Things to do
History & Museums
SUDELEY CASTLE AND GARDENS
Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, there’s over a millennium of history to be discovered at Sudeley Castle. The castle was home to four of England’s Tudor queens, Anne Boleyn, Katherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I, who all would have enjoyed the sprawling gardens which have been restored to their original state. The chapel is the only private church in Britain in which a queen is interred—Katherine Parr’s grave can be found here.
COTSWOLD MOTORING MUSEUM
Take a fascinating journey through time as we explore the history of 20th-century motoring. With over 40 cars on display, the museum’s car collection is truly unique. The oldest car exhibited dates from the early 1900s; the latest addition, a Hillman Imp, is from 1974. From sleek Jaguars to quirky Austins and sporty open-top MGs, our car collection will transport you back to a time when driving was a hobby – not a necessity.
BROADWAY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
Housed in a stunning 17th-century building, Broadway Museum & Art Gallery invites you to explore the fascinating history of Broadway - a charming Cotswold village with evidence of human habitation dating back 8,000 years!
Family Activities
THE MODEL VILLAGE
Get a different perspective of the Cotswolds with this one-ninth scale model of the beautiful village of Bourton-on-the-Water, planted lavishly with bonsai trees and miniature Alpine plants. If you stand close to the village’s churches, you’ll hear the choirs singing, and the replica of the River Windrush flows through the town.
COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK & GARDENS
A safari park which is home to lions and wolves, ostriches and sloths, and much more, all set in the grounds of a sprawling Victorian estate. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of the largest zoological gardens in the country, and offers close up encounters with rare and majestic animals, including through conservation programmes and events where you can be a zoo keeper for a day.
BIRDLAND & JURASSIC JOURNEY
Discover an amazing world of birds and their Jurassic ancestors on your day out in the Cotswolds. Birdland is set in nine acres of gardens and woodland, creating a picturesque canopy for the winding River Windrush. Meet over 500 birds from magical owls, large cassowary and rare species such as the Waldrapp Ibis. Spot flamingos, pelicans, cranes and waterfowl that live in our riverside habitats with many more inhabiting over 50 aviaries.
Group Activities
FAR PEAK - ADVENTURE & RELAXATION
For adventure enthusiasts, there's outdoor and indoor climbing, escape rooms and bike hire at Far Peak, just a 10 minute drive from Cats Abbey. For those seeking a more relaxed space can enjoy our on-site wellness facilities including physiotherapy, saunas, and ice baths.
GO EVENT HIRE
GO Event Hire can provide a range of adventurous activities at Cats Abbey for any type of event - Corporate, Weddings, Birthdays and more. The adventurous activities can be set up indoors or outdoors, and all equipment and instructor are bought to your venue.
Archery - Axe Throwing - Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting - Archery Tag - Bubble Football - Knife Throwing
COTSWOLD WATER PARK
Discover the Cotswold Lakes! A stunning wetland landscape in the heart of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, featuring over 180 lakes spread across 42 square miles. Recognised as a haven for wildlife, it offers a unique natural setting for a wide range of visitors to enjoy, from nature lovers and birdwatchers to sports enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful retreat.
The Cotswold Lakes offers something for everyone, from miles of off-road walking and cycling paths, peaceful lakeside walks and fantastic and varied birdwatching. Choose from a wide range of watersports or land activities for both beginners and experts or visit the inland beach for family bathing and paddling.
Walks
Family Walk at Sherborne Park Estate
An ideal walk for families, this route takes in peaceful farmland, woodland and the village. Highlights include views over the Sherborne Brook, and lots of wildlife to spot including farmland birds.
Difficulty: Moderate | Dog friendly | Duration: 1 hour 30 mins | Distance: 2.5 miles
The Fox, riverside inn – Deer i the park loop from Windrush
A lovely walk meandering by the River Windrush, through Great Barrington and peaceful farmland. Highlights include stunning countryside and wide-open spaces. Challenges are muddy areas, especially in winter.
Difficulty: Intermediate | Dog friendly | Duration: 3 hours | Distance: 6.85 miles
Bourton-on-the-Water & Stow-on-the Wold loop — The Cotswolds
A delightful walk through picturesque the Cotswold villages, market towns and peaceful farmland. Highlights include the Mill at Lower Slaughter, the bustling town of Stow-on-the-Wold, river crossings and a bluebell forest (in the right season!).
Difficulty: Intermediate | Dog friendly | Duration: 4 hours 20 mins | Distance: 10 miles
Local Villages & Towns
BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER
Exciting days out for visitors of all ages. From our famous Model Village to the wonders of the rare breeds at Birdland, to sampling our local beer or taking a trip through time at the Motoring Museum, you’ll find so much to discover in Bourton-on-the-Water.
BURFORD
Burford’s famous High Street sweeps downhill towards the River Windrush, its three-arched medieval bridge and its impressive church, both sides of the street flanked by an unbroken line of ancient houses and shops.
Little has changed over the centuries, Burford is popular with visitors, both for its beauty and history but also for its shopping, especially antiques, and for the wide variety of places to eat, with restaurants, pubs and teashops.
BIBURY
Bibury is a charming Cotswold village just a short drive along country roads from "The Capital of the Cotswolds", Cirencester in Gloucestershire. William Morris (1834-96) described Bibury as "the most beautiful village in England". There's no doubt that Bibury is featured on many lists of most beautiful Cotswold villages, and even the most beautiful villages in the UK.
Best Foodie Experiences
DAYLESFORD COOKERY SCHOOL
Rustic charm meets modern elegance in this old barn in the heart of the Cotswolds, where expert chefs teach visitors how to cook like the pros. The cookery classes in Daylesford lead you through the whole journey of a meal, from the garden where the produce is grown to the final product on the plate. You get to work with a wide variety of organic ingredients, such as cheese, bread and meat, all directly sourced from the farm itself. Course topics include artisan bread-making and cooking with game and wild food. There is so much to discover at Daylesford – drink, dine, shop and relax on our organic Cotswolds farm.
WILD THYME RESTAURANT
Wild Thyme Restaurant has established a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the Cotswolds. The food here is best described as Mediterranean-inflected British cuisine, which means your smoked fish might be served with toasted focaccia or your Bordelaise steak accompanied by local winter greens.
HAWKSTONE BREWERY
Hawkstone Brewery, originally named Cotswold Brew Co., was founded in 2004 by Richard and Emma Keene as a family-run business, and now, with Jeremy Clarkson as an investor, produces Craft kegged beers using traditional methods and Hawkstone Lager using barley from Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm.