The top cities between Cirencester and Northampton are Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Warwick, Swindon, Cheltenham, Reading, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Coventry. Oxford is the most popular city on the route. It's less than an hour from Cirencester and 1 hour from Northampton.
Cheltenham is a Gloucestershire town that hosts the Cheltenham Festival, a four-day horse jump racing event held at the Cheltenham Racecourse every March. Regency architecture can be found throughout the town, such as at the Pittville Pump Room, which harkens back to its history as a spa destination. Visitors can explore fine art collections at The Wilson museum and take in shows at the Victorian Everyman Theatre's ornate auditorium.
25% as popular as Oxford
16 minutes off the main route, 21% of way to Northampton
Located in southwest England, Swindon is a vibrant town with a rich history and diverse attractions. The STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway offers a fascinating look into the world of locomotives and train carriages, including Queen Victoria’s Royal Saloon from 1897. For tech enthusiasts, the Museum of Computing traces the evolution of digital technology.
26% as popular as Oxford
13 minutes off the main route, 22% of way to Northampton
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Bourton-on-the-Water is a picturesque village located in the Cotswolds region of south central England. It is characterized by its charming low bridges and traditional stone houses. Visitors can explore attractions such as the Cotswold Motoring Museum, which showcases vintage cars and a toy collection, and Birdland, home to various bird species and life-size model dinosaurs. Additionally, the Model Village offers a 1930s scale replica of the village for visitors to admire.
20% as popular as Oxford
6 minutes off the main route, 22% of way to Northampton
The town of Reading, located in the south of England, is a bustling hub with a rich history. It hosts an annual rock music festival that draws large crowds. The town centre is dotted with shops and eateries overlooking the Thames and Kennet rivers. Visitors can explore the Reading Museum to learn more about the region's past, including a replica of the Bayeux Tapestry from Victorian times.
22% as popular as Oxford
29 minutes off the main route, 41% of way to Northampton
Situated in central southern England, Oxford is a city steeped in history and culture, with its renowned university established over 800 years ago. Known as the 'City of Dreaming Spires' due to the stunning architecture of its 38 colleges, Oxford attracts visitors from all over the world. The city's medieval center boasts several notable landmarks such as Carfax Tower and the Botanic Garden on River Cherwell.
Most popular city on this route
14 minutes off the main route, 49% of way to Northampton
I'll never travel to Northampton without this trip planner again
Stratford-upon-Avon, a charming market town in the West Midlands of England, is renowned for its medieval architecture and as the birthplace of William Shakespeare - one of the most celebrated writers in English literature. Visitors can enjoy a stroll along the picturesque River Avon or take in a performance by The Royal Shakespeare Company at either the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or Swan Theatre. The town boasts well-preserved Tudor buildings including Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage.
90% as popular as Oxford
13 minutes off the main route, 50% of way to Northampton
Warwick is a locality situated along River Avon in the West Midlands of England. The town boasts of several tourist attractions, including Warwick Castle, which dates back to William the Conqueror's era. St. Mary's Collegiate Church has a tower offering panoramic views of the city and an ancient crypt. Lord Leycester Hospital consists of timber-framed 14th-century buildings clustered close to West Gate, while St. John's House Museum is housed in Jacobean architecture surrounded by gardens.
62% as popular as Oxford
12 minutes off the main route, 58% of way to Northampton
Coventry, situated in the heart of England, is recognized for its historical and cultural significance. The city's notable landmarks include the medieval Coventry Cathedral which was destroyed during WWII but has since been replaced by a modern structure with striking abstract stained glass. The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum houses an impressive collection of paintings featuring Lady Godiva, a celebrated local figure, and nearby stands a statue depicting her unclothed on horseback. Additionally, St.
41% as popular as Oxford
15 minutes off the main route, 65% of way to Northampton
Leicester is a city located in the East Midlands region of England. At its center stands Leicester Cathedral, which has been an integral part of the city for over nine centuries and is notable for being the final resting place of Richard III since 2015. Adjacent to the cathedral is the King Richard III Visitor Centre, where visitors can learn about the life and death of this monarch and view his original burial site.
49% as popular as Oxford
27 minutes off the main route, 70% of way to Northampton
Milton Keynes, the largest settlement in Buckinghamshire, England, is located about 50 miles north-west of London. With a population of 264,349 in its urban area as of the 2021 Census, it offers a variety of dining options including Harvester Eastlake and a new Route 66 American diner in the city center. These establishments serve fresh and flavorful grills, salads, and American cuisine to cater to diverse tastes.
58% as popular as Oxford
11 minutes off the main route, 79% of way to Northampton
Best stops along Cirencester to Northampton drive
The top stops along the way from Cirencester to Northampton (with short detours) are Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, and Bletchley Park. Other popular stops include Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, National Space Centre, and Waddesdon Manor.
Avebury Stone Circle is a rural monument consisting of standing stones and 17th-century stables that have been converted into a museum. It is located 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from central Avebury and is considered to be one of the area's iconic landmarks. Apart from the stone circle, there are several other attractions in its vicinity including gift shops, bookstores, pubs, Manor House and gardens, and a barn with outdoor seating for dining.
Lovely place to visit ,not just the stone circle to look at ,there is also, gifts shops, bookstore, pub, Manor House and gardens , barn with seating outside if you fancy a bite to eat..lots of things to see and do. Car parks are near and blue badge holders can park right near the High St..not far (4 miles ) away you have the burial grounds ,all in all fab place to visit if your on your own, couples, with children age doesn't matter..
Angela Westgate — Google review
A lovely walk around the stones, there's quaint cottages, a lovely pub & a cafe/restaurant, plus the house to see so lots to do.
Be aware in the car park you need coins or the app and the signal is a nightmare there.
Sarah Mills — Google review
Great to visit and see the Avebury Stones which are older than Stonehenge and older than the pyramids in Egypt apparently. Lovely place to visit and also a National Trust site and visitor centre
Dominic Ayara-Ekpe — Google review
Fascinating place, really powerful vibes from the stones. I spent over 3 hours walking around the site, dog friendly as well,but not inside the small restaurant. Plenty of information at the visitor centre and museum. Village itself is very small, a couple of shops selling the sort of thing you also find in Glastonbury (tarot,candles etc.) And a chain pub. Beautiful area.
alexander cruse — Google review
This is an absolute beautiful and powerful place. Owned and maintained by the National Trust, it is complemented by a beautiful, very old farm, lovely places to eat and shop for souvenirs, and a sweet little museum. Free parking, but also a few places to pay for parking. This area is well preserved, and as I said, has a powerful, peaceful feel to it. I loved being able to touch the stones. I enjoyed this even more than Stonehenge.
Deb Greer — Google review
I love Avebury. A fascinating stone circle (the largest stone circle in Europe) and a lovely little village! Unfortunately, the National Trust has had to rope off sections of the circle (particularly during school holidays) due to erosion from so many people walking around, but it's still very stunning to see.
They have a pub in the middle of the village which offers food and drinks. There's also a small corner shop (very friendly owners) and a few other shops (one being esoteric, another being an independent jeweller).
The church and its grounds are very well maintained, and there's a museum that details the history of Avebury.
It can get very muddy during rainy periods, and proper walking/hiking boots definitely help you keep traction with the ground!
It is a wonderful place to go to during pagan holidays. There's always really friendly people around, and the summer solstice and Samhain (Halloween) celebrations are always great fun! I've visited this site dozens of times, and I dare say I will continue to do so for as long as I'm able to!
There are several car parks dotted around, including one near the centre of the village.
The only negative to the village at the moment is that the public toilets are STILL not open. They've been closed for a very long time now.
Pan Poiman-Earle — Google review
Lots to see here, the stone circle, the Manor and museum and there is a nice national trust shop. Parking is a little outside the town and circle, but there is a direct footpath back away from the road and traffic that brings you to the circle and tourist bits. Toilets and food and drink available.
Karl Thomas — Google review
Great place with a beautiful National Trust property as well.
Loads of walks round here as well, the stones are easy to walk around as well, unlike Stonehenge.
The national trust property is definitely worth a visit.
Matt Belcher — Google review
I recently visited Avebury and it was an absolutely delightful experience. The weather was perfect, making the day even more enjoyable. The cleanliness of the area was impressive, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The well-located car park made it convenient to explore both the stone circle and Manor, all within a short walking distance. Avebury is a must-visit destination, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable day out.
Marisa Ferreira — Google review
It was a nice place for a stroll and lunch in the Red Lion which was good value for money. gift shops were very interesting lots to discover in them and you only pay for parking all day £7 for cars and £10 for campervans National trust members are free I believe.
Mary Phillips — Google review
One of those locations that makes you sit back and take stock of life...the reason why our ancient ancestors decided to create such a monument is mind boggling. The time and effort involved must have been off the scale.
It has a spiritual feel about it which i loved...
I arrived well early and had the site to myself and wandered around this amazing location.
A real gem...but it does get busy.
Dave Turney — Google review
Great day out to Avebury, being able to stand right next to the stones is really quite an amazing experiance, the little farm stead was a bonus. Make sure you go to all of the different sights the area. Easy to spend a full day
Riccardo Vallaro — Google review
Absolutely love going here. Having a nice little wonder around. Seeing the stones. Touching the stones. Photos are of Avebury Church. So lovely and peaceful. Parking. Lovely pub on corner, they do some good food with good prices. Second hand bookshop. Some crystal shops.
Tash Smith — Google review
Stunning walk around the henge and the beautiful stones. Gorgeous small church dating back over 1000 years. The garden of the mansion is exquisite. The mansion is run by some fabulous people who tell you great stories of the house. There is also a small museum. You can try on costumes and even sit on the furniture. A highly recommended day out.
Jon Flynn — Google review
A unique find with this amazing town that is surrounded in mystery ✨️ Avebury is a beautiful place surrounded in giant stones with a lovely village. It's so peaceful and beautiful. Parking can be a bit challenging as there is no phone signal there.
Kate Hickey — Google review
High energy, high vibration place. It's free, no tickets required. You can touch the stones and walk around, sit there and meditate. There's a Cafe just opposite, in case you want to park/ wat etc.
Akanksshaa — Google review
The largest stone circle is about 40 minutes from Stonehenge. It is very well the visit. The stones are really impressive and the energy is palatable. Take your time and enjoy the visit.
Roberto Buzzi — Google review
It's a beautiful little village with stone circles, how can it not get five stars. The town has a pub, Cafe, shops, free public toilets, lots of history, and is a beautiful day out. I didn't pay to see the Manor and gardens or to go in the museum at 6 GBP, but what I saw was very enjoyable.
Adventure Nomad for Nature — Google review
A wonderful afternoon, especially as our visit to Avebury today was totally unplanned. We were lucky with car park, and loved that we felt immediately the place was alive. A tremendous place to experience & imagine traditional village life. Actually a lot to do and see for free, but we felt so welcomed, having some great chats with wonderful National Trust volunteers and other visitors, that we joined the NT today. Looking forward to regularly returning even if just for a coffee or a stroll 😀 😎
Andy Boyns — Google review
An incredible archeology site, we loved walking around the stones..Follow signs for parking, it's only a short walk back past the cricket pitch to the village and stones.
Sean O'Neill — Google review
Actually more impressive than l imagined it's much bigger, the hint should have been the biggest Stone Circle in the world. A very level easy walk around and lots to see, of course they charge for the car park £7 but the rest is free unless you want to visit the museum. National Trust shop as always and l throughly recommend the Red Lion pub and the gift shop opposite is independent and very helpful.
The area is dog friendly as you know l wouldn't go otherwise.
Stephen M Goldsmith — Google review
Magical experiences to be had at Avebury Stone circle! There’s a stone laid down that vibrates gently if you sit on it. This is because under the soil there is a chalk layer and the rain seeps through creating a positive and negative electrical charge.
Alison Crocker — Google review
Spent a lovely couple of hours wondering through the stones. Also worth checking out the Unhenged coffee shop and cafe at the club house. For a bite to eat. Dog's welcome. X
STEVE SINGLETON — Google review
Skip overpriced and tumultuous Stonehenge and come to Avebury instead!!
Great archaeological site with a powerful energy, nestled in the quaint English countryside. The stone circle is free to visit, and there is a lovely cafe nearby to enjoy a cuppa and a scone.
We absolutely loved the leisurely stroll around the monoliths and picturesque village.
Devana — Google review
A much better experience than stone henge! Free to walk around and relax. Not too many people, nice shop.
The Corinium Museum houses a nationally significant collection of Roman artifacts that were discovered locally, such as mosaics and sculpture. The museum focuses on Cirencester's Roman past, with reconstructed rooms and interactive displays bringing the era to life. Visitors can marvel at the beautiful floor mosaics, including one depicting Orpheus charming animals, and the Jupiter column featuring Bacchus and his drunken companions.
This museum is great for those interested in History associated with Romans and their life in England. Very well explained throughout the corridors. Organized by timelines with special instruments discovered through the time in Cirencester and Cotswolds areas. The admission price is reasonable for the amount of History items very well kept. Staff is welcoming and available for questions through the visit.
Fatima Correia — Google review
Amazing, clear, legible displays in plenty of spotlessly clean space. Booked 3 hours to see town and ran out of time, just in Museum, so will be back. Very pleasant on reception. So often descriptions of exhibits are too high or small for mature people but we could read them all and well lit. Driven round Ring Road hundreds of times, first to centre and so much to see of important historic town.
Tony A — Google review
Great Museum. Lots of fabulous displays and the mosaics are particularly stunning . Allow a good hour and a half to walk around it. For £6 entry its good value for money too
jedd strider — Google review
Tremendous museum of Roman history in the centre of the lovely Cotswold town of Cirencester. There is off-road surface level parking just round the corner from the museum. The cost of entry was a very reasonable £7.20 per person - I suggest you allow at least 2 hours. The museum has Roman artefacts from the time when the town was the capital of a Roman administrative district - including pottery, jewellery, & some world class mosaics found in nearby villas. The displays are good , including some that are interactive. There is a small shop, & an independent on-site cafe (nice but quite expensive), & a cloakroom but no lockers. Overall, highly recommended. 10/10.
Tim Clifford — Google review
Great experience! It was really bewildering seeing how old Cirencester actually is, and how during Roman times (2000 years ago) it was called Corinium. Very insightful historical comparisons on the maps situated throughout the museum - depicting the historical relevance of places like modern day Bath, Malmesbury and Swindon.
It would be better to have more insight into what to expect from the museum beforehand - what books/audio tapes to purchase/how big the facility is.
It was a little disappointing to have no observable dustbins for such a long museum walk.
Great place for children - with lots of interactive items and games. Though beware it is a very long museum walk.
Pano Pouroullis — Google review
Wow! A MUST visit if you’re a Roman enthusiast. An impeccable collection of mosaics and interesting artifacts from
Grave steles to columns and recreated triclinia, the best Roman museum I’ve visited in the UK.
James Robert Dylan — Google review
A lovely museum, well laid out (especially the newer building) with a surprising amount of quality exhibits for what is essentially a small town. We spent far longer in here than we had expected given the relatively modest entrance fee and left happier and better informed!
Andrew Bailey — Google review
Looks small from the outside but packed with exhibits.
The museum is tucked away a short walk from the main town centre.
It is packed with exhibits from small to huge, all laid out and labelled clearly. Descriptive text everywhere is concise and informative without being boring.
Most things on display are Roman but there’s plenty to see from the periods before and after.
The route around the museum is easy to follow and takes you through the history of the area chronologically.
The layout, lighting and quality of the displays is exceptional and easily rivals or surpasses some I’ve seen in far bigger museums. Likewise the quality of some items is so good that a few look like new particularly some of the Anglo Saxon jewellery. The mosaics and recreation of a Roman sitting room were also highlights for me.
I couldn’t take it all in on one visit so will be back.
We came on a Tuesday during school holidays. No school parties, but a lot of tourists. However, there was still enough room to move around and see & enjoy everything.
It wasn’t too busy when we arrived on spec. We paid and were in within minutes but later we saw a queue so book in advance on the web site.
I’d advise buying one of the handbooks @ £4.50. It helps focus younger visitor’s attention and isn’t bad value. Entry cost was just under £15 for one adult and one child inc. the Explorer’s Handbook (with stickers!).
Parking in Cirencester is *always* tricky. I’d advise avoiding markets days = Mondays, Fridays and the second and forth Saturdays of each month.
On other days, arrive as early as possible and head for the Forum car park (you can use the PayByPhone app here). Enter Cirencester Police Station into your satnav / maps app. The Forum car park is on the right, just before the station.
Glevum Owl — Google review
Lovely and serene space, with amazing local information spanning the centuries.
My daughter is doing a project on Romans, and so there was lots of information to be gathered and learnt, especially about how the city of Corinium (Roman Cirencester) was the 2nd largest city apart from London.
The mosaics found in Cirencester were amazing through, really beautiful, as you can see from the photos, as well as the artefacts of coins, jewellery and pottery.
The timelines depicting how Cirencester remained important throughout the years as you travelled through the museum was great too - I learnt a lot!
A very enjoyable visit.
Kay Potts — Google review
Visited cirencester for a few hours and my first stop was this museum.
The history and information in this museum is amazing!
History from all different time periods.
This is a must see for anyone with an interest in history or the town's heritage.
William McCreadie — Google review
Been a few years since we last visited, what a difference, the museum is superb. Lots to see over 2 floors. Amazing mosaics and lots of artifacts. If you love history this museum is a must
Steve Jarman — Google review
Easily found and multiple easy parking 🅿️ facilities close by. Not expensive to enter, great access and we took our 8 year old grandson who was absolutely enamoured with the many many relics, facts and games presented in a way to hold both adult and child attention curve. He had a clip board and was tasked with finding hidden clues within the relics. We loved this place and so informative, highly recommend, has plenty of facilities toilets cafe etc so take a look, great family adventure
Chris Evans — Google review
An excellent insight into the history of Roman life in Cirencester, also later times in the town. Ideally you need 3-4 hours to really take in the many artifacts displayed.
Mark Willis — Google review
An amazing museum displaying artifacts portraying the history of this era. There are numerous interactive exhibits to keep those young and old amused, helpful staff, and plenty of detailed information.
Come for the Roman mosaics, stay for the iron age dog.
The coffee shop next door (accessible through the museum) is also worth a visit.
Richard Shearn — Google review
Wanted to visit here to see the Roman artifacts found in the area and wasn't disappointed. The mosaics are wonderful to see up close.
Tina Walker — Google review
Visited with my family, two daughters 13 & 6 yrs old and had a great time. A picture search for my youngest and plenty of games & activities to keep her focused. My eldest was also challenged and brought about some good conversations about Anglo Saxons. You can easily loose yourself for a couple of hours.
Great fun and highly recommended.
St. John Baptist Church in Cirencester is an Anglican church that was established in 1117 as part of an Augustinian monastery. The walled precinct and the church are situated at the center of a charming Cotswold town. The building, constructed in 1480, is typical of 15th century architecture with elaborate details and stained glass windows. Inside, there are ornate features and colorful wall paintings to admire. A gift shop inside offers religious items for purchase.
Beautiful building, so well maintained, amazing wall paintings, an absolute treat to walk round.
Janet Duxbury — Google review
Beautiful parish church with some interesting tombs, lovely stained glass, the Boleyn Cup and little Cheesus. My wife lit a candle in memory of her mother. I'm going to have to come again when the tower is open.
Good to see lots of community use as well.
Leona Thorpe — Google review
The building reflects some great architectural styles from the 12th century. The chancel and attached chapel represent the oldest part with the nave having been rebuilt twice and the tower added in the 15th century. The south porch was built by Cirencester Abbey around 1480 and only connected to the church in the 18th century.
It contains various tombs and monuments with some fragments of medieval stained glass and some great wall paintings.
It is renowned for its perpendicular porch, fan vaults (which are amazing) and merchants' tombs.
Pete / Hel — Google review
This is a lovely Church situated in the centre of the pretty Cotswold Town of Cirencester...It is beautiful inside with plenty of ornate architecture plus lot's of colourful stained glass windows...There is also a little gift shop inside the Church selling some lovely religious bits and pieces...Well worth a look around also for a bit of peace or a prayer....🙏❤️
Ivor Humphries — Google review
Stunningly beautiful church, full open access. You can even climb the tower except in winter.
mark Nichols — Google review
Parish churches are rarely more grandiose than this exceptional yellow sandstone example.
Easy to find, with its tower dominating the town centre, and the extraordinary porch dominating Market Square.
There is a palimpsest of historic detail and decoration both inside and out.
Disabled access is via the north porch, with adjacent blue badge parking.
Simon Cooper — Google review
A beautiful church built in 1480 and typical of 15th century construction. There is a wooden sculpture of a Bishop and a Prior at the edge of the church grounds and the park.
Paul Ross — Google review
Beautiful church with some very interesting historical artefacts. Took Communion. The vicar is very friendly and welcoming.
Geoff Ansell — Google review
Absolutely beautiful place. The staff was not only warm and wonderful, but were also competent. We had a small issue which they solved for us immediately.
Will visit again on our next trip to England!
Alison House — Google review
Nice old church built on wool trade money.
Has an exception Lego miniture of the church on display inside.
Gordon Holley — Google review
We were greeted on arrival and given a fact sheet with a map of the church, which gave some interesting facts about the different areas of the church and its history. It's a very welcoming and warm space.
Tina Walker — Google review
Gloucestershire’s largest parish church, the imposing medieval Church of St. John the Baptist in Cirencester, dates from 12thC. The Nave dates from around 1115 but was rebuilt and raised in height by 20ft around 1520. The tower dates from 1400. The church still retains some medieval glass and wall paintings and holds the Boleyn Cup, a gilded silver cup made for Anne Boleyn in 1535. It's well worth a visit!
Chris Kinnersley — Google review
Beautiful and Historic Medieval Church that has been standing since 1180. Well maintained.
Easwar ARC — Google review
Visited here during a trip to cirencester and was amazed at the architecture and attention to detail outside and within this church.
As with most historic churches there is a great sense of awe and wonder with a peaceful atmosphere.
The church grounds are great for a nice peaceful walk with some history included in the grounds.
William McCreadie — Google review
Lovely to visit. Lots to see and read. Located centrally. Large yew tree just outside.
Anne G — Google review
We were on holiday in the Cotswolds and wanted to go to midnight Mass. We attend church In Chigwell every week,didn't want to miss an important service. Oh wow absolutely amazing service ! The church is amazing.
The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon is an outlet mall located in the heart of the Cotswolds, just outside of Swindon. The outlet mall is home to over 90 stores, with international names like Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein Jeans, Boss, Levis and Vans.
Good outlet shops with lots of options. Reasonable prices. Little food options but not that bad. Huge parking which costs £1 for first 5 hours and £12 whole day.
Tausif Baber — Google review
Large variety of Designer shops, clean and very well maintained. March 2023 when I visited it, I was impressed by the plants that decorated the I sides and outsides of the building.
The only thing I would wanted is the option to pay by phone at the car park, which is missing at the moment.
Much preferred over the Oracle@Reading.
Fotis Mastakas — Google review
I found the best bit of Swindon! Top notch shopping mall, giant climbing-maze-wall-type playground for the kids (which makes it very easy to keep an eye on them from a distance!) Also with cafe overlooking!!!! Plus a smaller playground for little children. Good toilets. Food court with plenty of options. Plenty of (paid) parking. Industrial themed building with historic cranes, scales etc with interpretative signage, actual locomotive to view, and even a little miniature (paid) train for families to take a ride around the mall. Right next to STEAM the great western railway museum. If you want a spot of lunch or shopping after visiting the train museum, do not miss this shopping centre! When we visited at Easter 2024 they even had a little indoor hedge-labyrinth Easter trail set up, free, with lollies & colouring activity pack with crayons as the prize when they completed it. Staff were friendly and relaxed. Honestly finding this place has transformed my reluctance to happiness when I need to visit Swindon.
E s — Google review
This was our second visit to Swindon Deisgner Outlet and must say we were just as impressed this visit as on our first. A great variety of shops held within a converted train yard which makes for a very cool looking centre. Well kept and clean, the Christmas decorations looked beautiful as did the market stalls at the entrance. No doubt we will be back again soon!
Lauren Robinson — Google review
Very festive at the moment. We arrived just as they were opening on Saturday, 10 am, by lunch time it was very busy. You can pay to go on a land train that will take you all the way round so you can see where all the shops are 1st hand before venturing on foot. Some units are smaller than their main shops in towns so the choices will be less. We were very successful on our mission.
sharon noyes — Google review
Major brands at outlet prices, ample space for shoppers.
Scooters can be hired for people with special needs. Kids cars, train and play area are attractive.
Car parking first 30min are free, you must enter your car registration, entry time if not picked automatically.
SA (Safe Star) — Google review
Amazing outlet for shopping, lovely indoor decorations, a great variety of shops and prices. Good food court. There’s also a nice train ride that starts from in front of the play area that kids really enjoy. The ride is 3 pounds per person last time I have checked.
The kids play area is so well designed and certainly worth checking out.
Soha Ahmed (Soha) — Google review
The Swindon Designer Outlet offers a diverse shopping experience with a wide range of brands at discounted prices. With its convenient location and ample parking, it's a shopper's paradise. The layout is easy to navigate, and the food options provide a nice break from browsing. However, occasional overcrowding during peak times can detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, it remains a great destination for bargain hunters and fashion enthusiasts alike.
pradeesh bv — Google review
We've been coming here for a few years but this time was the first with my dog she was amazing, and it was also my birthday too. All the shops were super friendly and accepted my dog too.
Starvsblack2 CP — Google review
Spent the day in Swindon and visited Designer outlet (Swindon) and highly recommend a visit if you love to shop til you drop. It's a well laid out shopping outlet with many designer brands and the outlet offers 10% off with participating retailers.
Great day out for all the family and even has a play area for younger children. Great selection of retailers.
Bree MacDonald — Google review
Excellent place for shopping. Lots of variety.
Customer services are at its best almost at every outlet.
Parking is also reasonable.
Needs to have a bit more option of food.
F S — Google review
Easy access, plenty of 🅿️ mid week, a nice atmosphere and west Somerset train theme. Usual coffee shops, limited food hall plus burger/breakfast joint, has a little train called hooter for kids, kids play area and you can see shops on the website but I regularly visit the Vans shop, great discount on the iconic skate shoes, worth a visit
Chris Evans — Google review
There is nothing not to love about the Outlet. It houses, perhaps, the most collections of designer stores under the same roof in the whole of the South West.
The Outlet is well planned and I particularly loved the fact that a little bit of railway history had been incorporated into the building. The West Somerset train stands out and so do the rather colourful rail carts and other railway parts that are suspended on the roof.
The Outlet is functional. There is a secluded colourful play area for children. The parking is massive and is free for the first 30 minutes and cost £2 thereafter. There is a car wash/valet service at the car park which offers free parking for its patron.
The designer outlets on the premises parade an eclectic collection which includes footwear, clothing, perfume, home decor etc. There is a food court as well with popular brands. There are also food stall for lovers of street food outside the Outlet
There is lots of natural lighting and some of the stores have made good use of it to improve their ambience. M&S stands out. The toilet facility is quite clean and overall the Outlet appeared clean and well managed.
Loved it and would be going back for more!
Ade — Google review
COOL PLACE TO SHOP
I think I’ve been to most of the MacArthur Glen Designer Outlets in the country, and the thing I like about this one is that most of it is covered with a roof, so you’re protected from the elements when shopping (unlike Cheshire Oaks, which is freezing!).
Has a nice Christmassy feel during December and the outside stalls selling German sausages and churros are cool. Plenty of shops to see and it’s in a logical order so you could do laps around the place.
Only downside: the parking at busy times is painful, so expect to park miles away from the entrance. And the ticket machine takes your money but then doesn’t let you out of the carpark – so always pay at the barrier for your parking with your contactless credit card.
Ninh Ly — Google review
Loved it here out of all the outlet places I have visited this is way better than the rest.
Parking 5 pounds for three hours blue badge holders free just scan your blue badge barcode at barrier on way out.
The whole place had a very nice vibe it's built in old engine sheds formally GWR they have retained much character and preserved so much.
Toilets very clean the while place was well looked after plenty of seating throughout.
Great play area for younger children you can also hire ride in cars for them.
Massive range of shops and plenty of places to eat and drink also.
Disabled acess is the best I've seen well done to the customer service desk they are great also.
David N — Google review
This is situated on the old Great Western Railway works and is impressive how they have mixed the old engineering buildings with the new shops. There are too many shops to mention but, if like me, you don't do shopping, then visit to see the steam engine and look up to see how many overhead cranes you can find👍
andrew woods — Google review
Never been here before, it was outstanding better than CV. Very clean all the shops were open, the staff from the shops we visited didn't jump at you, to see if you wanted anything, that was nice to see.
The train was a lovely thought for kids and the play area was brilliant very big too.
Tina Tilling — Google review
Good place to buy outlet designer clothes. However sale and clothes range not as good as it used to be. Parking is now £2, which is still relatively cheap. Great location if you live near swindon to shop for quality clothes be over you do nee to look harder.
Rahman Amin — Google review
A great outlet centre with mix of high street favourites such as M&S, Phase Eight and Next alongside Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein with a variety of cafés and restaurants to choose from including two Costas, Starbucks, Five Guys, Wagamamas and Pizza Express. Great play area for under 8's.
Beautifully decorated for Christmas with a wonderful winter wonderland area for children.
C KM — Google review
Second visit after some years. Much bigger than I remember. Lots of fine brands represented and bargains to be had. Parking: £2 for 5 hours, after which it gets very expensive! So beware, if you want to stay and eat, you might go over the 5 hours. And it's no-ticket parking so make a careful note of your arrival time.
