Winchcombe

Travel Guide

Winchcombe which includes heritage elements, street scenes and a bar
Winchcombe
Winchcombe featuring flowers and heritage elements
Winchcombe showing a small town or village, street scenes and heritage elements
Winchcombe featuring heritage elements, street scenes and a small town or village

In addition to a grand royal castle, this Cotswold town has quaint teahouses, award-winning restaurants, hiking trails and a scenic train journey.

Winchcombe is a tranquil market town framed by the stunning Cotswold Hills. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia, it grew to be an important medieval trading town and welcomed famous kings during the Tudor years. Today, Winchcombe’s ancient ruins, castle and mellow-hued stone houses showcase its celebrated past. Use the town as a starting point to walk throughout the Cotswold countryside.

One Winchcombe highlight is the 15th-century Sudeley CastleOpens in a new window. Walk where Richard III, Henry VIII and Charles I, among other British kings, passed. See the tomb of Katherine Parr, paintings by old masters, 16th-century tapestries and Roman antiquities. Wander around a series of expertly manicured gardens and enjoy picnics on lush green lawns.

Stroll along the town center streets and admire the rows of half-timbered houses and stone mansions. Several double as cafés, craft shops and teahouses while others are still private residences. Browse exhibits about local social history and displays of British police memorabilia at the Winchcombe Museum. Spot 40 grotesque gargoyles, Saxon coffins and a cloth stitched by Catherine of Aragon at St. Peter’s Church.

A short drive from the town center are more reminders of bygone eras. Admire the ruins of Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian pilgrimage site. Visit Belas Knap, a Neolithic burial chamber thought to date back to about 3800 B.C.

Rejoice in the selection of dining options, which range from medieval pubs to traditional fish and chip shops. The Lion Inn opened in the 1400s and 5 North Street is a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Explore deeper into the Cotswolds via marked walking trails. The Winchcombe Way is a 42-mile (68-kilometer) figure eight route around the town and its surrounding hills. Follow the Cotswolds Way to Cleeve Hill and the Gloucestershire Way to the Tudor town of Tewkesbury. Alternatively, ride the GWR Steam Railway from nearby Toddington to Cheltenham.

Winchcombe is 8 miles (13 kilometers) northeast of CheltenhamOpens in a new window. Combine your visit with a tour of storybook villages such as Bourton-on-the-WaterOpens in a new window and Chipping CamdenOpens in a new window.

Leonardo Hotel Cheltenham
Leonardo Hotel Cheltenham
4 out of 5
Gloucester Road, Cheltenham, England
The price is CA $118 per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
CA $118
CA $141 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Cheltenham. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,003 reviews)
"very nice and comfortable beds"

Reviewed on Jun. 23, 2025

Leonardo Hotel Cheltenham
De Vere Cotswold Water Park
De Vere Cotswold Water Park
4 out of 5
Lake 6 Spine Road East, South Cerney, Cirencester, England
The price is CA $166 per night from Jul 16 to Jul 17
CA $166
CA $199 total
Jul 16 - Jul 17
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cirencester. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,005 reviews)
Comfortable stay, great location, best breakfast
"We really enjoyed our stay. Overall this is a great hotel. Great location and service. A perfectly comfortable room and the best breakfast we've had by far. We stayed for our anniversary and the team had left us an anniversary card and gift in the room which was a really wonderful surprise and much ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

De Vere Cotswold Water Park
Cotswolds Hotel & Spa
Cotswolds Hotel & Spa
3.5 out of 5
Southcombe, Chipping Norton, England
The price is CA $115 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
CA $115
CA $139 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star golf hotel in Chipping Norton. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a golf course. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,007 reviews)
"Very nice property, nice and clean, room with a balcony. Loads of parking. Staff very nice and attentive. Had a pizza very nice"

Reviewed on Jul. 13, 2025

Cotswolds Hotel & Spa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Stunning BIG COTSWOLD COTTAGE + Annexe sleeps 16
Stunning BIG COTSWOLD COTTAGE + Annexe sleeps 16
Greet
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Cheltenham. Enjoy free WiFi, a sauna, and a garden. Popular attractions Cheltenham Racecourse and Belas ...
Lovely Christmas Stay
"Wanted somewhere with a feeling of space to get the extended family all together for a Christmas break. House was perfect, spacious and everything we needed. Great TV room btw!!!"

Reviewed on Dec. 29, 2022

Stunning BIG COTSWOLD COTTAGE + Annexe sleeps 16
A sudeley castle cottage that sleeps 6 guests  in 2 bedrooms
A sudeley castle cottage that sleeps 6 guests in 2 bedrooms
Winchcombe
Stay at this cottage in Cheltenham. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Cheltenham Racecourse and Winchcombe Folk and Police ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (5 reviews)
"The Queen's Cottage was perfect for our visit to Sudeley Castle and Winchcombe. It was spacious, clean and just as described. Entry into the castle was free with our stay which was an extra bonus. Not a lot of dining options in town."

Reviewed on Jun. 23, 2023

A sudeley castle cottage that sleeps 6 guests in 2 bedrooms
Crescent Place by Mansley
Crescent Place by Mansley
3 out of 5
1a Crescent Place, Cheltenham, England
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Cheltenham. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and Netflix. Popular attractions Cheltenham Racecourse and The Promenade ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (74 reviews)
A lovely room in a lovely building
"The room was perfect for our needs and the property overall felt upmarket and well maintained. It is in a great location and private parking is a bonus."

Reviewed on Jul. 9, 2025

Crescent Place by Mansley
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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