Historic and picturesque South West England county with rich heritage sites, scenic landscapes, and vibrant cultural festivals.
Hailes Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in Gloucestershire founded in the 13th century, notable for its historical pilgrimage significance due to a relic of the Holy Blood. Visitors can explore the abbey ruins and an on-site museum with artefacts, as well as a nearby historic medieval church with notable wall paintings.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition presents garments from Charles Wade’s Snowshill Costume Collection, exploring clothing, cultural identity, personal expression and social history.
Tintern Abbey is a ruined medieval Cistercian abbey founded in 1131, located beside the River Wye in Monmouthshire, Wales. Its impressive gothic ruins are a popular outdoor tourist attraction rich in history and celebrated in art and literature. Visitors can explore historic ruins with scenic riverside views and learn about its cultural and industrial past.
10–11 Oct (this weekend)
See birds of prey in flight at Tintern Abbey and learn about their lives and the role of falconry in Tudor times. Visitors can also have their photo taken with the birds.
Rotherwas Chapel is a historic family chapel with architectural features from medieval to Victorian times including a fine Elizabethan timber roof and Victorian furnishings, maintained by English Heritage near Hereford.
Snowshill Manor is a 16th-century Cotswold manor house in Gloucestershire, owned by the National Trust and housing an extensive collection amassed by Charles Paget Wade. Visitors can explore unique indoor collections and enjoy Arts and Crafts style outdoor gardens with terraces, ponds, and more.
Chastleton House is a Grade I listed Jacobean country house in Oxfordshire with extensive historic interiors and well-preserved gardens. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a combined indoor and outdoor heritage experience including the Long Gallery, historic rooms, and gardens that are the birthplace of croquet as a competitive sport.
The Kymin is a historic hill near Monmouth, Wales, famous for its neoclassical Roundhouse and Naval Temple monuments, offering scenic views and managed by the National Trust as a public heritage site.
Kingswood Abbey Gatehouse is the only surviving part of the historic Cistercian Kingswood Abbey in Gloucestershire, with origins dating back to 1139. Visitors can explore the medieval gatehouse, a Grade I listed building, located in the village of Kingswood and managed by English Heritage.
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A sculpture exhibition featuring work by five local artists, displayed across Newark Park’s house and gardens. The contemporary sculptures explore the estate’s history, landscape and wildlife, with some works made from materials sourced locally.
The Port Wall in Chepstow is a medieval defensive stone wall dating back to the late 13th century, originally enclosing the historic town and port. Visitors can explore substantial remaining sections of this Grade I listed structure which served as a market toll barrier and defense. The site offers outdoor historical heritage experience with connection to Chepstow Castle and the River Wye.
Chepstow is a historic market town in Monmouthshire, Wales, known for its Norman castle overlooking the River Wye, picturesque riverside, cultural festivals, and as a gateway to the Wye Valley area.
Over Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge designed by Thomas Telford crossing the West Channel of the River Severn near Gloucester, now a pedestrian-only route and scheduled monument.
Lodge Park is a historic 17th-century deer course grandstand in Gloucestershire, restored to its original form and managed by the National Trust. Visitors can explore both the grandstand building and the surrounding Sherborne Estate parkland with footpaths and wildlife. The site includes a shop and light refreshments and is notable as a filming location for BBC wildlife programmes.
Ashleworth Tithe Barn is a large 15th-century medieval tithe barn in Gloucestershire, England, notable for its historic architecture and National Trust stewardship. Visitors can explore this well-preserved agricultural building with its timber framed roof and stone slate roof, witnessing a key example of medieval barn construction and history.
Blackfriars in Gloucester is a historic Dominican friary dating from 1239, featuring well-preserved medieval architecture including a Grade I listed former church and the oldest purpose-built library in the UK. The venue hosts weddings, concerts, exhibitions, tours, and educational activities, offering visitors a unique combination of indoor historical exploration and outdoor cloisters.
Avebury is a prehistoric Neolithic henge monument in Wiltshire, England, featuring the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. The site includes multiple stone circles and is part of a larger prehistoric landscape with significant archaeological and cultural value. Managed by the National Trust, Avebury is also recognized as a World Heritage Site and holds contemporary religious importance for Pagan communities.
West Kennet Avenue is a prehistoric stone avenue in Wiltshire, England, featuring standing stones dating to around 2200 BC. Visitors can explore the outdoor ancient archaeological site, which is part of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site and managed by the National Trust and English Heritage. The site is free to visit and offers a glimpse into Neolithic British history.
Windmill Hill is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure in Wiltshire, England, known as the largest of its type in Britain and part of the Avebury World Heritage Site, featuring ancient ditches and archaeological significance.
5 Sep–18 Oct (another 9 days)
An outdoor sculpture exhibition displays works by more than 20 artists across the 11 garden rooms at Avebury Manor. Visitors can explore the sculptures among the garden’s seasonal planting; the works are also available to buy.
Chepstow Castle is a largely intact medieval stone castle located in Chepstow, Wales, notable as Britain's oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification. Visitors can explore extensive outdoor ruins including multiple baileys, battlements, and historic towers, set dramatically above the River Wye cliffs. The castle played significant historical roles from the Norman era through the English Civil War and today serves as a popular heritage site managed by Cadw.
Bredon Barn is a large 14th-century threshing barn in Worcestershire, notable for its historic architecture with oak interior and limestone tiled roof, owned by the National Trust and protected as a Scheduled Monument and Grade I listed building.
Great Witcombe Roman Villa offers visitors an exploration of the ruins of a Roman villa from the 1st to 5th century AD, including terraces on a hillside, a bath house with preserved mosaic floors, a latrine, a household shrine, and an octagonal reception room, providing insight into Roman Britain architecture and lifestyle.
Avebury Manor & Garden is a historic National Trust property featuring a Grade I listed early 16th-century manor house with period interiors and meticulously designed formal gardens, located in the village of Avebury near the famous neolithic henge monument. The venue offers both indoor exploration of historical interiors and outdoor enjoyment of the gardens, reflecting centuries of architectural and garden design history.
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Artist Georgie Weedon and sound practitioner Mia MacAllister lead an evening combining an immersive sound installation, a contemplative walk and guided meditation in Avebury Manor Garden, and a sound journey among paintings inspired by Avebury. The event ends with herbal tea in the gallery.
Horton Court is a Grade I listed 16th-century Tudor and Norman manor house in Gloucestershire, featuring a Norman great hall and early Renaissance design elements. Owned by the National Trust, it offers rich historical architecture and has been used for filming notable TV series.
The Fleece Inn is a historic timber-framed pub dating back to the 15th century, located in Bretforton, Worcestershire. Owned by the National Trust, it features a medieval barn used for events, hosts cultural activities like folk nights and an annual asparagus festival, and preserves unique traditions such as witch circles chalked on the floor for protection.
Kempley is a historic village in Gloucestershire known for St Mary's Church with Britain's oldest roof and exceptional Romanesque frescoes, along with the Arts and Crafts style St Edward's Church, offering a combination of indoor heritage and scenic outdoor experiences.
Notgrove Long Barrow is a prehistoric burial mound in Gloucestershire featuring a large mound with a central passage and several small chambers, historically used for human remains interment.
Newark Park is a Grade I listed Tudor hunting lodge and country house near Ozleworth, Gloucestershire, set within a 700-acre estate featuring formal deer park and landscaped grounds. Visitors can explore both the historic indoor interiors and the scenic outdoor areas surrounding the house. The site is managed by the National Trust and open to the public seasonally.
St Briavels Castle is a Grade I listed Norman castle in Gloucestershire, England, known for its Edwardian gatehouse and historical role as a royal administrative centre and armaments manufactory. It later functioned as a debtors' prison before becoming a youth hostel, offering visitors a mix of indoor historic buildings and outdoor garden and moat areas.
Croome Court is a historic 18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion with interiors by Robert Adam, set within extensive landscaped parkland designed by Capability Brown. Visitors can explore the grand house, its restored walled gardens, and a wide range of follies and temples throughout the park, all managed by the National Trust.
7 Oct–31 Dec (another 83 days)
An exhibition at Croome explores the history, craftsmanship and significance of Robert Adam’s 18th-century bookcases, which are being conserved for reinstatement in the house’s Library.
Goodrich Castle is a prominent 11th century Norman medieval castle ruin in Herefordshire, England featuring well-preserved concentric defensive architecture, historic significance from the English Civil War, and scenic views over the River Wye. It is managed by English Heritage and open to the public as a historic site.
Buscot Park is an 18th-century neoclassical country house near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, surrounded by extensive formal gardens, woodland, and lakes. It houses a notable art collection including works by Rembrandt and Edward Burne-Jones. The estate is open to the public each summer under the National Trust and offers a blend of historic interiors and outdoor landscapes.
10 Oct (this Saturday)
A guided tour around Coleshill explores the lost Coleshill House, the estate’s secret Second World War training history and the former Model Farm, now home to the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre. The tour includes a walk of approximately 1 km and a chance to look around an exhibition afterwards.
Dyrham Park is a Grade I listed baroque country house and extensive parkland in Gloucestershire, England, featuring historic interiors with Dutch art, 274 acres of gardens, an orangery, and a stable block now a tea room. It offers public access with events and has been a filming location for notable productions.
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Join a guided walk through Dyrham village as it was in 1704, and learn about its links to the estate and the lives of its villagers.
Hidcote Bartrim is a Grade I-listed Arts and Crafts-inspired garden in Gloucestershire featuring 10.5 acres of garden rooms with diverse atmospheres and named plant varieties, gifted to the National Trust by its creator Major Lawrence Johnston.
26 Sep–1 Nov, 6–8 Nov…
Visitors can follow a Brambly Hedge story trail through Hidcote, helping Primrose the mouse find her way home. The experience begins inside the Manor House and continues in the gardens, with miniature mouse homes, story scenes and interactive displays.
Belas Knap is a Neolithic chambered long barrow located on Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire, featuring distinctive burial chambers and a false entrance. Visitors explore the historic outdoor site with significant archaeological value, offering scenic hilltop views.
Temple Church in Bristol is a historic ruined church originally built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, later rebuilt and heavily damaged during World War II. The site features a leaning tower and outlines of the original circular church, and is now preserved as an open ruin managed by English Heritage, offering a unique outdoor historical experience.
Nympsfield Long Barrow is a Neolithic burial site located near the village of Nympsfield in Gloucestershire, England. The outdoor archaeological site features a trapezoidal long barrow with multiple chambers and is managed as part of Coaley Peak Country Park. It offers visitors a glimpse into ancient burial practices, with excavations revealing human remains and artifacts dating back to around 2800 BC.
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
Tinkley Tots is a weekly outdoor nature group for children aged 2–4 and their grown-ups, with a different nature theme, story and activities each session. Children can explore outdoors, discover wildlife and make things from natural materials.
Westbury College Gatehouse is a 15th-century historic gatehouse in Bristol, originally part of a college of priests, now managed by Holy Trinity Church and serving as a local meeting place with youth group activities.
Cirencester Amphitheatre in Gloucestershire is the remains of a large Roman amphitheatre, notable as the second-largest in Roman Britain, with visible earthworks and evidence of tiered seating for thousands of spectators, and historical significance as a defensive site in the 5th century.
Cirencester is a historic market town in Gloucestershire, England, known for its Roman heritage, medieval architecture, arts and crafts movement, and vibrant cultural scene within the scenic Cotswold Hills.
Odda's Chapel is an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon former chantry chapel in Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, known for its Romanesque architectural features and historical significance as part of a Benedictine priory. It is now managed by English Heritage and recognized as a Grade I listed building.
Chedworth Roman Villa is a large and elaborate Roman villa near Chedworth in Gloucestershire featuring mosaic floors, heated baths, and a nymphaeum spring shrine, showcasing elite Romano-British life from 2nd to 5th century. It offers indoor archaeological remains and outdoor grounds for visitors to explore.
1 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A month of activities at Chedworth Roman Villa explores Roman beliefs about death and the afterlife. The core activities run daily from 1 October to 1 November 2026.
Uley Long Barrow, also known as Hetty Pegler's Tump, is a Neolithic burial mound in Gloucestershire featuring a transepted gallery grave with ancient stone chambers and archaeological significance.
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive folklore adventure around Woodchester Park, guided by the Crone and completing challenges to close a rift between worlds. The activity can take around 20 minutes or be extended into a day-long walk.
Greyfriars in Gloucester is a historic medieval monastic site with the remains of a 16th-century friary church rebuilt in Perpendicular Gothic style, offering an outdoor experience of English heritage.
Windmill Tump is a Neolithic burial site featuring a large stone tumulus and tombs containing ancient human and animal remains, located in Gloucestershire. Visitors can explore the outdoor historic site managed by Gloucestershire County Council.
Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument is an 18th-century historic monument located on Lansdown Hill near Bath, commemorating the Royalist commander Sir Bevil Grenville, who was mortally wounded in the 1643 Battle of Lansdowne during the English Civil War. The outdoor monument stands 25 feet tall, featuring inscriptions and heraldic symbols, and is a protected Grade II* listed and scheduled ancient monument.
9 Oct
Dr Tim Manningmore gives a talk exploring the history of People of Colour in Bath, from the Georgian period to the Ethiopian Royal family’s move to Fairfield House.