Why visit Cirencester?
Capital of the Cotswolds
Crossing England diagonally from Warwickshire in the north to the edge of Somerset in the south, the Cotswolds is one of the biggest and most popular areas of outstanding natural beauty in the country.
Cirencester is an attractive Gloucestershire town right in the middle of the Cotswolds that’s often overlooked by daytripping visitors, who seem to prefer to trample the streets of nearby Cheltenham or Stow-on-the-Wold instead.
While Cirencester doesn’t shout about its charms from the rooftops, it’s both a first-rate town in its own right and an excellent launchpad for exploring the Cotswolds, virtually all of which can be reached within an hour’s drive. Camping near Cirencester, then, is a seriously good option for anyone visiting this spectacular part of England, giving you free rein to design the holiday you want – a morning in Oxfordshire here, an afternoon in Wiltshire there, and a nice pint of local cider just to round it all off (but we’ll get to that later…).
From Roman camp to medieval wool town
Cirencester has ancient roots, and for a while was even the second-most important city in all of Britain (if you were a Roman, at least – the Celts probably had other ideas). Traces of this past can still be seen today – the earthworks of Cirencester’s amphitheatre can still be visited, while the remains of nearby Chedworth Roman Villa shed light on the ins and outs of ancient underfloor heating.
Cirencester’s second heyday came several hundred years later, when it emerged as a major hub in the medieval wool trade. This caused another boom in beautiful buildings, including Cirencester Abbey (sadly demolished by King Henry VIII) and the parish church of St John the Baptist, which is still standing today. Head to the latter to see the elegant tombs of the town’s richest wool merchants, or to learn about the building’s links to Henry’s ill-fated consort Anne Boleyn.
Cirencester Park
After exploring the town centre, escape to the calm green spaces of Cirencester Park, a huge country estate just a few minutes’ walk from the town’s shopping district. Belonging to the Bathurst Estate, these gorgeous geometric grounds and gardens are open to the public daily and also host special events like the Cotswold Show, one of the undisputed highlights in the town’s calendar.
The best things to do in and around Cirencester
In town
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Uncover the ancient past at the Corinium Museum, an excellent family-friendly introduction to Britain’s Roman heritage.
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Amble around the historic interiors of the parish church of St John Baptist to see stained glass, medieval merchants’ tombs and personal possessions of Anne Boleyn.
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Take an alfresco dip at Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool, a heated historic lido with great views over grand sandstone buildings.
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Reconnect with nature and ponder life’s big questions at the Elemental Sculpture Park (or, if you’re feeling less philosophical, just enjoy the calm surrounds and a slice of cake in its café).
The best things to do within half an hour’s drive of Carlisle
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For horticulture, head to Cerney House Gardens near Cheltenham, a romantic English garden within easy reach of Cirencester (10 minutes’ drive).
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Make friends with rare breeds and stock up on fresh local produce at Butts Farm (10 minutes).
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Drive 15 minutes out into the countryside and you’ll reach Bibury Trout Farm, a fab fishery where you can catch and barbecue your own dinner or simply soak up the peace and quiet while feeding the fish.
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Make a splash at Cotswold Water Park, a large watersports centre halfway between Cirencester and Swindon (15 minutes).
Delve deeper
Shopping in Cirencester
Cirencester’s vibrant mix of independent shops makes a refreshing change from your average high street. Look for special pieces in the small boutiques clustered around old courtyards, or head to one of the town’s antiques emporiums on the hunt for a bargain.
Cirencester also hosts regular open-air markets and is home to the Corn Hall, the site of a semi-permanent bazaar selling all sorts of locally-made goods and gifts.
Creativity in the Cotswolds
If being surrounded by nature has got those creative juices flowing, head to Pick A Point And Paint, a hands-on ceramics centre in the middle of town where young and old can create colourful tableware.
If you’d rather leave it to the professionals, head to the New Brewer Arts Centre, also in the centre of town, where local artists and artisans have open studios and are happy to chat about their work.
Gloucestershire cider, perry and wine
They say that good things come in threes, and that’s certainly true of Gloucestershire’s drinks scene. The countryside surrounding Cirencester is home to dozens of apple and pear orchards and is far-famed for its top-quality cider and perry, but the Cotswolds’ clement climate is also making it an increasingly popular wine-growing spot.
For a refreshing pint of cider, head to The Beard and Sabre Cider Mill, just outside Cirencester town centre. Alternatively, to try a range of English wines, make your way to the Poulton Hill Estate (five minutes’ drive) or to Woodchester Valley Vineyard (30 minutes) over towards Stroud.
Here’s how
All set for a trip to the capital of the Cotswolds? Find Cirencester holiday lets like glamping, static caravans or lodges, or stick to traditional pitches and check out Gloucestershire campsites in the Cirencester area.
Some of our most popular options include electric pitches, sites with a bar and dog-friendly spots, but if you’re browsing with something else in mind just use the tick-box filters on this page to find the holiday that’s right for you.
Looking to explore more of the Cotswolds? Head south to the Georgian city of Bath, west to the characterful market town of Stroud, east to Oxford or north to honeycomb-coloured villages like Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water.
