Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 06

SUMMER 2022 

TRAVEL MAGAZINE | ISSUE 06 

GreatWestWay.co.uk 

JOURNEY OF 

DISCOVERY 

Where our best kept secrets from 

the past meet twenty-first-century 

hospitality. Expect history, adventure, 

natural beauty and excitement 

Escape the Everyday by exploring the Great West Way touring route between London and Bristol 

this summer with our brand new itineraries from Prehistoric Journeys to Vibrant Cities by Train

GREAT 

FOR 

GROUPS 

With 21 Ascot Racedays throughout the year, 

each with exhilarating racing and its own unique 

character, there is something to suit every 

occasion and ensure a day to remember. 

Book as a group and save when booking 

10 tickets or more. 

Find out more at ascot.com/groups

WELCOME TO ENGLAND'S 

GREAT WEST WAY 

Here comes the British summer we have all 

been waiting for; an opportunity to travel 

and explore without the fear of lockdowns, 

restrictions and disruption to our plans. 

Plus, with international travel back on, 

England is not likely to become as busy as 

we experienced in some of our over-popular 

destinations last year, offering the chance to 

enjoy and admire the very best of England once more. 

Step into the extraordinary as you travel through time and 

stumble across hidden gems while discovering the real England on 

the Great West Way and escape the everyday. 

England’s Great West Way touring route from London to Bristol 

offers uninterrupted countryside, famous landmarks, awardwinning 

attractions and is home to some of the country’s finest 

restaurants, prettiest villages and most vibrant cities. 

Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures, spellbinding 

museums, luxury hotels with spas, unique experiences, or glamping 

under the stars, this fascinating route is guaranteed to fill you with 

incredible memories and unforgettable moments. Make up for lost 

time by planning your Great West Way journey today. 

Pictured Above: Bailbrook House Hotel, Bath; The Rose 

Hungerford. 

Escape the Everyday on a unique adventure along 

the Great West Way in 2022, discovering iconic 

sites and hidden landscapes. 

Jessica Way 

Editor-in-Chief, Great West Way Travel Magazine 

Jessica x 

Download our Great West Way map to discover 

the hundreds of places to visit, things to do, 

sites to see and places to stay along the route: 

: GreatWestWay.co.uk/explore/maps 


3

CONTENTS 

SUMMER 2022 | Edition 06 

DISCOVER OUR WAY 

YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE 

MY GREAT WEST WAY 

07 Susie Brew, coordinator from the Pewsey Vale 

Tourism Partnership talks about the Vale of Pewsey, her 

love of countryside, her three Cocker Spaniels, Wilton 

Windmill and Crofton Beam Engines. 

THE WAY FORWARD 

08 From the re-opening of the UK’s oldest public 

outdoor swimming pool and secret vaults hidden 

below Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge to new hotels, 

attractions and more success on the Great west Way. 

ARTISAN SECRETS AND GREAT WEST WAY 

14 MEMENTOS 

We discover some of the unique artisan trades and 

skills which are still being masterfully taught on the 

Great West Way. Why not visit them for yourself and 

experience their trades and secrets first-hand? 

SPORTING TOURS ON THE GREAT WEST 

22 WAY 

From the largest tennis museum in the world to smalltown 

rugby clubs and big city football stadiums we hope 

you will stop for a tour at one of our favourite clubs. 

AGRITOURISM ON THE GREAT WEST WAY 

28 Pumpkin picking to alpaca walking, freshly laid 

eggs to milking the cows, it’s time to clean the mud from 

your wellies and experience the very best of countryside 

living on the Great West Way. 

AS SEEN ON SCREEN: BRIDGERTON 

34 With the recent release of Netflix’s Bridgerton 

Season Two, it's time to celebrate the series on a 

Bridgerton-inspired tour of the Great West Way, visiting 

some of the glamorous locations seen on screen, including 

Hampton Court Palace and No.1 Royal Crescent. 

4 GreatWestWay.co.uk

SUMMER ON THE WAY 

10 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT THE GREAT 

42 WEST WAY THIS SUMMER 

Take a swim in a rooftop pool in Bath, celebrate the 

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's 60th birthday, enjoy a Biscuit 

Fuelled Break in Reading and join in the fun of the 

four-day Bank Holiday marking the Queen’s 70-year reign. 

BEST DAYS OUT FOR FAMILIES 

52 For unforgettable family fun why not bring the 

kids on a Great West Way adventure? There's splishsplashy 

water parks, wonderfully wild safari parks, 

magnificent interactive museums and much more. 

THE MYSTERY OF STONEHENGE 

58 We speak to Neil Wilkin, The British Museum 

Stonehenge Exhibition Curator about the much-loved 

British monument and the new Prehistoric Journey of 

the Great West Way. 

PICTURESQUE VILLAGES TO STOP OFF AT 

62 ALONG THE ROUTE BY BOAT OR TRAIN 

Visit these pretty villages by foot, train or water, 

leaving the car behind while discovering plenty of other 

fascinating destinations and attractions along the way. 

PUBLISHED BY 

Contista Media Ltd 

Mitchell House, Brook Avenue, 

Warsash, Southampton, 

Hampshire, SO31 9HP 

contistamedia.co.uk 

Brought to you by the Great West Way 

GreatWestWay.co.uk/digitaltravelmagazine 

REGULAR FEATURES 

ARTS, EVENTS AND CULTURAL CALENDAR 

74 As well as its natural scenery, cultural scene and lovely 

locals, the Great West Way is known for its many festivals 

and events. 

