Tetbury Travel

From Kemble railway station (about 5 miles from town, direct from Paddington approx 1 hour 15 minutes) transfer to Stagecoach bus 882 for about 17 minutes to the town centre. Exit onto Long Street — Tetbury's most elegant mix of Georgian and medieval stone houses, with shops below and residences above, perfectly preserved. First visit the town's emblem, the Market House: built in 1655 by the Feoffees trust (founded 1632), rough stone walls with seven-bay Tuscan stone colonnade, the bell tower added in 1816-17 by William Porter topped with a copper dolphin weathervane, three clock faces — once the "Great Tolsey" wool and yarn trading hall. Walk south along Long Street, flanked by Lorfords (5,000+ pieces of global furniture, ~150 new items weekly), Brownrigg (17th to mid-20th century fine pieces), Top Banana (Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian treasures) and other top British antique furniture shops — earning Tetbury the title "Antique Capital of the Cotswolds". In the afternoon enter St Mary the Virgin Church: Christian worship has taken place here since 681 AD (Gloucestershire's oldest worship site), the current building rebuilt 1777-1781 by Francis Hiorne, the county's only Georgian church. Its 186-foot tower is the fourth tallest in England, housing a 36-candle chandelier (c.1781) and rare high-sided box pews. In the evening ascend Gumstool Hill — the course of the annual May bank holiday "World Woolsack Race Championships", where competitors carry 60lb wool sacks up the 1:4 gradient from the Royal Oak to the Crown Inn.

If staying overnight, use Tetbury as a base for a garden tour on the second day. In the morning drive 5 miles to King Charles III's private residence Highgrove Gardens (Doughton, GL8 8TN) — personally created by the King since 1980, over 40 years of organic gardening, featuring Wildflower Meadow, Sundial Garden, Arboretum and other themed areas, open only on specific dates from April to September, advance booking required for guided tours (from £37.50, including 2-course lunch £76.67, champagne tea £98.33). In the afternoon head to Westonbirt National Arboretum (GL8 8QS, managed by Forestry England): founded by the Holford family in the 1870s, now housing 5 national tree collections including approximately 297 species of Japanese maples, one of the world's most spectacular autumn displays, admission approx £12-£15. On the way back, stop at Tetbury Goods Shed — a Victorian Great Western Railway goods shed converted into an arts centre with galleries, markets and a café. With extra time, head 8 miles east to Malmesbury (England's oldest borough, 8th-century abbey ruins) or 10 miles north to Chipping Sodbury (18th-century market town).