Chris Watts — Google review
Brilliant spacious outlet with great range of shops and better than online outlet prices. Easy to park although charged. Good food options inside and outside street food options. Mixture of clothes, homewares, beauty, jewellery, cookery, shoe and accessories shops
Mo Mo — Google review
It is comfortable in all weathers. Varied stores for all tastes. Easy to spend 5 hours there. Beware after 5 hours of parking the cost rises dramatically. Good choices of restaurants and cafes. A good day out.
PammyS — Google review
Designer outlet Swindon have many outlets of various branded products of clothes and accessories. It's more than value for money. Sometimes even upto 60% discounts are offered for some items. Moreover there are plenty of other options to spend your time with family. There is kids play area, children's train, baby dress changing rooms, etc. When it comes to food and drink you have all sorts of eateries. The ample parking facility saves your time and unnecessary tension. A best place to visit for shopping branded items and quality products.
The Platform One Cafe is an excellent eatery located above the STEAM museum. It boasts a wide variety of drinks, snacks, and meals that are reasonably priced. The cafe is well-maintained and clean, with friendly staff providing quick service to customers. Visitors can enjoy their meal while relishing the reconstructed rooms and platforms of the railway's story brought to life through videos and costumed figures.
Second time we visited, great experience
Monika Kiss — Google review
It was a nice little cafe with big queues and not enough staff apart from that I can't complain.
David Wain — Google review
Could do a lot better, not a great choice of snacks available. We both had a coffee which was taken back as only luke warm. They were replaced.
It really lets the whole museum down as the exhibits inside were really enjoyable to see.
Could the cafe take on a GWR period feel to enhance the experience of what is to come inside?
Colin Cranness — Google review
Brilliant cafe attatched to a wonderful museum. Plenty of choice, with choice for any appetite l.
Victoria Bounds — Google review
Limited menu but okay for a family. Quiet the day we visited. It is next to the designer outlet which has a food vourt
Diana Morrison — Google review
What a lovely cafe above the STEAM museum. The choice of drinks snacks and meals is very good as well as being very reasonably priced. This was our first visit and we were impressed by the friendly warm welcome from the staff, the speed of service and the cleanliness of the cafe as a whole. We will be returning to enjoy it once again in the near future I'm sure. Thank you.
Jonathan Spink — Google review
Stopped off here after visiting the museum
Quick snack food
Had no tea left and only 1 member of staff doing everything
Rachael Johnson — Google review
Excellent family day out. Really lovely interactive museum. Great day with 1 and 2 year old toddlers but great for adults and all ages between. Staff were fantastic and awesome covid cleaning and setup
Jennifer McKay — Google review
Extremely busy, long queues with no communication and the service was dire. If you get around that the food is sub par and overpriced. The internals of the coffee machine were dirty enough to drastically affect the taste and they were really funny about using our own travel mugs despite the fact we weren't allowed proper cups as their dishwasher wasn't working.
Bam Gill — Google review
4.2
(457)
•
4.5
(1617)
Steam Museum, Fire Fly Ave, Swindon SN2 2EY, United Kingdom
The Tudor-era stately home of Sudeley Castle is a great place to explore for history buffs, with its formal gardens and art by some of the greatest painters in history. The castle's tea room is reasonably priced and has a wide selection of drinks and food, making it a great spot to stop for lunch or dinner. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to help out.
We loved Sudeley Castle. Beautiful place and views. Lots of history surrounding Katherine Parr and Henry VIII. The animal sculptures were fabulous. Lovely chapel. Interesting exhibitions. If you have young children, there is an amazing adventure playground, and all the animals to find, a willow maze and yew corridors to run in and out of. Cafe was reasonably priced and staff friendly. Highly recommended!
Julie Brotherhood — Google review
Really nice grounds with lots of well kept gardens to see. Interspersed with animal sculptures which was great to keep our daughter entertained. Having been inside the house I probably wouldn’t bother going back inside, but would definitely visit again for the grounds. You can spend around 3hours here quite easily
Eren Hasan — Google review
My little Yorkshire heart did a flutter at the price, but we all really loved it. 3 adult history buffs went. Feel that there was something for everyone (apart from the obligatory teen sat on his phone in the corner). The house tour was a exhibition first so you got Sudely through the ages, then into various social history exhibitions which were vast, varied and very interesting and finally round rooms in the house. The tour was interactive and tailored to those present. Very knowledgeable guide. The gardens were gorgeous. Of course it was a gorgeous day, so that helps! All in all thoroughly enjoyable visit. We were there 3 1/2 hours but easily could have spent a longer time there. Amazing visit, would heartily recommend.
Nicky G — Google review
Just walked around the gardens this time. The fragrance from the roses was amazing. The sculpture animals are well worth a visit. Had lunch in the new style cafe interior design was very well laid out and good quality food.
Pam Hawkes — Google review
Loved this place, hadn't realised how much history is associated to Sudeley Castle, so much to see. Grounds were beautiful, the Animal Ark sculptures were a delight for the kids to find. Exhibitions inside were immense, well presented and interesting. We paid extra for guided tour and I really felt it was worthwhile, very knowledgeable tour guide and delivered in an interesting manner. My only reservation was that the main restaurant is at entry, so half way through our visit we had to walk back to the start to enjoy lunch. The food was good, we enjoyed soup. Also kids play area looks fab, lots to play on. Kids got in free with Blue Peter badges too, great saving. Great day out, highly recommend. Don't forget to like my review 😀
susanna roberts — Google review
Stunning grounds and castle, with all so beautifully staged and preserved, you really take a step back in time. The exhibition of elephants and other animals was an unexpected surprise and very cleverly done. The disabled access was good made better through borrowing the manual wheelchair provided which was an all-terrain type. The cafe adjacent to the entrance is very nice, large inside space plus outdoor tables. The food choices were basic, a few rolls and all drinks in disposable cups. The staff were all friendly and very helpful, especially with the wheelchair.
Michaela Baker — Google review
If you're into your history and the Tudor era this is the place to go. The castle is situated in lovely grounds and plenty to see. The tea room is fairly priced and good for all types of drinks and food. The staff are really friendly and knowledgeable and always there to help. I would thoroughly recommend spending the day here.
Andrew Twinam — Google review
This is a beautiful castle with very well maintained gardens. It consist of a beautiful trail, playground, garden with different sort of flowers. The castle is full of beautiful history. We visited on a bank holiday and it wasn’t too busy.
F S (FS) — Google review
Visiting Sudeley Castle during the Winter Spectacle of Lights was truly amazing for our family. The lights surpassed our expectations, and the staff's helpfulness and politeness added to the experience. The actors on the light trail were fantastic, and the overall layout of the castle, along with its beautiful gardens and views, is truly spectacular. A must-visit destination for families.
T cata — Google review
Great day out with the kids, we did the kids trail and animal sculptures. The house/ castle not great for the little ones but there is more then enough for them to do, like the biggest wooden kids play castle I've ever seen, wish I was 6 again!
stuart bradley — Google review
Only visited the grounds (Plenty of Free parking), As me & my wife were attending the Fantasy Forest Festival.
Grounds are lovely & mostly level with plenty of huge, shady trees to picnic under.
There is a good quality Cafe & shop with clean toilets at the entrance, along with some plants for sale outside.
Not one piece of litter to be seen.
The Castle itself looks lovely & will return at some point to visit it as we live close by.
Terry Coleman — Google review
Lovely garden & well maintained. Great place for to bring kids for outing. The castle is a bonus but mind the stairs to different level of the castle. Friendly staff.
Michael Koh — Google review
Such a fascinating Castle to visit, which was steeped in significant history. It is so worth having the Guide (Laura?) tell you about the history of the Castle so that you can fully appreciate everything about it. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited the Castle and Katherine Parr had lived there and her tomb is in the church. There are many unique artifacts there of great interest. I highly recommend a visit if you are interested in Tudor history.
Jane D — Google review
Fantastic place to visit, packed with history. Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I are only some of the historic figures who lived here. The castle is not particularly big but is very interesting to explore. The garden is very pretty, too, as well as the chapel.
Angie K — Google review
Definitely worth a visit if you're visiting the area. We booked in advance and saved 10% on the ticket price. Lots of free parking, staff so helpful and friendly. Great cafe and loads for kids to see and do. Gardens opened at 10am, Castle not until 11am so we arrived at 10am and had a wander around the Gardens. Visited the Church in the grounds where Katherine Parr is buried. The Castle had a large exhibition over a few floors then you get to explore some of the rooms of the Castle. It's all really interesting and a great way to spend a few hours.
Liz Cuddihee — Google review
Beautiful chateau with large grounds. A must if you love old stones! The vegetation sculptures are interesting to discover.
Vincent Tardy — Google review
Went for the Christmas lights, they were fantastic.
Even on axwet and windy December night, the feel of Sudeley was great.
All the staff were friendly and the actors interacted with everyone and even managed to keep a smile in the rain.
Highly recommended and we will return in summer
Alyn Aitken — Google review
A must do visit. This stunning place is a perfect day out. Go early to make the most of it, as there are SO MANY things to do.
The whole experience has been so well thought through, it really shows how much effort has been put into making this a wonderful place to visit.
There are accessible routes. Plenty of parking.
You can also go for a coffee or the gift shop alone, without paying the entrance ticket.
The gift shop is really nice and well priced.
Loads of things for kids, including fab playground areas.
The message of CoExistence (with nature) shines throughout.
The gardens are stunning, the beautiful church hosts the tomb of the only Queen buried in a private property.
The exhibition is a fantastic lesson in history and life from the Tudors onwards.
The private house rooms are very nice, photography is not allowed there.
I recommend this place 100%.
Tweed Tango — Google review
This was amazing! I went here with my family and I enjoyed the lights and how everything was set up. The theme for the lights was the wizard of oz and they even included characters which made this experience even more fun. Even if you don't want to see the lights everything is nicely set up. The gift shop is absolutely amazing they had baubles, books, magnets, scarfs and plenty of more that you can see yourself.
I 100% recommend this place if you are planning to go with family or just want to see the history behind it
Nikola Kliza — Google review
Fabulous Christmas light display. This year wizard of Oz themed. The carpark was well organised, the ushers placed all round the grounds were very helpful and friendly. The characters stopped for photos on the way round, we couldn't fault it. Well worth the money for a christmassy evening.
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway is a historic railway that offers scenic 28-mile round-trip rides through the Cotswolds. The railway is mostly run by volunteers who are dedicated to preserving the heritage of steam trains. They go above and beyond to provide an amazing experience for visitors, with different locomotives and carriages available to explore at all stations along the line.
It's an amazing day out in the Cotswolds. Their steam trains are fantastic, there are great walks between the stations, and the towns and villages along the line and nearby are wonderful
Steve Moody — Google review
I visited to take photos of the steam locomotives and wasn't disappointed.
Located in the Gloucestershire countryside the station at Toddington is beautiful.
The staff compared to other heritage railways were very friendly, courteous and knowledgeable.
The two platforms gave very good views of the locomotives and we were treated to more shows than advertised.
The on site facilities were very good.
The cafe served a decent cuppa, the toilets were clean and the car park costs were very good and not expensive.
Well worth a visit.
Stuart Cattell — Google review
A heritage train experience that takes you through scenic routes and tunnels that makes the journey enjoyable. Plus you can get down at stations in between and roam around. Great way to explore some of the Cotswold main spots. Very fun and classy experience. The Cheltenham racecourse station has free parking for the GWR railway and is accessible within the racecourse itself. You need to inform the security that you are visiting the railway station and they allow you. It is advisable to buy tickets online for convenience.
Sagnika Dutta — Google review
We visited on the advice from the lovely lady on reception at Hailes Abbey. We could hear the steam engines whilst we were visiting there. Its a lovely site. Friendly staff. We took a return journey to Broadway. You can do a longer journey to Cheltenham racecourse.l but we opted for the shorter journey today.
The tickets were reasonably priced.
Loved the comfortable seats and the views are lovely.
Would definitely recommend a visit here.
Myfanw Jones — Google review
Great staffs n great experience, v arrived slightly b4 10am on Easter Monday, n gotta know that the next stream train will b arriving by 1025, v get to take closed up picture with the train n visited the small museum about the history of steam train too. There were a few moving train model running in the museum. The staffs is very proactive, he saw me sitting down working on map, he just approached me and show me where n how to get around in Winchcombe with his great hospitality. The price of the cafe is also very reasonable, gbp 2.50 for soup, gbp 4 for sandwiches. Great experience, must visit as a tourist. The day i visited is purple coded.
wai ming Chung — Google review
Another extraordinary place where railway heritage comes alive.
The amazing efforts to present Winchcombe Station are incredible example of what can be achieved with almost a vacant site.
All of this fabulous railway and its stations linked together with a wonderful line through the countryside are most worthy of a visit.
Top marks for the train operations as well.
I hope to return again to experience this great railway.
MikeExpressTrain Condon — Google review
Amazing experience. The whole rail is an absolute must if you're in the area. It is run mostly by volunteers and they are amazing people. Always with a smile on their face and helpful. The go above and beyond to make you feel great. Thank you Bill and Ian for making the day for 3 train loving children and their parents. I suggest getting the day rover (£110 for 4 adults and 3 children) as you can have the opportunity to go in all the stations along the railway and and enjoy all the different locomotives and carriages they run. Highly recommended
Gabriel Radulescu — Google review
What a wonderful outing! I highly recommend the steam train for any family. It’s run by the friendliest volunteers. My 5 year old loved the trip. We got day pass tickets but we landed up taking the train from Cheltenham to Broadway and spending most of the day there, strolling down the high street and enjoying fish and chips for lunch and a cream tea.
The train trip was great! We managed to get some seats in First class (you don’t pay extra) and they were super comfy. There were 2 seater and 4 seater table options. There was also a restaurant car on board with tables and chairs and a variety of food and beverage choices.
Highly recommend!
Jenna Swano — Google review
We enjoyed both a steam locomotive and a classic diesel multiple unit at Winchcombe Station. All the volunteers were both friendly and informative. We plan to return again to ride to historic Broadway. Meanwhile Winchcombe town centre, albeit a longish walk, is well worth visiting for its shops, the fascinating museum and historic Sudeley Castle.
Richard Wakeford — Google review
What an amazing heritage railway. 14 miles of beautiful scenery. Restored stations and coaches. Took my 94 year old mother and help was at hand to get her on and into a first class seat. Help on hand from Gordon on the return too who was waiting on the station for us. All in all a perfect day, wonderful staff who couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. A superb day out. Carers go Free.
Adrian Woolley — Google review
Great day all round, and I will certainly be going again , especially to ride the viaduct section that we did not do this time
Stuart Laker — Google review
Loved this train ride from Cheltenham to Broadway. Took me to a different era. All volunteers and workers were in fantastic spirits which made for a delightful trip. There is no shortage of spots to view along a 14 mile trip, all laid out wonderfully in the guide. Will do this trip again.
Richard Little — Google review
A fantastic day out for old and young train lovers.
Take a step back to the golden age of steam on this beautiful scenic route.
Don't worry diesel lovers the fleet of br blue locomotives is plenty.
A fair price for freedom tickets
Parking at every station
And the staff are always on hand to help.
Mike Turnbull — Google review
What a fantastic experience! Took me back to my childhood as my Dad was into model railroads and we would visit a lot of train museums. We bought tickets at the station, but if it's a special event you may want to buy in advance. No queue on our visit. Thoroughly worth the journey on the all volunteer steam train.
D — Google review
Lovely day out
Didn't need to pay for parking
Beautiful scenery, so lovely to see the race track itself.
Enjoyed going on both the diesel train and later the steam train home.
Lovely playground in Toddington. The food smells so good, a little pricey but then again it is home made. Lovely picnic area outside the front too. We enjoyed the family time.
Kim Fuente — Google review
4.8
(1149)
•
4.5
(1634)
Churchward House, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5LD, United Kingdom
This family-friendly park has a large area for getting up close with 260+ animal species, including lions, rhinos, zebra and giant anteaters. The park is open on weekends only until Thursday 10 February 2022, but regular opening hours resume afterwards.
Lovely park! It's well laid out and presented, with lots of interesting animals to see. It's a good size too - Easy to walk around, though there is also a little train that you can hop on if you prefer (which was quite a popular option).
The restaurant serves quite basic food, but equally, it's all you need really to replenish - I noticed a lot of people brought their own picnic kits with them, which I'd definitely consider for next time!
Really enjoyable day out. 😊
Kendall Bull — Google review
Love this place and have visited for many years. Getting in was a palaver as it took longer to get from Burford roundabout than it did to get the there from Oxford! Some information via social media would have helped. We had no idea why the queue was so long and as we had already purchased tickets we waited. Once in the park you weren't aware of how busy it was unless you wanted food/ drinks /toilet. If you wanted the train you'd be better off later in the day as the queue was insane. Everything was pretty much as I remembered. I didn't quite understand why they had closed off one end of the walk through bird/wallaby /tapir enclosure? It made it a bit of a trek to walk back out again instead of simply adding pads to the exit. Especially as the entry ones had dried out. That was the only disappointing part of the place. Many animals weren't there and the ground around the wallabies was dry and simply mud. Overall its a great value day out. Take a picnic and be prepared to wait a while to actually access the park. It's a great place to visit if you have limited mobility as it pretty flat with good pathways.
Lisa Dunn — Google review
A great day out for the whole family. Very well laid out with plenty of facilities around the site. Beautiful landscape and a wide variety of natural enclosures containing a wide variety of fascinating animals. Saw the penguins being fed with a free talk about them which was great. Large play park for kids and a decent restaurant with a good selection of hot and cold foods. Well worth a visit.
Sumpop — Google review
Visited during the school holidays and was expecting the place to be completely packed with families everywhere when I saw the huge amounts of people going in...but this was not the case once inside. The park has lots of open spaces and ample benches for those in need of a rest, which is always welcome when running around after kids!
The train is a great way of seeing the site and a number of the larger animals, but be prepared to queue!
Food and drinks were reasonably priced and of a good standard (the sausage rolls were especially tasty!)
Overall, we spent the majority of the day there but didn't get round to seeing everything, probably as a result of the large play park which kept the kids occupied for ages.
Chris Green — Google review
Honestly an amazing zoo/park. So much for kids to do also. Probably one of the best zoo’s in the UK. The train is well worth catching a ride on as it takes you round the entire park. The kids park is absolutely brilliant however as always with these places the food is terrible. Nothing changes here its horrid. We have been 6/7 times now and just take our own lunch with us. I have no issue spending money on food but it needs to be good food. Such a shame they dont cater for people who like something other than frozen beige food…. But its normal at these types of places. Would be 5* if you could get a nice lunch
Jason “Randall” Randall — Google review
Amazing place I will keep coming back to over and over again. The only downside for me is the restaurant options - very low quality food served, both cold and hot, I would recommend taking a picnic with you, and just get an ice cream there, excellent choice of Kelly's ice cream!
Slightly cheaper tickets if you book at least a day before, ample parking, good facilities, excellent staff, animals looks very happy and well cared for.
Julia Byul — Google review
Really great place to visit - highly recommend for all ages. Large enough to comfortably walk around and see everything. Small train as well which is perfect for the kids! All the enclosures are very well maintained and all their residents are more than happy to pose for pictures! A real gem of a place.
Karen Ballantine — Google review
Such a nice zoo.
Booked online, was straight forward. The lady asked for the code to retrieve tickets. It’s quiet busy but the queue is going quickly. Massive car park!
The itself is very clean, plenty of greens and dog friendly! Some places inside do not allow dogs.
Perfect for families.
Rhinos, giraffes, you name it.. the animals were in good health so I assume that they are taking good care of them!
Beautiful getaway. Fascinating creatures!
Zaid Hassan — Google review
Fantastic place to visit for the day and set in a beautiful location. I've never been somewhere where you can get so close to the animals! This place feels so much more natural than a zoo and is clearly looked after. The price is well worth it and actually on the cheap side in my opinion, I wouldn't mind paying more for entry and I'm sure it would help out so much! The main restaurant was a fair wait at lunch but there was a huge selection of homemade food and the staff were brilliant. Special mention to the lads clearing the tables as they were working so hard but going out their way to help others at the same time 😊
Sion Bartlett — Google review
Never been to a Wildlife Park like this one. Especially with allowing people to bring their own dogs. Different. The way it's laid out is so easy going & not herded in one direction. The gardens are gorgeous & well looked after. Bring a picnic!
Quinte Mohawk — Google review
Really great day out and loads of different animals to see. Best thing is you can take your dog. We go to see all the animals with her except for the reptile house but if your in pairs you can go in one at a time . Plenty of parking available and facilities.
Ste — Google review
What a lovely park. Extremely clean and tidy. Big car park with disabled parking right next to entrance. Right from get go from the ticket office to gift shop were Extremely friendly and helpful. We were by giraffes and daughter had her assistance dog with her and I asked a lady who worked there if assistance dogs were allowed into giraffes and she said sorry I don't know I'm just a gardener. I told her that's a great job and was doing a great job helping to keep the garden's immaculate and offered to check. All the gardens were great. There are still lots of flowers to see blooming. There is a massive play area for kids with a huge tree house and a smaller one for younger children. A big rope bridge . A big pyramid climbing frame and lots more to do. The cafe area was nice and clean and lots to choose from. Chicken chips and beans were great. Good portion and jacket potatoes were tasty. Lots of seating with a big glass enclosure with animals in there . Gift shop were stocked well also. It will be great to take the grandchildren there next summer in better weather.
patrick bartlam — Google review
Always a wonderful experience. All the animals are happy, well fed and cared for. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition. Just a great day out. We love it!
Jessica Ganderton — Google review
Truly wonderful place to visit and the best part you don't have to leave your pet dog home alone or tied up in a kennel as they are welcome here. The animals all look well looked after and many are in open enclosures not cooped up in tiny cages. Plenty of places to just stop and sit and let the world pass by while you soak in your surroundings. Easy toilet access as well as places to get refreshments if you choose. Plenty of picnic areas as well and ample parking.
Bee S — Google review
This was our first visit, and it was so lovely. We will definitely return. I love that everything is more or less outside. We took a picnic (strongly advise) as you can go back to your car as much as you like so you don't have to carry it around with you. There are plenty of grassy areas for you to have a picnic and also benches.
We visited Easter Saturday, and it was busy, but not uncomfortable. The children's park area was probably the busiest area we saw/briefly played in.
We would have liked to have a ride on the little train but the wait time was just too long for us (30 minute wait with 3 young children probably not the best 😅) so maybe next time that should be first on our list!
All in all the animals were great, got to touch/stroke a snake too. 🐍 And it was a wonderful day.
Char W — Google review
We went mid week during the school hols and it was packed, this is not a problem though as the park is huge.
I'd recommend taking a picnic as food queues are long during peak times.
Its a beautiful day out, the flowers and plants around the park are stunning.
The animals appear really well looked after and the little farm park area where children can touch the goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducklings, etc is really cute.
There is a little train with stations around the park that you can hop on and off of, it toots and the kids absolutely love it.
If you want to wear your kids out, this is the place to go.
Kim Large — Google review
It’s a great wild life park.
We visited on May Spring public Holiday- nice sunny day. It’s strongly recommended to book tickets in advance as the online tickets are £2 cheaper. The place has ample car parking place- shouldn’t be a concern.
It’s home for variety of animal friends all across the world.
There is a recreational train that circulates the park is a fun ride.
Lot of food options available. Would recommend to carry a Mat, as it’s a good picnic destination as well.
SaiKaT Saha — Google review
A fantastic day out, lots to see and the grounds and gardens are absolutely beautiful. The whole place is immaculately clean. Lots of picnic areas and benches to sit at to just sit back, look and enjoy.
A wide variety of animals to see...
A must is a visit to see the penguins at feeding time...most entertaining...and seeing the rhino's in front of the stately home was amazing...would definitely recommend. We spent around 4 hrs or so here and would definitely say is a full day out if you don't want to rush and sit and have a picnic
Gaenor Clarke — Google review
Very Beautiful and picturesque location for this lovely Wildlife Park. Lots of different animals, insects, reptiles and birds to see and a couple of enclosures where you can get up close to some also. Large picnic areas and cafe, plus snack kiosks situated around too. A small train also takes you across some of the park. The gardens are exotic and also feature lots of different flowers and plants. Not a big range of larger type animals but an admission price for under £20 for adults is a real bargain for what you do get to see.
Paul Wiley — Google review
Great day out, we really enjoyed it. Lots of animals to see, beautiful grounds. Areas to have a picnic. Ample parking too! We were excited to see the giraffes and rhinos. I was also looking forward to seeing the red pandas but unfortunately they were hiding in the trees when we visited.
Zaibs — Google review
What a wonderful place. The grounds and gardens are beautifully laid out and superbly stocked with plants of all sorts. The the animals are well cared for and have plenty of space. We were delighted to see baby rhinos. There's interesting information about each one. You can walk round or take the little train
The cafe and shop are well stocked and extremely clean and all the staff are hands on and extremely friendly and helpful. The cafe food was fresh and varied.
There are picnic places all round and we were able to take the dog. Incidentally the ice-cream kiosks around the grounds sell doggie ice cream. However I'll be going again without him so we can spend longer. Understandably there are areas dogs can't go so we had to alternate who went in. To sum up its an hour and a half journey from our home to this beautiful destination but so worth the trip. It was our first visit but we'll be frequent visitors from now on. Can't wait to return.
Ros Shepherd — Google review
Came here on an educational trip and BY far the best out of the zoos we visited that term. Enclosures are well thought out and animal welfare is definitely at the forefront of this zoo. Also DOG FRIENDLY. Which is a huge bonus!!
Lauren Coakley — Google review
Was pleasantly surprised by the size of this place. Ample parking, didn’t feel too crowded even during summer holidays, regular toilet stops, great selection of animals (better than London Zoo in my humble opinion), large enclosures for animals, lots of shade and picnic areas to eat, fun train for kids, play area and obstacle course for kids.
Overall an enjoyable place to spend a day for adults and children.
Only downside is the toilets were not in form. One baby chasing had no lock and smelt really bad (in the restaurant).
Restaurant food was tasty but portion size on the small side.
Artful Traveller — Google review
We absolutely love visiting here, especially with it being super dog friendly! My boys fed the giraffes on our last visit which was such an amazing experience! The lady in charge was fab with them both, full of knowledge and answered all their questions. The food is nice but very pricey. Lovely gift shop too.
Amy Henshall — Google review
There are so many things to like about this venue, even before talking about the animals. The venue sells out quickly due to restricted numbers as a result of grass car parking issues for the overflow, which gives the feeling that the Park is busy but you have ample room to move around without being on top of other visitors. I have never been to a Wildlife Park where you can get so close to the animals (see photos); this is very interesting for both adults & children alike. The Park is neither too big nor too small, nothing is really far from anything else & you don't get tired walking around. There is a good outdoor play area for the children & a good restaurant/cafe should you not have brought a picnic. Remember to take a ride on the train (extra £) to complete the day out. Although there are maps of the Park located at various point around the site, my one criticism is that there is a total lack of signposts anywhere to point you in the directions of the animals you want to see.
Nigel Hobday — Google review
Great place to visit for family and friends with kids. Conveniently located, however, unfortunately not accessible by public transport. Huge collection of animals with options to see some of them from very close proximity. It has a very nice collection of reptiles as well. There are a huge number of bird species as well. The details of all the animals/ reptiles/birds are given to have more information about them. They have a nice variety of restaurants for takeaway and dine in as well. I think there was a pub as well but unfortunately I was not able to visit it as I had to drive. Overall, it was a very nice place to have a day out.
Abhijeet Roy — Google review
It's one of the better wildlife parks/zoos we've been to. It's a great layout and easy to navigate around.
Great for the whole family!
The restaurant has a good selection of food and all tastes good.
Happily, go there again and again.
Lyndsay Bird — Google review
Amazing day out, its really rather incredible how close to the animals you can get. The staff were so kind and friendly really lovely atmosphere. Very clean and tidy park toilets clean. Ice-cream 10/10. Plenty to do here
natasha kilsby — Google review
Loved this park and gardens. Really good selection of animals and nice play area for kids. Wasn’t too big and was very clean and tidy.
Rachel Landsbury — Google review
Wonderful place! Took our toddler & was a perfect day out, so many animals to see and the farm park was great too. Lovely restaurant if overpriced but nice spacious environment with a small animal enclosure in the corner! Toilets were clean and great baby changing areas. Will definitely visit again!!
Sophie Cottam — Google review
Well, worth a visit, it's not huge so it can be negotiated easily on foot, and you get really close to the animals. The miniature train that runs around the site is a nice touch. There are plenty of toilets and refreshment areas
Crocodiles of the World is a unique zoo located in Witney, Oxfordshire that houses over 15 species of crocodiles from around the world. It is the UK's only dedicated crocodile center and offers visitors numerous opportunities for hands-on encounters with these snapping reptiles. The zoo also boasts a cafe and shop. In addition to crocodiles, other animals can be found at the center as well.
Amazing place. Great value and we were able to see every crocodile and other creatures in all the tanks/pens etc. Many of them were lively and the lay out makes viewing easy. The teenage grandchildren loved it as did my daughter and I. Well laid out, clean and easy to get round. Definitely one of our favourite wildlife parks and certainly the best value. Watching the crocodiles being fed was a great experience for us all. Highly recommended.
Lindy Coombs — Google review
Always an absolute blast coming to this place. Love everything about it and love going back each time. Well worth the journey. Highly recommend buying your tickets online before you go.
Shaun Yandell — Google review
Such a great day out, so many incredible reptiles, and also it was so nice and warm inside which was great because I hate being cold! I absolutely loved the slender-snouted crocodile and the Yacare caiman, but really it's hard to pick a favourite from everything I saw. Can't wait to come again soon.
