Biddestone Holiday Cottage - Tourism Five Star Gold Award

Biddestone Holiday Cottage - Tourism Five Star Gold Award
Biddestone Holiday Cottage - Tourism Five Star Gold Award

Things to do


We are perfectly situated for many different activities and places to visit, wet or dry, young or old, at any time of the year. We are within a short drive of Castle Combe and Lacock, within easy reach of three World Heritage Sites, including Bath,and well placed for touring the rest of Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. It is even possible to go to London for the day. There are many country pubs and restaurants nearby and the area is blessed with lovely walks and cycling. The cottage contains comprehensive information on activities and local amenities and we are always delighted to help you in offering advice based on our own experiences.

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Roman Baths


What's on in Bath
What's on in Wiltshire

Bath

A World Heritage City with the world famous Roman Baths and Pump Rooms. The architecture is fascinating from the medieval Abbey to the Georgian buildings of the Royal Crescent and The Circus. The new Thermae Bath Spa adds another ‘must’ for visitors The shopping is fantastic, there are a wide range of restaurants and the Theatre Royal hosts many a pre West End run. There are plenty of museums and art galleries.Festivals throughout the year such as the Bath Literary Festival and the Bath International Music Festival make it an interesting destination at any time. The Jane Austen Centre

offers a fascinating insight into the Regency world of Bath's most famous author.

Cranford scene in Lacock

Lacock

The National Trust Village is 5miles away. Harry Potter was filmed here as was Pride and Prejudice and Cranford. Lacock Abbey is a National Trust Property, and the village houses The Fox Talbot Museum of Photography. There are three pubs and an excellent restaurant with a further 2 pubs just outside the village itself..

Stonehenge

A World Heritage Site consisting of monolithic standing stones dating back to 3000 BC

Avebury

Another World Heritage Site of standing stones dating back to BC. This is easily combined with a visit to Silbury Hill-largest man-made neolithic mound in Europe and West Kennet Long Barrow-an ancient burial site. The Cherhill White Horse can be seen nearby. It would also be possible to take in Marlborough, an attractive town with good shopping,

Bristol

It is difficult to do the city justice here but attractions include Bristol Zoo which is great for all the family, and @Bristol which has a hands-on science museum, . There is also the SS Great Britain which received the prestigious Museum of the Year award in 2006.

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury

An attractive City with an inspiring cathedral.

Oxford

Wonderful University City  with its historic walled Colleges,  excellent museums (the Pitt-Rivers with shrunken heads amongst other treasures is very popular with kids) and traffic-free shopping centre. The newly refurbished Ashmolean Museum is superb - both the building itself and the exhibits.

Longleat Safari Park

Lions, baboon wolves, rhino, gorillas and seals to name but a few. Lots of other family friendly attractions including a maze, a railway and a great playground. For the adults there is the eccentric Lord Baths’ house.

Wells

A beautiful cathedral by a river, an attractive small city, lovely places to walk and picnic. A trip here could be combined with a visit to Glastonbury to the famous Tor.

Wookey Hole

Interesting caves and fun family attractions. This could be ideal on a wet day.

Cheddar Gorge

Caves, Gorge and Jacob’s ladder are classic limestone scenery.

Cotswolds Classic English scenery and beautiful villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water

and

Moreton-on-the-Marsh

make a day in the Cotswolds an attractive option. It could be combined with a trip to Cirencester

with its excellent Corinium  Roman Museum and great shopping or to Chedworth Roman Villa

Local villages and Towns.

There are many villages and towns close to us that are well worth a visit. Below is short list together with the main attractions.

Corsham-

Corsham Court

is a stately home with lovely gardens and parkland.

Corsham

itself has an appealing High Street with some lovely old weavers cottages and alms houses

Malmesbury

is the oldest town in England. It has a splendid Abbey and the superb Abbey House Gardens(see below).

Bradford-on-Avon

has a huge tithe , a tiny Saxon chapel, attractive town centre, canal walks, canoe, boat and cycle hire

Castle Combe

is the quintessential English village and was the port in the film Doctor Doolittle. Poirot, Robin of Sherwood and Stardust have also been filmed here.

Gardens

-there are many beautiful gardens to visit within easy reach. A few examples are;

Abbey House Gardens at Malmesbury - the largest private collection of roses in the country and home to the ‘naked’ gardeners.

Stourhead near Warminster. This famous Palladian house garden needs little introduction.

The Courts, Holtnear Bradford-on-Avon - a National Trust Garden.

Iford also near Bradford is a grade 1 listed Italianate Garden and a wonderful setting for concerts.

Children

Particularly with the kids in mind
Longleat House - see above
@Bristol - see above

Bowood House and Gardensa brilliant adventure playground, soft play, lake, waterfall, country house and grounds. This is a real family outing that all ages would enjoy. The playground has an upper age limit.

Swindon - if the weather is not so good Swindon has ten pin bowling, an ice rink, multiplex cinemas and a great leisure pool called The Oasis which has a wave machine, slide, and several flumes as well as a very good toddler pool. There is also a big Railway Museum in Swindon

Swimming pools. - In Corsham, Chippenham, Bradford, Bath plus a lido in Cirencester.
Cinema multiplexes - in Bath, Bristol and Swindon. Small cinema in Chippenham.
Bowling- a small one in Melksham, bigger ones in Bristol and Swindon.
Playgrounds - if you just feel like popping out with smaller smaller kids to a local playground then;
Biddestone - a small one beside the Village Hall on the Recreation Ground
Corsham -behind the Springfield sports centre
Gastard - a small one that is always very quiet.
Chippenham - a good one in John Coles Park
Bath - in Victoria Park is a huge playground with lots to do for all ages . It gets really busy in the summer holidays.

Softplay - if it  is wet then Boomerang on the Bowerhill trading estate could solve a lot of problems. A huge softplay with areas for smaller children plus large new slide. Also has café and sofas for adults.

Events

There are many events both local and national that take place throughout the year within easy reach of us. Examples include :
Badminton Horse Trials (April)
Bath and West Show. (June)
Bath International Music Festival (May)
Bath International Literary Festival(October)
Corsham Festival (June)
Corsham Film Festival (March)

Activities

Golf-there are many courses within easy reach of us here are a few:-

Bowood

Chippenham

Castle Combe
Fishing - course fishing is available on a day ticket less than a mile away at Reybridge(it's a very pretty spot) with some of the best Barbel fishing in UK(so I'm told). Also lake fishing about 2 miles away at Silverlandsand fly-fishing tuition with Wiltshire's Fly Fishing School

Cycling

History on your Handlebars Logo Cycling- You can rent bikes near Lacock where you can also get routes for days out on traffic free paths or on quiet country lanes. For further information please visit this website historyonyourhandlebars.co.uk  

Horseriding -there are several stables nearby.

Walking - there are many lovely walks of varying lengths in the area. Again we would be happy to talk to you about the ones we know.

Group activities

In Lacock there are Team Pursuits contact them for Country Sports activities.

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