WAYS TO TRAVEL THE GREAT WEST WAY 

80 The route has been designed to be travelled in a 

variety of different ways: by road, by rail, on water via the 

Kennet and Avon Canal and River Thames, by bike or on foot. 

GOURMET GUIDE TO FOOD & DRINK 

84 There are many ways to enjoy food and drink on the 

Great West Way from fine dining and cookery schools to 

vineyard tours and quaint tea rooms and cafés. 

WHERE TO STAY ALONG THE GREAT WEST WAY 

92 Stay overnight on the Great West Way, whether on a 

romantic weekend away or a week-long adventure. 

ISSN: 2632-3540 

Image copyright credits: Throughout © GreatWestWay.co.uk / Page 

15 Aston pottery © Nicola Stocken / Gardenpix Ltd / Page 23 © Ascot 

Images Megan Ridgwell / Page 25 AELTC © Chris Raphael / Pages 

34-41 © Liam Daniel/Netflix /Cr. Colin Hutton/Netflix /Ben Blackall 

and 2022 Focus Features LLC / Page 34 Syon House ©VisitBritain and 

Britain on View / Page 48 Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct in Scotland 

with the Jacobite steam train against sunset over lake; Shutterstock 

ID 422272210 / Page 54 Brunel's SS Great Britain © Smith Milton / 

Page 75 Bristol Pride 2016 © paulbox / British Tourist Authority 

Follow us on 

Twitter @theGreatWestWay 

Facebook @GreatWestWay 

Instagram.com/GreatWestWay 

Contista Media Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited 

submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken 

prices and details are subject to change and Contista Media Ltd take no 

responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and 

edit any letters. All rights reserved.

Take your 

time on the 

Kennet & 

Avon Canal

MY GREAT WEST WAY 

The Vale of Pewsey runs from just east of Devizes through to the county 

border with West Berkshire, covering around 25 miles from east to west, 

with more than 100 pretty villages and hamlets along the way. We speak 

to Susie Brew, coordinator from the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership... 

What do you love most about the Vale of Pewsey? 

The Vale has the Kennet & Avon Canal running through its 

centre and makes up a large part of the North Wessex Downs 

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – it is one of England’s best 

kept secrets! It’s also the home to the Crop Circle Exhibition at 

Honeystreet which is renowned as a world leader in crop circle 

information and is absolutely fascinating. If you are visiting in 

June or July, then you may get to see a real crop circle and the 

Exhibition Centre will be able to direct you. 

Tell us more about what you do on the Great West Way? 

I think that I have one of the best jobs in the world because I 

get to promote one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas 

in England. You never quite know what each day might bring 

and so I have also found myself working with ITV, re-chalking 

a white horse, delivering leaflets, managing our Tourist 

Information Kiosks (converted phone boxes) and lots more! 

What’s a typical day like for you? 

There isn’t really a typical day. I work from home, so whatever I 

might be doing work-wise, I have to make sure that there is an 

hour or so dedicated to walking our three cocker spaniels. 

What do you love most about your job? 

Exploring the Vale for new walks and cycle routes and getting 

to know the area more intimately. The love of countryside 

has always been with me – I grew up in a small village in 

Gloucestershire and, although I spent many years in London, 

the West Country is where I really wanted to come back to. 

The Vale of Pewsey is really special – it is very unspoilt, really 

‘earthy’. There is so much space, it really is tranquil and the 

history and heritage around us is fascinating. 

What’s your favourite food or drink along the Great West Way? 

You are spoilt for choice in the Vale of Pewsey – we have so 

many really fabulous country pubs that do delicious food and 

local beers and ciders, as well as cafes that offer incredible 

cakes and locally sourced food. However, if you come to the 

Vale, you have to go to Marshall’s Bakery in Pewsey and try the 

lardy cake – absolutely delicious. 

If you could choose one must-visit attraction along the 

Great West Way, what would it be and why? 

Actually I’ve picked two! Wilton Windmill and Crofton Beam 

Engines – these two heritage sites are close to one another and 

there is a walk on our website that takes you to both of them. 

It is amazing that both sites still perform the job they were built 

to do 200 years ago! The guides at both sites are so interesting 

as well so the guided tours are a must. Highly recommended 

with a stop at The Swan Inn for a local pint of beer or cider or a 

glass of wine. 


7

THE WAY FORWARD 

A look at the highlights and what’s new on the Great West Way 

The UK’s oldest public outdoor 

swimming pool, Bath 

The Cleveland Pools in the city 

of Bath is the UK's only surviving 

Georgian Lido, dating back over 

200 years. This unique open-air 

public swimming pool uses the 

heat pumps in the adjacent river 

as its energy for heating the 

water. Restoration to bring this 

wonderful heritage site back into 

use has begun, with the opening 

planned for the summer this year. 

Artist Residence hotel and 

restaurant opens in Bristol 

Located in the creative St Pauls 

community, just minutes from 

Bristol's city centre, this Georgian 

townhouse is an eccentric home 

from home. Downstairs, you'll find 

the light and airy Library, a relaxed 

lounge bar for making yourself 

at home, and the sprawling Boot 

Factory complete with ping-pong 

table, photobooth, buzzing central 

bar and courtyard garden. 

