Winchcombe

• Experience Winchcombe visitor information

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

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

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

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

Winchcombe has a few pubs and inns.

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

• The Lion Inn, 37 North St, GL54 5PS, ☏ +44 1242 603300. Inn with eight bedrooms. (updated Dec 2017)
• 🌍 The Plaisterers Arms, Abbey Terrace, GL54 5LL, ☏ +44 1242 602358. noon-11PM. (updated Dec 2017)

Winchcombe primarily offers B&Bs and rooms within pubs. However, there are also self-catering cottages dotted around the town. Cheltenham would have more accommodation though it would be all booked out in April when Cheltenham Gold Cup is on.

• Radio Winchcombe. The town's own community-funded FM radio station and it broadcasts at 107.1 MHz or be streamed on their website (albeit by a very simple web player) or via services such as TuneIn. (updated Jan 2024)

Despite being part of the Tewkesbury district, Winchcombe uses Cheltenham's telephone area code of 01242 (or +44 1242). After the area code, most phone numbers have a prefix of 602 or 603.

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