The historic market town of Winchcombe is quite literally on your doorstep here, providing a host of amenities, must-sees and activities to suit guests of all ages, shapes and sizes:

Eating
With Winchcombe on your doorstep and the Cotswolds’ many market towns and villages just a short car ride away, you’re somewhat spoiled for choice when it comes to places to head to feed your appetite. For gourmet-hunters, Winchcombe’s 5 North Street is just a 5-minute stroll from the cottage, offering Michelin-starred seasonal dishes created by expert husband and wife team Gus and Kate. Michelin-recommended Wesley House is also just a 5-minute walk in Winchcombe’s town centre, offering exceptional cooking in the confines of a characterful 15th century house. For fans of more relaxed cuisine, The White Hart Inn on Winchcombe’s High Street offers tasty gastropub grub in relaxed, rustic-chic surroundings, as well as The Corner Cupboard Inn; a historic 15th Century Inn serving traditional fare, supposedly haunted by a 12-year-old girl! Just 10 minutes’ down the road by car, The Pheasant Inn at Toddington is a great choice for families or groups visiting the GWSR Steam Railway station next door, whilst The Royal Oak at Gretton offers an unbeatable pub garden; perfect for sunny afternoons when only a pub pint will do.

Walking
Winchcombe’s rolling countryside is a true walkers’ paradise, with options for casual, seasoned and hardy walkers running right from the cottage’s front door. Winchcombe itself is a “walkers are welcome” town, a special status awarded to towns and villages which go above and beyond with their walking amenities, making it a fantastic destination for groups in search of a walking break. The Winchcombe Way, a 42-mile figure-of-eight trail centred around the town, offers walkers a great way of discovering the surrounding Cotswold towns and villages section-by-section over the course of a stay, whilst there are plenty of options for those looking for a more casual, leisurely pace within a close radius of the cottage. We recommend the Sudeley Castle Circular walk for a relaxing stroll; a 2-mile loop setting off straight from Kingfisher Cottage’s front door, taking you along the river, straight through the heart of the town and into the grounds of historic Sudeley Castle – a must-visit for any guest. The 2 ½ mile walk to Belas Knap, a Neolithic chambered long barrow sat atop Cleeve Hill, is also a great walk to try from the doorstep, providing you don’t mind the incline.

Must-Sees
Sudeley Castle, historic home and resting place of Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr, is situated just a short mile-long stroll through fields from Kingfisher Cottage and is an absolute must-visit for guests. Offering plenty to keep all ages entertained, the beautiful grounds will satisfy garden-lovers and history buffs alike, whilst the adventure playground and acres of manicured lawns offer the perfect place for younger guests to stretch their legs. Cheltenham Racecourse, home of the world-famous Cheltenham Festival, is just a 15-minute drive and the perfect day out destination for racing fans, whilst Toddington’s GWSR Steam Railway (7-minute drive) offers a fantastic day on the rails for vintage locomotive enthusiasts. Further afield, history buffs have Blenheim Palace (1-hour drive) and Warwick Castle (1-hour drive) to explore, whilst Shakespeare’s birthplace, the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, is just 40 minutes by car. Families will love Cotswold Farm Park (15-minute drive) and the pretty Cotswold village of Broadway, just 7 miles away, with its independent boutiques, art galleries, cafés and fantastic adventure park.