Stay, play, party and discover at 

the new Moxy Bristol Hotel 

Part of the Marriott group, the 

Moxy Hotel is a brand new 

214-room funky and affordable 

boutique hotel, conveniently 

located in Newfoundland Street, 

close to the city's fantastic 

attractions, including Bristol Zoo, 

The National Arboretum, We The 

Curious, Bristol Cathedral, The 

Wave, and the vibrant area of St 

Pauls to explore on its doorstep. 


Royal West of England 

Academy re-opens in Bristol 

Bristol’s oldest art gallery, Royal 

West of England Academy has been 

closed for nearly two years as it has 

undergone a £4.1 million 

refurbishment. Inside the gallery 

there are new spaces and worldclass 

art exhibitions set to return, 

with the re-opening exhibition ‘Me 

Myself and I: Artists’. 

A win for Bath Insider Tours 

One of our Great West Way Tour 

Guides, Daniel, is jumping for 

joy following his success at the 

Bristol Bath and Somerset Tourism 

Awards winning the Award for 

'Experience of the Year'. 

Faster Britain and Clifton 

Suspension Bridge: Celebrating 

the 20th anniversary of an 

incredible discovery 

Twenty years after contractors at 

Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge 

discovered secret vaults hidden 

below the iconic structure, the 

public are being offered a new 

opportunity to explore the underground 

spaces designed by famous 

Victorian engineer Isambard 

Kingdom Brunel. Sadly, Brunel died 

five years before the opening of the 

bridge and his plans for the crossing 

were lost. The vaults remained 

undisturbed for 162 years until their 

chance discovery in 2002 when 

specialist equipment was needed 

to access the structure and clear 

tunnel entrances filled with rubble 

left by the original workforce. To 

celebrate the twentieth anniversary 

of this remarkable discovery, a 

new programme of family-friendly 

‘Vaults Visits’ has been launched, 

running alongside the Visitor Centre’s 

popular in-depth Hard Hat Tours. 

Sponsored by full fibre provider, ITS 

Technology Group’s ‘Faster Britain’ 

programme, the visits allow families 

to access a new platform installed 

in the largest and most significant 

of the twelve stone chambers – an 

impressive echo chamber, 11 metres 

high, festooned in stalactites. 


9

The Bath World Heritage Centre 

Located in the heart of the city 

centre The Bath World Heritage 

Centre will have free access for all. 

It will be filled with imaginative 

interpretation that will show 

people why Bath is so special and 

inspire them with the information 

they need to go out and explore 

the amazing World Heritage City. 

Bailey Balloons 

Bailey Balloons have acquired two 

new balloons. One is already flying 

over the South West from Bristol 

and Bath, the other balloon will be 

ready for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta 

in August. There are still spaces 

to fly at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta 

12-15 August 2022. Fly with up to 

100 balloons at the mass launches 

at dawn and dusk over three days 

(weather permitting). 

Live Escape Rooms Salisbury 

Just a short detour off the route 

Live Escape Rooms Salisbury brings 

you a five-star escape experience 

in The Cross Keys Shopping Centre 

in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Husband 

and wife Claire and Charlie Pitcher 

have worked around the clock to 

turn the downstairs of their 14th 

century building into a pirate 

tavern ready to welcome teams to 

play their games and hunts. 

Cocktail Making Experiences 

in Marlborough 

Cocktail masterclasses are now 

available within The Kingsbury @ 

No7 & No8 restaurant available to 

book either as a standalone event 

or as part of an overnight stay. 

During the cocktail experience 

guests enjoy hot nibbles from 

the Bite Me menu and get to take 

home a 12 piece cocktail set and 

mixology hard back recipe book. 

The Kingsbury @ No7 & No8 is a 

sumptuous designer Boutique Hotel 

offering the finest accommodation 

in Marlborough. Located next 

door to the hotel is the fun and 

innovative Bite Me Burger and Get 

Plucked Restaurants, run in tandem 

by the owners of the hotel. The 

building at No 7 dates back to the 

17th Century and its three rooms 

maintain their original features 

including their fabulous beams. 

No 8 has seven rooms including a 

Master Suite with four poster bed. 

The Kingsbury @ No7 & No8 is 

situated close to the centre of the 

historic market town of Marlborough, 

within close proximity to Avebury 

and Silbury Hill. 


LOCK STOCK 

CORN EXCHANGE ERECTED AD 1861 

BARREL 

THE CHEQUERS HOTEL 

What will you do on your daycation? 

Find out more visitnewbury.org.uk 

@VisitNewbury 

Visit Bristol’s unique 

Visit Bristol’s unique 

BOTANIC GARDEN 

BOTANIC GARDEN 

Open 

all year 

(check website 

for details) 

www.bris.ac.uk/botanic-garden 

University of Bristol Botanic Garden 

Stoke Park Road, Bristol BS9 1JG Tel: 0117 428 2041

Crescent Restaurant & Bar 

Located in Bath's Margaret's 

Buildings a beautiful side street 

between the Royal Crescent and The 

Circus, the new Crescent Restaurant 

& Bar, launched by husband-andwife 

duo Simon and Leanne, offers 

breakfasts and tapas and cocktails. 

