and 2PM-7PM, Sa 10AM-1PM, Th Su closed. Public library with free Wi-Fi and access to computers. 2017-12-17

Go next

North

• Broadway – – another Cotswold town, known for its tall tower and the nearby Snowshill Manor
• Evesham – – town

East

• Burford – – another Cotswold town, known for its garden centre and antique shops
• Stow-on-the-Wold – – another Cotswold town, known for its antique shops and market
• Oxford – – city, known for its university and museums

West

• Tewkesbury – – town, known for its abbey and its eponymous battle in 1471

South

• Cheltenham – – spa town, known for its racecourse (particularly the gold cup) and its festivals
• Cirencester – – town, known for its Roman heritage