Emma Wright — Google review
We took the kids here on a rainy day. It's not the biggest place but you still need a few hours to really take it all in.
The kids enjoyed it and got a bit of an education to boot.
Not a bad day out to be fair.
junkybabes — Google review
Overall a great place with great amount of information on each species and lovely feeding sessions where we could learn a lot about the crocodiles and fisher cat! The entry was quite rammed so it was a bit difficult to see each enclosures in the beginning but as the day went on there were more chances to go back and see each sites.
The cafe had good amount of drinks and food options but having more staff could potentially help with long que. The site is a bit difficult to navigate if you are coming with a bus so having more signs or shuttles from stations could help more. Having more social media could also help to showcase the conservation efforts and to also educate the audience as well. It was a great experience and would be happy to come again in the future.
Dessi Veltcheva — Google review
I adore crocodiles, so this was heaven. A very, very humid, warm heaven, though, so bring lots of water! They have a collection of other reptiles and mammals in the outdoor enclosures, so there are opportunities to cool off. Helpful, welcoming staff and good amenities. I would go again any day.
Sarah McLaren — Google review
It's OK. To be fair crocodiles snakes reptiles don't really do a lot other than eye you up like they would like to eat you. The meercats on the other hand don't stop running fighting playing etc. Place is well presented, nice n clean ,staff really friendly. Worth a visit.
Ashley Croft — Google review
Such a lovely place. Small, so probably only need half a day to see everything. Loads of crocodiles from tiny to huge. Very interactive meerkat enclosure. And other animals too. Nice play and picnic area. Really friendly staff and family atmosphere.
Would definitely recommend
Nicola Miller — Google review
Really great place for families. A wide array of crocodiles and alligators along with diverse species including snakes, komodo dragons, monitor lizards, meerkats and more. The live feeding is fun for the kids!
Nick Brooks — Google review
Really a nice family place to visit. I visited crocodile world 11 times and always enjoy my visit. The crocodiles are very interesting and they are very big.They even have giant tortoises A big cat. Snakes meerkats and more.They have a small playground for the kids. A very small restaurant takeaway Cafe and a souvenir shop were you can buy crocodile Memorabilia.The staff are very nice and they are Autistic friendly as I have Autism. So if you need Assistance just ask one of the staff. You can bring your own picnic & drink if you like. Crocodile world has a amazing location. The only thing I would change four crocodile world is that the owners get a bigger restaurant and a bigger dining area for people to eat there food. Otherwise very very nice place. from Ben
It is hereby satisfied that the following (Crocodiles of the World) is Autistic friendly and has been approved and checked by Ben ✅ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐
Ben Ephraim Bellows — Google review
Really enjoyed the experience of seeing the crocks sooo close up, most rare to be able to do this. I look forward to taking my grandsons. The guides were very enthusiastic and I loved the information revealed. There were more animals than crocks & alligators which was a nice surprise. Easy to park there right on site.
Gateway Veterans — Google review
Still one the greatest places if you like your reptiles and crocodilians. Gets better every time I go. Keepers are terrific and show their enthusiasm. If you get the chance to book an animal experience, do it. I did the Komodo Dragon experience and it was terrific 👍
James Armstrong — Google review
We drove 3 1/2 hours to visit this place and weren't disappointed. Such a privilege to see these beautiful creatures up close. Feeding time is a must ! A special mention for the Keeper who was so knowledgeable and friendly. You could tell how much she cared.
Miriam Moore — Google review
Lovely little trip, won't take you more then a few hours, and I recommend bringing a pack up plenty of picknick areas. Lovey play park. They feed the crocks at certain times but make sure you arrive early to get a good spot and don't wear anything to heavy as its very warm indoors.
Toni up Tonihj 80 0 Eaton — Google review
Went on a weekday during term holiday with my son. He is 3 yrs and enjoyed watching crocodiles. Parking is free and was not packed. They got 2 disabled spaces. There are cafes and gift shop inside. Baby changing facility available on disabled toilet. Overall good place to hangout for 4 hours. There is a play are for kids and picnic areas as well. Worth a visit if you love crocs:-)
Ashraf Ali Khan — Google review
It's not very big but well maintained, the staff clearly know a lot about and care about the welfare of the animals. The zoo contributes to the worldwide conservation of these animals and has achieved some first time breeding successes. We did the tortoise experience on a Monday, just the two of us (adults) and enjoyed it. The keeper was knowledgeable and friendly and we got to scratch and feed the amazingly cool and weird Galapagos island tortoises. The keeper could answer all my questions (I often have a lot 😆) and it was very cool to have an up close and personal interaction. The crocodile enclosure was very good, lots of opportunities to safely see these big reptiles up close
TheGood DogLife — Google review
Great place to visit with kids. Lots of variety and interesting species.
We did the Komodo experience which was fantastic for our 8yr old (and dad!).
Note there are two Cafes (one over by the meerkat enclosure - had wed realised we'd have gone to the 2nd one as the cafe by the kids play area was very busy for obvious reasons
Reasonable prices and good food.
We'll be back.
The kids all had a blast (6, 8 and 12yrs).
Paul Collier — Google review
Absolutely brilliant. Visited with friends and their two young boys. We all had a great time, particularly enjoyed the feeding of the Nile crocodiles. Enjoyed it so much we went back again less than a year after our first visit. Nice cakes in the cafe, decent gift shop, plenty of parking.
Gavin Owen — Google review
Had a brilliant second visit here! The staff are very friendly and the animal's seem very well cared for in their habitats.
The entrances and buildings seem pretty accessible for wheelchairs, having an alternative entrance to be able to get to the top part of the crocodile area for a good view of the feeding, although I can't speak to whether the ramps are too steep or not. One idea we would raise is to change the seating arrangement for the crocodile feeding. We went with a disabled friend who needed to sit down, however the only bench was taken up by families and was facing away from the feeding. They made space when asked, but the area would definitely benefit from another bench or two as there were also elderly folk standing and no one should have to miss out on the talk because they are less able to stand or contort themselves on the bench.
Robot Socks — Google review
Really enjoyabke day out. Loved seeing so many different species in one place.
Well worth seeing the Nile crocodile feed - seeing them jump up for food was great. Enjoyed the other talks we attended too. Learnt about tomistomas whilst here which I had never heard of before so that was great.
I actually visited for the binturong experience and absolutely loved meeting Winnie and Willow. The keepers who ran it were really lovely (Callum and Elliot perhaps???) and really knowledgeable.
To be fair all the staff I spoke with were great, happy to chat and seemed genuinely into working with these animals.
The loaded chips from the cafe were also really good, excellent spread of cheese throughout the portion!
Essay access to get around, generally level. There is a step slope to the upper viewing area of the Nile and siamese crocs but I believe there is gentle access to the side of the building instead.
Great day, definitely want to come back! Thanks!
Siobhan Rourke — Google review
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4.5
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Burford Rd, Brize Norton, Carterton OX18 3NX, United Kingdom
Highclere Castle is a historic country residence, renowned for being used as a key filming location in the popular British television series Downton Abbey. Located in a picturesque setting, Highclere Castle boasts grand interiors and sprawling grounds that are open to visitors during seasonal periods. Guided tours are available and include visits to the castle gardens and nearby locations that were also featured in the show such as Bampton. Visitors can easily access Highclere Castle via car or by joining a tour group.
Absolutely gorgeous castle, a must for Downtown Abbey fans. Stunning gardens, plenty to see with great tea rooms. Great value for money too. Perfect day out.
Frances Casey — Google review
I recently visited Highclere Castle and had a wonderful experience. The tour guide was excellent, providing a wealth of information about the history and architecture of the castle. The grounds were also beautiful, and I enjoyed exploring them during the tour. To top off the visit, I had a lovely afternoon tea at the castle. The tea and sandwiches were delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Highclere Castle. The tour is informative and enjoyable, and the afternoon tea is a delicious treat
Duncan Andrews — Google review
Beautiful gardens, especially the wild flower meadow. Very interesting house and Egyptian exhibition. House includes pictures of the filming of Downton Abbey in the actual positions in the rooms where they took place. Good catering facilities with lots of inside & outside seating areas. Well worth a visit.
Judy Bird — Google review
Who hasn't seen Downton Abbey?! Highclere Castle is a grand and beautiful place. The visit was very interesting. It would have been nice to see more rooms, may be the servants quarter too. The Egyptian exhibition was fascinating and so well set-up. We had a walk in the garden too, so peaceful. It was such a lovely day. I only gave 4 stars as in both cafes, no vegan food was offered. We were surprised and disappointed as you can now find vegan anywhere.
Nathalie M — Google review
Really good experience. We had a guided tour which was very informative. Loads of on site parking. Easy enough to find. The lunch provided was more than expected which we all really enjoyed.
Rich Davis — Google review
Wonderful trip to Highclere Castle. Enjoyed looking round the castle, although a long queue to go in the (about an hour wait) but of course August is peak holiday time so I would expect it to be busy. The Castle grounds are wonderful with views stretching way into the distance. Plenty of trees and seats in the shade to shelter from the sweltering hot day. Hot and cold drinks plus sandwiches and snacks available at several little cafes around the central area with more than enough seating and tables. Staff very polite and helpful. We will definitely make a return visit at some point.
Cathy Hodson — Google review
As a big fan of Downton Abbey, I’ve wanted to visit Highclere Castle for years. The chance finally came when my wife and I were given tickets (including the afternoon tea box and Egyptian exhibition) as a wedding gift. We were not disappointed! A breathtaking view of the castle greeted us on arrival to the car park. From the moment we exited our car, we were treated kindly by all the friendly staff - including the car park attendants who enthusiastically welcomed us. Long story short, we were very impressed by not only the tidiness of every inch of this property - both inside and out - but by it’s beauty as well. Fans of the show who want to literally stand where their favourite characters have stood will have their wish fulfilled. Unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed inside the castle, but that’s actually a good thing as it keeps the flow moving and allows you to focus on the home instead of your camera or phone.
Outside, the gardens and grounds are a must see, so wonderfully maintained. We were also pleasantly surprised by the quality and amount of food in our afternoon tea for two box. What a fantastic idea!
We would definitely visit again and highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested.
Brad E — Google review
Huge Downton Abbey fan, this tour was 100% worth the time. We hired a car and driver for the day so we could also make stops on the way home. The food was fantastic really liked everything they gave as apart of the tour it was a really nice touch.
Mike Lewis — Google review
A beautiful castle and Home
Stunning grounds too. The guides were very interesting and informative and particularly helpful with disabled clients, I was unable to negotiate stairs and they gave me a chair and photo book of upstairs whilst I waited for my relatives. Also showed me an easier way to see the Egyptian exhibition.
Frances Fagg — Google review
It was an absolutely wonderful experience. The castle is treasure to discover. The staff are knowledgeable, kind, and attentive. I told them that I am Canadian, and they took the time to explain the connection between Highclere and Canada. Then, we got to visit the staterooms, drawing rooms, libraries, dining room, and the great Egyptian exhibition. The grounds that are manicured to perfection with trees from all over the world and benches underneath so you can sit and just enjoy the moment. The beautiful gardens with all kinds of flowers and greenery look like something out of a book. The tea rooms that offer tantalizing goodies and, of course, nice souvenir shop with something to please everyone. I would go back any time. I recommend it to anyone to take the time to visit this place.
Doreen's Discoveries — Google review
As a big Downton fan this place is dreamlike! My husband doesn’t watch the show but he really loved it. It’s a wonderful castle as it’s furnished as the Earl & Duchess reside there. The guides are just so passionate and knowledgeable…we were lucky enough to spend time with Greg whose enthusiasm and real love for the castle is boundless. We found out so many details ..like the architect who designed West Minster also designed Highclere! We were not able to book timed tickets as they were sold out..but we went and lined up at 8:30am (ticket office opens @9am) on a Sunday morning (take a jacket) and we’re able to secure tickets. Make sure you buy the beautiful book at the entrance as you can’t take pics inside..all the gorgeous interiors are in the book. There are fantastic cafes on the grounds and don’t forget to visit the Secret Gardens. Amazing gift shop too. We were also lucky to see the Duchess with her beautiful Golden Labs on a walk..she is lovely. We didn’t want to leave.
Sheree Secrett — Google review
Wow! What a beautiful elegant place, well maintained and staff were very knowledgeable and informative. Even though it rained for us so didn't get to enjoy the stunning grounds surrounding the estate, it was a beautiful place. As with most places the gift shop was a little expensive but the cafe was reasonably priced, we even enjoyed a warm wild boar sausage in a baguette for lunch! Overall would definitely recommend this place whether your a 'downtown abbey' fan or not!
Rachel Adams — Google review
So much rich history beyond the charm of Downton. It's so wonderful that the family has opened their home to visitors to see. We loved every minute!
Benjamin Buckley — Google review
The location and building is fabulous. If you enjoyed Downton Abbey, then you will love the tour of the building. Just be aware access is limited to specific days of the year.
Michael Dickinson — Google review
Highly recommend. Absolutely smashing, worth the bit extra for the Egyptian exhibition as it tells a lot of the history. The house and grounds are just absolutely gorgeous. Food is a little limited. Gift shop has smashing assortment of bits. So delighted to have visited.
Han W — Google review
A really lovely experience and a must-see for any Downton Abbey fans. The house itself is gorgeous and very well-kept with lots of information about the behind the scenes of Downton Abbey. You can see into the rooms where various scenes were filmed and the furniture is exactly the same so you really feel like you’re stepping in there! The gardens are wonderful and well worth the time to walk around and see everything. The only thing for us, the castle doesn’t allow picnics on the grounds at all. A little bit disappointing in my opinion as you can purchase food on-site and eat it there, even if they had a designated area for picnics, I think it would be better. Just something to keep in mind if you are planning on taking food with you.
Beth J — Google review
Wonderful visit, superb house which is still partly
Lived in, with the added bonus of the Egyptology collection and display. No photos of either as photography is banned inside the house. ( ironic as a major film series has been filmed inside the house!) . The grounds are magnificent with extensive views, with the best wildflower meadow I have ever seen , contradicting the Dolly Parton hit ‘ wildflowers don’t care where they grow’ - theses ones do and they have chosen well. A lovely day out with the usual tea and coffee , very good, ( plus the obligatory gift shop ). Access and parking easy and a good idea to book ahead.
Brian Cohen — Google review
My wife and I enjoyed the Downton Abbey series very much. As a Christmas gift I arranged a visit to Highclere Castle in January as a way to beat back those winter blues. A two hour guided tour was expensive but well worth it. A hardcover book and a nice tea (below stairs) were all part of the deal - very nice. There was also an excellent Tutankhamen exhibition. The Highclere website is quite formal but don't be put off by that, staff are friendly and many are great fun! We re- watched the series as a result and enjoyed it even more to know the 'we were there!' 🤭
Derek Jones — Google review
A great home to explore - well maintained and a well managed one-way route through the ground and first floors.
Detailed history on the building is lacking but they do provide information cards in some rooms. There are helpful and knowledgable staff throughout the castle so do ask them any questions you may have.
Photos and signs also tie back the various rooms to their use in the filming of Downton Abbey.
There are a couple of cafe and food vans scattered through the property - nothing amazing but the food is reasonably priced.
If you are arriving at Newbury station it may be wise to pre book a taxi and also arrange your pickup. Do be prepared that the taxi journey is very steep - £50+, if others are around ask to share the taxi and split the fare.
NSLondon — Google review
I’ve been watching Downton Abbey basically on repeat for the last 7 years. I was ECSTATIC when our family found out we were getting stationed in England a few years ago and Highclere has been on my must-see list ever since. We finally got to visit over Easter weekend and it was a dream come true! Lady Carnarvon was directing pedestrians to the house from the car park which I thought was great, very down to Earth. I totally fangirled when we saw her. 😂 The house was a dream and I loved getting to see the rooms that I’ve become so familiar with these last several years via the show. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if we could take photos inside. I get that it’s their private home and they have family photos out, but no one is there to take photos of Carnarvon family photos. We’re there to see the most important character in a beloved show. We’ve visited a number of castles that are still family homes (Alnwick, Blenheim, Belvoir, etc.) and were permitted to take pictures inside. To each their own.
We ordered a picnic tea box when purchasing our tickets and thoroughly enjoyed everything inside it. The sandwiches, scones and sweet treats were all fantastic. It was £75 for a box for 2 people. A little more than we would normally pay for something like that, but it also came with two free hot drinks and a small bottle of champagne.
The grounds are also beautiful and there is a lot to explore beyond the house. Overall, highly recommend visiting if you’re a Downton Abbey fan.
Mariana Miller — Google review
As a Downtown Abbey fan this was great. The gardens are beautiful and you could spend hours walking around them. The house is very impressive but be prepared to lock the experience in your head because photography inside the house is not allowed unfortunately. But as the house is actually lived in and not a museum, this is understandable.
Greg C — Google review
We had a wonderful time in Highclere Castle recently. The whole building was magical. Lady Carnarvon welcomed us and did a very nice speech before we started our tour inside the castle. Unfortunately we weren't able to take any pictures inside. Our tour guide Greg, was very entertaining and informative. But all the other staff were very warm and friendly. The afternoon tea was very delicious and we were spoiled by the lovely waiters. The gift shop has plenty of choice and the free books were signed by Lady Carnarvon. The only one thing that was a bit disappointing, that is the ladies lavatory. They definitely need a little bit of improvement. Otherwise we did enjoy every minute of the tour and we will definitely come back. Highly recommended!
Charlotte Kovacs — Google review
Awsome experience!
The gardens are beautiful, a lovely walk around the grounds.
The house is a work of art, if you love Downton Abbey, then this is a must for your Bucket List 😊
You have to pre-book to enter the house.
Andrew Palmer — Google review
Such a beautiful place and great for fans of Downton Abbey. We were greeted by the Lady Carnarvon and had our photo taken in front of the grand Christmas tree. We were offered tea and coffee followed by a tour of the castle. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and clearly had a good relationship with the family. We got to visit the Egyptian collection and lastly had afternoon tea, which Lady Carnarvon came to join us for. All in all, an absolutely fantastic experience that I can't wait to do again!
No photos are allowed inside the castle.
Coralie Pattenden — Google review
Went for their Egyptian exhibition event to celebrate 100 years since the family discovered Tutankhamen's tomb.
The house is stunning and if you're a Downton abbey fan there is a lot to look at (no photos allowed in the house due to insurance).
The grounds and gardens are stunning and vast. Lots to walk around in a nice day. They offer a events during the year which are incredible and good fun to dress up.
There is a lot of history and interesting things to observe. Would definitely return and watch the show now
Izzy Creative247 — Google review
4.6
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4.5
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Highclere Park, Highclere, Newbury RG20 9RN, United Kingdom
Grand 17th-century family estate maintaining its original charm with a conserved Jacobean garden.
Absolutely beautiful place. The house and gardens are stunning. Little cafe in the church series tea and cake, there is also a library where you can enjoy browsing all sort of books. It's a fantastic place!
Ags — Google review
A property which shows the true reality of struggling to maintain a large house.The NT have wisely decided to give the visitor the opportunity to see a property in its reality, a welcome change from the glory and slendour of big grand properties where having money to maintain the house was of no concern to the owner. Helpful guides who obviously had a passion for this house.
Joy Morgan — Google review
Such an interesting house. I love that it is in its original state. You really get to see what the houses are like hundreds of years later. The ceiling in the kitchen has never been cleaned, it's the original grease and soot that they work under years ago. The windows were neat too. You can tell the difference when a pane of glass was replaced. Glad this house is looked after and the history can remain.
Angel Cowen — Google review
Enjoyed seeing the house decorated for a 1965 Christmas 🎄 It was fun to see the old games, paper chains etc that brought back memories of childhood. Much of the furniture in the house is original. The house has an interesting history, tracing back to Catesby of the gunpowder plot. There is also the actual King James bible that Charles 1st held at his execution...
Sue Williams — Google review
Lovely place very interesting, the staff were very informative , it was really to be able to look round the rooms and here the history of the people who lived there. There was tea and cake being sold in the church yard in aid of the church. Beautiful little church. Will definitely be going again as I would like my partner to see it
karen sidebottom — Google review
Amazing place to visit - a time capsule that you can walk through. Beautiful place which has been preserved as it was - a family home. Sad that after 400 years the family had to take the decision to pass to the care of the National Trust but a decision that has clearly proved to be the best one as it has preserved the house with the care abs respect it so deserves. Fascinating to walk around and lots of very lovely knowledgable guides to speak too. Well worth a visit and we will no doubt be back at some point to walk through the gardens.
Karen Ballantine — Google review
The National Trust have stayed with this property's slightly neglected appeal, which was how the property has been for many years due to financial constraints on the owners since the civil war.
A beautiful property and gardens, well worth a visit, although the car park has good walk to it, so be prepared for a walk down a hilly field. There is assisted parking nearer to the house.
alison A — Google review
Really good NT location. Only downside is the parking arrangement where if disabled you need to drive up to the higher car park to get a ticket to go back to the lower one. This should be sorted really.
Place itself is super interesting and well worth a visit
andy baker — Google review
Unlike many grand stately homes, the owners of Chastleton House were not rich aristocrats with titles. Instead, they had to offer tours of the house just to raise enough money to cover basic operating costs. When the National Trust took ownership, it decided not to restore the house to its full glory, but rather leave it as it always was - a dilapidated family home, almost untouched from the day it was built.
There is no shop or tea room here, but there is a kettle and honesty box for visitors to make their own cups of tea / coffee, and a small selection of biscuits. Sometimes cakes are available from the church next-door, but not during our visit.
Some rooms were closed due to a lack of volunteers, so perhaps call on the day to be sure all of the property is open.
The car park is located down a narrow and winding country lane, and involves a moderately steep walk down a field to reach the house.
Phil — Google review
Beautiful, old National Trust property. Not grand or particularly large, but very interesting. Impressive plaster ceiling in main room. Gardens small but interesting. Note (1) there is no tea shop here, but the church next door sometimes offers drinks and snacks (2) the car park is a few hundred yards away up a hill from the property.
David Allen — Google review
Lovely, quiet, little place. Lots to learn and see inside the house. Adorable little cafe inside the church. Really nice place.
Iza Przado — Google review
What an amazing place! Had never visited before. The volunteers were very friendly, helpful and informative. They had an excellent little explorers kit that the children could take round to discover things. My daughter loved it. Such a clever idea. The place itself is an absolute gem. Frozen in time and absolutely fascinating.
Highly recommend!
Katherine Brookes — Google review
Very nice place just done house today due to weather so will do gardens at at a later date but very nice highly recommended nice tea room in the church next to house
Nicholas Guest — Google review
It’s a five star house ruined by National Trust props. Also, when we visited, there was a fire under a blocked chimney blowing smoke all through the house. There was a historic painting directly above the fireplace too.
Prerona Prasad — Google review
Lovely house and gardens. Fabulous cake and coffee served in the church garden. Thoroughly recommend.
Lynne Duffett — Google review
A house full of surprises, especially the long gallery, the guides were so welcoming and knowledgeable. The gardens are beautiful. A bonus is afternoon tea served in the church next door. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Carol — Google review
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4.5
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Chastleton, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0SU, United Kingdom
Hook Norton Brewery, a proudly independent family-owned brewery established in 1849 and currently run by the fifth generation of the family, is located in the Cotswold Hills. Its Victorian buildings have been used for brewing beer for over 150 years. The brewery offers guided tours that need to be booked in advance, during which visitors can learn about its history and brewing process while enjoying free beer samples.
Roz was an amazing tour guide! Two hours of being shown around the Victorian Brewery. Super friendly staff, gorgeous food, lovely bit or history! Not to mention the gorgeous horses 😍 Had the best time for my dad's birthday, even as a none Ale drinker I thoroughly enjoyed the history and process of making their products. Amazing!
P.s. be careful with the stairs they're super tiny and steep. Also the cobbles can be very slippery. The tour guide does warn you though before hand!
Sammy W — Google review
Excellent visit to the brewery restaurant, shop and museum. The food menu had an amazing choice of traditional pub dishes amongst other more "exotic" dishes. I had the Draymans Lunch with the local pork pie which was both great quality and great value for money. Having a great range of locally brewed beer was the icing on the cake. I will definitely be making a return visit in the near future.
Stephen — Google review
Went for a meander and stumbled apon this lovely place. Had to try a fee different craft beers.. They were yummy and then had a lunch there. Such good food, lovely warm atmosphere and the staff was really friendly and helpful. Loved this place 5 stars.
Beth Sedgbeer-Williams — Google review
Really Great Brewery Tour. Amazing building..lovely to see the working horses . Chris our Tour Guide was A Legend ! Really informative.. lovely, friendly gentleman.
And the tasting session in the bar at the end was fab. Would highly recommend
A T — Google review
Highly recommended - excellent museum, restaurant and of course beers. Great for lunch - we could have happily chosen anything from the menu. The Goats cheese fritter was delicious and the nachos fantastic, with plenty of cheese, pulled pork and jalapeños. Will definitely return.
John Cresser-Brown — Google review
A very old one of kind brewery, the brews are out this world. I went the on the tour absolutely fantastic loads historical information. Everyone so friendly and helpful, a must stop and visit for anyone 🙂
Pete Seymour — Google review
If breweries are your thing then Hook Norton should be on you list. The brewery tour was informative and set at a good pace. Great to see some of the original technology working alongside the new. A real bonus to see the steam engine running. The visitor centre contains a museum of the brewery and the local community and if you're hungry it's well worth staying for something to eat.
Paul Savage — Google review
We had a great day out at the Brewery, everything excellent (except the Arctic wind for a short time outside!!!) The tour leader, Leon, was outstanding, amusing, informative and obviously passionate about good old Hookie Brewery history and all the associated traditions. The tasting at the end of the tour also very enjoyable. Thank you, Leon! Lunch in the restaurant was high quality, well cooked food at reasonable prices. Hook Norton is situated in a lovely part of the country, so all in all, excellent day out.
Caroline Timmis — Google review
Well stocked Museum, excellent selection of beers for sale. Also local Gins.
Sue Sheard — Google review
A group of us went for lunch at the brewery restaurant. The menu is a mix of pub classics, sandwiches, salads and similar. We had a couple of the pies which are excellent, a sandwich with all the trimmings and a quiche. The food is good and the value great. Nice location and you can do the brewery tour or museum at the same time.
Rog Edwards — Google review
I can't rate this place highly enough. Over the last 30 or so years, we've done many brewery and distillery tours and this is by far the best of them all. Our guide Chris, was great - very friendly, knowledgeable and interesting and gave us all time to appreciate what we were being shown. The entire brewery is basically a working museum and a look back to how things were 120+ years ago. The stars of the show though were definitely the gorgeous shire horses - Nelson, Brigadier and Balmoral, seeing them in their stables and out being trained to pull the dray was fantastic. To top it off, the tour finishes with a half hour tasting session where you can sample whatever you want and are also given a free souvenir glass, the Hooky and Haymaker ales were absolutely fantastic. If you're in the area and appreciate real ale or working / living history then this place is a must visit!
Dave Brown — Google review
Did the brewery tour over the bank holiday weekend and thoroughly enjoyed. Tour guide was very informative and really clear to see the effort that has been made to preserve the history and as much of the old machinery as possible, lots of which is still in use. The beer tasting at the end in a mock pub was also a nice touch.
We also stayed for lunch which was nice enough and bought from the shop which had a nice selection of various items from across the Cotswolds as well as the house beer selection.
Kieran Cronin — Google review
We loved this tour. Leon is funny and informative. Lots of interesting Victorian machinery in good working condition. All the beer you want to drink at the end of the tour, with free souvenir glasses. Lovely to see the shire horses. Great shop and restaurant on site.
trissy Rowley — Google review
A beautiful building with a rich history, that was fully explained by our very knowledgeable guide, on our brewery tour.
The onsite facilities are high quality, with a large brewery shop, and cafe.
A small museum above the gift shop offers a glimpse of the history of the brewery, together with a display of the historical items from the village of Hook Norton as well.
Matt Reid — Google review
Wonderful tour by our guide Monty, highly recommend. Beautiful building, detailed description and access to all areas, fascinating and ridiculously cheap for the quality.
Leyla Folwell — Google review
Went for a tour round the brewery and were rewarded with an excellent guide who was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Monty spent time showing us how this traditional brewery, with many original features, works. This was followed by a tasting session. Well worth the time and money spent. Thanks Monty!
Richard Tanswell-Davis — Google review
Booked a table here for a relatives birthday, the food was very good,hot , well presented , tasteful and at a reasonable price.
The service was good and very pleasant and professional staff.
Would definitely recommend.
The shop was well stocked with a varied choice of goods, and the staff are very pleasant .
The car park was full,although we didn't know at the time there is extra parking on the otherside of the premises.
Been today 18/11/23
Had the full English Breakfast and a pint of Hooky Cider must say it was very tasty.The staff were very pleasant and cheerful.
Definitely recommend the Breakfast.
Paul Mcleod — Google review
Had a great trip around the brewery yesterday and our guide Terry was very knowledgeable about everything. To see the old Victorian machinery was a delight, hope it remains in production for many years to come. A real gem of history still working today. Fabulous museum, gift shop and restaurant (although we didn't eat there).
Nigel Scott — Google review
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Brewery Ln, Hook Norton, Banbury OX15 5NY, United Kingdom
The impressive Warwick Castle is a showpiece of family fun, with attractions ranging from waxworks to jousting tournaments. Fine accommodation options are available on-site and the castle is easy to reach by public transport.
Amazing place to visit! All my family loved it! Beautiful walks and beautiful view!
Inside it's a lot of history to learn and enjoy, great for children! We had a great day! Enjoyed the ice skating as well and some delicious mulled wine outside in the Christmas Market!
I would definitely recommend for anyone to go! It is worth every moment!
Andreea Neculcia — Google review
We had a really good day at the castle the number of events were well thought out and their staging timed to allow you to walk to the next event by the shortest distance before the next event starts. All events were repeated at least twice a day. Great finale to the raptor event. Lots of places to sit and eat with spectacular views of the castle and countryside. An educational and fun day out in a well preserved piece of English heritage and history really worth a visit.
Robert harris — Google review
I love this place, have visited so many times. I did queue for my ticket as I wanted to use my English Heritage card ( gets you 25% off). There is so much to see and so, one day is just not long enough. The jousting is just amazing and great crowd interaction, trebuchet is impressive again a great show and the falconers quest. The birds of prey are stunning. All involved in the shows are great, really engage with the crowds.
So much to see inside the castle too, and a lot of ground to cover outside. Did not manage to do or see everything today. Will need a return visit soon. Fantastic experience every time I visit and never disappointed. Lots of gift shops, various toilets dotted around. Food vendors in various places, did not have food from any. I usually take a picnic.
Parking is easy to get to, a small trek to the castle. Pay for parking when you get to castle entrance which currently is £6 for the day.
Highly recommended a day out here.
maria coleman — Google review
This visit exceeded our expectations. The tour of the living quarters in the palace is very interesting with plenty of history and artefacts. The grounds are very well kept and plenty of refreshments available. The falconry display was exceptional and we had an interesting time talking to an archer. We missed the jousting event unfortunately as we were too busy looking around the castle
Paul Savage — Google review
A brilliant day out. Such a beautiful castle, but also made all the more fun for the kids by all big cast of actors in costume, who were hugely enthusiastic. Loved it - particularly the Wars of the Roses show in the showground!
Jonathan Mayes — Google review
Great place to visit if a little dear, birds of prey demonstration was excellent . Lots to see but think the dungeon should be in with the admission price not an extra, can easily spend the whole day there.
Steven Preece — Google review
I greatly enjoyed my trip to Warwick Castle, however I felt as though events and places to visit weren’t greatly advertised. Whilst the staff and Halloween actors were all lovely, I felt as though the event was more directed towards children and I felt like there was little to nothing for me to do there. The scenery was beautiful and I enjoyed my trip to the dungeons- just unfortunately I felt like it wasn’t suitable for younger adults.
C — Google review
Outstanding place ! So so much to do , birds of prey shows, peacocks , actually Castle, zogs playground, maze and a million more things. English heritage members get 50 % off on the gate or book online . Parking is 6.00 . As always take your own food . Excellent excellent day out
Candice Jones — Google review
Really liked it. Plenty of space inside and outside. There is definitely something to see. I highly recommend a visit. There are several places on the area of the castle where you can eat.
Gintare R. — Google review
Very cool castle with plenty for everyone. The activities set up around the site are perfect for children and adults. Great food carts, fascinating history. Recommended day out for sure!
Kyle MacDonald — Google review
A great day out for everyone everywhere is cleaned regularly and the toilets are good as well. Most things have to be paid for when inside like the archery, photos and the dungeon but there is a lot to see, the gardens and conservatory area is Good for a rest out of the sun . plenty of seating around the grounds there certainly is plenty to do for a full day out .
Beano — Google review
Excellent day out with kids. Well persevered and maintained castle. Lovely interior and lots of activities for children. Lovely grounds. I recommend of buying tickets online prior to coming. On the spot tickets are pricier
Um Ash — Google review
Always something new to discover!
We’ve been to Warwick Castle many times, decided on a weekday visit to catch the War of the Roses show and wasn’t disappointed.
The WotR has been updated once again this year, the background story is more in-depth and captures the attention of young and old.
The horsemanship is something to behold with additional surprises at the end of the show.
The Falconer’s Quest was superb as is always the case, the one notable difference is the improved audience engagement, the cast put a huge effort into bringing the birds right into the audience area with flying in close proximity to all.
The castle and attractions are in-depth and enough to keep you engaged all day long.
Beware though, if wanting to walk the top of the walls and the towers where the views are breathtaking, there are many difficult steps to negotiate.
The route is challenging for most.
Parking is something of a pain, the walk from the main field parking can be challenging with a large portion of the twenty minutes being uphill.
Easier parking can be found in the town centre for a similar price.
The food and drink offering are poor value as is the case at all Merlin sites, a regular coffee will set you back £4.30 minimum with very limited options.
Overall, a great day out and well recommended.
Darren M — Google review
Not my first visit here. It's a good day out. The castle and staff are great. The reason this doesn't get 5 stars is the cost of extras throughout the experience. Per person Dungeon £6 (over 10s only), Archery £6. Sword handling £6... if a family of 4 all have a go at each the cost of the day goes through the roof. All this on top of ticket cost and £10 for parking for the day. The best bit is probably the jousting show... at least that is free. Please also note there are a lot of step involved in experiencing the walls and towers, so if you have a mobility restriction you won't get the most out of the day.
Will BB — Google review
Fantastic but too expensive.
The castle is beautiful and very well preserved. There’s lots of things to do and the Falconer Quest spectacle is simply awesome.
However, paying £140 for 4 people is just excessive.
If at least they had the second day free option, it would be worth it because they only open 6 hours a day and visiting with kids, 6 hours is not enough.
Moisés Ruiz — Google review
brilliant had a nice walk around in the day and seen the shows The Falcons the best we have ever seen made our weekend. Also the Halloween event was very good 👍
Matt Huthwaite — Google review
Beautiful experience, I will admit it’s overpriced at £40pp (excluding the dungeons - an additional £10pp) but nevertheless an excellent experience. We went during the Halloween event and it was beautiful and a fun time.
SPARKELS7797 — Google review
This was amazing experience, lots of live scenes and they have seasonal events as well. It was a bit expensive almost 40 pounds for entry, but if you have english heritage membership, it costs 19.50 which I think was great value for money! Lots of climbing in the castle as well so be prepared to get sweating!
Erika P — Google review
Not cheap but you get what you pay for and it's quite good. We spent a little extra and visited the dungeons which was one of the best dungeon experiences we've had, very entertaining and making the audience part of the show. I recommend a visit here most definitely but don't expect it to be cheap.
Toby Richards — Google review
Our family stayed in the Tower Suite for a fun break, and can recommend it unreservedly. The Rose Suite is beautiful, and well appointed with a big comfy bed, a range of coffees and teas, a big TV built in to the end of the bed (it rises like magic from its cabinet), and an excellent walk-in shower room. The views from the top of the tower were amazing.
The concierge team - Emily, Jordan, and Ellie - were very attentive to our needs while maintaining a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Their dedication to our comfort and satisfaction only added to an already impressive experience.
With our stay we also had a private tour of the castle, and Imogen from the history team did not disappoint. She took us on an entertaining and informative walk around the grounds, and was extremely patient in dealing with the many questions and interjections from our children.
Even without an overnight stay, there is plenty to do at Warwick Castle, with a very impressive bird of prey show, and another show that climaxes with the firing of an enormous trebuchet. In addition there was a history-themed maze, and a playground for smaller children among other attractions.
Our kids have a number of food allergies, and the staff were exceptionally helpful when it came to meal planning for them. Chef Max went out of his way to make sure everything was safe and we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about the menus, and just enjoy the delicious food.
Carl A — Google review
Worth the money. Make sure you walk up to the keep. The spiral staircase is a bit tiring, but the views at the end are spectacular. This also seems like a family-friendly castle, if such a thing.
Michael Dobbins — Google review
An incredible castle with beautiful scenery around. It might be smaller than many castles but you will be surprised by the fact that there is so much to do. It's an excellent day trip. Good to visit both on weekdays and weekends.
Do not let the steep steps to the tower discourage you.Brave yourself to the top and you will be rewarded with amazing views.
For more fun ,pack a picnic along and enjoy it there. There is an eatery there but prices are a lil bit on the higher side. A picnic saves you the spend plus gives a romantic feel to your outing.
Su R c — Google review
Brilliant place to visit with or without kids. The staff are all friendly and the characters all play their roles excellently. The place is big and has plenty to see and do. From walking around the castle towers and gardens to watching the shows and meeting the characters. The bird show was amazing.
Kenneth Smyth — Google review
Came here as part of a coach trip and I was amazed with the history this castle contains!
There is plenty to do for everyone here, regardless of age.
shows, tours, shops, and plenty of information for those with an interest in history.
My only complaint was that I never had enough time to take everything in or enjoy any shows as I was limited for time.
To fully explore and see everything this castle has to offer would take a full day.
William McCreadie — Google review
Great experience for the entire family. All shows were fun and exciting! Spent an entire day there and still need to come back as so many things were left unexplored.
Stryker — Google review
The shows were great 👍 much better than l expected especially the wars of the roses. Half day is not enough for visiting all the spots, recommend whole day trip.
Hsun-Yen Wu — Google review
Went here for a day out with my gf. Was a wonderful day and we had plenty of things to see. Be sure to check out the scare dungeon. It is NOT the original castle dungeon, but it is worth the show, and there is an original castle dungeon under one of the towers. Do not hesitate to get up on the castle walls, sore legs are worth the magnificent views. To get up on the wall you need to take the stairs on the right as soon as you enter the castle gate. Tower stairs can be annoying, the steps are short and high, but again, it is worth the experience.
Book in advance to avoid it being sold out, but keep in mind that the tickets are non refundable. There is, however, a rainy day guarantee.
Most of the other attractions outside of the castle gates, such as mazes, are not really worth your time unless you have kids. There are many food stands with delicious food though.
Vova B — Google review
Good tour of this castle. Lots to see and explore. It was expensive, but that’s how they keep the castle and surroundings maintained. Well worth it for the experience. The birds of prey show was excellent.
Paul Stockwell — Google review
Despite being the first day of it's reopening all was good. Great knowledge of the guide George. Great Owl and Hawk display. Nicely presented rooms on display.
Treccie Online — Google review
A great day to spend then this is one of them.
Smaller than Windsor. But was very interesting and multiple options to do.
The entire day was spent and was impressive for the money spent.
Strong recommendation to visit
Janardhan Swahar — Google review
Great, very well kept castle and grounds, the exhibits are very good and the figures are very life-like.
There are a couple of cafes and a falconry display. There are lots of very grand rooms to look around, also the walls, towers and gardens to explore. Plenty of steps to keep you fit.
It is easy to spend four hours or more here.
More friendly and relaxed than Windsor Castle.
dave fenna — Google review
It's really good. The interiors are amazing and the characters look like real life. Kids will enjoy it as they will get their own playground which has swings. Other than castle visit, there is Maze which is another fun activity for kids. The river side arena view is also great. Would recommend at least 1 visit.
Himani Duggal — Google review
This was a last minute stop while we were close by and so glad we did visit. We absolutely loved it. The bird show was fantastic. The castle was lovely inside and out. Maze and play area for the children. Great day out.
Hannah — Google review
This is a great castle. I went here while visiting the UK and was satisfied with my experience. This castle was ordered to be built by William the Conqueror, but the castle here today was constructed later. This castle has a small dungeon, large staterooms you can walk through, a tower you can climb up, a shirt movie explaining the history of the castle, ramparts you can walk on, and a garden. I gave this castle five stars because it’s a beautiful historic place. This is definitely one of the best things I did in England.
Qwerty — Google review
My daughter purchased tickets in advance and got a good deal. Although it rained on the day, we have a 60day rainy day guarantee.
Good day out with the grandchildren, watched the falconry display and catapult.
Only disappointment was cafes shut early and attraction open until 6pm needed warm drink with the weather.
Climbed the castle but be advised if not fittest don't attempt. Spectacular views from the top!
Lynn — Google review
Our first visit to Warwick Castle was an absolute delight. We were thoroughly impressed by the sheer amount of activities available for the entire family. From the historical exhibitions to the interactive experiences, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The castle is set against incredibly scenic surroundings, making every moment picture-perfect. It's a fantastic destination that combines education with entertainment, ensuring a memorable day out for visitors of all ages.
We can't recommend it enough for anyone looking to immerse themselves in history and have fun in the process.
David Chan — Google review
What a day, we really enjoyed it with two small kids, the playground was lots of fun, the horrible histories maze allowed us to explore and the shows we really good, definitely would come back again.
thomas badhams — Google review
This was such an incredible experience! The only downside to the Castle is the pricey food inside (so make sure you bring a few snacks if you don't want to spend much). But the whole place is totally worth the price of admission! There is so much to see and the history and legacy of the Castle is so well preserved. There is something for everybody there! The live events such as the Legend of the Trebuchet and the Falconer's Quest were also amazing and totally worth seeing!
Gabriela Luz — Google review
Amazing experience visiting the ancient Castle. All the areas were so beautiful and well kept. Fortunately the weather was very beautiful this day. The peacock’s garden was stunning and the birds were everywhere. A wonderful fun filled day for all the family. The dungeon was also great and we had a tour guide who explained everything to us! Definitely worth a visit.
Blenheim Palace is a 17th century, lavishly decorated stately home that is situated in the grounds of Capability Brown-designed gardens. The palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and today visitors can explore its many grand stately rooms or take a walk around its sprawling estate. Blenheim is also renowned for its impressive art collection, including paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and Vermeer.
It feels like a different experience every time you go! Beautiful architecture, amazing gardens, beautiful lake side walks, hugely enjoyable park and maze (easy to get lost in - our 3 and 7 yr old love it) - plus there are lots of amazing events - the light show and jousting are great. I also did the triathlon there and it was absolutely epic (will certainly never forget it).
Trevor Glue — Google review
Is amazing place! Huge park with so many different kind of birds! Very picturesque views! Nice to see the tree from Harry Potter movie. Place has its unique spirit. Is a nice jumping out for a half day! Definitely recommend it!
Olga Smulyanskaya — Google review
Fab day out. Bought a privilege pass so that I can visit the Palace again over the next 12 months. Went to the Flower Show (parking included). Then to the Palace, followed by parks and gardens. Definitely worth a visit as the Palace is stunning, lots of history, lots of exhibits. But 10am to 5pm still wasn't enough time for me!
Sharan Kaur — Google review
I had a fantastic time at the Halloween trail. The decorations were absolutely amazing, creating a spooky and immersive atmosphere. The kids had a blast, and the street food was delicious. We'll definitely be coming back next year for another fun-filled experience!
Mococa Mococa — Google review
We booked for the light display, a cold November evening which made the show even more magical. Excellent value for money. Coincided with the Christmas Market so we were able look at the stalls at the end of the light display. Very well organised, helpful staff. Lots of toilets. Nice shop and cafe.
Caroline Blair — Google review
My visit to Blenheim Palace was an unforgettable experience that left me with a profound admiration for this historic landmark. The palace's grandeur and magnificence immediately captivated me, with its majestic architecture and expansive gardens designed by Capability Brown. The panoramic view of the English heritage it offered was truly breathtaking.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of my visit was the enchanting display of Christmas lights and decorations. The palace grounds were elegantly transformed into a winter wonderland, radiating a festive atmosphere that was both opulent and welcoming. This spectacle provided a fascinating glimpse into how the Churchills, particularly Sir Winston Churchill, who was born in the palace, might have celebrated the holiday season. The meticulous attention to detail in the decorations was truly remarkable, creating a magical ambiance that appealed to visitors of all ages.
Besides the holiday festivities, Blenheim Palace offers a myriad of attractions to enhance the overall experience. The butterfly house, maze, and orangery are meticulously curated to engage and captivate visitors. The butterfly house, in particular, is a delightful showcase of diverse and vibrant species, set in a lush tropical environment.
Adding to the quintessential British experience, indulging in afternoon tea at the palace allows for a moment of relaxation and indulgence, soaking in the surroundings at a leisurely pace.
Blenheim Palace transcends its historical significance to become a destination that seamlessly combines history, culture, and entertainment. The mesmerizing Christmas lights and decorations create a truly spectacular sight, while the palace's numerous attractions provide both enjoyment and education. With something to offer for everyone, a visit to Blenheim Palace is a must for those exploring the UK.
Daniel Neuhaus — Google review
Good place for a day trip. I especially recommend the parks. The palace itself is good but the parks are simply amazing. You can spend an entire day in the parks. Pack yourself a picnic basket and you're all set for the day! Not a lot of options in terms of food. The cafes don't have much to offer. So I think it's a good idea to bring your own food.
At present, an exhibition is on- 'Icons of British fashion'. They have put up mannequins in every room of the palace, and I don't think the combination works well. It did not appeal to me personally because I had gone to see the palace and I couldn't even see the tapestry properly because of this. I am hoping to go back after 30 June when the exhibition ends, and hopefully I will have a better experience then.
An annual pass is a great idea. Also, they offer a discount if you travel by public transport.
Madhurima Sen — Google review
Had a lovely day out, the weather could have been a bit kinder . The staff were very friendly and helpful. I recommend you do the buggy tour of the Gardens; Alan was very informative and jovial, it was a fun experience. The Palace was impressive and the guide you downloaded to your phone was very informative although some things were out of sync as they moved things around. The girls playing the harp and the harpsichord gave the tour an appropriate atmosphere. The Churchill exhibition was very interesting with some unique artifacts.
William Foster — Google review
A fantastic place to visit. The house is magnificent and the grounds are spectacular. The staff and volunteers are friendly and informative and there are also plenty of car parks. Would recommend anyone of all ages to visit.
We went on the self-guided tour which took us through the magnificent state rooms. The rooms are extremely opulent and full of large tapestries and paintings. There’s grand fireplaces and currently displays of contemporary art.
The entrance hall itself is a sight to behold.
joshua khoo — Google review
What a fabulous day out. Could of spent a couple of days looking around its huge. Very interesting. Gardens lovely the palace enormous. Well worth the money. Definitely return.
Michael Baker — Google review
Visiting Blenheim Palace was a great experience despite the rain. The palace itself is a masterpiece of ornate and historical architecture, with its grand interior and stunning gardens and lakes that surround it.
One of the highlights of my visit was the dining room, which took my breath away. The opulent decor and attention to detail created a truly enchanting atmosphere. It was a delight to enjoy a meal in such a magnificent setting. Parking at Blenheim Palace was convenient, as there were ample parking spaces available on site. This made it easy to access the palace and explore its grounds without any hassle.
I also had the chance to visit the gift shop, which offered a range of upmarket items at good prices. It was a pleasure to browse through the selection and find unique souvenirs to take home.
Overall, my experience at Blenheim Palace was truly memorable. From the breathtaking interior and lovely gardens to the convenience of parking and the delightful dining options, it was a visit that exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend a visit to Blenheim Palace for anyone looking to immerse themselves in history, beauty, and a truly unforgettable experience.
The Hungry Foodie — Google review
What a beautiful palace and lawns. Exquisite scenery with great landscape. Quality of the build is out of this world. Amazing place to visit and spend time. Friendly and helpful staff. Very well maintained. The Gentleman who drove us on the buggy was great as he explained us the history so elegantly. He loved his job. 🙏
Ammar Niazi — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. The palace and special exhibits are interesting to explore. There is a lot to see! The grounds are gorgeous! You could easily spend an entire day just walking the grounds and looking at the gardens, fountains, and statues. Nice cafe options to eat lunch or grab a snack & drink. Fairly large gift shop with lots of goodies to take home. Wear comfortable shoes!
Alicia Adams — Google review
Beautiful place, stunning scenery and the Churchill exhibition was fantastic. The staff were knowledgeable to the questions I asked whilst walking around the Palace. Lots of lovely walks with a map so you don't get lost. Will definitely return at a different time of year to see the change in the scenery outside.
Ann Wildman — Google review
Incredible day at Blenheim Palace. The walk around the lake was beautiful. Staff were welcoming and the lads on the parking duty were doing a fantastic job trying to get the public to park responsibly and promptly. The train ride was great and even a nice walk back from the walled garden. The Adventure Playground was a huge hit with the children, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Exceptional pizza too! Lovely little gift shop, reasonably priced. Definitely worth the annual pass. Only downside was people touching-grabbing the butterflies this maybe needs to be monitored a bit more as lots were injured or dead which isn't nice to see.
Cherry Axford — Google review
As first-time visitors to Blenheim Palace, we found the Palace and grounds amazing. As we went on Easter Saturday the crowd was on the heavier side..
There were various activities for kids and parents other than the usual play area around the maze..
It has toy train and old aged electric vehicle for mobility support. Last train from palace is at 6pm and first train starts at 11am.
The palace has waterfall at the end of the property. It's mesmerizing and amazing to see such a beautiful view.
Vineet Tiwari — Google review
Loved it! The grounds are beautiful and kept in immaculate condition. Lots of history and different areas to visit in the ground. The waterfall and Harry Potter Tree are a must. Bring a picnic and e joy the endless lawn. Great day out for the family!
Gareth Symons — Google review
What a amazing place to visit. Loved it. Building and grounds absolutely wonderful. Tickets are a bit expensive £35 but you get a pass for a whole year. All staff super friendly and helpful. Lots of activities for kids. There was a food festival when we visited the place which was a big bonus for us. Delicious food. Highly recommended to visit.
Piotr Kwiecien — Google review
It’s a wonderful place. The gardens alone are worth the trip. The main water features (man made lakes) are spectacular and peaceful. We went round the maze. It’s great fun. If you cross second bridge you have taken the long way. The top tip is take bus for 1/3 off and book online. The pass adds to your apple wallet and lasts a year. There are lots of good opportunities, expensive and there
are cheaper in town. The privilege card gives a discount but you don’t get public transport or cycle discount.
James Naismith — Google review
Absolutely humungous and gorgeous Baroque palace grounds being a feast for nature or architecture lovers. Definitely recommend a visit when you’re around, but be careful that parking is only for people who have purchased tickets for the palace grounds, otherwise you’ll have to pay on the spot.
Walter Liu — Google review
Beautiful 17th century palace with lavish grounds and gardens around. Great for a weekend retreat into the rich British history. Expensive tickets but definitely worth it. Beautiful view of the river from the garden and I would highly recommend the butterfly garden. Nice cafeteria with lovely staff and a wide range of cakes, pastries and drinks.
Tejal Paliya — Google review
A lovely place to visit with the family. Extensive and beautifully kept gardens to wonder around. The house is wonderful and kept in amazing condition. Lots of explanations around and guides for you to ask any questions. The Churchill rooms are very interesting and informative too. If you buy one day entry it lasts for the year as well.
Kate Sinscou — Google review
Loved the Sleeping Beauty themed Christmas display. So well done. Very enjoyable. Don't be put off by it being a Disney theme. Men, women, and children will love it.
Alexandra Stride — Google review
My daughter and I visited on 16/12/23, sleeping beauty in the palace was very good. The light trail was excellent however, there are two rather steep hills that have to be climbed, for someone who has mobility issues they would be extremely challenging, I think this needs to be highlighted when making a booking. The Christmas market was a bit poor but at least you could get a hot drink and something to eat
John Gilmore — Google review
Great day out. The palace and the park are great, lots of history with knowledgable and friendly staff.
They had the icons of British fashion event on while we were there so there was extra to look at while going through the house.
The grounds were great, lovely to have a wander in the gardens and take the little train to the walled garden.
You get a free annual pass with your ticket and the events calendar seems to be full of interesting things throughout the year so I will be back again.
R B — Google review
Amazing Easter experience. The kids had the best day, jam-packed with fun. The kids playground was worth the extra cost. I would recommend bringing a change of clothes/costume for kids who may want to splash in the mini river.
Harriet Rees — Google review
Amazing Palace, endless history, stunning grounds. There's lots to do for all. Sir Winston Churchill did it for me. What a man, unfortunately we don't make them like this anymore. Become a member and enjoy the benefits. Were in fashion design, so I loved the show today. Will be back soon
mark bridger — Google review
Beautiful place to come with family! Possible to come around with the dog as well. Helpful staff to help with everything in the park. Palace is enormous bigger than Buckingham palace in London and taking breath away! Lovely view's, Harry Potter tree below the palace was a great surprise. Garden in a sharp condition; all the plants and lawn trimmed perfect as hell. Possible to use the toilets, shop to buy souvenir's, nice coffee shop with lovely cakes and hot drinks, warm inside, good to relax for a bit. Lift's for disabled around and accessible toilets if needed.
Inez Bodio — Google review
Had a great time at the Easter Eggstravaganza event, we have annual passes and come the Palace a couple of times a year. Really easy parking, plenty of things to do, we even found a waterfall we've never seen before after years of visiting! Food and drinks can be pricey so we take a picnic, usually end up buying something though!
Nathan Doe — Google review
Loved our day at Blenheim Palace and felt it was great value for money. Really enjoyed the whole experience, especially the butterfly house in the walled garden area. Would recommend to anyone and can’t wait to return in the warmer months.
Tori — Google review
A great day out. A memorable place blending history and nature. There are activities for all ages. I particularly enjoyed the spectacular landscaping and walking by the formal gardens and its centenary trees. And there is a proper maze. It is an investment but it does create happy memories!
Rubens Filho — Google review
Blenheim Palace has been on my must-see list ever since we moved to England a few years ago. They had a fashion display throughout the downstairs the day we were there that I didn’t really care for. I’d prefer to admire the palace on its own. We spent 5 hours exploring the grounds and the house. Highly recommend the upstairs tour. It costs extra but it was worth it. We really enjoyed exploring. Very fun day out!
Mariana Miller — Google review
Visited Blenheim Palace on many occasions for different events. Such a majestic and magical place to visit. This time was no exception for the Iconic British fashion exhibition. The staff here are always helpful and friendly. Good cafe with good range of drinks, snacks and small lunches. The grounds to walk around are wheelchair accessible where you can get support from Blenhiem with an electric vehicle to take you to the front entrance as most area is gravel. Not sure about accessing the palace itself as a wheel chair user. You can access both restaurants using wheelchairs. There's indoor and outdoor dining but it can get very busy. Lovely extensive gift shop and plenty of toilets. Blenhiem Palace always does great quality events. Some are extremely popular so need to book well in advance. Plenty of play area for children including a quick fun train ride. Butterfly farm has an amazing collection and wonderful seeing them fly around you. Looking forward to returning to another event here
The Ashmolean Museum is a world-renowned museum in Oxford, England, which houses collections from all over the world. The museum has an extensive range of exhibits, including art from ancient Greece and Rome, paintings by famous British artists such as Turner and Canaletto, and archaeological objects from all over the world. The lunchtime set menu often features dishes themed with current exhibitions for a good value meal.
We travelled up to Oxford specifically for this museum. My Husband has an interest in Japan and it's history and my daughter is currently learning about Egyptians in school.
We booked online, entry is free, and added on the family adventure for 4 (as well as donating which I hope everyone does to help such a wonderful museum).
The adventure tablets and headphones where superb, I'm so glad we added it on. The games where extremely child friendly, we was able to play games together at certain spots and individually whilst learning about certain pieces. My only slight gripe with this was, there was a section of find the paintings, one of the paintings we was searching for had actually been removed from the room, so we spent 10 minutes wandering before a kind member of the team there helped us. The order of the games was a bit odd, first going up to floor 3, then 2 back to 3 then 2 then 1. It didn't suit us personally, so we just started at the top and worked our way down and then when we got to certain parts included in the adventure we clicked on them. This was we was seeing everything instead of just actively looking at the tablet parts.
We was here a good 3 hours and could of spent longer but my youngest was getting tired. We had a pushchair and found the lifts quite small as a family group. The blue lift goes to certain floors then a pink lift for another. Easy to get to grips of and find when you've got your bearings.
The shop was fab, bit small with a pushchair and when busy I imagine. My daughter had some books and I had the gin (which was beautiful tasting!).
We're looking forward to visiting again.
Lauren Tetsell — Google review
I absolutely love this museum. Spotlessly clean, spacious and so many interesting exhibits. Free admission but a donation is welcome. Shows arts and cultures from all over the world with some amazing pieces to admire. Clean well maintained toilets. Did not visit the cafe or gift shop so cannot comment.
Finding Balance — Google review
Fascinating place with many exciting displays. One could lose track of time viewing the countless exhibits. If a guided tour is an option then highly recommended.
Allow plenty of time to wander and discover and take a break in their cafe or enjoy a meal in the roof top restaurant.
Jacqui Phillips (Three Crosses) — Google review
Love this museum. Has the bits of history that I enjoy. This time, I spent time in the Anglo-Saxon exhibit and went to see the Messiah violin by Stradivari and 2 other of his violins. Will do it again.
Odlaw — Google review
To say there is something for everyone would be the understatement of the year.
However, if you want to know how to deal with a wicked rat-ghost, display your planetary deities, or create an incense holder with an ox sculpture then this is the place for you.
If you find the Baroque collection make time to stay awhile.
Veronica Hyde — Google review
I was so lucky to be able to photograph Sam and Ben's wedding at the Ashmolean in Oxford. The setting it absolute stunning with the wedding taking place in amongst the beautiful art work. The staff were absolutely amazing and were always on hand to help when needed. What a fantastic and quirky venue to get married at. I highly recommend it.
James Robertson (J S Robertson Photography) — Google review
This museum has a wonderful collection of historical artifacts, especially those from Egypt. The art gallery is impressive, with a wide variety of artwork to admire. You can easily spend 4-5 hours exploring the museum with your family. There's a convenient food court located underground, perfect for grabbing a bite to eat and continuing your visit.
Kaushal Kishore — Google review
Brilliant! The Ashmolean has been on my visit list for years and it was amazing.
The museum has a fantastic range of exhibits. It's a beautiful building, lots of space to take your time and not be crowded. Honestly, one visit isn't enough!
Brad Tipping — Google review
I've been in April with my daughter, we spent there half of the day. The museum is impressive, a lot of interesting things to see from different eras of history and different countries. We really enjoyed everything, but the roman statues and the Egyptian hieroglyphs really caught my eye, and another things that I loved were the Stradivarius violins.
Andreea Denisa — Google review
A spot where you could have unintentionally spent hours browsing. Even though several of the galleries were closed for maintenance, there is so much to see and it takes time to thoroughly examine collections from different regions and time periods. I reserved a ticket for a specified time slot, yet it appears that it is not quite essential because I visited on a weekday. Furthermore, the highlights self-guided audio tour, which costs only £3.6 and can be listened to on one’s own digital devices, allows me to swiftly discover the most valuable objects in Ashmolean.
Riley Tang — Google review
It's free, lots and interesting things to see from Roman times, Egypt, India, China and many more. I love this place. Worth every second of your steps. Toilet are clean, equipped with soap and toilet paper. There is locker provided (GBP1), café and souvenir shop.
imaiqah honey Kamal — Google review
Beautiful, well organised and airy museum. Entry is free, recommend to donate £10 if you lien of course.
It has rooftop coffee shop too.
Bahareh — Google review
Been there quite a few times but it never gets boring! You always find some small detail you haven’t noticed before. Good collections, even my 7 year old brother kept on busy exploring. Great activity to do in Oxford especially considering it’s free. There are toilets, cafe and a restaurant on the top floor.
Demnlive — Google review
Completely free museum with exhibits spanning the globe. You’ll see mummy’s, cast replicas of Roman and Greek statues, Asian bronze work, and so much more.
One of the gems of Oxford on my day trip to the college town.
Matty B — Google review
Free to enter. It’s kinda half museum and half art gallery. Lots to see across 5 floors and a cafe and gift shop too. Some interesting local finds as well as the usual Egyptian, Ancient Greek and Roman swag. Good way to spend an hour with the kids. You have to carry rucksacks in your hand, not on your back, presumably so you don’t swing round and knock over the priceless ming vase!
Chris Gledhill — Google review
Hadn't planned to visit but discovered I did not need to pre-book. Staff were very informative and had excellent Covid protocols. Free to enter, but please find it within yourself to make a donation!
So much to see and you could spends days in here. I had time for the the European Art section and the English Ceramics today. Plenty of information boards explaining exhibits and all cases well labelled.
Spacious cafe, lifts, toilets and £1 lockers if you don't want to carry your bag around.
Whether you've got an hour or all day, the Ashmolean is a must when you visit Oxford.
Stephen Woodman — Google review
The best museum I have ever visited. Understand this museum in in Oxford centre so being a seat of learning caters for all points of history. Clean, spacious with helpful staff. Lifts to floors, gift shop and tea room, spotless throughout lockers for your bags open or lockable umbrella stands (yes lockable) and mobile lightweight seating if you wish to study by an exhibit or rest for a while. Truly a fine place to visit. My visit was to see the Alfred jewel and was not disappointed. A must to visit while in oxford. And to top it all off its FREE. to enter, so drop in and out anytime during the day. A light and airy place not a old traditional dark and dusty museum. Nice to see the young people of Oxford and others studying inside the museum around exhibits. Gave the place such a nice feel.
codywarkite — Google review
I had a family day out & I was greeting and looked after superbly by the staff. There are many very interesting facts to learn about the world around us, may it be fiction and non-fictional. There also was a lovely staff member I know personally called Asia, and she just adds her own amazing uniqueness to the place. She organises events for the museum such as top class weddings. She definitely does her job justice.
Jackson McCarthy — Google review
My visit was specifically to see the Labyrinth exhibition, which was exceptional. The whole enormous building is full of interest & treasure, beautifully displayed and labelled. It would be easy to spend whole days there.
gb99cat — Google review
Loved this place. Such beautiful exhibits and so much history. It is good that the Ashmolean recognises some of the problematic sides to their acquisitions through colonialism and actually has a display on this. We enjoyed the juxtaposition of modern art with historical content. Learned so much here and will come back to Oxford again just to revisit this museum. Definitely worth stepping inside if you are in the area. You can spend a whole day here. You can also get a quick shot of culture in a 20 minute whirl.
Rowan Puttergill — Google review
Great museum. Really varied exhibitions and some things I’ve never seen before. Their ancient Egypt wing really stood out with actual mummies and sarcophaguses!
Hannah Alexander — Google review
Great way to spend an afternoon at the museum. Also a really cool cafe on the rooftop with a modest selection of food and drink, including a really decent afternoon tea with a vegan option! I'm impressed.
Grace Looi — Google review
Our visit to the Ashmolean museum was splendid. The sculptures and historical presentations was great to watch. You need a day to visit the museum fully. A must visit in Oxford
Thambippillai Saran — Google review
A great visit if you’re in Oxford. It is free of charge to enter as well! They have spacious lockers, clean toilets, and a shop as well. Museum consists of multiple levels and mainly focuses on the history of the civilization. They have artifacts from around the world. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to visit this place. If you’re very keen, there’s enough things to spend your whole day in it!
Milan Tharaka — Google review
Fascinating modern museum explaining the history of civilisations across the globe. Spread across 5 floors, one of which is for exhibitions (paid). Allow extra time for the WC as there's only one!
Richard Porteous — Google review
The Ashmolean Museum is an incredible collection of artefacts from all around the world and different periods of history, as well as featuring some world-class art.
It really cannot be overstated, how comprehensive the collection is. It is like a combination of the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museums in Oxford.
And apart from the rotating exhibitions it is free to entry. We only spent an hour in the museum, but you could easily spend an entire day and then come back and see some more.
There is also a roof terrace with bar and cafe that is lovely in the summer.
A real gem and worth a visit if you are in Oxford.
Peter Hall — Google review
Completely free to enter but donations are recommended. Stunning museum with huge amounts to see over a few floors. It has a bit for every one of all ages and a must see in Oxford for a couple hours.
Robert Greenaway — Google review
Generally a nice place to have a wonder for a few hours, taking in some art and history and doing some sketching. Like most places of this ilk it closes too early and you have to pay £1 for the lockers, which you can get a token for from the shop. The Flemish section is my favourite as there are some hidden gems in there.
Caïna Verrin — Google review
Great place to visit, with a very large art collection. Definitely needs time to view everything. Planning a next visit for sure.
Ana Schaub Ćorić — Google review
A great museum that’s full of all sorts of artefacts from around the world. Free to enter most of the galleries. Lots of guides and activities going on. A good shop and cafe. It can get very busy and popular but there are always places you can find away from the crowds.
Christ Church is Oxford's largest and most prestigious college, with a proud history dating back to the 1525 founding of Cardinal Wolsey. The college is home to many famous alumni, including Lewis Carroll and Harry Potter. Christ Church's ornate main quadrangle and impressive dining hall are some of the main attractions for tourists visiting the college.
The most famous college in Oxford, inspiring works such as Harry Potter and Alica in Wonderland.
Booking ahead is required, as day tickets tend to be sold quickly. Prices are a bit steep (15£ for a student ticket) but its a very nice experience, and it also includes a visit to the cathedral on the same grounds.
Most of the times it is quite crowded, so would opt for earliest tickets, or evening. Especially if you want to get nice pics.
Dan-Mihai Dorobantu — Google review
A very nice experience to the scenes of Harry Potter the movie. The place is huge and impressive.
Bought a ticket and a headset is provided for self guided tour.
Not sure if the Hall got lunch time closure. Coz we were informed by the nice guard that the Hall was opened at about 13:30. It was amazing to see the cafeteria of Harry Potter.
Justina Lee — Google review
Probably the most visited college of Oxford. Christ Church certainly worth a visit. Remember to pre-book your ticket as it can get very crowded and you'll have to wait to get a ticket.
Very helpful free audio guide that helps you walk around the college.
This college is very popular being one of the filming location for Harry Potter.
The grounds are also very beautiful and you must take time to walk around the college.
Amelia Russo — Google review
Located in the heart of the city, Christ Church is conveniently close to museums, shops and restaurants. What a magical experience from the grandeur of the Harry Potter setting of the Grand Hall to the majestic stained glass windows , ceiling detail and font.
Even if you choose not to pay to go inside it is definitely worth a visit to take photos from the outside.
At the side of the main entrance you can walk through the meadow up to the river.
joshua khoo — Google review
I was on a self guided tour of Harry Potter locations in Oxford so knew Christ Church was a must. Beautiful building with a lot of history is the inspiration for the Great Hall. Incredible interiors of this stunning church did not disappoint!
Tran Hang — Google review
Christ Church College is definitely one of the must-visit landmarks in Oxford and not only for fans of Harry Potter.
The admission needs go be reserved online in advance and the availability is pretty limited. The dining hall is currently in use so it would be closed during lunch time.
It's famous for the movie scenes in Harry Potter series for its dining hall and center field. We were impressed by how brilliant & magnificent the church is and we enjoyed the view very much.
Hsin Yi Wei — Google review
Why do I have to buy tickets online?
We were there in person with cash and card and they wouldn't let us buy a ticket. Real jobs worth in the gift shop.
Have to go outside and mess around with their website to buy a ticket with our travel cards. Very annoying.
The buildings themselves were very nice to see but you won't be spending long there.
The cathedral was the highlight - good information about the stained glass etc.
Personally I found other smaller colleges better to visit. This felt more like a money grab impersonal tourist attraction.
Go to small but pretty college like Balliol instead if you don't want to pay an arm and a leg.
James Bryan — Google review
Beautiful experience. The college was nice, and the cathedral also. Although the price of it is high, I recommend buying the multimedia ticket, it contains a lot of useful and interesting information, and it is translated into many languages. Also, if you want to go there, do buy tickets online in advance, because they tend to sell out quickly.
Andrej Polansky — Google review
Beautiful, historic Oxford college. I have visited several times, but not since they added a new visitor’s center with self-guided audio tours. The audio/video tour is one of the best I have experienced while traveling. It contains a lot of excellent information both about the history of the college and its contemporary use. For people new to the UK/Oxford university system, this tour helps you to understand how things work while gaining an appreciation for the history of this particular college and its cathedral. The meadows are, of course, a lovely place to walk, picnic, or even take a nap!
Joel Childers — Google review
Expected more. Do not pay for a tour if you are a Harry Potter fan: just one hall and stairs. Church needed to visit.
Hanna Kucher — Google review
Be warned that the college is not very accessible. There are many steps throughout, and some pathways in the garden area are muddy/flooded, which I think will be difficult to navigate with a wheelchair or limited mobility.
We had a pushchair which had to be carried up/down several flights of stairs (easy for us as we were in a group but I imagine impossible if you're on your own). We were warned of this at the visitor centre, and at the entrance; but I don't remember a clear warning on the website when buying tickets.
Tickets are £16 per person, or £12.80 if the cathedral is closed. You can buy online or at the visitors centre. If you buy online you'll still need to queue at the centre for your audio guide.
Check the timings for the great hall beforehand, as it closes during lunchtime and you don't want to miss it! It's the highlight of the visit.
Overall I think it's worth a visit even if it's pricey.
Alexandra Orlando — Google review
Can have an exciting tour around famous harry potter filming locations. Can explore with guided groups or multimedia guided self tours. Book tickets in advance might make sure your can enter.
Chandima Kumarihami — Google review
Very suggestive place to visit. If you are in Oxford you have to see the Church and the college inside. There are also the original location of Harry Potter first movie.
Feliciano Liso — Google review
A really beautiful place to visit. Quite large, but the audio walking tour is self-guided so you can move at your own pace. There’s a nice path to the river as well, providing lots to see both inside and outside. Visitors cannot go in the library, but it was fun hearing about the tree that can be seen from within that is the inspiration for the tree the Cheshire Cat sits in throughout the Alice in Wonderland stories.
Alicia Adams — Google review
A pleasant place to visit. Architecturely quite beautiful. We were lucky to have a crisp blue sky bringing out the yellow of the sandstone. Saw the Harry Potter staircase and the hall inspiration for Hogwarts Hall. Liked the coloured glass in cathedral, Burne Jones glass and lovely carved choir stalls.
Gill P — Google review
Christ Church college is one of the best visit of Oxford. I had this place on my list for years, I don’t know why I waited so long. The college is beautiful. You have a multimedia guide included in the ticket to show you around and explain the history of the place.
They shot a few scenes from Harry Potter here. No wonder why some area of the college have such an Hogwarts vibe.
Damien Vanhille — Google review
Beautiful building, very similar to the parliament in London, unfortunately we could not get inside. But it was very cool to see it even close by.
John — Google review
It was wonderful to revisit a place that has served my family for generations. A very historic building full of history and amazing architecture. The atmosphere is both imposing and inspiring. I would highly recommend a visit as great men and women of history have passed through these buildings.
Antony Davies — Google review
It's a beautiful place, the interiors are amazing. The college is absolutely stunning. I would recommend booking the tickets online. There's a ticket counter and a small shop nearby. Situated in the heart of the city.
Parking would be a bit difficult around this area, better explore by walk.
The Pitt Rivers Museum is a Victorian Gothic-style building located in Oxford, England. This museum is dedicated to the collection of artifacts from all over the world, most notably from archaeology and anthropology. Some of the most interesting items on display include shrunken heads, masks from all over the world, toys from different countries, and clothing worn by royalty. This museum is best for older children who are curious about history and appreciate quirky architecture.
A beautiful and well-maintained parkland with a stately home is a must-visit tourist attraction in Basildon. With multiple films and TV series having been filmed here, it's no wonder the house is so impressive. The grounds are perfect for picnics, and it's easy to see why this destination has been loved by locals and tourists for years.
Bit of a queue to get into car park due overflow field too wet to use. No problem though. Beautiful light draped trees leading to house. Stunning house with plenty of rooms open, many with great Christmas decorations. Busy but pleasant cafe, no problem getting a table. Many paths around the parkland. Well recommended.
AS — Google review
This is such a beautiful National Trust house. It's stunning inside and the views are also magnificent.
If you watch any of the films that filmed at the house, you will even enjoy it more.
And all volunteering staff was amazing, so patient and friendly. I highly recommend this venue!
Don't miss the shell room. It's breathtaking!
Parking can be tricky on nice day but worth the wait!
Laura F. — Google review
A beautiful, stately home with awesome grounds that provide ample grounds for spending an entire day, especially when the weather is nice. There are so many choices of picnic spots, each with a unique view. The cafeteria serves decent food at a modest price. Access to the main house may be a little difficult for those in wheelchairs although the trust may have made provisions that I didn't notice.
Children of all ages will have a great time here as it's perfect for a family day out.
Fola — Google review
Excellent day out. Unfortunately it was raining when we visited but did little to taint the overall experience of the day. The volunteer guides dotted around the house were knowledgeable and very friendly. The cafe was very good too. We will visit again soon - this time when the sun is out!
Ed Casson — Google review
So grateful for our National Trust memberships. Another lovely place to visit and once again fantastic volunteers on hand with founts of knowledge. The grounds are impeccably kept and there are 4 walks ranging from 20 mins to 2 hours through fields and woodland. Also don't be put off by the fairly plain exterior, inside the house is stunning. We loved it.
Wayne Arnold — Google review
It's a lovely country estate. Ideal for dog walkers, families or for anyone who just want to go for a nice woodland walk or look around in the house which appeared on many movies including Downtown Abbey.
The Christmas decoration in the house is also very lovely during the festive season. Weekends can be busy at the car park. The earlier you could go is the best. (AM)
Anita Czene — Google review
Stunning building and gardens. Several major movies have been filmed here and well deserved. Interior rooms are beautifully decorated and the enthusiastic staff are more than happy to help and answer questions.
David Hamilton — Google review
A beautiful park and palace with incredibly helpful guides in every room, where you can get a huge amount of knowledge about what happened in the palace and when. The beautifully preserved rooms and conservation of historical artifacts, along with Lady Charlotte's breathtaking shell collection, are simply stunning. It's amazing how easy it once was to acquire and transport such shells without any problem. Wonderful views and delightful green landscapes offer the opportunity for endless walks with your dog. On-site facilities include toilets, a café, and a souvenir shop. It's a welcoming place with lots of interesting information and beautiful decorations.
Inez Bodio — Google review
Recently visited this hidden gem with friends - honestly, we wanted to have a picnic somewhere nice, halfway between the two houses and Basildon Park popped up on the map 🗺
Realised, when we arrived at the house, that multiple films and TV series have been filmed here 🎥
The house is magnificent, the grounds are beautiful and if you are as lucky as we were; it’s the perfect spot for a picnic - would definitely visit again.
I’ve given a 4* rating, only because I felt £15.00 per person is quite steep - although I’m hoping we can visit the national parks regularly, so we may invest in a couple of memberships.
Savannah Blanks — Google review
Taking the exit from the M4, I followed a couple of signs to the car park entrance, as maps takes you to another entrance. Fortunately I found a spot in the overflow car park as the main car park was busy.
The ticket office, shop and toilets are located at the start. Before you take a brief uphill walk to the tea room and main house. Lots of space in the tea room with indoor and outdoor seating. There is also an interesting murial painted around the inside seating area.
Inside the house there is a room with extravagant wall paper depicting scenes from India.
There is a small garden at the rear of the house with a wide variety of plants.
I took the long boundary walk which lasted approximately 55minutes at a fairly moderate pace. You pass through a cow field at the start and some children's play areas towards the end. Lots of open space and places to walk/explore. Didn't feel particularly busy at any point.
Gavin Williams — Google review
Beautiful house and grounds with some nice walks. The house has been carefully and tastefully restored after falling into disrepair. Excellent staff and volunteers with great knowledge. Very nice cafe/restaurant area also with courtyard seating. Would recommend.
Malcolm Thomas — Google review
NT property that has been used in the filming of Downton Abbey. Beautiful extensive grounds many peaceful walks.stunning scenery. Lovely coffee shop next to a pretty rose garden
JanB — Google review
Well maintained grounds and very friendly staff. The staff in the house were VERY chatty, I don’t mind usually but it took much too long to actually get to look around because they were talking for so long. Lots to see and do, and the Tea Room is lovely, a nice value for an afternoon tea and scone. Overall a great day out.
Marissa Jasmine Carter (Marissa Carter) — Google review
Lovely place to visit especially during Spring!
Staff were very knowledgeable in all the rooms in the house and we enjoyed a cheese scone and cake in the tea room at the end.
We had a nice walk around the garden and will return at some point to do the full grounds as we are National Trust Members!
Abbie Trussler — Google review
Magnificent country Manor, with some great art.
Great place to walk in the gardens, around the estate, or have a picnic on the lawn. Lots of seats around where you can just sit and take in the amazing views. The tea rooms, with their tropical decor, are large with plenty of seating, and a separate dog friendly area. Staff are all friendly and helpful.
David Sherratt — Google review
Utterly charming. We visited at my wife’s insistence even though it was more than an hour away. We have a rescue Beagle with damaged paws who needs soft flat grassland to walk on. From the moment we arrived we were charmed with the lovely atmosphere. Wonderful car park lady attendant, very helpful young well spoken lady on ticketing and friendly staff at the coffee shop and gift shops. A short walk from the car park up to the house with excellent far reaching views across the Thames valley. Well worth going out of your way for. Recommended.
Will H — Google review
Wonderful day out. Great easy walks in the grounds. T room is a bit busy but the house is beautiful and the grounds are wonderful. Away from the main area on the long walk we had the place to ourselves.
John Russell-Smith (FamilyRussell-SmithTravel) — Google review
Another NT house , lots to see and discuss. Large parklands to explore and neat well prepared lawns side and rear. Large 2 roomed cafe , 1 of which interestingly decorated in Thai style. Think there's also a lake at bottom of hill but rain prevented exploration.
Warren Heath — Google review
Beautiful grounds and a lovely house. The room decorated with sea shells is especially worth having a look. The cafe is good.
Diane Severson Mori — Google review
Basildon Park is an incredible sight to see. As you enter the car park you are greeted by the friendly staff who explain the site and how to get to the house. There are sufficient amenities, toilets, a small shop prior to going to the house and some outside seating. You walk to the house through the quiet and tranquil woodlands, and as you walk round to the left you are greeted by the enormous house. The house is kept in excellent condition. You walk up some stairs for the entrance, where you're greeted by some knowledgeable staff. You are guided through the different rooms and each room has a guide to give you interesting little tid bits of information. The tea room has an array of sandwiches and hot food. We had jacket potatoes with cheese and beans, which were both really tasty and the coleslaw was incredible. We then went round back to enjoy the gardens and nature and it really does just make you feel calm and relaxed. The full experience for us took around 2 hours 30minutes. It could take longer or it could be shorter. Adult entry is £16 if you're not a National trust member. The Jacket potatoes were £7-9. A bottle of water was £3.30. The sausage roll was £4.70. There is a kids option of £5 for 5 items. So if you are a big family and eating there you may find a big bill. I highly recommend visiting especially when flowers are in full bloom.
Trish C — Google review
Good food, lots of history from the past. Elegant mansion and garden. Wide space for outdoor walk and dog-friendly
Fil-Italian Sa UK — Google review
We had a wonderful visit to Basildon Park. It’s a beautiful house with vast grounds to explore including short grass, easy access areas and trickier wooden terrain. There is a golf cart transport service if you find the slope up through the beautifully lit wooded path tricky to navigate beyond the free car park that has ample spaces. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. There is a cafe and shop on site and pleasant toilet facilities and lots of options for walks. Well worth a visit.
Beth Polak — Google review
Massive 400 acres estate with a beautifully restored house and well maintained garden. Lots of walking trail. They have tables and benches where you can enjoy a family picnic. There is also a children's playground. If the main car park is full, they have an overflow car park. They have a nice cafe with painted walls. Staff were all lovely and pleasant. When you have time, chat with them and listen to the amazing stories. The room with the silk wall is quite interesting. I initially thought it was wallpaper.
Beale Wildlife Park is a spacious 350-acre nature reserve that features scenic nature trails, river cruises and a diverse range of wildlife including red deer and rare birds. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the premises. Visitors of all ages can enjoy well-maintained facilities such as clean toilets and fantastic play areas, with information provided on the animals in an easy-to-understand format along with pictures for kids.
Really impressed, so much to see and do, not just for children but adults too!
All well maintained, looked after and clean.
Animals all seemed happy and had lots of space (I am not an expert of course just the view of a normal person). Information on all the animals easy to understand and pictures too for the little people.
Play areas are fantastic, for all ages.
Toilets clean and easy to access.
Sophie Barclay — Google review
Absolutely stunning park. The floral and fauna were both spectacular. The staff on entry were really polite and friendly. My toddler loved the little train ride. The site has a few lovely eateries and picnic areas. I especially loved the Japanese Garden and the beautiful parrots. Wil definitely visit again soon.
Maha Urbanski — Google review
Great day out on a very warm sunny day in this laid back park. Staff were very friendly and helpful, it was a special promotion day and was very busy. Parking was free, entrance was quick despite the high attendance. The park is big with a giant bouncing pillow, large well maintained paddling pool, plenty of play parks, a great mini train ride at no extra cost and a variety of animals dotted around well maintained and interesting grounds.
Clean and well maintained toilet facilities, although the restaurant is closed for refurbishment, there was a fast food and coffee/ drinks facility near the paddling pool, with ample picnic tables and shady nooks all over the park.
Vance Willis — Google review
What an amazing place!! Would have been 5 stars of there was a few more "zoo" animals, but I can't fault the place!! Great selection of animals, lots for the little ones to do and explore. Would definitely recommend and would definitely go back!!
Chris Allum — Google review
A park like no other! Enjoyable for all ages and food prices in all ranges. The architecture and grounds are a thing of beauty to admire not to mention the animals and the roaming peacock! It's a day worthy experience and worth every penny of it's ticket price. Entirely wheelchair accessible with lovely staff and tidbits of information on hand.
Hope Mcguire — Google review
Simple to get to, took us 50mins. Lots off parking,
Lovely place to go, kids loved it. It might be small but there's lots to do.
Small pool, sandpit. Diff play area for kids at different ages. Toilets all around,
Kila Robinson — Google review
Loved this place wish I had found it when my child was younger.
Love the cappys and the gardens are beautiful! Pretty solid day out. My child was 12 so prob the only time we will go.
Briony Ford — Google review
We love it here. Such a great space for all ages. Lots to see and do. Bit pricey for food/ice cream/coffee but to be expected. My daughter and I had a great time for her last preschool outing before school.
emily jade — Google review
Great place to go with the kids. There is a train ride, a large bouncy dome, plenty of animals, nice food, large play area with swings and slide and a small soft play probably aimed for under 5's. My only gripe is the men's toilets weren't great. No lock on one and a huge gap in the other. Not great, especially when you have a medical condition. Old hand dryers as well. Needs improving!
4front Electrical Ltd — Google review
Fanatic day out for all the family.
The animal experiences are good and not excessively priced like at some other zoos I could mention (you do have to book online before visiting though).
There is a splash pool and play equipment which is great for breaking up the day. Don't forget a towel!
Robert Taylor — Google review
Fabulous wildlife park with a good variety of animals, most of which can be seen up close. Knowledgeable and helpful keepers happy to answer questions.
The animals are spread out across the park so it makes for a nice walk with the animals interspersed. Mature Japanese style garden is pleasant to sit in for lunch.
Some large playgrounds are a welcome distraction for children along with a large paddling pool area which is available over the summer.
Rachel Crompton — Google review
Lovely day out! I went with a group of friends, and we had a blast seeing the animals. Fair enough price with optional donation. The park is clean, and spacious enough that you don't end up bottlenecking or crowding too much. There's a variety of animals, and talks throughout the day. It seems they're doing their best as far as enrichment and welfare are concerned too which is nice to see. Seemed like good facilities for children, too!
The only downside was our experience with food, which we queued for in the cafe (at 2pm because we were hoping to miss the rush) for an hour. They were show, ran out of food, we're understaffed and seemed generally a bit panicked - it was a bank holiday so perhaps they hadn't expected so many people, somehow? Food was decent enough, pizza was far more worth the price than what else was on offer.
All in all a good day out for all ages!
Maisie Ball — Google review
Beale Wildlife Park is a true gem for nature enthusiasts, earning its well-deserved 5-star rating. The park boasts an impressive variety of birds and animals, providing visitors with a delightful and educational experience. From majestic birds of prey to adorable mammals, the diversity is truly captivating.
I confirmed the information on their website, and the opening times and dates ensure flexibility for visitors to plan their trips conveniently. The well-maintained grounds and thoughtfully designed habitats showcase a commitment to both conservation and visitor enjoyment.
The inclusion of a charming little train adds an extra layer of fun, making it easy for families to explore the park comfortably. Additionally, the children's play parks provide a perfect outlet for young ones to burn off some energy while still embracing the beauty of the outdoors.
Beale Wildlife Park excels in creating a harmonious environment where wildlife conservation meets recreational enjoyment, making it a must-visit destination for people of all ages.
PC 360 — Google review
Really nice attraction with plenty of animals. Pleasant large grounds with ponds and lakes. Nice cafe with friendly and helpful staff. Theirs also a railway that takes you along and around which is good and gives another opportunity to see the wildlife at the back of the park. We did the meerkat encounter which was good value. The young guy that did it was really good 👍 👍
Mark M — Google review
Great day out, reasonably priced. Top marks!!
Our second visit, which we enjoyed as much as the first. Staff were friendly and welcoming, a credit to the park.
They have a small train which does a short tour of the park. Excellent for children of all ages (and grown ups as well if I'm honest). It's included in the admission fee which is nice.
Lots of animals to see (otters, birds, reptiles, zebra etc etc). There are also lots of active things for kids in the way climbing frames, bouncy castle thing (there's no point me describing it you have to see it) and lots more.
There's a garden section which is nice to stroll through with lots of flowers and decorations.
Another thing to mention is the very competitively priced annual membership. £75 for adults and £60 for children is not too expensive. Honestly I'm considering signing myself my wife and my son for it.
Either way an excellent location with lots to see and do. Well done Beale park 👍
Glyn Rolmanis — Google review
Visited on a very wet and rainy midweek day☔️, but still had a great time. Not quite as many animals as we expected, but they all look in great condition, well looked after and we were impressed with the size of the enclosures. Had a burger for lunch in their on-site cafe, which was also great. Primarily visited for the Meet the Capybara and Tapir experience, which was awesome: Neville the Tapir loves a tummy tickle and we fell in love with Sharron and Gary the Capybara’s.
Fobby — Google review
100% recommend doing the tapir and capybara feeding experience. I had the best time! I could have stayed in the Tapir enclosure all day. The tapir absolutely loved a scratch. The Capybara were also a good experience but they definitely wanted the food more than a smooth, which is fine. Loved seeing them up close. Milo led us on the experience and was very knowledgeable. The rest of the park was fun. Lots of interesting animals to see. We also rode on the train which was interesting. Some animals - like the wallaby are better seen from the train as the train went right past their enclosure.
Gabriella Minshull — Google review
Beautiful wildlife park in Berkshire just off the M4. Plenty of parking available and wheelchair access is there too. The park is well maintained, plenty of animals and birds to see and learn of their species. A lot of play area for the kids, a lot of seating available too. Definitely a spot of wildlife photographers to spend a day (come with an extra battery). I’d highly recommend visiting.
Alfred Aquino — Google review
4.4
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4.0
(1183)
Lower Basildon, Pangbourne, Reading RG8 9NW, United Kingdom
The Coventry Transport Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in British motor vehicles or transport. With more than 200 exhibits covering everything from bicycles to land-speed record breakers, the museum offers an unparalleled overview of this fascinating topic. Highlights include a 60-year-old Vintage Sleigh Ride and the DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future. Kids will love exploring the 4D Thrust speed simulator.
Having visited a few transport museums I can honestly say that this museum is in the top 3 in the country. Children and adults will love this place, packed with history very well laid and out easy to navigate. Parking nearby in Bishop Street I paid £4 for 3 hours. I can highly recommend this Museum and the nearby Esquires Coffee shop. The staff were great.