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park 

An alternative to the traditional 

art gallery, Bristol's Wake The Tiger 

is a new fantastical, interactive 

and immersive art experience. 

Visitors are transported to the 

magical realms of an ‘alchemist's 

dream’, in 27 unique artistic rooms. 

The Jane Austen Centre 

Discover more about Jane Austen’s 

life in the magnificent city of Bath 

during Regency times at this new 

exhibition space in Bath, where 

actors are on hand to show you how 

to write with a quill and ink and 

play traditional regency games. 

Pewsey Vale Circular Way 

The Pewsey Vale Circular Way is a 

new long-distance walking, cycling 

and riding route. The way marked 

route is a 77 mile walking route or 

a 72 mile cycling/riding route, with 

the Vale of Pewsey at its heart. 

Dramatic downland, secluded 

woodland, sweeping valleys and 

the Kennet & Avon Canal provide 

a rich variety of landscapes for the 

walker, rider or cyclist to enjoy. 

Click here to download the the 

Circular Way leaflet. 

Stay in the know 

Click here to sign 

up to our monthly 

e-newsletter 


13

ARTISAN SECRETS 

AND GREAT WEST WAY MEMENTOS 

This summer lots of our favourite craftspeople from the length of the Great 

West Way route are throwing open their doors once more and inviting us back 

to learn more about their artisan trades. With so much creativity your journey 

just isn’t complete without taking some time to discover them for yourselves. 

Words | Samantha Campbell 

The Great West Way is a great place to explore the 

world of ceramics, book into a workshop to learn 

alongside other like-minded participants, or simply 

drop in to meet the fantastic artists at home in their 

pottery studios. Pottery is a catalyst for so much more – 

feeling great, slowing down and making time for ourselves 

doing something that feels really nourishing. 

Meet the Makers 

Conveniently situated close to Swindon town centre, The 

Eastcott Studios Pottery studio has everything you need to 

'get creative'. Try your hand at ‘pot throwing’ on a potter's 

wheel, paint-a-pot and learn the techniques of coiling, 

pinching and slabbing. Fired Thoughts Ceramic Arts Studio’s 

have two studios, one in Devizes and another in Swindon, 

offering weekly courses and weekend workshops. You 

might like to stay at one of the many local hotels, bed and 

breakfast and campsites nearby and stay for a course (see 

our accommodation section page 94). 

In Wiltshire, Jane Scott Ceramics has moved to lovely 

new premises in Corsham while over in Bradford on Avon 

everyone is welcome by the Winsley Pottery Club who meet 

in the Church Hall for a workshop every Saturday between 

10am and 12 noon. Call 01225 722107 to book your place, 

price is £12 per session to include refreshments. 

A short detour south of the route you will find Enigma 

Pottery Studio and Gallery in Frome. Launched by Jenny 

Barton after graduating from Bath Spa University with a 

degree in Ceramic Design, the pottery studio is situated at 

the bottom of a picturesque walled garden to the rear of 

her impressive Grade II listed house and gallery. Book in for 

a one or two hour pottery making party, or join in the fun 

of her seasonally inspired pottery workshops like Easter Egg 

painting, Mothers Day gift making, Summer workshops and 

Christmas Decoration Making. 


Pictured clockwise from left: Hand made pottery at Aston Pottery 

and Gardens; Jane and Stephen, owners of Aston Pottery and 

Gardens; Gardens in bloom at Aston Pottery and Gardens 

In Bristol, head to The Village Pottery in Markham Farm to 

pick up a beautiful handmade souvenir or visit Jessica Thorn 

Ceramics in Centrespace Studio for a one to one workshop 

on the potter's wheel. 

You might enjoy combining your love of gardens 

and pottery with a visit to Aston Pottery and Gardens. 

Owners Jane and Stephen offer guided tours and talks on 

everything from approaches to design, methods of planting 

and all important garden maintenance as well as pottery 

demonstrations. Visit the gift shop and replenish at their 

award-winning Country Café. → 

GreatWestWay.co.uk 15

Discover Gloucestershire’s best attractions, tours, 

shops, restaurants, accommodation and venues 

discovergloucestershire visitglosuk DiscoverGlos

“Tucked away in the Hampshire countryside alongside 

the peaceful River Test is the oldest silk mill that is still 

weaving silk in its original building.” 

Pictured clockwise from left: The craft of silk 

weaving at Whitchurch Silk Mill; Traditional 

heritage Whitchurch Silk; Whitchurch Silk Mill 

and the River Test. 

Heritage Crafts 

There are some spectacular reminders of 

England's industrial heritage to discover along 

the Great West Way. Some of these historic 

gems are still in working order – and can even 

be seen in action. 

For an unusual introduction to the area's 

heritage, explore some of these living pieces 

of history. Whitchurch Silk Mill, for example, 

a 200-year-old silk mill still using historic 

equipment and processes to produce beautiful 

silks. Tucked away in the Hampshire countryside 

alongside the peaceful River Test Whitchurch 

Silk Mill is the oldest silk mill that is still 

weaving silk in its original building. 

Explore the beautiful Georgian water mill 

with impressive Victorian machinery that is still 

in use today to spin glorious, colourful silks. 

Crofton Beam Engines on the Kennet and 

Avon Canal were built around the same time 

as Whitchurch Silk Mill, to pump water to the 

highest point of the canal. The Beam Engines 

are in working order and are put in action for 

visitors to watch during regular weekends every 

summer. → 


“Our personal styling appointments 

encourage investment in well-made, 

quality clothes in versatile styles so 

that you buy once and buy right.” 

Pictured clockwise from left: Made to measure tailoring at Regent Tailoring; Bombay 

Sapphire Distillery; Gin Cocktail Masterclass; West Berkshire Brewery; Trying on a new 

suit at Regent Tailoring; Holland & Sherry Fabrics. 

Made to Measure 

You might think London’s Savile Row is where 

all the most stylish tailors are located, but 

you can find them along the Great West Way 

route too. Take for example the Chambers 

Bespoke Tailors in Wimbledon, a highly 

regarded bespoke tailoring and alterations 

boutique situated in the beautiful and very 

desirable Wimbledon Village. 

Located on Salisbury’s New Street you 

will find Regent Tailoring with an ethos 

centred on cultivating timeless designs 

and helping to curate a personal style for 

every individual.Famous as a tailor, personal 

stylist, curator of contemporary fashion 

and a celebrated brand in its own right, 

Regent has become an institution over the 

past fifteen years with the Regent shop 

serving as the company’s beating heart. 

With a commitment to using the finest 

quality cloths, materials and manufacturing 

methods, Regent’s clothes are all 

scrupulously designed and of the highest 


Did you 

know? You 

can make 

your own 

with a Gin 

Cocktail 

Masterclass 

at Bombay 

Sapphire Gin 

Distillery 

calibre. British Heritage remains at the core as founder, 

Jason Regent, continuously seeks to innovate, operating at 

the shop both as an expert tailor (with over 25 years in the 

business) and personal stylist. “Tailoring is a key element at 

Regent: we offer both off-the-peg and semi-bespoke suits. 

Our personal styling appointments encourage investment in 

well-made, quality clothes in versatile styles so that you buy 

once and buy right”. 

The Regent shop still acts as the heart of all we do: we 

promise a unique experience when you step through the 

door. Our establishment offers everything from perfect gift 

ideas and gentlemen’s grooming products, as well as three 

floors of high-quality clothes with styles ranging from the 

classic to the cutting edge. 

Be it an Ebbets Field Cap or a bespoke suit, a Regent 

bicycle; a pair of Ludwig Reiter trainers or a pair of Albert 

Thurston braces, you will be sure to discover a selection of 

unique, hand picked brands you won’t usually find on the 

high street at Regent’s. 

In the beautiful city of Bath shoppers expects a certain 

quality and exclusivity that you won’t find in many cities, and 

there is no exception at City Tailors, where they work hard 

to deliver beyond expectations and offer only the highest 

quality garments for both men and women. 

Thirst Quenching 

Find out all about making England’s most traditional 

beverages by taking a tour at Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery, 

West Berkshire Brewery or Wadworth Brewery. Based at 

Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, so ideal to combine with 

a visit to Whitchurch Silk Mill, (featured on page 17) the 

Bombay Sapphire Distillery is in a conservation area with 

over 1000 years of history. 

For over 225 years, the Victorian and Georgian buildings 

set astride the crystal-clear River Test produced bank note 

paper for the Bank of England and the British Empire. Now, 

Laverstoke Mill is a state-of-the-art sustainable distillery, 

which produces every drop of Bombay Sapphire gin. 

The distillery showcases the care, skill and artistry behind 

every drop of Bombay Sapphire, and allows you to discover 

the flavours of the botanicals which make Bombay Sapphire 

gin so unique. 

West Berkshire Brewery is an independent brewery 

nestled in the heart of Berkshire with over 23 years of brewing 

experience. Visit the the Taproom & Kitchen for a burger or → 


19

“It was in Bristol, in 1847, Joseph Fry 

worked out how to make a paste from 

cocoa, sugar and cocoa powder that 

could be moulded into a bar.” 

Pictured clockwise from left: Wadworth Brewery; 

Chocolate Icecreams; Buttle Farm, Wiltshire 

light bite, and a taste of the craft beer or ale 

proudly produced in traditional casks. 

Discover the history and heritage of 

Wadworth Brewery, located in the bustling 

market town of Devizes, Wiltshire, at their 

Visitor Centre where there is a free self-guided 

exhibition to include a unique collection of 

hand painted pub signs, before stopping for a 

beer at The Harness Room Bar. 

Famous Artisan Food 

The Great West Way is home to many of 

England’s finest goodies. From Bath's famous 

Sally Lunn bun first recorded in 1780, and 

the traditional Maids of Honour cake which 

can be dated back to Hampton Court Palace 

and Henry VIII, to the delicious Lardy Cake, 

originating from Wiltshire. And it's not just 

cake, believe it or not, even the chocolate bar 

was invented here. Yes that’s right! It was in 

Bristol, in 1847, Joseph Fry worked out how 

to make a paste from cocoa, sugar and cocoa 

powder that could be moulded into a bar. J S 

Fry & Sons had their factory in Union Street 

and produced their most famous chocolate bar, 

Fun Fact: In 

a year West 

Berkshire 

Brewery 

brew an 

impressive 

2.6 million 

pints. 

the Fry’s Chocolate Cream, in 1866 as well as the 

UK’s first chocolate Easter egg in 1873. 

