Things To Do On A Day Trip to Cirencester in Gloucestershire

Cirencester is a pretty town in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire and is a great place for a day trip. There are many options for things to do when visiting, including museums, parks, markets, and lots of great food. The town certainly is beautiful and has many historic buildings, many of which are made from Cotswold stone.

I have visited Cirencester many times in the past, as it’s close to where I lived in Gloucestershire. My latest visit was on a day trip from Gloucester, using the bus. If it weren’t so close to home, I think it would be a great place to stay as a base camp to explore the Cotswolds.

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Things To Do In Cirencester

Depending on what you enjoy doing, there are many options for activities to do when in the town.

Walk in Cirencester Park

One highlight for me is the epic Cirencester Park, a massive place that’s great for a walk. There is a fee of £4 to enter the grounds for an explore. The main entrance is near the town centre and an excellent place to start. The entrance is on Cecily Hill, which has many beautiful buildings, including houses and the barracks. When visiting, you can either walk or, if you have one, ride a horse to explore.

Cirencester Park is part of the Bathurst Estate and is a Grade I listed site. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful private parks around. The park has many things to see while walking through, including pretty garden features, monuments and hills to climb. On my recent visit, I enjoyed seeing all the autumn colours of the trees throughout the park. They also have a cricket ground and a polo pitch for those who enjoy sports.

As a bonus, there are options for refreshments, including coffee vans, a pizza restaurant and Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden, which is an excellent option for dining out. Also, they have a campsite for tents and caravans, which is a handy place to enjoy a holiday in Cirencester.

Corinium Museum

One of the most popular attractions in the town is the Corinium Museum. The Corinium Museum specialises in archaeology, and most of the exhibits are from the Roman town of Corinium Dobunnorum, which is now Cirencester. As well as Roman artefacts, the museum covers the period from the Neolithic era to more recent Victorian times. I didn’t visit on my recent day trip, but I enjoyed it in the past. You can find out about visiting and prices on their website.

St John Baptist Cirencester

One of the centrepiece sites in the town is St John Baptist Cirencester, a lovely church. You can see the church from many parts of the town, including Abbey Grounds and Cirencester Park. St John Baptist Church is on Market Place and makes a perfect backdrop for the local markets.

The church dates from 1240, when it was a chapel. Its expansion over the centuries means it has many architectural styles to see. It is one of the largest parish churches in England and is great to visit. Visiting inside is free, and there are many interesting features to see, which are well explained by some text inside.

Abbey Grounds

Next to St John the Baptist church is Abbey Grounds, a pretty park with a lake. I really enjoyed walking around the park to enjoy the autumnal colours. Abbey Grounds also has some pleasant features, including a Norman gate, Roman ruins, places to sit and a cafe for refreshments. I also found some nice arty features, including rabbit statues and some mosaics.

Abbey Grounds used to be the site of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary, which was founded in 1117. This was demolished in 1536 during the dissolution of the monasteries. You can’t see much of the former abbey; however, there are lots of displays about its history. Overall, a beautiful place with interesting features.

Cecily Hill

One of the most picturesque places to visit in the town is Cecily Hill. Cecily Hill is lined with beautiful Cotswold stone houses with pretty gardens. The road joins the town centre with Cirencester Park and is home to Cecily Hill Barracks, which looks like a castle.

Marketplace

The main part of Cirencester town centre is Market Place, which has lots going on. Market Place is surrounded by beautiful buildings, including the Corn Hall, the church and various hotels. It also has some cool statues and monuments. The most eye-catching for me was the Hare & Horse sculpture.

As per its name, it is also home to the local market, which has some great stalls selling food, drink and other items. It’s good for a mooch around or to enjoy some street food while enjoying the views. There are various themed markets here. The best place to find details about specific ones is on their website.

Corn Hall & Arcade

One of the main buildings at the edge of Market Place is Corn Hall. Corn Hall is a great place for shopping, especially in the main hall, which is an indoor market. It has a history dating back to the mid-19th century, and it is nice to see the details.

During my visit, there were stalls selling art and crafts. In addition, a few places were selling locally produced drinks too. The arcade leading to the hall is home to some great shops, including Bellamy’s Emporium, a cafe and a deli.

On previous visits to the town, The Corn Hall hosted an antiques and collectables market. This takes place each Friday and has been running for over 40 years. You can find out which markets are scheduled and about the stalls on their website.