Ian Stewart — Google review
A great experience and voyage. The history and details of some of the greatest inventions of our modern age.
A huge variety of vehicles from push bikes, scooters, motorcycles and cars.
Loads of information and interactive stations.
Dkr — Google review
One of the best museums to take kids to. Had a wonderful time. The highlights of the museum are the Thrust SSC and Thrust 2 that are both engineering marvel. The Thrust SSC simulator 4D experience is good that talks about the history and then takes you to the ride. The museum tickets are valid for a year so that's a bonus.
Ashish Shukla — Google review
Amazing Museum. So much to look at and plenty of interesting information throughout. Took 3 1/2 hours to walk through and see everything. Tickets are valid for a year so the price is perfect. Would definitely come back.
Only disappointing part was the gifts shop was rather small, and didn't have much that was themed specifically for the museum. Plenty of toy cars though!
Ven R — Google review
Lovely place to visit, so much knowledge to learn about Coventry and the history of all sorts of vehicles and transport. Hands on activities and informative exhibits. The whole history of transport all laid out in a really enjoyable journey of time.
Great disabled access and toilets, reasonably priced cafe and decent gift shop with something for all wallets, they even do a pocket money bag for 5 pound including a variety of items.
Every single member of staff were happy, polite informative and helped us out loads, from showing us where the lift was to telling us how to use the penny press machine, nothing was too much trouble.
With the 12 month free return ticket included in the entry price this place is a bargain and needless to say, we will return. Highly recommended.
Thank you for a great place to visit.
Leanne Frisby — Google review
Wonderful, interesting and exciting experience that I will for sure re-do at some point this year!
The tickets are valid 12 months from when you purchase them and it is possible to visit anytime. Their hours are available on the website, but I believe the museum is open on Bank Holidays too!!!
I have to say that what we saw was astonishing and took us back into the old times, it was a sensational feeling and the 1800/1900 vibes are enjoyable.
Another visit is due as I believe there is so much to learn and explore inside the museum that I did not read and understood much in my previous visit. I definitely am interested in what made this city, Coventry, the city it is today.
MariStella — Google review
We left with mixed feelings.
When we arrived and purchased tickets on the day we were happy and let in with no queues or such, it was very clear when walking around that I think we were two of only half a dozen people in there. Extremely quiet very little visitors on our day.
The displays were generally nice and well done and it was great to see some amazing history. However it was also a little disappointing that most of the interactive stuff was either broken, not working or switched off.
It's surprisingly large place compared to the outside, and took us a while to walk around.
There was one area we mentioned that while they was a lift it was blocked up by some cones, which we thought was odd if someone wasn't able to use the stairs.
In the last bit there was a sign for an 'speed record experience' in the jet car area.
On arrival at this, no staff was to be found and so we didn't get to experience this.
You leave through the giftstore which itself wasn't that great. I went to ask at the desk about the experience and was told.
Someone should be there and can take the payment for it. I questioned further and this wasn't included in the ticket and cost extra.
So we passed up on this.
Marc Kempster — Google review
Fascinating venue with both cars and push bikes from my past. Went to see the Thrust SSC 2. Also experienced the simulator. Well worth a visit if you are car buff.
Si Johnson — Google review
Massive collection of classic cars, bikes, and motorcycles, with detailed historical context and information. Focus is on locally manufactured exhibits, but plenty to see. Separate sections for commercial vehicles and the history of Jaguar cars.
Well worth visiting if you are in Coventry City centre.
Dave Harris — Google review
"Coventry Gem! Don't miss this spot where history and the motor vehicle world collide. Learn about Coventry's past and the incredible evolution of cars—all in one place. Surprisingly, the best vintage cars were born here! Plus, score free entry with a valid Go CV registration. A must-visit!"
akhil madhavan — Google review
This museum is really good. Even for kids you have so many fun activities or games to play with. As an adult i would say i really enjoyed here with my husband. We were here for nearly 4 hours. It has so many old cards that are just stunning. The price of the ticket is okay because you can visit it multiple times over an year. Staff is nice and friendly if you need help. There is 4D show at the end which is around £3 for a ride and its good experience.
Emanuela Bozhinova — Google review
We visited Coventry as we had some things to do and someone recommended this place to visit. So grateful to her xx, it's a Fantastic place for all ages! So much history, the videos are following from where the previous one left. Kids get excited about it too, there is a place where the little ones can do activities and so much more. We'll definitely be back
Natalia Rogojina — Google review
Lovely experience. The staff wore extremely friendly and helpful. Amazing car collection. Definitely recommend. It's a must see. I traveled 1 hour for this experience. Parking around the museum is a bit hard but with google maps you should be able to find somewhere to leave the car.
Alexandru Dodoiu — Google review
Absolutely love this place - it's as much a history of manufacturing in the Coventry area as it is about transport.
I loved seeing all the old bikes, motorcycles, cars and other vehicles on display. A particular highlight was the Jaguar Heritage collection of about 20 historically significant cars from the most local of car manufacturers.
The picnic area with tables and chairs half way round was very welcome, as was the accompanying children's play area (a large brio track was very much enjoyed by our daughter).
Budget about 4 hours for a reasonably in-depth visit, a lot more of you want to read everything on offer.
There is a café adjoining the museum on the ground floor - perfect for tea/coffee and cakes as well as some warm dishes.
An added bonus is that your ticket gives you access for 12 months so you can go back as much as you like in this time.
Simon Reeves — Google review
Museum is focused on locally produced transport and just the right size to walk around easily in 1.5 hours. I'm a Jaguar fan, hence the pictures, but there are plenty of other manufacturers represented, many of whom I've never heard. The museum is laid out in a time-line and is well worth a visit.
Dave Ashford — Google review
Absolutely loved Coventry Transport Museum,
My brother and I were in Coventry for the day and decided to pop in. We spent a good few hours going around the museum.
There's so many cars on display, that takes you through the history of Coventry's manufacturing heritage.
On site café: No
On site restrooms: Yes
Parking: No onsite parking (City centre)
Kids Play Area: Yes
Lil_miss_57 — Google review
Not a bad transport museum at all, some nice exhibits, all well laid out and lots of different vehicles to see. It leans heavily on the historical aspect of Coventry being a major producer of transportation. The entry fee is worth the £11 it costs and the ticket is then valid for a full year. There is also a very nice cafe at the main entrance and a decent shop also.
Si Ames — Google review
We've visited a few transport museums in our time, but the experience at Coventry transport museum is beautifully crafted. From the moment you enter, you'll be led round the museum by some wonderfully theme road signs and taken through a history of cars, bikes, and the industry that powered them. There's a number of interactive experiences throughout, a huge variety of different automobiles to see, plus some legendary vehicles like those that broke the land speed record.
Oliver Little — Google review
Very informative and layed-out very nicely. Some very impressive cars and bikes. Having a quick look at most of the museum pieces it took us 1.5-2 hours to see everything. Tickets cost £15.50 each on the door for adults, these tickets last for 1 year.
Ethan “The” Boss — Google review
The museum is interesting, lots of things to see. They have some activities for kids to keep them busy but not all of them are working.
The price is a bit high but the tickets are valid for a full year.
The rest area is not as clean, based on my standards. The toilets are not smelling and they are clean.
Razvan Dumitru — Google review
Brilliant museum for all the family. Pay once, get a full year of unlimited visits. What more can you ask for. Perfect for learning more of the history of car manufacturing in Coventry itself
Mark — Google review
I had such a great time here I last visited over 20 years ago and things have changed for the better. If you have a spare hour or 2 free I'd recommend you pop in to the transport museum. It takes you through the ages from bikes all the way through to modern cars and to the world's fastest car. It focuses on the vehicles built in and around Coventry and the amount of vehicles on display is amazing. I also went on the bloodhound simulator which was an interesting way of explaining how fast it went. A really good day out especially if you have been before or haven't been for a long time.
ravinder singh — Google review
I was coordinating a wedding celebration here in their private room upstairs and took a look around the transport museum whilst there.
Very busy with all ages, in a good way, and the staff were very helpful throughout the day whilst setting up the room. Great coffee from their cafe too!
Jane Robbins — Google review
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4.5
(3896)
Millennium Place, Hales St, Coventry CV1 1JD, United Kingdom
The Cathedral in Coventry is a beautiful and imposing structure, well worth a visit for couples looking to soak up some romance. The ruins of the old cathedral nearby are also poignant and moving, reminding visitors of the devastation wreaked during World War II.
The ruined cathedral is a beautiful historical building, the place has quite an atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit, I would revisit without a doubt. There is opportunity to climb the spire/tower, unfortunately when we visited it was closed. So another reason to make a return visit.
More information boards would be nice is my only criticism.
maria coleman — Google review
The new building is magnificent, the stain glass windows are wonderful, it’s really refreshing to see a (relatively) new build really on keeping with its surroundings.
A wonderful place to visit. A small donation makes you feel slightly less of a freeloader as there’s no entry fee 😁.
Michael Gregory — Google review
Wonderfully peaceful cathedral. We weren't asked for an entrance charge, but plenty of opportunities around the cathedral to make a donation. The old cathedral was well kept and thought provoking. We were lucky enough to hear an organ recital whilst there.
Maggie Woolley — Google review
A truly neat place to visit. The ruins are on one side and the cathedral is in the other side. Gorgeous exhibits and a lot of history. Cute little gift shop inside the cathedral and clean restrooms (toilets) for visitors.
Alicia Adams — Google review
First time actually going inside, it was free to go in, donations by card or cash are welcomed. The wooden chairs were actually really comfortable! The words written on the walls and floor was very interesting. 👍🏾 it is worth a visit.
Ericka George — Google review
We all went to our old school friend who lives in Coventry. On Sunday we decided to go to City centre to see Christmas market. From there we decided to go and see this famous Cathedral. What an amazing structure. Old Cathedral has a massive history. The new one obviously looked more commercial but is beautifully designed and built. The new cathedral first opened to public was in the year 1962. Sharing some pics.
Deep Thapar — Google review
I am currently living in Birmingham. When I got a day off, I planned to travel to Coventry by Bus from Moor Street, Birmingham. It was a wonderful journey. The most iconic monument in Coventry is the Cathedral without a roof on top. It was a pleasant experience.
ROHITH MATHEW JOSE — Google review
I had an interesting visit to Coventry today, over from Australia and took the opportunity to visit the old cathedral ruins.
As an atheist I can still appreciate the amazing constructions that cathedrals are, and both the old and new have a lot to show.
Well worth a visit
Paul Tooze (No Journey Too Small) — Google review
At first glance it looks like a cluster on churches, so you weren’t sure which was which till you get closer. There are some impressive ruins and a new building/cathedral, which was built after the original was destroyed during the war (ruins). After initially thinking the new building was ugly, when you read it’s journey, it’s makes more sense, and is a fitting tribute.
h baxter — Google review
So much could be done here, so much more information could be told about the history, the materials things are made from. As much as I had a lovely visit I was disappointed, I was asking questions to myself and was left wondering about the history of the place.
We went to Coventry especially to visit here but ended up spending more time in a few shops in the town. Ok to pop in of you are in the area but wouldn't make a special trip to visit.
Beanz — Google review
Had a look outside of and inside of coventry cathedral today it looked really amazing. Took loads of pictures, its not open as long on Sundays as there must be services on. I sneaked in while people were sitting down getting ready for a service, i just quickly walked round and took a few pics. Im glad i got to see it
Chloe S — Google review
Unique site. One war damaged cathedral left as a monument to history and another adjacent built with devotion in the spirit of reconciliation. Beautiful modern design. Well worth a visit.
Jayne Ann Swinbourne Adams — Google review
I visited a lot of cathedrals during my quest to complete the pilgrim passport and this is one of the most memorable because instead of rebuilding the cathedral from the ruins of ww2, they created a solemn and majestic cathedral next to ruins to remind people of the cruelty of war. There are some interesting relics in the modern cathedral, including a cross that survived the bombing. Highly recommend visiting here when in the midland
Anthony Chan — Google review
A very dramatic, artsy building, the colours and angles are very awe inspiring, but I'm just not convinced it's a Christian building.
The statues, the pictures and other images made me want to go back to those beautiful old ruins next door where you definitely know it was created for the worship of a Christian God.
Free entry, very clean wheelchair access to all areas(lifts), nice clean toilets. Lots of things to see, very helpful staff/ guides.
centurion twofivezeroone — Google review
One of the great Modernist masterpieces of the 20th century, at once grand and moving in all its handcrafted detail. I wasn’t expecting much when we made an unscheduled stop, but it blew my mind away.
The Closet Tenor — Google review
Climbed the tower! Didn't know you could do that, so I was very pleased to see it was open. Got me out of breath climbing the stairs, but the view was incredible!
George Pollard — Google review
Its a Really good place to go for a Walk without the stress. It's a bit hard with the Parking when you don't know, but it's really quiet and peaceful, the Cemetery is really close, the main road is next either.
Mantas Plėšikas — Google review
Superb building on a good location. Lucky to listen to an orchestra playing and the acoustics were wonderful. Parking a but expensive in the City, but My Parking Place offers a cheaper option.
A charity abseil from the top of the cathedral was taking place when we visited. Very brave people making money for the deserving Myton Hospice.
Ray Dawson — Google review
The modern and old cathedrals next to each other are a wonderful contrast.
It was great to see the clergy in the cathedral talking to visitors. Donations in discreet facilities boxes were nice to see.
We had a great visit
The manor house Waddesdon Manor is a famous English estate built between 1874 and 1885 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. The property is now managed by the Rothschild Foundation on behalf of the National Trust, and houses some of the world's most priceless artworks as well as a famous wine cellar. The lavish home is popular with visitors for its elaborate architecture, stunning gardens, and opulent lifestyle.
The house is really grand from the outside and inside. If possible make sure you can view the inside of the house. The guides inside will give you a detailed insight to the history and all the collections within the house. The gardens are beautiful to view too. There's an aviary and stables up can visit within the gardens. I would highly recommend booking the shuttle bus to get your trip started sooner as its a long walk in.
Kalpana Vekaria — Google review
Absolutely loved this Manor House. Huge. So much to see both inside and out in the extensive gardens. All the guides are well informed and friendly, it took us almost 2 hours just to look round the house there's so much to see. Booking is recommended. The opulence of this wealthy family is stunning, indeed, Waddesdon is really a collectors house, and the family continue to add to their collection. The gardens are beautiful. There is a wonderful aviary, and a talk about it, and it's birds every day. The tea rooms great. This is an absolute dream of a place to visit. No height barriers, huge carpark. Very advisable to book/pay for the bus up to the house, it's quite a steep walk, and after 3 or 4 hours looking round it's a long walk back !!
Polly Wainwright — Google review
Lovely day exploring the grounds, the beautiful and impressive house with Christmas themes... And the festive fair.
Great food on offer from many styles of cuisine.
Clean and accessible loos
We had premium parking which was a bonus to drop off shopping half way through the day.
Simon Lloyd — Google review
I visited on a coach trip, as getting there by public transport is difficult. We were escorted up to a dropping off point near the Manor, and it was then just a short walk. We were a little early for our designated time slot, so I explored a little.
The beginning of the self-guided tour was crowded to begin with, but I lingered to allow people to get ahead of me. I found it very interesting, & the staff were very helpful & informative. I did get quite tired, especially as there weren't many places where you could sit.
I then found myself a snack lunch, followed by a visit to the shop.
Before leaving I had time to explore some of the extensive & tranquil grounds, including the splendid aviary. I was glad to see that dandelions had been allowed to grow and were attracting bees.
All in all, a very good visit.
Wendy Edwards — Google review
Lovely grounds! Gorgeous aviaries. Would love to visit when the manor house reopens. Fabulous for meetings. They took excellent care of us, the lunch consisted of fresh tasty sandwiches, crisps, and brownies. Great coffee. Will be back next year!
Cheri Crystal — Google review
Fantastic place. Great place to visit especially if want to see how the richer people in society lives.
You could comfortably spend days there. Each area was opulent with the various wall coverings, carpets, parquet floors etc..
The works of art adorning the walls are great from English and Dutch painters.
I am adding a few photos to speak a thousand words. The cellars, wines, jewellery.
The stables were great for food.
You're able to take as many photos as you like but without a flash 📸 😉.
A National trust car is a must as you will certainly want to visit more than once.
Dwight Smiley — Google review
The building and the collection is exceptional. We spent 3 hours just walking around in the palace to see everything.
It is much bigger than you thought at first look. Only the garden was a bit disappointing as the rose garden was abandoned, some plants were dead and the flowerbeds were cheaply planted.
The park is huge and lovely. It could be more pleasant if the garden could get back to the deserved glory.
B?la Valter — Google review
Most amazing place!! It's well worth a visit and the grounds are beautiful. Very well organised with large car park and visitor reception on arrival. Bus shuttle is worth paying for as you can ride it all day, as we did, to go to get out picnic. Would highly recommend and will be making the trip again soon.
Helen Wood — Google review
Very good National Trust property.
Lots to see in the manor. Gardens and grounds to walk around.
At the moment there is an art installation The Wedding Cake well worth paying to see it.
The only downside of the day was good. Or lack of couldn't get much to eat at lunchtime in both the lunch places
Chris Morton — Google review
If you are a national trust member then it's definitely a must visit place. A huge garden and equally large manor with plenty of art work to admire. We spent a whole day and will be visiting there again. Maybe a little pricey if you are not a national trust member but still worthwhile a visit. Highly recommended. Very friendly and helpful staff too.
Kazuki Endo — Google review
I was there for the winter light festival. Walking around the outside lights was awesome and well planned. Access was via the tarmac paths which were generally good but sometimes rough and in need of repair.
The private seller stalls were good offering some good wares, though pricey.
The main Hall had been adapted to reflect winter stories and themes. 🥰
Disability access to the main hall was poor due to the number of folk attending. The lift was an "antique" and restricted throughput with ques to access different floor levels.
The public access toilets were under the building down a steep curved ramp with no steps. But clean.
Access to the main house is by a transfer bus from the car park. For this event the buses were wheelchair accessible.
There were some EV charging points but I wasn't aware of these until leaving. Looks like you needed to have your own cable.
Christopher Houghton — Google review
Wonderfully to go to the Christmas market and show. Made me wish I was a little girl again. It truly evoked a magical Christmas experience. I really appreciated all the art and I am so glad that everything the buildings and gardens and the the precious rooms and the treasures seen in them are being preserved. I will return for a tour when the Christmas exhibit is over.
Liesl Knott — Google review
Got to be seen to be believed! Allow lots of time to explore the house, there is so much to see. The guides are so friendly and a fountain of knowledge so do ask them. Due to time constraints , we were only able to spend time at the house but will definitely be back. The shuttle bus is a very pleasant ride & runs frequently. Stables cafe has a decent range of food and drinks & nice to sit outside too but indoor seating is available.
Dee A — Google review
Amazing place to visit on a day trip. Got the coach up from parking spaces as brought new puppy along with us. Walked around Christmas market stalls and ate our lunch. Great day out. Would definitely recommend!!
Zane Waldron — Google review
Fantastic place. The house is a must. A display of the wealth of the Rothchilds family but if you look beyond the opulence there is some fascinating exhibits. You will need up to 2 hours for the house. The gardens are lovely and very manageable but with some hilly parts. Book the house in advance and if your budget can stretch to it use the premium parking adjacent to the house. Worth the National Trust membership.
Ian Kemeys — Google review
My kids loved visiting this place, it starts with a bus ride so it is a winner from the start. Has a lovely rose garden, and an aviary also has a huge playground with a big slide. The house is very interesting too with beautiful chandeliers.
Tinali Garrett — Google review
Fun for all of the family, or those seeking adventure!
Waddesdon Manor plays host to a plethora of sights, from adventure playgrounds; to aviaries filled with exotic birds.
This family friendly National Trust location has parking on site, with a shuttle bus service up to the Manor for just £2.50 per person or the option to trek it yourself at your own leisure.
The Manor doors are open to the public, offering a glimpse into its past with iconic paintings, tapestries and furniture.
A National Trust to tick off for sure with accessibility for all!
AT.
Adam Turner — Google review
I love everything about this location, the gardens lovely with the fountain and flowers, the house is absolutely lovely with all the old fashioned stuff/rooms, and the current art exhibition that is on at the gallery! I couldn't miss that! Absolutely amazing 🥰
Joanna Frank — Google review
Lovely day out. The building is beautiful inside and out. The gardens are stunning, and it was lovely to see the aviary with the different birds. Food was reasonably priced. (Sandwich was £4.95) There is a restaurant and two outside cafes. One by the shop and the other at the stables. Lots of wasps around! It's definitely worth a visit. The building itself is not that old, but the collections inside have some interesting stories.
Jennie Davey — Google review
wonderful place. excellently organized. There is a large parking lot which is far from the house - but there is a private bus transport - which is absolutely available to go faster. All the staff are absolutely friendly. The ticket price is affordable and worth it. An unforgettable experience, especially if you are lucky enough to have good weather to enjoy the gardens and park. Have a picnic and a walk. There is a cafe with sandwiches and hot and cold drinks. Normal for such a place prices. I recommend Absolutely. I would visit again in better weather. only I didn't see an EV charger. It would be nice to have one./but I haven't asked the staff/.
Tscetomira Petkova — Google review
Went for the Christmas light display and to see the house decorated for Christmas. Tickets bought in advance. It was absolutely beautiful, lovely walk around the grounds, Christmas market on site, spent about 4-5 hours here. When booking I paid £30 for Premium parking, I thought I had to pay to be able to park but there is actually a huge free car park onsite, which we parked in. Had to then go back down to move the car. No signs to tell us this, only found out when our tickets were scanned. I wouldn't have paid the parking but when booking it looked like I had to. Overall a beautiful place, loved our day there.
Clare Sheppard Gale — Google review
Stunning property inside and out. Went for the Christmas illuminate and craft fayre was a good selection of stalls. Inside was decorated beautifully with a children's book theme but the star of the show was after dark when the property is lit up.
City Girl — Google review
This amazing neo-renaissance manor was donated to the National Trust by the Rothschild family and is an incredible example of French architecture literally from France. Art lovers will love what is in store inside and, as with all National Trust properties, the knowledgeable stewards are always keen to keep you informed. There are two cafés and one restaurant on the estate as well as a kids' playground. Parking is plentiful and you have a choice of a 15 minute walk (with quite a climb on the way up) or if that is too much for you, regular shuttle buses are provided for a small fee. Highly recommended. I will be visiting again!
Matt Smith — Google review
Gorgeous place to go! There's a shuttle if you need it and lots of parking. The grounds are absolutely beautiful you can explore for hours and find lovely sculptures on your adventure and a brilliant play park with everything the kids need to be kept smiling! There is a lovely cafe and shop and usually something on in the shed
It was Easter when we went so there was lots of Egg-cellent games and activities, all free, except face painting which was a fiver. The house is stunning and filled with treasures and art and decorated beautifully, very impressive. Its absolutely lovely here, you must visit!
Clare Tanner — Google review
An amazing Manor House, beautifully built with fine detail on the outside,not unlike a German Fairy Palace, telling a fantastic story of its history and People.
What a fantastic, unique experience.
Thomas Overbeck — Google review
Definitely worth a visit. Lovely grounds as well, the restaurants are the best though. But a great day out in a splendid national trust location.
Mike Harmer — Google review
It's very remote, but so incredibly pretty. It almost seems like something out of France. It is possible to get here by bus, but I wouldn't recommend it as the journey is far from easy. If you are a K3G fan, this is really a must-visit place. I would advise in the summer when the manor is fully open. It's got a really good shop, too, worth checking out the wines. Keep an eye out in Waddesdon town/village as well, it's got amazing architecture.
Yogen Mudgal — Google review
Beautiful house & gardens. Well worth visiting. Shuttle bus available for those not want to walk from car park to the manor. We enjoyed the walk, it's not far but slightly steep towards the approach to the manor. Long queues for coffee. We found the cafe at the stables had a much shorter queue. Stunning views.
Maureen Vallance — Google review
Beautiful house and gardens owned by the Rothschild family, ergo all cafes and the shop are extortionately priced as it seems the Rothschild family don’t quite have enough money already. That being said, still worth the visit and to learn the history of the place.
Ollie Calcott — Google review
Stunningly beautiful architecture & vast grounds to see. The car park is a distance away but thankfully they do run a shuttle bus to drop you closer to the manor house. A lovely day out
Claire Dragon — Google review
Attended for the second year in a row for the Christmas event and we weren’t disappointed.
The house looked incredible inside, such attention to detail and the volunteers were so friendly and helpful.
The light trail was lovely as ever (and our 2yo loved it too!) and the Christmas markets were great.
The only slight issue is getting the bus back from the stables was almost impossible as it was always full from the Manor but it wasn’t a problem as we just walked back to the car park (15min walk downhill) - the staff were really reassuring that we would get on a bus though but we had to get back.
Caitlin Alborn — Google review
Amazing place! Well worth a visit. Grounds are immaculate, food in the cafe was really good and the wine tour…! Can’t praise the young man who took the tour enough. He was very knowledgeable and you could tell he clearly enjoyed his job! The two ladies who were with him deserve praise as well. Very friendly indeed. Can’t recommend this place enough.
Su Adams — Google review
Waddesdon Manor is stunning and includes an extensive collection of artifacts throughout its Victorian rooms. I particularly enjoyed the smoking room with its leather ceiling, the morning room with beautiful paintings and desks and the impressive dining room. The house also includes an amazing collection of artwork including pieces from Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds.
The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing informative insights throughout my visit. The information booklet was also comprehensive and worth the price.
I used the Waddesdon Manor app during my visit, but it definitely needs some improvement and the WiFi wasn't very good on the day. The pause, play and rewind buttons didn't work well, and the overall design could be simplified. Additionally, it would be good to get more information about individual artifacts directly on the app.
Beyond the house, the grounds included highlights like the bird collection, where I could actually see the birds, and the beautiful parterre. However, I felt the Tay Bridge was over emphasised on the map and I was disappointed not to access the "wedding cake" without paying more.
The bus system was excellent (definitely worth buying at entry) as it offered a frequent service.
As for food, the sausage roll and beef pastrami roll were delicious. I do wish there was a separate ice cream queue to reduce the wait time for those only wanting food and drink.
Overall, Waddesdon Manor was enjoyable and good value for money. If you're a fan of history, art, and beautiful architecture, it's well worth a visit.
Ernest Pawlowski — Google review
If I could give it 6 stars, I would do so without hesitation. We loved every minute of our visit. We came early but only managed to see part of the collection as there was so much to see and admire that time ran out much too fast. Beautiful grounds, lovely café and transport option from the parking to the manor for a decent price. We will definitely come again.
The Hellfire Caves, located in Buckinghamshire, Southeast England, are a series of man-made chalk and flint caverns extending 260m underground. Formerly the home of the Hellfire Club, this cave network is situated above West Wycombe village at the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills. Although free parking is available in town, paid parking is also an option. The caves take roughly 20 minutes to explore and offer moderate value for money with good entertainment value for kids.
Wow. I had pasted there so many time over the years and never knew. Lovely staff in the cafe, really helpful. I loved exploring the caves and the history. Real eye opener. Crazy why they come about and were so lucky that we can now explore them to this day.
Had a great time there, keep up the good work guys
Nigel Henson — Google review
Awesome place, great value, friendly staff and lovely area. The views at the mausoleum are fantastic and well worth the hill climb (not too steep). Lovely village as well with friendly pubs. Would highly recommend for a cheap morning/afternoon out.
Tarnya Deakin — Google review
Interesting cave, if you come early before 11am you can find a free parking space opposite the cave if not there are more spaces down. We enjoyed our adventure because we saw a real bat and the kids had fun. Is £8.50 for adults and £7.00 kids or £24.00 for family.
Raluca — Google review
Used to go here as a kid in the 90s so going back with my child as an adult was really cool, even with wet weather I still recommend this gem. The staff are very friendly and helpful, the caves are great to walk around and have lots of information throughout, then a walk up to the church and mausoleum. Defo a good way to spend a good few hours (if visiting just the cave then prob an hr will do) it is up hill walking, and the car park at the bottom is card only :)
Kirsty Moosh — Google review
Really interesting place with lots of history. Well worth a visit, but only if you don’t mind dark tunnels. Great atmospheric lighting, plenty of informative boards along with models with audio explanations. If you are a National Trust member you receive a concession on the price. Great little coffee shop also offering food too!
Karen Ballantine — Google review
Nice attraction with great history. The caves have been cleared and easy to walk through. Those that have trouble walking may find it difficult but it is worth the stop. If it is a warm day then a stop here would be refreshing. There a few small eateries near by if you get hungry and the caves serve small bites as well in their gift shop.
Josh — Google review
Not the most interesting caves I have been to. The underground river was fantastic to see with the stalactites, but really difficult to photograph with the railings there. Took about an hour to look around. There are a few pieces of information to read and a few mannequins. I'd like to have seen more interesting information displays. £8.50 for an adult to ensure, not expensive.
There was a great kiss party going on. Witches and wizards theme. Looked great fun.
Wendy Peskett — Google review
What a lovely day out especially in the heat, it was great going down in the caves where it was nice and cool. Very informative but not overkill with too much to read. You can very much go down there and just experience the feeling. Was nice to be able to walk around for as long as you like and then to walk up the quite steep hill to the dashwood mausoleum and the church. to see what the information in the caves was about straight after was great. We took a picnic and football for the kids, so was able to spend the afternoon in the area. Beautiful day, beautiful area!