Other foodie ‘claims to fame’ include Cheddar 

cheese and Wiltshire cure - a traditional English 

technique for curing bacon and ham. The meat is 

soaked in brine for several days, making it moist 

and giving it a succulent texture. The technique 

was developed in Calne in Wiltshire by the Harris 

family in the 18th century. Visit Buttle Farm to 

buy Wiltshire cured ham fresh from the farm. 


Discover Wiltshire’s medieval gem 

Just eight miles from Stonehenge, this architectural masterpiece is home to best preserved 

Prepare to be amazed... 

original 1215 Magna Carta, Britain’s tallest spire and the world’s oldest clock. 

Explore this historic Cathedral and view the finest original 1215 Magna 

Carta, Britain’s tallest spire and the world’s oldest mechanical clock 

www.salisburycathedral.org.uk 

BOOK TICKETS 

CLICK FOR TICKETS 

www.salisburycathedral.org.uk 

Holidays on the Kennet & Avon Canal 

The Traditional Narrowboat Experience • Accommodation that goes wherever you go 

e: enquiries@sallynarrowboats.co.uk | t: 01225 864923 | w: sallynarrowboats.co.uk


SPORTING TOURS 

ON THE GREAT WEST WAY 

Spectator sports are hugely popular in England and throughout the 

Great West Way. From the largest tennis museum in the world to 

small-town rugby clubs and big city football stadiums we hope you 

will stop for a tour at one of these favourite clubs. 

Words | Lucy Bond 

Horse racing, rowing regattas and polo matches are all 

high-class occasions where dressing up is part of the 

fun. Henley Royal Regatta and Royal Ascot are the 

two most famous, with traditions and etiquette that 

add to the sense of occasion. But if your trip doesn’t coincide 

with one of these major events not only are there lots more 

competitive races, games and matches to keep you on the 

edge of your seat, you are still able to visit these prestigious 

world-renowned venues on a behind-the-scenes tour of the 

players and competitors grounds, stadiums and changing rooms. 

Take a visit to England's Home of Rugby Museum 

The award-winning World Rugby Museum houses the world’s 

most prestigious collection of rugby memorabilia and offers 

memorable tours of the iconic Twickenham Stadium. 

During a Stadium Tour you are able to visit some of 

the most exciting and select areas, including the Royal 

Box, Players' Tunnel, pitch-side, and inside the England 

Dressing Room where you will learn about the match-day 

preparations and routines of international rugby players. → 

Experience the life of an Equestrian 

There’s a strong horse riding heritage running through the 

Great West Way, and many tracks where you can watch races 

and put money on your favourite horses. Ascot is of course 

the most famous hosting Royal Ascot in June, however did you 

know you can enjoy a free guided tour from one of their iconic 

Bowler Hat Stewards? These special tours include a visit to 

the weighing room and jockeys' changing rooms taking place 

throughout the Jumps season, before racing begins. 

Other racecourses in the region include those at Newbury, 

Windsor, Bath and a short detour off the route, Salisbury. 

And don’t miss Barbury International Horse Trials in July, set 

against the beautiful backdrop of the Marlborough Downs. 


23

Take a tour of Wimbledon, the All England Tennis Club 

Wimbledon's award-winning behind-the-scenes tours of 

the grounds are the perfect way to see this world-famous 

site – the location to one of the four tennis Grand Slam 

tournaments, considered the most important competitions 

of the tennis season. One of the world’s most celebrated 

tennis events, the championships at Wimbledon run for two 

weeks in July attracting over 500,000 spectators. 

Expertly led by a friendly Blue Badge Guide, you’ll learn 

about how Wimbledon’s distinctive grass is cared for and 

how the site is improved and developed each year. 

You’ll see facilities provided for the press, broadcasters and 

the world’s best tennis players. Inside the Wimbledon Lawn 

Tennis Museum you will experience the history and traditions 

of ‘the Fortnight’, get up close to the Championships Trophies, 

feel the fabrics of tennis fashions from the Victorian period, 

test your skills on the Batak wall and learn about how The 

Championships has developed since 1877. 

Club followed by a 'Crew lunch’ at Leander with Toby Garbett 

offering his stories, revelations and motivational advice. 

Following the experience head to the Henley on Thames 

River & Rowing Museum located on the banks of the 

picturesque river and housed in an award-winning building, 

designed by the acclaimed architect Sir David Chipperfield. 

With four permanent galleries dedicated to Rowing, 

Rivers, the work of British Artist John Piper and the history of 

Henley on Thames, the Museum is also home to the magical 

Wind in the Willows exhibition which brings to life the 

much-loved story with 3D models, lighting and music. 

Pop into the café and sit out on the terrace overlooking 

Mill Meadows, and visit the shop for books and games, 

fashion, craft and local produce, including fine wines, gins, 

honey and chocolates. The constantly evolving calendar of 

temporary art and photography exhibitions and a year-round 

calendar of nature trails, craft workshops and family days, 

ensures there is always something new to see and do. 

“One of the world’s most celebrated tennis events, the 

champoinships at Wimbledon runs for two weeks in July 

attracting over 500,000 spectators.” 

