Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Side Trips from Cheltenham
Sudeley Castle & Gardens CASTLE This 15th-century mansion is one of
England's finer stately homes. It has a rich history that began in 1442, when it was
built by Baron Ralph Boteler, passing to the royal family just 25 years later. In 1548,
Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, lived and died here. Her marble tomb is
in St. Mary's chapel on the grounds.
After the English Civil War the castle was virtually abandoned, and only restored
in the Victorian period. For the past 40 years, Lady Ashcombe, an American by birth,
has owned the castle with her children, often struggling to keep it open. The castle
houses many works of art by Constable, Turner, Rubens, and Van Dyck, among oth-
ers, and has several permanent exhibitions of magnificent furniture and glass, and
many artifacts from the castle's past. To tour the private apartments, there is an
additional cost of £12 per person. These highly recommended “connoisseur tours” are
available Tuesday to Thursday at 11am, 1, and 3pm and include the stone-built draw-
ing room, the library, and the billiard room.
Winchcombe, 6 miles northeast of Cheltenham. &   01242/602308. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk. Admis-
sion £7.20 adults, £6.20 seniors, £4.20 children 5-15, £21 family ticket. Castle Apr-Oct daily 10:30am-
5pm (last admission 4:30pm); closed Nov-Mar. From Cheltenham, take the regular bus to Winchcombe
and get off at Abbey Terrace. Then walk the short distance along the road to the castle. If you're driving,
take the B4632 north out of Cheltenham, through Prestbury, and up Cleve Hill to Abbey Terrace, where
you can drive right up to the castle.
GLOUCESTER
Cheltenham's thriving neighbor, just 10 miles west, gets far fewer visitors, despite
being the county town of Gloucestershire. The main attraction is Gloucester
Cathedral (daily 7:30am-6pm; www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk) off Westgate
Street, burial place of King Edward II and the greatest example of grandiose Perpen-
dicular style in the country. Note in particular the East Window , completed in
the 1350s and the largest medieval window in Britain; and the graceful Cloisters,
completed in 1367 with the first fan vaulting in the country (you might recognize this
area from the Harry Potter movies). You can also clamber up the 269 steps of the 69-m
(225-ft.) Tower for mesmerizing views of the surrounding countryside (Apr-Oct
afternoons only; £3 adults, £1 children). Admission to the cathedral is free, but adults
are asked for a donation of £5.
If you have more time, stroll over to the revitalized Gloucester Docks and the
illuminating Gloucester Waterways Museum ( &   01452/318200; www.gloucester
waterwaysmuseum.org.uk), which covers just about everything associated with Brit-
ain's extensive canal network through historic boats, hands-on displays, and archive
films. The museum opens daily 11am to 4pm (July-Aug 10:30am-5pm). Admission
is £4.75 for adults, £3.75 for over 60s, £ 3.25 for children 4 to 16, and free for chil-
dren 3 and under. Trains and buses regularly connect Gloucester and Cheltenham.
PAINSWICK
This sleepy stone-built Cotswold wool town, 10 miles southwest of Cheltenham, vies
with Bibury for the title of the most beautiful in the region. Its mellow gray stone houses
and inns date from as early as the 14th century. It's best admired by strolling down
ironically named New Street in the center of the village, which dates from 1450.
St. Mary's Church, the centerpiece of the village, was originally built between
1377 and 1399, and was reconstructed into its present form in 1480. Its churchyard
contains 99 massive yew trees, each of which is at least 200 years old. Local legend
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