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Pictures of Winchcombe

a Historic Market Town in the county of Gloucestershire

A picture of Winchcombe

About Winchcombe

To experience the quintessentially English town of Winchcome, is to part-take of a miscellany of pure delights.

This is an ancient town that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Mercia, it can lay claim to a long and almost continuous occupation. The three main streets tumble together and teem with old and ancient buildings, some built of local stone and some of the charming tudor variety built of wattle and doub and structured around massive oak timbers that defy the passing of time. The individuality of the cottages and houses, some with creeper spreading up over old walls reaching for little dormer windows set beneath neatly tiled roofs, are what form the character of this pleasant little town where each and every building is an absolute joy.

Prosperity came to Winchcome with the development of the Wool trade and it is money from the rich wool merchants that built the Perpendicular church of St.Peter between 1456 and 1474. A fine weather cock is pinnacled above the west tower and gargoyles surround the entire building. The interior has amazing medieval glass to some of the windows and there is a beautiful brass candelarbrum which dates 1753. Other notable buildings in the town include the 700 year old George Inn, once used as a stopping place for pilgrims.

The romantic castle of Sudeley that once belonged to Ethelred the Unready is but a short distance from Winchcome. The castle was also the home of Henry VIII's last Queen, Catherine Parr. Following King Henry's death, Catherine married Lord Seymour of Sudeley, but sadly she died in childbirth the year after her marriage. Catherine is entombed in the castle chapel which dates from the year 1450. During the Civil War the castle was used as headquarters for Charles Ist, it was laid seige to in 1643 and in 1644. The castle houses fine paintings and exquisite old furniture. There are tapestries and many other antique objects. In the grounds of the castle, roses grow. The air is filled with the scent of fragrant, old, full blown roses that thrive in a peaceful garden setting, surrounded by yew hedges and known as the Queens Garden. As with the quaint town of Winchcome, this ancient castle and beautiful gardens are well worth a leisurely visit.

Other nearby attractions are; Stanway House and Water Garden, Chedworth Roman Villa at Yanworth and Whittington Court at Whittington.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Winchcombe

Sudeley Castle(0.8 miles, 1.2 km)Pictures
Hailes Abbey(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction NE)Pictures
Pittville Pump Room(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction SW)Pictures
Snowshill Manor(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction NE)Pictures
Holst Birthplace Museum(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)Pictures
Broadway Tower and Animal Park(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction NE)Pictures
Bredon Tithe Barn(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW)Pictures
Tewkesbury Abbey(8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Old Baptist chapel(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction W)Pictures
Evesham Abbey(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction N)Pictures
Crickley Hill Country Park(9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction SW)Pictures
Chedworth Roman Villa(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction S)Pictures
Birdland(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SE)Pictures
Batsford Park Arboretum(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction E)Pictures
Bourton on the Water Model Village(10.5 miles, 16.8 km, direction SE)Pictures

All attractions in Winchcombe
All attractions in Gloucestershire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Winchcombe

Cleeve Hill in the county of Gloucestershire (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction SW)
Otherwise known as the Cleeve Cloud, Cleeve Hill is the highest point of the Cotswolds rising to a height of 1083 ft. Spread out below is the town of Cheltenham and its famous Prestbury racecourse, home of the Cheltenham Gold Cup meeting.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Snowshill in the county of Gloucestershire (5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction NE)
For anyone looking for a peaceful retreat in which to spend a few idyllic days in glorious countryside, could do no better that visit the picturesque village of Snowshill, high on the Cotswold escarpment above Broadway and the old town of Evesham.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sedgeberrow in the county of Worcestershire (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction N)
The countryside is mostly laid to farmlands full of ripened corn and across the rolling landscape there are grassy meadows grazed by sleepy cattle and sheep.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Cheltenham in the county of Gloucestershire (6.1 miles, 9.9 km, direction SW)
Cheltenham, the very mention of this grand old town conjurs up not only images of gracious georgian houses but also of superb...
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Broadway in the county of Worcestershire (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction NE)
The village of Broadway in the Cotswolds richly deserves the prestige of being the "show village of England"
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Bredon in the county of Worcestershire (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction NW)
The lush greenery of Bredon Hill forms a dramatic back-drop to this pretty village which is the start of a string of villages threading their way towards the Cotswolds.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Elmley Castle in the county of Worcestershire (8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction N)
Elmley Castle is one of the most beautiful villages in England
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Tewkesbury in the county of Gloucestershire (8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction W)
Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire is an historic market town, situated near the Cotswolds, it has a beautiful Abbey over 500yrs old and lots of historic buildings and alley ways.
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Upper Slaughter in the county of Gloucestershire (9.0 miles, 14.6 km, direction SE)
Tranquillity is the keynote for this enchanting hamlet which is best explored on foot.
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Evesham in the county of Worcestershire (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction N)
Particularly beautiful in the early spring when it is a mass of blossom, Evesham stands proudly on the river Avon right at the...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Upper Swell in the county of Gloucestershire (9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction E)
One of the handsome properties to be seen in this village was worked upon by Sir Edwin Lutyens, and Abbotswood is said to have been his major work in the Cotswolds.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Deerhurst in the county of Gloucestershire (9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction W)
Deerhurst is a spacious small village set amid the rich pasturelands of the glorious Gloucestershire countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bourton-on-the-Hill in the county of Gloucestershire (9.6 miles, 15.4 km, direction E)
Highly picturesque, but tiny, the village has only one public house - The Horse and Groom, which serves Real Ale, a good selection of wines and tasty food.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lower Swell in the county of Gloucestershire (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction E)
The picturesque hamlet of Lower Swell lies amongst some of England's finest natural countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lower Slaughter in the county of Gloucestershire (9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction SE)
Lower Slaughter is one of the Cotswold's most idyllic villages where you should abandon your car and roam around on foot.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Gloucestershire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction NW)
Cheltenham Spa Station(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction SW)
M5 Junction 9(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction W)
M5 Junction 10(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction W)
Birmingham International Airport(35.7 miles, 57.4 km, direction N)
Bristol International Airport(51.0 miles, 82.1 km, direction SW)
Winchcombe to London(85.0 miles, 136.7 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Winchcombe

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Winchcombe center
White Hart Inn(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Cleeve Hill Hotel(2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction SW)
Dumbleton Hall Hotel(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction N)
The Prestbury House(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction SW)
Wishmoor House(5.4 miles, 8.6 km, direction SW)
Cotswold Grange Hotel(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SW)
Hotel On The Park(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction SW)
North Hall Hotel(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction SW)
The Cheltenham Townhouse Hotel(5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction SW)
Clarence Court Hotel(5.7 miles, 9.1 km, direction SW)
All hotels in Winchcombe

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