With clothing and equipment donated by tennis’ top 

stars, you’re certain to see something from your favourite 

player too. The Museum also runs several special exhibitions, 

including one dedicated to tennis at the Olympic Games, 

another charting the evolution of the racket from the 1870s 

to present day, and a showcase of the spectacular tennis 

posters that have been used to advertise Wimbledon over 

the years. The Museum's newest temporary exhibition is 

Centre Court: 100 Years of Change, celebrating the centenary 

of Centre Court, taking place in 2022. 

The exhibition explores the role that Centre Court has 

played as a witness to a period of considerable social and 

cultural progress, and the platform that the court, and The 

Championships, has provided for that change. 

Have an unforgettable time on the water 

An absolute must for Rowing enthusiasts, the Henley Rowing 

Association offer a special and unique opportunity to row 

on the regatta course with Olympian and Twice World 

Champion, Toby Garbett. The five hour long Gold package 

includes an outdoor warm up session of rowing specific 

exercises, a coaching and rowing experience in a quad or 

octuple on the Regatta course, a tour of the famous Leander 

Enjoy a real tradition at Marylebone Cricket Club Museum 

with a Lord’s Tour 

Lord’s is the most famous cricket Ground in the world, 

steeped in over 200 years of history and tradition. Lord's is 

not only a must for all cricket lovers, but for anyone looking 

for the quintessentially English experience. Private Tours can 

be booked any day of the week, giving you an opportunity to 

go behind the scenes at the ‘home of cricket’. 

An expert guide will lead you through the most iconic 

parts of the ground including the Grade II listed Victorian 

Pavilion, the world-famous Long Room, the Players’ Dressing 

Rooms, the dramatic J.P. Morgan Media Centre, and the 

MCC Museum, home of the Ashes Urn – cricket’s bestknown 

artefact. Lord’s has an extraordinary history, dramatic 

architecture, and an unrivalled collection of cricket-related 

art and memorabilia. 

Tour the stadiums of England's ‘beautiful game’ 

Football in England is not just a game but a national 

obsession. Even if you’re not a football fan, it’s hard not to 

get swept away by the atmosphere at a good match. See 

what all the fuss is about with a stadium tour. Bristol City, 

whose home stadium is Ashton Gate, and Bristol Rovers, → 


Pictured previous page: Family fun at Ascot 

Racecourse. Pictured clockwise from above: 

Rowing on the River Thames, Henley; 

Marylebone Cricket Club Museum and Lord’s 

Tour; The All England Club, Wimbledon. 


25

Wonders await 

those who venture off the beaten path 

A unique royal connection, 

rich cultural heritage, stunning 

architecture and beautiful 

natural scenery along a 20 mile 

stretch of the River Thames. 

Add to this an abundance of 

places to stay from 5 star resorts 

to riverside camping, quaint 

villages, one-of-a-kind shops 

and a culinary scene headed by 

the likes of Heston Blumenthal 

and you’ll have a reasonable 

idea of the treats in store for 

you in and around Windsor. 

www.windsor.gov.uk 

#VisitWindsor 

www.windsor.gov.uk

Pictured: World Rugby Museum 

at Memorial Stadium, have a historic rivalry. You can visit 

Ashton Gate during one of their hosted events throughout 

the year. There's a huge variety from music concerts to 

include award-winning Elton John and his Farewell Yellow 

Brick Road: The Final Tour, to The Killers and comedian 

Russell Brand. 

Bristol Rovers offer behind the scenes tours of the 

Memorial Stadium with professional coaches, including visits 

to the players dressing room and the chance to wave the 

flags of the Guard of Honour for under six to under 16 years 

football teams. While top performing Bristol City Women’s 

F.C. can be found at Stoke Gifford Stadium, there’s also the 

Easton Cowboys & Cowgirls where graffiti artist Banksy was 

once a member (apparently he played in goal). 

In London you can go behind the scenes at the London 

Stadium with a West Ham football legend, take a stadium 

tour at Chelsea and see their iconic soccer club’s trophies, 

shirts and memorabilia, and for the most iconic ground of 

them all, take a tour of Wembley Stadium. New, worldleading 

technology allows you to get closer to the history of 

the stadium, with augmented reality as well as exceptional 

opportunities to visit the dressing rooms, pitch and tunnel, as 

well as a chance to hold a replica FA cup! 

Visit the opulent Farleigh House Estate for a historic 

tour with Bath Rugby 

If there is a capital city of Rugby in England then it is here. 

Bath Rugby is one of the oldest Rugby teams in the world - 

they have been going strong for more than 150 years. You 

can see Bath Rugby play at The Rec by the River Avon with 

views of Pulteney Bridge and Georgian Terraces – one of 

English Rugby’s most iconic sights. 

Away from matchdays on The Rec, Bath Rugby hang 

their hat at the opulent Farleigh House Estate. This majestic 

Georgian mansion is the most spectacular rugby facility we 

have seen in Europe. The original walled garden is now a 

half-size 3G set-piece training pitch, the outbuildings house a 

powerlifter's paradise and the old towers of the mansion now 

hosts the state-of-the-art nerve centre of English Rugby’s 

most successful club. You can visit the manor for a coaching 

experience, tour, lectures on training and many more 

possibilities besides. With Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, 

Dorset and Wiltshire all in easy distance of Bath, your touring 

opposition will be clubs from the core of English Rugby’s 

most traditional and historic heartland. 