12th Century Norman Arch Gate House

When exploring Abbey Grounds, a cool thing to see is the 12th-century Norman Arch Gate House. This is in the far corner of the park if entering from the town centre and is clearly signposted. It was built in 1180 as a gateway to the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary. This is the last part of the abbey that is still visible above ground.

Roman Town Wall

Also in Abbey Grounds are the ruins of a Roman town wall from when Cirencester was called Corinium Dobunnorum. These are in the corner near the lake and clearly signposted. They have information boards to tell you about the site and the former Roman town. Other outdoor Roman sites to see when visiting include the site of a former amphitheatre, which was the largest in the UK. This is now parkland, but you can see the shape and size of how it would have looked.

World’s Tallest Yew Hedge

At the bottom of Cecily Hill is the world’s tallest yew hedge. This is inside the Bathurst Estate, but the height of the trees makes it visible from outside the walls of the estate. The semi-circle hedge is 17 metres high and 130 metres long. The hedge dates from 1720 when the Earl of Bathurst. Interestingly, the trimmings of the hedge are used to make chemotherapy drugs.

Swan Yard

Swan Yard is a courtyard accessible from Market Place and Black Jack Street. The courtyard is home to some nice shops and places for food or drink. It’s a pleasant place to visit for a mooch around or a rest while exploring the town.

Pubs & Cafes

There are many options for places to eat out or enjoy a drink while visiting the Cotswold town. I visited quite a few on my recent visit and have visited others on previous jaunts into Cirencester. Many places in the town are dog-friendly, and I saw many people out and about with their pets.

The Fleece

In Market Place, the main town square, is The Fleece, a nice place for food and drink. The Fleece is also a hotel with various room options and is one of the best-rated in Cirencester. Their bar is very nice with various seating options. On my visit, I had no issues finding a table and found the servers friendly.

They have a great choice of drinks, including top beers and nice wines. The Fleece also has a great food menu, which includes seasonal local food from the Cotswolds. As a bonus, they are dog-friendly, so it’s a great place to visit with pets too.

Marlborough Arms

The Marlborough Arms is a pleasant pub on Sheep St near Cirencester Park. It is a great place for a drink in the daytime, and on my visit, it was pretty quiet. They have a cool music theme inside and a pleasant beer garden out the back. They have a good range of beers available, including real ale and draught options. On my visit, I enjoyed a Leffe, a tasty Belgian beer.

Luxe Cafe Bar

In Swan Yard, a pretty courtyard off the Market Place, is Luxe Cafe Bar. Luxe is a nicely decorated place for food and drink with indoor and outdoor seating. They have an interesting drinks menu with smoothies, cocktails and coffee. They also serve food, including afternoon tea, pancakes and soup. I enjoyed seeing their pink decor and enjoyed a mango smoothie for a bit of a boost while exploring the town.

The Brewers Arms

Another pub I enjoyed a beer at while sightseeing was The Brewers Arms. The Brewers Arms pub is on Cricklade Street, which is pretty handy for a drink while awaiting a bus onwards or home. They have a good selection of beers on draught, including real ale and some good cider too.

On my visit, it was quiet inside and in their beer garden to the rear. This is more of a drinking pub which has entertainment, including live sports, darts and pool. Overall, I enjoyed visiting and found it to have a chilled afternoon vibe.

Get To Cirencester By Train or Bus?

There are many ways to get to Cirencester on public transport, depending on where you start from. The nearest railway station is Kemble, which is a stop on the London to Cheltenham route. From Kemble, you get the 882 Stagecoach bus into the town.

I travelled from Gloucester for my recent day trip, which is also on the 882 bus route. On my day trip, I used the West Gold Rider ticket, which is great if you have to travel on multiple Stagecoach buses. For other ways to travel here, the Omio.com website can be handy.

Where To Stay?

I usually visit Cirencester on a day trip; however, there are many nice places to stay in the town centre. Many of these are luxury options, including holiday homes and hotels. There are also many dog-friendly accommodation options if you are visiting with a pet. A good place to search for options is on the booking.com website.

Is Cirencester in Gloucestershire Worth Visiting?

Cirencester is a beautiful place with many nice attractions, so it is well worth visiting. There are lots of nice buildings to see, parks to explore and interesting museums about the local area. For art lovers, there are galleries and art shops. It is also great for shopping with many independent stores to peruse. Finally, it’s a top town for food and drink out, with many top-drawer restaurants to choose from. It’s great for a day trip or to use as a base to explore the rest of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds.