If you are planning a day out in Winchcombe … a potted guide, this guide is here to help you get a better feel for the place before you arrive.
As you explore, look out for local highlights such as Read More, View our business listings for Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle, along with the quieter streets, views and details that help tell the story of the town.
Places worth visiting… |
Sudeley Castle & Gardens |
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway |
The unspoilt Cotswold town of Winchcombe was historically one of the seats of the Saxon kings of Mercia and was later a county town until it was absorbed by Gloucestershire.
In the Middle Ages Winchcombe’s abbey – which has now completely disappeared – was a place of pilgrimage for followers of the martyred St Kenelm.
Modern day Winchcombe is made up of Cotswold stone cottages enhanced by black-and-white half-timbered buildings, narrow side streets and charming houses.
The town’s character owes much to the prosperity of the Cotswolds wool trade and St Peter’s Church, at its centre, is a fine example of a Cotswold “wool” church.
Winchcombe has a good range of retail outlets, including clothing and antique shops, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
On the edge of Winchcombe is Sudeley Castle – the former home of Queen Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII – which was also the Civil War headquarters of Prince Rupert. The castle and its lovely gardens are open to the public.
Other visitor attractions nearby include Winchcombe Pottery and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
View our business listings for Winchcombe