Jenna Todd — Google review
We visited The Hellfire Caves during the Halloween season. It was very nice and we enjoyed it. However we were a bit disappointed by the Halloween decorations. They decorated few rooms which was nice but honestly I was expecting more. The tickets were more expensive so I expected something more immersive. The lights were too bright and there wasn’t any music in the background. The caves in general are quite small but if you take your time you can spend 30/40 minutes. It’s nice but don’t expect too much!
Melanie Mengüs — Google review
The Hellfire Caves are a network of man-made chalk and flint caverns which extend 260m underground. They are situated above the village of West Wycombe, at the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Southeast England.
Free parking in the town with paid parking the same distance away.
The time to explore the cave is 20min.
Value for money: Moderate
Fun: Good
Good for kids: Yes
Good for wheal chair: Not advised
Toilets: On site, not in cave
Other things to do in the area: Yes, if you like to walk the view on the hill is amazing.
Food places: Cafe on site. Nothing in the town. Nearest (Halal) eateries is 5-10min drive away.
Feed the Lion — Google review
Amazing place, supposed to be very haunted. My team would love to investigate here but it's very expensive. If you are planning to walk up to the church and mausoleum beware of the steep hill. Think you are much better walking up the road than the grass especially if the grounds a bit wet 😁
tracey glock — Google review
Visit today (29/03/24)
Was ok but not worth the £8.50 entrance each for adults and the £4.50 parking .
Top tip , go in Café in carpark first and they give you 2 hours free parking. Better than council £4.50 for 2 hours. Unfortunately I paid before I realised you could do this.
You're in and out of caves in 15 mins / 20 mins at most. The best bit is at the bottom where the stalagmites /stalagmites are but this is only a tiny fraction of the caves themselves.
The rest is well, steep wet white cave walls / tunnels lol .
T Gartshore — Google review
Amazing place with kids especially for Halloween. Nice day out with the surrounding area including a little hiking to the mausoleum but the view is beautiful. Lot of information in the cave and the cafe is brilliant as well with friendly and helpful staff.
László Lovas — Google review
My husband & I have been here a few times now, but this time we brought our young children (5y + 18m) who really enjoyed it. It helped that the caves were near on empty when we arrived (just after 11am) so they could run freely. It doesn't take very long to see everything, but there's nothing to stop you going round multiple times. Good little morning out
Lou Hannah — Google review
It was really good, I took my son and we had a proper explore of the tunnels.
The staff are young, but really nice, very friendly and helpful. Don't expect a huge "experience", it's a nice curiosity, not scary, although there are some dark passages and great acoustics.
We stayed for a pot of tea (real Yorkshire Tea) and a slice of Victoria Sandwich which could have been home baked that day, I didn't ask, maybe I should have, because it was fresh, soft and delicious.
They do scones too, including cheese ones, I didn't try them, but if they're as good as the cake, their cook should enter Bake-Off!
We stayed about 1½ hours, it's not huge, but it is different, fun, and the people who work there do obviously love the place.
Oh, and the toilets in the tiny cafe cut into the side of the hill were spotless, fresh, with a good hot water supply, and plenty of loo roll should you need it.
My son and me really liked it. Can you tell?
John Smith — Google review
Defiantly worth a trip - a wonderful place with some amazing history. Going down the caves was amazing, all the carvings on the walls are great to see.
Stephanie williams — Google review
Nice little cave system, would not recommend for little kids who are a bit more sensitive though as it was a little spooky for them. Good family experience overall, as the older ones loved it! Only gave it 4 stars as I expected it to be a bit…more- took us less than half hour to do the entire thing and get back outside! If you don’t mind walking uphill for a bit, I would definitively recommend going uphill. Amazing views and perfect for a picnic (or for the little ones rolling downhill lol)!
Merlenie Ali — Google review
4.4
(1776)
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4.0
(858)
Church Ln, West Wycombe, High Wycombe HP14 3AH, United Kingdom
Beautiful Kilworth House Hotel in the grounds of some of the most beautiful gardens and gardens in Leicestershire offers a theatre break with afternoon tea served in The Orangery. With luxurious linens, drapes, bath robes and four poster beds each room, this is one hotel not to be missed!
Went here for afternoon tea with work friends in memory of a colleague who died recently and loved to visit Kilworth House...now we know why! Lovely atmosphere, friendly, helpful staff and delicious food. I had the gluten free tea, which was very good. Regular refills of hot drinks were offered. The house is gorgeous, with roaring fires in the waiting areas; great on a chilly afternoon/evening. We all thoroughly enjoyed our visit and are planning to make it an annual outing.
Beth Ellis — Google review
Visited for afternoon tea mid-week for my birthday. Hotel is easy to find with plenty of parking. We arrived early so sat in the lounge next to a roaring fire and enjoyed a view of the gardens. Tea was served in the Orangery, which is a lovely big room with plenty of light. Service was excellent. Staff were very attentive and explained each of the separate elements of the tea. Refills were plentiful and there was more than enough food. We took some home in a box!
Our 10year old joined us and the children's afternoon tea was lovely. Well thought out and just the right size. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon. Highly recommend.
Hayley Perks — Google review
What a top notch location and hotel setting. Staff very friendly and approachable. Rooms good and the theatre setting magical . Food great re a 4 course meal at night and the breakfast excellent. Thank you for a very happy and nice experience. Will be back here again you bet 👍👍.
James Freel — Google review
Gorgeous Afternoon Tea, so full & a goody box for the cakes we couldn't manage. We had tea in the Orangery which was beautiful & a couple of drinks so feeling rather mellow.
Linda Joshi — Google review
We had the most wonderful stay at Kilworth House over Christmas. From the moment we arrived into the beautifully festive hotel, the staff were amazing. They had a big function on and the foyer was busy with guests enjoying the festivities, but they greeted us with such warmth and attention.
We were staying with our 2 year old son, and everyone was so accommodating to our needs; arranging for us to have our dinners up in our room while he was sleeping, helping us with ALL our luggage, and attending to our gluten free requirements.
It wasn't just that the service from the entire team was exceptional - you might expect that from a high quality hotel - it was how genuinely friendly and caring they all were to our family. On Christmas morning they'd even bought our son a lovely Christmas present.
We felt completely at home and it was amazing for our son to have such a magical Christmas experience.
We'll be back!
Lindsey Hall — Google review
A beautiful venue for lunch, especially in good weather - the Orangery is so sunny and airy, I almost needed sunglasses! Stunning grounds, and a lovely, welcoming feel to the hotel. My meal was good, although I was not overwhelmed by the choice, but everyone was very attentive and pleasant, and it was a really nice experience - would definitely recommend.
Penny St Lawrence — Google review
We visited to watch ‘Hairspray’ at the open air theatre. We had a pre-theatre dinner before hand. Service was wonderful and food was good. Hairspray was the star though. What a wonderful theatre and west-end level production!
Beth Walker — Google review
My husband and I booked an overnight theatre break as a joint birthday treat courtesy of our family. What an amazing experience! The service from all staff, the food (dinner and breakfast), the outdoor theatre show and the accommodation and surroundings were all superb. We will definitely return and would highly recommend a visit, the venue has so much to offer.
mandy poole — Google review
Had delicious afternoon tea, however the service let it down. We were forgotten about, we were asked if we wanted prosecco (even though we booked sparkling afternoon tea) we were not asked what hot drinks we would like. Drinks came after food was served and we had eaten the first course (we had to chase drinks).
Gemma Black — Google review
We had our fabulous wedding at Kilworth House in November and it’s was nothing short of magical! The staff, venue, food… everything was perfect from start to finish. Today we went back for the first time since our wonderful day for the Easter Sunday lunch. Once again it was wonderful… the staff were wonderful and attentive, the food delicious and venue faultless. The childrens entertainer who did the balloon making and face painting was amazing and really added to a lovely afternoon.
Keep up what your doing and we can’t wait to return again soon! X
Sara Thorpe — Google review
Beautiful castle with a great backdrop of rolling gardens. The food is fresh and wholesome.
Book in advance because it's a popular location. Allow plenty of time to relax and chat and soak in the atmosphere by the sitting areas.
Terry Mitchell — Google review
Was treated to afternoon tea at this beautiful place. The building is stunning inside and out. We took a walk around the grounds, too. The staff are polite and helpful. Our afternoon tea was delicious and beautifully presented. All in all one amazing afternoon. So happy I visited and really plan to go again soon.
Muna — Google review
Had a lovely meal here with friends today. Followed by the show Hairspray, which was fantastic. A great afternoon get together, made all the better for the beautiful, elegant surroundings of Kilworth House. With very courteous and pleasant staff and lovely food. Finished off with a good laugh and singalong with the show. Thank you xxx
Jo Woolley — Google review
Went for afternoon tea for a second time. First time was amazing, really enjoyed it. This time.. we were forgotten about and left waiting for 25 mins, they then forgot to come and take a drinks order for around 20mins, then we had to chase the drinks halfway through the meal as they still hadn't turned up. When we came to pay, we were asked how it was so expressed our concerns and the response was "Oh sorry, see you soon"
Unfortunately, you wont
Andrew Bond — Google review
Stylish, country manor hotel with many of the original, period features. Previously tried the evening dining menu and breakfast service in the orangeries, both of which were varied, tasty and good value. Regular theatre productions at the on-site venue are a common reason to visit. Staff at reception were helpful and informative. Business conference services are OK with average food and drinks. Overall, excellent place to stay for the theatre or a romantic getaway.
Matt Martin — Google review
We went to Rat pack show was excellent the performers played their parts very well . The food was very good well presented and tasty. The down side is being in the orangery on the coldest day of the year it was very cold lots of guests were having to wear blankets it spolled what was an expensive evening .
Colin “Rockyb” — Google review
Lovely setting, we went for afternoon tea for a special birthday, service was prompt but not so friendly, sandwiches were mediocre, scones were delicious and fresh, we had to ask for extra jam and cream as small pots quite inadequate, cakes were overly sweet and rather disappointing some we couldn't eat as too sweet. A fly was around us most of the time. Seats were pointing into the room to suit the serving staff so we couldn't admire the splendid view from the Orangery
Melissa Roberts — Google review
Had a lovely couple of nights at Kilworth Hotel. Rooms are a decent size & very comfortable. Breakfast & the other meals we ate there were great, with friendly staff. Had a walk around the grounds as well, lots to see especially with the theatre.
A R — Google review
Went for jazz lunch , had a lovely time and meal I pre-ordered salmon with no shrimp/caper sauce as am allergic, but they did not action so had to wait while the other 5 ate there meals other than that had a lovely time.
Teresa carr — Google review
4.7
(1609)
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5.0
(625)
Lutterworth Rd, Lutterworth, LE17 6JE, United Kingdom
Althorp Estate is a tourist attraction that offers access to the Spencer family estate during July and August. Visitors can explore Princess Diana's island grave and a museum, as well as enjoy outdoor activities like walking around the peaceful grounds, having picnics, and visiting the stables/cafe. The manor house is well-preserved and provides an interesting insight into history. Staff members are friendly, knowledgeable, and enhance visitors' experiences.
Well preserved manor house. Best place to bring children and have picnic. Great for outdoor fun like walking around estates. Terribly interesting and we have a great weather. The staff are all lovely and knowledgeable. Well worth a visit.
Mhai Perez — Google review
Although the house was of stately home proportions, you could tell it was someone's actual home. Without exception, all the staff were really friendly. They encouraged you to ask questions and seemed genuinely interested in where you were from and why you were there. It never felt busy, and the walk to Princess Diana's last resting place was quite peaceful. There are a number of benches around the lake for reflection. I liked that they didn't push their products or food onto you. In fact, they have provided a nice picnic area for you if you want to take your own food. Only those with a disability are allowed to be driven up to the property. All other visitors park in a field opposite the entrance gate. There is then a 10 min walk to the house.
Paul H — Google review
Lovely house. Pity that a lot of the rooms are gated off so you can only see part of the room. The guide book does compensate somewhat. Long gallery is the highlight. No photography inside allowed.
Walk to the lake to see Diana's resting place which is reflective and peaceful.
Carol Morris — Google review
This is an amazingly beautiful place, I went on my own as I wanted some peace and tranquility..... And I found it! My photos don't do the grounds justice, especially Diana's lake! Staff are friendly and helpful. Only two negatives one was that I didn't think that there a great choice of food in the tea room, especially savory food, but this could be because of covid restrictions. There is a lovely picnic area on the other side of the court yard.. Which is set in a lavender walled garden. The other being only one lot of toilets, which is by the picnic area... But if your disabled it's more of a problem as the grounds are vast. All in all this is a fantastic place to go for the day.... I ran out of time and didn't even look in the house.. So I will be going again very soon 😁
Vintage BettyBoop — Google review
We travelled quite a distance (Lancashire) to see this historic site and also to pay our respects to an unforgettable people's Princess and great lady. Although there is no longer a museum dedicated to her memory I think her memories live on at this estate for all to see...her resting place is in a beautiful location at the lake and there's also a wonderful memorial at the side of said lake. Present within the walls of the historic Althorp house is a very large wall hung painting of Diana along with her father, brother Charles and his wife....although we'd all like to see more tributes of Diana at the end of the day it was her home, it was also the Spencer family home so I think personally it's a tasteful balance between the history of the estate, the Spencer family and a gentle tribute to our Princess. I would definitely recommend visiting not just for Diana but the history surrounding the family and the estate.
Warren Higginson — Google review
My partner and I really enjoyed the visit. 14/7/21 Staff were very knowledgable and friendly. Weather was lovely so it made the walking around the grounds even more enjoyable and so peaceful. The stables/ cafe lovely touch. Prices were reasonable. It was a pleasure to meet Andy as we were leaving. Worth every penny. We would like to thank everyone for making a day very enjoyable . Kevin and Michelle
Michelle Done — Google review
Wanted to visit Princess Diana's childhood home so when on holiday we booked advance tickets to see through it. One of the guides, Sarah, was so knowledgeable and friendly, she made our trip special. So much history to this family which I didn't know before. The rooms were lovely to see in all their splendour. Gift shop quite small but worth a visit. Not much about Diana, other than 2 portraits of her and a photograph. Visited the garden too where we went to the pond and island where Diana is buried. Saa the memorial plaques too in a serene, tranquil spot. We visited on a warm day which enhanced our trip.
Carries Shoes — Google review
Wonderful stately home of the Spencer family. Tour of the property was insightful, with the art collection and walking to the Diana memorial is a peaceful place to sit.
Note, don't forget your umbrella! 😊
Mira Sultana — Google review
It was my first visit in a number of years - I was lucky enough to visit several times during the Diana Exhibition years. Whilst all of that has now gone, it is still a beautiful place to visit and on a nice day, sit in the peaceful setting of the Oval Lake.
Shelli133 — Google review
A real mixed bag. Firstly the general car park is a little way from the house. Although not busy , it is recommended you book before you go. If you are not a historic house member then entrance fee at £25 is a bit steep. However the house itself inside is superb (less said about the outside the better, though insipid would be a good word). There is some wonderful art, porcelain and furniture in the house. The guides in the room , although few , are very knowledgeable. Let's be perfectly honest the house is the best part, the lake where princess Diana is buried is nice enough , but there are no real gardens to speak of , and very little on Princess Diana. If you are hoping for a shrine to her , you will no longer find it here. There is a distinctly poor gift shop , which seems intent on supplying Charles Spencer books than offering any variety. The cafe is passable but won't blow your mind. In summary , go for the beautiful house as there is little else here.
kevin mills — Google review
Lovely house in picturesque well kept grounds, wild deer roaming around and loads of history to the house and family, the island where Diana laid to rest is a nice place for a sit down and to rest and reflect. great day out when it’s open, and Earl Spencer appears for book signings in the gift shop, highly recommended.
vince ryan — Google review
Ample car parking just outside the main estate gates in a field. A short walk through an avenue of oak trees to the stable block where there is a cafe, outside seating , toilets and a gift shop. Then another short walk to the main house, there are guides in the rooms and there is a lot to see on 2 levels. There are extensive grounds with the Princess Diana memorial by the Oval lake. The gardens are nice and lovely views over the Northamptonshire Countryside. A lot of history here and everything was well signed and easy to get around. There are picnic tables but no BBQs are allowed. Glad we went and would advise to buy tickets ahead of the visit.
Mike Thompson — Google review
This was our first visit to Althorp House and we loved it! The house is in immaculate condition and has some stunning paintings, including a few unexpected contemporary ones as well. The grounds are well kept and the memorial to Princess Diana is quite special to see.
However, we were slightly disappointed to find that the vast majority of the grounds are closed off to the public, it would be nice to have been able to explore a bit more of it rather than just the bit round the lake (which you could cover within 20 minutes at a steady walking pace). Having said that, we still enjoyed our visit, the guides in the house were friendly and knowledgeable, the staff in the shop and cafe were efficient and friendly too.
Just be warned that the car park is across the road in a field, though I think there is a provision for disabled parking nearer the house but check their website for confirmation of this.
A good day out for the family and despite some of the little disappointments, we look forward to visiting again when the house is next open.
Nelly C — Google review
Thank you for continuing to open your home to us Earl Spencer, and allowing me to pay my respects to Dianas memorial at your families ancestral home. Althorp is wonderfully kept; walking around, you feel the history and love of the place immensely. The house and grounds are immaculate. The rooms of the house are intuitively, tastefully decorated and treasured with antiques, inspiration at every turn. I hope Althorp continues to be loved by the family for centuries to come. The Spencer ancestors would have immense pride in Charles’ work here.
Claire — Google review
4.5
(960)
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4.5
(819)
Althorp House, Northampton, NN7 4HQ, United Kingdom
Located in Leicester, England, the King Richard III Visitor Centre tells the story of the lost English king whose remains were found and identified in 2012. The centre features interactive exhibits on Richard's life, death and grave discovery.
An exceptional journey into the past! The King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester is a must-visit for anyone interested in English history and royal intrigue. From the moment you step inside, you are transported back to a time of battles, political drama, and royal mysteries. The displays are beautifully curated with attention to detail, offering a wealth of information that is accessible to history buffs and casual visitors alike.
The exhibitions are interactive and engaging, telling the story of King Richard III’s life, reign, and the discovery of his remains with captivating multimedia presentations. The centre does a remarkable job of blending modern technology with historical artifacts to bring the story to life. The suit of armor exhibit is particularly striking, providing a unique insight into the armaments of the era.
The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, contributing greatly to the experience. They are willing to answer questions and share fascinating tidbits that enhance the visit. The centre is well-maintained, clean, and organized, making the visit comfortable and enjoyable.
What’s truly remarkable is how the centre presents a balanced view of King Richard III, inviting visitors to ponder the complexities of his character and reign. It’s a perfect educational outing for families, a stimulating escape for history enthusiasts, and an intriguing find for anyone looking to spend an afternoon immersed in a pivotal part of England’s past.
After exploring the exhibits, the centre is ideally located to visit other historic sites in Leicester, making it a perfect starting point for a day of historical exploration. Do not miss this hidden gem – it’s a tribute to one of England’s most enigmatic kings and an enriching experience for all who walk through its doors.
Tolstoy Justin — Google review
We bought 2 adult tickets for £9.25 each. The tickets give you an annual pass to return for 12 months, although there is not a lot to return for. Whilst the history and story is very interesting we just felt some displays were too text heavy. Also whilst reading the text there are some visual displays in the same room with loud audio playing which is very distracting whilst trying to read. Some of videos like the press conference, don't appear to have any subtitles which would make it easier to follow the video as audio is quiet in places. The most interesting part of the museum is the burial site and the casket used to transfer the remains to the cathedral. It is an interesting piece of history and a fascinating story, just feel it could be better presented.
Nigel Sarsfield — Google review
Lovely little museum with lots of information but laid out in a fun interactive way. Really interesting to learn more about King Richard. Staff really helpful and friendly. Very accessible for disabled. Easy to find. Need to visit the cathedral opposite to see where he is laid to rest
Sal Brennan — Google review
It was amazing. In fact I felt very emotional at the end. If you are interested in history it is a must do place. Leicester itself has lots of beautiful buildings. I'm so glad I decided to spend a few days here
Diane Burbidge — Google review
Fascinating exhibition of some amazing work with just a little good luck thrown in. Sometimes the timelines run right to left which makes reading and understanding more difficult. The school party seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the dressing up.
Lorraine Mitchell — Google review
Really good! Bit crazy you can't sit in the thrine that is so inviting to all who see it and has no sign in it.....apparently its a hazard.....compared to what?!
But other than that, it's really interesting and is engaging for kids too and you can go back again for a whole year!
Donna Sidebotham — Google review
Lovely experience and a great mixture of visual, audio and reading for learning styles. I really enjoyed how it felt respectful and covered a lot of the story and media.
Only comment would be it would be nice to have more “see the final resting place at the cathedral next door” or something to link it together!
Emma Payne — Google review
The discovery of King Richard III's remains in the Grey Friars car park in 2012 drew both national and international media. We bought 2 entry tickets for £9.25 each which gives us an annual pass to return for 12 months, even there’s nothing to return.
King was discovered buried under the carpark and an exhibition centre was built over the grave. U can discover all about Richard and War of the Roses, the story behind discovering him and a bit about DNA and how Leicester used to look when the car park was an friary church. U can walk over to the cathedral and see Richards tomb. Shame Cathedral was closed for maintenance so couldn’t get a chance to visit the tomb.
win task — Google review
" A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!" If you are interested in the history of our country and what became of King Richard 111 and the truth surrounding his life and brutal death this is an absolute must see. The story of how the king's grave was discovered is fascinating and brilliantly illustrated in a storyboard of wonderful detail throughout the rooms of this fine building in the heart of Leicester. The cathedral was closed for work so we were unable to see the tomb but you can see the actual grave site with the skeleton cleverly projected onto the excavation beneath a glass platform. Displays of weapons, armour, short films, rousing music and sound effects add to the atmosphere and understanding of this epic event in history. Highly recommended!
Glyn Lewis — Google review
Great to see the updated story now that Richard lll burial place and it’s story how it was found is now available. Thoroughly recommended.
Paul Millership — Google review
One of the museums worth visiting in Leicester
Although there are not many collections, many of them are replicas.
But the history of the Wars of the Roses is detailed in the life of Richard III
The upper level is about finding and confirming the remains of Richard III.
very interesting
It's a pity that the real remains have been replaced
The pavilion next to the entrance is the parking lot where the remains of Richard III were found before.
You can feel the excitement of finding
Zen Cheung — Google review
My visit to The King Richard III Visitor Center was really quite something. The value is quite extraordinary since the one-time ticket purchase allows for continued free revisits for an entire year. The exhibit is very engaging, whether it is just the progression of text, or some of the really well-staged multi-media. I would recommend leaving some time for your visit as you are going to want to get lost in King Richard III's story. The staff in the entry way was friendly and helpful. I felt like I walked through history and I experienced where that history collided with the modern day as the remains of King Richard III were verified as authentic using modern science. Highly recommended!
Bryan Stoops — Google review
We went as a family of four in the Easter half term as we were visiting family in Leicester. The visitors centre was a bit on the expensive side for what was there in my opinion. The few exhibits connecting to the actual dig and the body scan showing the injuries King Richard suffered brought the story to life. The covered dig site where King Richard III was actually found was tatefully done where visitors could see where he was found and even tiles from the original church. However, the rest was just wall to wall reading, with the first half being in very dim lighting. This isn't very inclusive to those with neuro diverse conditions. It is a small centre so we probably spent 15/ 20 minutes going around the whole thing. I was very pleased to have seen it, but I wouldn't have purposely planned a trip to go. We did pop across to the cathedral afterwards, which was very pretty and welcoming, and it was interesting to see Kind Richard III's beautiful final resting place. You paid a donation, and you were given a free hand-held guide. This allowed you to look and take everything in and read small sections of information when you wanted. There were guides dotted about so that if you wanted further information, then you were able to ask for it.
Danielle Jordan — Google review
Small, but really good museum. We were unsure of how much there would be to see at the centre, as Richard III is actually interred in Leicester Cathedral, which is closed until the end of November 2023, but there was actually a lot to see and do.
We stayed around 2 hours and found it very interesting and informative, throwing doubt, if not totally dispelling, the history of 'wicked' Richard III, painted by many including Shakespeare.
Many displays are interactive, video interviews with the archaeologists, scientists and academics involved, plus Phillipa Langley, who played an integral part in the search for the remains of Richard III. The area of the archaeology trench in which he was found is still open and can be viewed under a glass floor in the visitor centre.
The volunteer room guides were very engaging but not intrusive, and the staff were all friendly and welcoming, too.
Tickets are good value, cheaper when booked in advance online and valid for one year after the first visit, useful as we will be revisiting when the cathedral re-opens.
Pleasant café at reasonable prices.
Website was rather vague re parking, suggesting car parks in the 'West & South Zones' of the city. We're not from the area, so we had no idea what that actually meant re proximity to the centre. We parked in Newarke Street Car Park (Sue Townsend Theatre) (LE1 5SN), a multistorey car park within easy walking distance.
Chris Browning — Google review
This is a fantastic museum, across from the cathedral, where Richard now rests. Your ticket lasts a full year, and there are different prices depending on your situation. Inside, you are free to roam around and read about Richard, his history, his family, and his life. There is also a part that challenges Shakespeare and his view of Richard being a villen. There is also information on the archolgical dig which found him and the research used to confirm it was him. Then you see the actual hole he was found in under the car park. One of our characters from history and this is a good place to find out more. Cafe and gift shop with books too, staff are helpful. Guidebook also avadible
Ashley Lightfoot — Google review
When here today with my 2 young children and they loved it. Thank not cost £25 for a family of 4 which is valid for a whole year, so you can go back for FREE for 12 months. There was a fair bit of stuff to do for the kids and lots of information. The staff were very nice and informative even suggesting other things to do in the local area. I would highly recommend a visit.
alan fletcher — Google review
An excellent visitor centre not only looking at the history and myths behind Richard III but also the story of how he was discovered and the science involved in confirming his identity. Excellent staff on site to guide and inform. Cafe serves a good selection of hot and cold food and drink.
Curve Theatre is a contemporary performance venue located in the heart of Leicester's Cultural Quarter. The hall, designed by the renowned Rafael Viñoly, boasts luxurious seating and showcases both local productions and touring performances. Its main auditorium can accommodate up to 902 attendees while an adjacent studio with its own flying system can seat 350 spectators. Curve has served as a platform for high-profile cultural figures and emerging artists alike.
I came to see Beautiful last night as part of a family group. First thing to say is that the show was outstanding. I go to west end productions regularly and I have to say this performance was as good, if not better than many I’ve seen.
The real reason I want to leave this review is to thank everyone at The Curve for they’re help and hospitality. We brought my elderly mother who has poor mobility and uses a stick. We were spotted immediately and provided with a wheelchair to use. They continued to help us to access and leave the seating. Everyone was helpful, courteous and very friendly. A special thanks to the security guy who accompanied us to the roadside and waited until my partner brought the car from the car park. It was a cold night and he could have just left us wait, but he stayed until the car arrived and made sure my mother was safely seated. We don’t know his name but I hope that he sees this message. Outstanding customer service, we can’t wait to come again.
Tracey Zanjani — Google review
Took the family to see the Wizard of oz, an awesome night out for anyone young and old. Wonderful scenery, great singing incorporating all the songs from the film. Acting, dancing, singing and props were brilliant. The use of puppetry for Toto was inspired, the wicked witch stole the show for me, even considering getting some Ruby slippers to grab her attention!
Robert Thraves — Google review
Visited for Spongebob the Musical, which was a bonkers, fantastic experience.
We ate in the cafe before the show, which was really convenient. The food wasn't fantastic, but we had envisioned eating at McDonald's beforehand, and it was a step up from that. Prices were a bit higher than a pub, so not ridiculous.
The Theatre building itself was odd compared to all I have visited. The Auditorium being in the middle, with access all the way around it meant that the regular back stage areas were across the corridor from the stage itself. Seeing the actors running back to their dressing rooms was a novelty, but I do wonder how they find it. It was all concrete and brick in the main area, and didn't feel especially welcoming, although the lighting in some areas like the cafe changed that. The staff were lovely. Seats were pretty uncomfortable after half an hour though.
Esther Sweet — Google review
Really bright and friendly venue. Bright colours with pictures of past shows on the wall. You are literally surrounded in theatre. Comfortable seats with plenty of room and great view of stage. Saw Evita.
John Grayson — Google review
Love the building and it's design. You can get a bit miscombobulatd at times, special with the circular halls otherwise it's not conventional and that a good thing I think. Great theater space, excellent seating comfortable just a bit tight when you have to walk over people's feet to get to the middle seats. The acoustics are good and the lighting system is great. Concession stands are well equipped, but could use more alternative dietary options. Otherwise great experience and the shows are good highly recommend.
Fibonnaci Notion — Google review
Fabulous theatre offering a broad range of musicals and theatre. I’ve seen everything from Shakespeare through to west end style musicals and everything in between. The seats all give a good view and are reasonably comfortable. The cafe, the green room, is also pretty good for a coffee and a pre-show snack. Highly recommend.
SP W — Google review
Great production (Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliette). Good seats. Easy parking (pay for your parking in the box office to avoid queues at the pay station at the end). Awesome seeing backstage after the performance when they raise the sides of the theatre.
Troy Jenkinson — Google review
Excellent regional theatre, comfortable seats with plenty of legroom. Always produce some of the best shows around. Lovely helpful staff and the theatre itself is a work of art. Worth the long drive there and back every time!
Michael Cookson — Google review
Such a lovely busy place! Very clean, friendly staff and comfortable seating. Plenty of toilets and reasonably priced drinks. Only issue was the queuing system at the bar; this was a little confusing and not clear what people were queuing for, we felt like we pushed in.
Parking can be purchased alongside tickets (for the NCP next door), you just need to get your parking ticket validated in The Curve. We did this at the interval to avoid doing it at the end of the performance.
Overall a lovely experience, would definitely recommend!!!
(Photo from Row H, seat 27, watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks)
Deanne Hall — Google review
We watched the drama based on the movie/novel "The Shawshank redemption" in theatre no. 3. Was an amazing experience. The calm environment with amazingly quiet and immersed audience added to the whole experience.
Kanza Fida — Google review
We watched a modern dance version of Romeo and Juliet. We went a bit before and had a drink. I usually do not do people watching, yet seeing some people dressed up was nice. The facilities were enough to serve the full crowd for the big stage. It felt spacious during the break. The actors were kind of present on stage during the break. We parked right next to the theatre. Although there was some waiting line for the drinks and parking, it was a fun experience.
Ay?a Toku? — Google review
Amazing theatre, was fortunate enough to perform here with 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' recently. We had a lovely time watching 'La Bamba' as well, would highly recommend
Ben Stone — Google review
Worked at this venue recently with a tour show: Cirque The Greatest Show.
It’s a big beautiful venue and very state of the art equipment! The in house crew were friendly and very helpful! The most interesting thing about this venue is the fact that at the end of the show the stage left wall comes up and all the members of the public could see backstage and watch us start the get-out!! What a fantastic way to get people more interested in the backstage industry!!
Simon Gibbs — Google review
The Curve Theatre impresses from the outside....until you get right up close to it. I can think of no other modern theatre I have visited where the entrance and exit are so unlovely and uninviting. The street dining area - for the brave souls who wish to have a coffee outside whilst fending off beggars - is tiny and in shadow, which surely defeats the purpose.
By contrast, the inside bar, cafe, and waiting areas are well thought through. There is a wonderful sense of space that is almost cathedral-like in its impact. There is, however, insufficient seating for the numbers seeking it. Given the age(ing) profile of most theatre going audiences in the UK, this is no small matter.
The staff here were unfailingly polite and helpful (which feels like a bonus in these 'post service' times). The toilets, when I used them, were clean and well maintained (which is a definite bonus).
The main auditorium itself is an impressive modern theatre going space with comfortable seats and plenty of leg room (everything that Frank Matcham theatres aren't).
I was here to see "The Book Thief," a brave, powerfully emotive, but relentlessly downbeat, new musical. The staging was drab and spare. The lighting, harsh and sepia. But what unfolded was engaging and enriching. The setting of this musical was historical, but it felt current. Words are still being stolen from us and used against others in ways that should always shock and repel.
Mark Hayward — Google review
Great place, DeMontfort University use this venue for their graduation events. Its a fantastic venue, really well organised.
Ruth Durrant — Google review
Been to this theatre 25 times over the years, as its our local main stream theatre from where we live in Hinckley & it puts on the shows that appeals to us. The staff are friendly and helpful. The theatre is well cared for & is the most modern one we visit. We will visit this theatre 3 times in 2024.
MARK FRITH — Google review
Visited last night to watch my beautiful laundrette, great production in the studio. Few beers and a bite to eat. Lovely evening. Only down side, was the filthy state of the NCP car park next door. Several homeless people milling about. Disgusting state.
LEE JOHNSON — Google review
Went to see a revival of the nineties comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey at Curve. Phoned box office and they arranged suitable seats for disability which was great. Most of original cast so it was a pleasure to re-live old times (most of audience were oldies)
Brought up to date with some pithy comments and digs at politicians and celebrities. A pleasant afternoon's entertainment.
Paul Archdeacon — Google review
Had an incredible time watching heathers at the curve theatre. The theatre is beautiful with really comfy seats and despite our seats being near the edge of our row we still had a brilliant view. There’s no bad seats! The tour cast of heathers really are amazing- would 100% recommend you try to catch it before the tour ends!
The National Space Centre is a museum located in Leicester that offers visitors a tour of the surfaces of Venus, an exploration into the origins of the universe, inhabitation of a module on the International Space Station, and gazing at Thor Able rocket in the Rocket Tower. The exhibits are geared towards the needs of youngsters and many are interactive, including trying on space suits.
It was a fantastic place for the family to visit. Very informative and lots of interactive stuff to keep the kids attention too. The Auditorium was really cool and a great experience , a must do while your here. You can bring your own food if you choose too but they do have a decent selection of food here too to choose from and drinks. Decent gift shop also. Would recommend anyone to go that enjoys anything about space.
Nigel Clark — Google review
A great day out with family, a lot of information inside and different activities for kids.. planetarium one of the best 👍🏻.. good area for eating too.
Car parking available just outside the space center
Muath Gouda — Google review
Much more to see here than we expected! The different levels and how everything was displayed made the experience more cohesive. We were a couple visiting, but could see there is plenty to keep little ones occupied - even dressing up costumes. We went to one of the shows in the auditorium, about the night sky, which was beautifully presented. The cafe offered a range of food, and at surprisingly low prices. The entrance price, though, is quite high (in my opinion), but you can revisit during the year.
Maria Gavin — Google review
Visited today and honestly had the best time! So much to see and do and really interactive for kids and adults! We visited as a family of 3, 2 adults,1 child and the price is really good, especially as you can visit again for a year for free!
The food at the cafe was a really reasonable price and the small charge for a well maintained car park was gladly paid.
The many different sections were brilliant and the planetarium is amazing! The areas are quite big so you don’t feel squashed in and can move around without having to dodge round people which was good!
The staff were all lovely but a special thank you to David, who took time out to speak to my son about a particular star he was interested in that he couldn’t find information about in the museum. Everywhere is really clean (including the toilets) and well maintained, everything worked as it should.
My son is 5 and wants to be an astronaut and has honestly had the best day out!
Would highly recommend to anyone of any age and we can’t wait to visit again!
Tamsin Taylor — Google review
Fantastic day out, that good we upgraded to get an annual pass. I don't know who was more excited me or the kids. Plenty to see, lots of interactive stuff available for the kids. Gift shop & restaurant reasonably priced & the staff were approachable & friendly. Even though it was half term it was not as crowded as I dreaded beforehand.
Mick ?Moocowmick? Green — Google review
Came in the afternoon time to avoid being busy. Straight in on arrival. Given a map and staff briefly explain for you. Spacious downstairs, lots of different interactive buttons to press for kids. Pictures and costumes with signs explaining everything. Information facts across the walls. When going upstairs it got quite busy and really hot, especially when waiting for the lifts. Didn't stay up there long as it was quite a small space so wasn't as interesting as the main stuff downstairs. It is good to visit on a rainy day for something to do inside. Was also given a free pass to come back as we booked online. Would probably come back. Long ques to come inside the shows, so didn't bother with that. There is also a cafe for food and drinks and a little shop for gifts.
Chloe harvey — Google review
Excellent day out. We had a fab time exploring all of the space center and doing some of their activities. The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium was amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We will definitely be back for another visit!
Katie — Google review
Fabulous place with a ton of knowledge.
I think it is too much space to cover in one day.
Because it was a Bank Day weekend, it seemed a little bit overcrowded at one point.
I think next time we visit the place we will do it during the week so it will give us the whole spectrum of emotions.
Highly recommend visiting the Planetarium. This was the cherry on the top of the cake for, as we left it for the end of our visit. It was totally worth it.
I highly recommend visiting National Space Center
Mihai Erhan — Google review
I took my 3.5 year old child and he loved it. There was almost to much to take in for him. Although he can’t read most of the displays yet he still had a fantastic time interacting with the different areas around the space centre. There is a large ground floor area with a cafe and some different sections to explore, this ground floor has the Patrick Moore planetarium which is well worth a visit, sit in the middle seats for the best experience. There are 4 floors that can be accessed via stairs or lifts, all with excellent displays for all ages. £18.95 for a adult ticket, under 5s free and that ticket allows you to re visit for upto 12 months for free again. Car park is £4 for the full day. Great value for money.
Gav “Gav” C — Google review
Amazing value for money. Great day out with my 3 year old daughter. Very interactive but not entirely kid focussed, which means adults can enjoy a day here, too. Lots of well put together talks and live experiments from knowledgeable staff. The planetarium show we saw was "We Are Astronomers" and it was incredible - i honestly couldn't believe it was included in our ticket price!This place is cearly all about education and keeping the interest of science alive. They really do honour their motto of "science for everyone." Tickets get automatically upgraded to a season pass when pre-booking online. Parking is a set rate of £4 for the day (card and coins accepted). The gift shop is well stocked, with lots of interesting and fun bits and bobs, however it is all very expensive. Personally, i don't think there are enough bathrooms dotted around which made toilet trips with my toddler a bit challenging, however they are the only toilets i have been in that have both toddler and adult seats, which we found very useful. I didn't try the food at the small eatery, but it did smell amazing and would love to try it next time we go. There is a large hall with tables, highchairs etc and even a microwave for public use to eat home brought food/warm up baby food and it is kept constantly clean by the wonderful cleaners. Ultimately, this place is very cool and well worth the visit. I'd highly recommend anyone and everyone go check it out. The few staff i spoke to were kind, answered all of my questions thoroughly, and seemed genuinely excited to work there. Great atmosphere, not too over crowded (even on a Saturday). Great artefacts and lots of information on past, present and future space endeavours. Very interesting place to visit. Lots of various things going on at The Space Centre, so be sure to check out their website for info on upcoming events.
Jodie Brasher — Google review
We had a great family day out at the National Space Museum. There’s plenty to do and we spent the whole day exploring the history of space travel. The atmosphere was amazing!! The facility was clean and tidy, the staff were friendly and helpful. The food was not over priced and the portions were good.
Toby Parker — Google review
An amazing place for kids and adults alike. I've been wanting to come here for ages. There's loads to see, you can spend many hours here learning about the history of rockets, space travel, the planets and universe. Parking is £3 for the day and there is a canteen for snacks and stuff. There's lots of walking involved and the lift to the top where the tips of the rockets are is impressive! Don't miss the weather recording booth. It's a must and so much fun! You can put your email address in and have the video sent to you. Also one of the best things to see and experience is the largest planetarium in Britain. Be sure to not miss this and tilt your seat back for the show - mind-blowing! There is lots to interact with so beware of queues but the experiences are well worth it.
Usman Khan — Google review
Really like this place with the kids, we got a family ticket in Jan and you get to upgrade free to an annual pass so we’ve been loads, it’s good for all ages, my 3 year old and I go the most. It’s good for a hour or you can stretch it the day with the kids. None of us get tired of going up the rocket stages. There are loads of fascinating things to look at interact with and read, we go a lot and always find something new.
You can take your own sandwiches and eat at their tables, when it’s busy they open up multiple lunch halls and seem very accommodating.
The coffees and hot drinks are very nice and reasonably priced, the food is limited.
The toddler days are very good with activities and sing songs and the like, be warned some of the days are premium and you won’t get in with an annual pass.
The shop has some good bits for under a fiver for the kids with the pens, pencils, badges and things like that, there are some expensive things as well.
A good trip out with the kids.
Chad Tolley — Google review
We've absolutely loved spending our Sunday afternoon here! So many captivating things to do and to see! Will definitely come back soon, as we've blitzed through a couple of areas close to closing time.
Parking was more than sufficient, but during more popular times it could get busier. It's a pay and display, I think we paid £4 for the day.
Larisa Rosca — Google review
A great place for learning so much about space travel, missions, equipment and so much more! Highly recommend visiting to anyone who is interested in space.
It might seem costly but definitely worth it! So many interactive things to do as well from watching the shows in the planetarium for a completely immersed 3d experience, to the interactive water area, to landing a luna module there is so much to do while you learn!
Mitchel Cokien — Google review
Wouldn't advise to go during the school holidays as it was a little maniac but that was my error for not thinking. Very educational experience which also was very interactive. Will definitely be back within the year. Very family friendly, cafe was busy but plenty of seating for you to bring your own food too for a cheaper day out.
Megan Ashley — Google review
Really enjoyed our visit here and we are already planning our next trip!
The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. There's so much to read about and a lot of interactive bits for the kids (and also for us as two 30 year olds!)
Easy to find, cafe on site for a quick cuppa and snack.
Great for all ages!
Rachel Holmes — Google review
The entry fee of £18.95 for adults and £16.95 for children felt a bit steep. Unfortunately, the overall experience didn’t quite justify the price. The exhibitions leaned heavily on reading, which didn’t engage my child effectively. The absence of interactive elements made it less appealing for my son, potentially leading to boredom due to the extensive reading required.
On a positive note, the Globe cinema stood out, providing a fantastic experience that somewhat compensated for the
shortcomings.
Chitra Shinde — Google review
Great day out. We spent roughly 4 hours looking at everything in the museum as there is lots to see and do. Particularly enjoyed the planetarium film.
Coralie W — Google review
Visted Easter weekend , this place has so much to offer
We spent hours here ,although I read everything 🙃, plenty of things for the children to do and explore with .The planetarium was amazing and well worth the extra .
Tracey Hill — Google review
Some other reviews suggest that the Space Centre needs 3-4 hours to go round. We were there over 5 hours if you include lunch and watching a film at the planetarium. A great day out!! Definitely buy tickets in advance, and beware that the cost of parking is additional.
Duane Saunders — Google review
The only way to appropriately sum up our visit to the National Space Centre is to say we had a BLAST! Wow! What a wonderful place!
We’re a space loving, nerdy family who generally love this kind of thing - but we’ve yet to find anywhere in the UK that scratched our space shaped itch… until now! The space centre is a fully immersive, family friendly and surprisingly accessible experience that goes to infinity and beyond with its fantastic range of displays, activities, exhibits and more!
The planetarium was breathtaking! We saw the show that was so beautifully done that I had tears rolling down my cheeks.
What was the real unexpected star of the show, was the Mission To Mars experience. It is so immersive that our 5 year old (who is usually the first to spot things that aren’t real) fully believes we went to Mars! It was amazing! She was chosen to hold Ada and still talks about it now, over a month later!
The cafe, while serving simple dishes, offers a cheap and delicious way to eat while sitting under a real spacecraft!
I would also like to mention, that as a hearing-impaired adult, the accessibility of this venue was wonderful. Staff went above and beyond to make sure I was able to get the full experience without feeling odd.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the National Space Centre! Now that we have a year’s return pass (included in online bookings for the price of a single visit) we will be sure to go again this summer!
Hannah Paling — Google review
Had a lovely day here. Very impressed with the SEN provision and understanding both at ticket desk and throughout the day. Nice coffee in cafe and not too expensive. Excellent value as you can return as much as you want for a year under the one ticket. Plantatrium show was also great but my chair wouldn't recline, my only minor criticism.
Car Lilly — Google review
The Space Centre in Leicester was not my choice for a day out but I felt compelled to go and explore as it's on my doorstep.
There is plenty to see there and although not my cup of tea I could see thousands of people would disagree and loved it, the car park was large but it was rammed.
Children of all ages I could see were captivated by this place which has got to be a good thing , broadening their imagination, plenty of interactive stuff to mess around with.
Well done to all the helpful and well informed staff you're doing a great job 👋
Clive Wheat — Google review
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Exploration Dr, Leicester, LE4 5NS, United Kingdom
Bletchley Park was the site of World War Two code-breaking, and today it's an important heritage attraction with a good museum.
A great exhibition of life behind the scenes of the propaganda machines of the world.
Regardless of your thoughts on a war, this is a great story of humans solving problems, interactive, informative and worth a days ramble around the site.
We'd just like to thank everyone for an outstanding day, my daughter bought a Virgin Experience ticket for myself (I have been trying to get here for the last many years), we popped in at 12:00, bought a guide book (which turned out to be back to front, I liked that more, followed the form of Bletchley), we then left at 17:10 (apologies), our guide was amazing, informative, humorous and got the group working, 14:00 tour, 24/03/21.
We were so pleased that Bletchley Park staff/volunteers all seem to enjoy their work and it is noticeable.
Thanks again for a great visit.
Leon Hellyer — Google review
It was my first time at Bletchley. The history was fascinating. The tour guide option is worthwhile as it is a confusing array of buildings although a map is provided. There were lots of interactive displays and lots of personal lived experiences narrated. I was surprised at how well maintained the house is with lots of arts and crafts designed woodwork, ceilings and plasterwork. The cafe was pleasant and efficient too. Well worth a visit.
Maria Catterick — Google review
Absolutely amazing day. Very very interesting place, all the staff and volunteers were great, filled with loads of passion and knowledge and willing to share all of it. 5hrs it took to go round and I will be visiting again to learn much more. I thank all the staff and volunteers for keeping this history and memories alive from the gate on the way in, through buying the tickets, all around the the park, the restaurant (hut 4) the shop and on the way out. I will remember today forever.
Steve Lee — Google review
A really fascinating place to visit, more of a focus around the Enigma machine of course. We found that unlike other war museums there is less here about uniforms, weapons, medals etc which is a nice difference.
We visited on one of the hottest days in summer, so some rooms/buildings were incredibly hot. It goes to show the kinds of conditions they would have been working in at a time of war too, humbling.
I also particularly liked the art exhibition focusing on data. There were a few that you could contribute to.
Lots of green spaces, so great for a picnic if you bring your own lunch or snacks.
Acacia — Google review
An excellent day out. Hard to believe we were there from opening time (10am) until closing time (4pm). Worth signing up for the free walking guided tour (outside). The headsets cover much of the same. Walking tour lasts for about an hour. Lunch in hut 4 - pretty good selection. A lot to see and your tickets are valid for a year to return anytime. Free on site parking or train station a couple of hundred metres away.
Chris — Google review
The tour guide gave us a very interesting view of the place and the story, which is always welcome. The family audio guide for children is welcome but not enough to keep them interested, despite the embedded games. Maybe some scoring board system or progress bar would have helped -"getting hired as a secret agent" thing. The interactive screens scattered in the huts do a far better job at keping them interested.
Kyr B — Google review
Loved our visit which has been known a must visit for ages. We arrived @11am & left 4 hours later not having seen all the exhibits. Some will br more useful than others data capturing is not my thing but loved being in yhr place where history was being made. We tried out hut 4 cafe for lunch..very tasty & also the free guided tour. It would be helpful to explain the guided tour is just outdoors not around the exhibitions & and for us it was a bit long winded & too detailed. Looking fwd to the new exhibitions they are planning and will definitely return. Highly recommended for junior school kids & upwards.
trish morgan — Google review
Wow what a historic place! 😲 Far bigger than I thought it would be. Spent six & a half hours walking around the grounds and exhibits. Still didn't get to all of it! Staff were great a very knowledgeable. Great place to visit if you like WW2 history 😀
IAN CONNER — Google review
Bletchley Park was the UK biggest secret during WWII. It still remains one of the best secrets as a place to visit.
If you thought the movies were good you really need to visit Bletchley and see how really amazing the truth actually is. It is totally staggering what they did in those small huts.
But what is great about Bletchley in 2022 is that they have restored the site, and kept the 1940’s feel of the whole site. Everything from the huts to the cafes and toilets are in theme. There are lots of video, interactive and information to make it a great visit.
As other people have said keep the tickets, they are valid for a year. It may take 2 or 3 visits if you want to read everything.
One of the best sites in the UK to visit, even my partner who hates “war stuff” loved it.
Ian Francis — Google review
Attracting visitors from all around the world, Bletchley Park has something for everyone, from absolute novices who don't know anything about WW2 to certified expert military historians. You can have the self guided tour with headphones and commentary in different languages, or pay extra for a human guided tour, which is probably going to be the best experience. There are original enigma machines, along with replicas of various other code breaking devices. The site isn't too big, so you can walk it all. There are lifts / elevators next to most staircases and access ramps everywhere, too, so older visitors are looked after. There is an impressively sized gift shop, with almost everything you can think of, including Bletchley Park gin, beer, puzzles, t shirts, etc... there are a few cafes, indoor and outdoor seating and picnic tables. The short movie clips they play in the cinema room are very informative and well put together, and the original huts with 1940s furniture are particularly impressive. There's plenty of parking and lots of staff on hand to help.
Paul Garner — Google review
Lovely historical building, absolutely a must visit for anyone with an interest in the Enigma machine, and the first ever built Alan Touring world computer. This is a fascinating place that transcends history with the great display of artifacts used during WW2. Highly educational, and a great day out for anyone. Open Monday to Sunday, from 09:30 am to 17:30 pm. Paid parking available, wheelchair access, and friendly staff. Highly recommended.
Giulio Marino — Google review
Good day out with friends and family. If you get there when it opens and leave when it closes there is loads of history on codebreakers and enigma to see. There is a cafe, pond and all the machines that they used. Some of the machines are interactive with lots of touchscreen tablets so good for young children. (Under 12s go free).
James Coop — Google review
Visited on a Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Arrived as it opened at 9.30am and no queues, was recommended to take the included 1hr tour of the grounds with a guide (book at the information desk) and that was really informative.
Cafe and restaurant on site, food was very tasty with reasonable prices (London influenced?) and in the end we spent over 6 hours there. Believe we saw most of not everything but you could definitely spend longer there.
Great thing with the tickets is that within the next 12 months you can return again as many times as you want, so excellent value.
Ian Saxton — Google review
If the allied code breaking exploits during WW2 is of interest then this is the place. Lots of information about code breaking with interactive exhibits sprinkled in. Options of going along the guided talks or going solo. If you chose the latter, don't forget to pick up one of audio description packs (you can bring your own headphones if you wish). A great day out for the whole family.
ifeanyi nwabueze — Google review
Went on a school trip, Amazing visit. The mansion and huts really make you feel like you were one of the code breakers. The vehicles were very interesting, you had some which were used during working hours, then you had one caravan used in the 2000's. Would visit again.
Ashton Hegde — Google review
Overall, it isn't as good as it used to be, because Colossus is no longer included as an exhibit and they didn't make this clear at all. Also, the Winston Churchill room no longer exists.
They have improved what they do have, including a very good video when you walk in and a cinema area with another good video.
£7.99 for the bath ducks in the gift shop is a rip off, but other items in the shop were valued okay.
The children's playground needs some more items. It would also be good to have learning material in the museum for young children.
Paul Richardson — Google review
I had a really great experience. The site was well kept, lots of good modern exhibits, guided tours by volunteers and generally a lot of WW2 history. There is a play park and eating areas too. The tickets are valid for a year allowing for return visits. Well worth a visit.
Stuart Nibloe — Google review
A very immersive experience. So much information about very dedicated people with pictures around the buildings making it more personal . A lot to see and interact with . There are facilities to eat and sit down. Benches outside around the lake are a welcome break from the huts. One can only imagine what an 8 hour shift was like ! A lovely day out 😊
Anne Stachurski — Google review
Visited on their 1940s weekend, it was really nice to see and hear all the different period clothing and gear. Bletchley Park as a museum was informative and interesting but not my cup of tea. Felt it was like reading an uninspiring textbook, very knowledgeable but rather tedious which, is why I suspect the ques for the few interactive exhibits were long.
Joseph Pinter — Google review
Very interesting place of historical significance. If you already know the history there isn't that much more to learn, and there is a lot of repetition. It's still great to see it all in person. Do follow the suggested order on the map, it really helpful and goes in a good order to understand the timelines.
Sadly, It's a bit on the expensive side and the food is very pricey so maybe bring a picnic and sit by the pond, it's a very charming spot.
I think very young children might not enjoy it but slightly older or teens may find it diverting enough if they like museum. There are lots of interactive displays dotted around. We spent about 2 hours here, so wear comfy shoes.
Rx Frost — Google review
We had a great day at Bletchley Park! Even the security were happy and informative. All the staff were really helpful and polite.
We went on a tour which was 1 hour and it went so quickly, his name was John. An hour wasn't long enough tp talk about all the amazing things that happened there.
The exhibits were interesting, some were interactive. I liked the fact it told you how long until the next showing of a clip or movie. The D Day movie was great.
Pros: great day out, good shop, informative tour guide, good facilities.
Cons: expensive food (no peas, as they run out!), I'd like to see more of the mansion set up to how it would have been,
Overall a great day out and you get visit as many times as you like for 12 months after your visit which does include some events.
Sam Smith — Google review
So much history so many unsung heroes and so little time. I was a bit time poor today but really wanted to visit this bastion of WW2 secret war winning legend. I got a taxi to the Park from Milton Keynes Central station with a quick stop at the hotel on the way. Driver agreed to pick me up there 3hours later and I was not disappointed. It is only a short walk from Bletchley station however and not much more from Bletchley Town Centre. This venue is very wheelchair friendly and is packed with information. The staff are incredible and go out of their way to make the visit special. As usual I spent too much in the gift shop but just couldn't resist as the items for sale are very relevant and not the usual fare. A gentle stroll around the grounds takes you through the actual buildings where democracy was saved by dedicated people who worked tirelessly to glean the intentions of the Nazis and give the allies the upper hand from early on. Without these heroes the world might be a different place today. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition and there is even a play area for the children, however on my visit many of the kids were enthralled by the interactive exhibits. A pair of older children (early twenty somethings) were having a great time trying on some of the authentic 40s apparel supplied for the purpose. Photography without flashes is welcome and the cake and tea I had in hut 4 was superb. There are guided and self media assisted tours available but I chose to go it alone as I'm familiar with the history. I would recommend this as a must see activity.
Jesse Caple — Google review
History at its best. We didn't realise how big the site was and how much information was available regarding the very important,if not crucial, work that was carried out leading up to and very much during the 2nd world war. You could easily spend two days here and still find things to read and discover. There are interactive code breaking opportunities for both children and adults, just a bit of fun for us but could well have saved lives during the war, well worth a go!!! Food was also available from a couple of sites and plenty of space for picnics if the weather is nice particularly around the lake in front of the house. Tours are available but get in early to book as they fill up quickly, if you miss those though, don't worry as a full audio guide is available and is very well put together and informative. Good disabled access too. Have a great time code breaking!!!!
shaun — Google review
The history of the site is presented in really interesting ways with quite a few interactive options along the way. The site is huge & fairly sure we missed bits 🤦 there was also work going on up at the house so it was covered in scaffolding so I'm really glad that the tickets are valid for 12 months so we'll be able to go back 📷😎
Claire Dragon — Google review
We’ve been wanting to head out to Bletchley Park for a while and so glad we finally did! What an amazing place. The code breakers did such amazing work and the curators of this museum have done an amazing job capturing this part of history. The grounds are also beautiful, even on a rainy day!
Diane Begin — Google review
Excellent experience. Very informative and well preserved and documented. You need a full day or two to get through it all thoroughly. My ticket provides a second visit, so will have to go back to finish. A self listening tour is provided.
Liesl Knott — Google review
Excellent museum - held my kids attention for 3 hours (11 and 13) which is no mean feat. The 13 year old asked to visit after learning about Alan Turing at school. The exhibits are structured in a very accessible way and there is a nice balance between human stories and the more technical story of the code breaking. Would highly recommend, book in advance, allow for 3-4 hours - there is a lot to see.
Chris Grieve — Google review
Fabulous place to visit, lots of history.
My wife took me there as a birthday present.
We had a lovely talk with Cara, the engagement officer.
Keith Foxwell — Google review
Prepare to stay all day. We arrived for our timed entry at 11pm, took a tour, and then started on the exhibits. So fascinating, didn't even notice we'd missed lunch, and then it was closing time and we hadn't got to see it all.
Will definitely be taking advantage of the buy once visit many times in year ticket.
Paolo Rosi (Paolo) — Google review
Before traveling to London, friends of ours urged us to visit Bletchley Park where Britain’s most brilliant code breakers played a very critical role in helping to speed up the end of WW2 by one to two years by intercepting German transmissions that were being sent by secret coded messages. The guides who led the tours were well informed and touring the grounds was absolutely fascinating! We took a train to Bletchley Park and the trip from London took about an hour but it was the highlight of our vacation and well worth the excursion.
Arthur Glauberman — Google review
Very interesting. History of the second world war code breakers. Phenomenal people. The site is very well kept and clean and tidy. It does somewhat lack in exhibits and furniture. Lots of empty rooms with story boards
Grosvenor Lucas — Google review
Lots to see and learn on this sprawling estate. The guides are very informative, although you do have the option of picking up your own "listening guide" if you're in a smaller group.
You can easily spend the whole day here and still not cover most things. I was so engrossed in learning about this place, I completely forgot to stop for lunch - don't make that mistake, as there's a wonderful café here
Shiraz Esat — Google review
Brilliant, educational fascinating glimpse into the work that helped end WWII two years early. Well laid out with audio and visual aids. Suitable for wheelchair access but there is quite a large area to cover if you want to see it all. Small but adequate cafe and interesting gift shop
David Hollander — Google review
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The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Dr, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB, United Kingdom
The College Lake Nature Reserve has dedicated substantial time to developing attractions that aim to engage visitors with the local wildlife. The primary walking route spans a distance of two or three miles, featuring flat and well-drained paths. These paths also showcase points of interest related to the reserve's past as a quarry and farmland. The reserve offers various walk options, catering to both long and short distances, including opportunities for children to explore and numerous hides from which visitors can observe wildlife.
Beautiful. Great birdwatching on the main lakes with a number of hides. Some great picnic spots and a modern visitor centre with cafe, shop and lovely staff :)
Will Jobbins — Google review
Such a lovely place. So much to do, the big walk around the entire lake is huge, though there are lots of little walks too including lots ofr the kids to do and lots of hides to see the wildlife. Lots of parking too
Venue View (Venue View Virtual Tours) — Google review
Great location for a walk at the weekend.
Friendly volunteers in the souvenir shop.
Trang Nguyen — Google review
The reserve has had a lot of time spent on attractions aimed at engaging interest in wildlife. The main walking route is two or three miles of flat, well drained paths which also have points of interest regarding its industrial past as a quarry and farmland.
Vince Mosdall — Google review
Wonderful, peaceful place to go for a walk or spend a few idle hours. Beautiful!