Take your travels up a gear 

If you like high octane sport, have you ever raced a rally car? 

Incongruously located in ‘the prettiest village in England’, 

Castle Combe Circuit offers petrol heads the possibility to 

Did you 

know? In 

1971, Mollie 

Gerrard 

became the 

first woman 

president of 

Bath Rugby, 

and any 

rugby club. 

tackle high speed laps and time trials themselves, as well as 

experience a white knuckle passenger ride with a pro driver 

at the wheel. Or you might like to have a go at sailing at 

Cotswold Water Park or on the River Thames. Channel your 

inner Chris Hoy and whizz round the tracks on the velodrome 

at Palmer Park, Reading (adaptable bikes available) or take a 

tandem ride around Bristol with Bristol Tandem Hire. 

Plan your visit and watch a spectator sport as part of 

your own Great West Way sporting tour 

Depending on where you’re visiting along the touring route 

and when, you might also catch some cycling, hockey, motor 

racing, marathons, boxing, tennis… even a game of rounders 

in a local park. This cricket-like game has been popular 

since Tudor times - not the height of UK sport, perhaps, 

but entertaining nonetheless. And you don’t have to be a 

spectator: opportunities abound to jump into that gym kit and 

get active yourself. And if you want to watch something a little 

offbeat, you could always visit Chippenham for the Pancake 

Race on Shrove Tuesday. Or the Woolsack Races, which take 

place in Tetbury each May to celebrate the town’s wool trade 

heritage. There are even lawnmower races - held throughout 

the south of England each summer. 

However you choose to engross yourself in sport along the 

Great West Way we hope you have a memorable experience. 


27

AGRITOURISM 

ON THE WAY 

From pumpkin picking to alpaca walking, freshly laid eggs to 

milking the cows, it’s time to clean the mud from your wellies 

and experience the very best of countryside living. 

Words | Susan Wright 

The Great West Way is home to all sorts of interesting, 

unique and unusual accommodation, but have you 

ever stayed on a farm? With miles upon miles of lush, 

green countryside, our route boasts some of the finest 

examples of rural working farms and farm experiences you can 

enjoy, many of which offer quirky accommodation too. 

Get back to nature and the outdoors with a stay on 

one of The Great West Way’s farms, featuring friendly cows 

and sheep as your next-door neighbours, fresh homegrown 

produce to taste, and tours and experiences to get involved in 

on your stay. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something 

different on your Great West Way journey. 

and Wi-Fi which you may require as the camp is off-grid. 

On the farm, you can also try your hand at the ancient art 

of sheep herding, take a tour of the local organic vineyard or 

book one of a number of activities to make your group stay 

even more memorable. 

There is a nearby farm shop, village co-operative and village 

pub. They are also just five miles from the beautiful city of Bath 

and two miles from the pretty town of Bradford on Avon. → 

The Farm Camp 

Home to four large self-catered bell tents (sleeping up to four) 

The Farm Camp offers a taste of the simple life. This is a place 

you can unwind and and enjoy an unforgettable glamping 

experience. Open from late March until early October, they 

welcome groups looking to enjoy a more natural break away. 

The facilities at camp include two hot showers, private 

compost loos, a grass clearing for games and a communal 

shelter. Half a mile down the lane guests can also use the 

indoor heated pool, games room and laundry room should 

you need some modern luxury. There are also power sockets 


29

Bozedown Farm 

For the ultimate alpaca experience UK Alpaca Breeder, 

Bozedown Farm is the place to go. Join them on an alpaca walk 

through the beautiful South Oxfordshire countryside – where 

the Chiltern Hills meet the River Thames. 

You can enjoy leading an alpaca around their alpaca farm 

as you learn more about these attractive, enigmatic creatures 

that originate from the High Andes of Peru, but are quite at 

home in leafy England. 

Bozedown Farm is home to Bozedown Alpacas – a family 

enterprise who have been breeding and selling alpacas since 

1989. The truly exceptional Bozedown Pedigrees have been 

built upon a solid foundation of World Class Bloodstock, 

carefully selected by the family from Peru, Australia and USA. 

Bozedown genetics have produced a phenomenal number 

of Champion Huacayas and Suris ever since 1989 both for 

Bozedown Alpacas and their clients. With more than 700 

Alpacas, including over 100 suris, they are able to offer exciting 

new bloodlines from a broad genetic base. 

Throughout the year they host a number of Alpaca training 

courses, BAS Judge training courses, and other events too. 

Church Farm Country Cottages 

Stay on a working sheep farm, situated in an Area of 

Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from Bradford on 

Avon. There are seven cottages you can stay in at the awardwinning 

Church Farm – each with exposed beams and vaulted 

ceilings and the delightful Old Granary barn conversion just 

a short walk along the country lane. Longleat and the World 

Heritage City of Bath are also just a short journey away. 

Enjoy walking and cycling from your doorstep then reward 

yourself afterwards in the luxurious heated indoor pool. 

Children will love the Games Room with table tennis, table 

football, a pool table and Wi-Fi Internet Access. 

Pop into Hartley Farm Shop and Café, or the village pub 

and village shop – and look forward to a welcome cream tea 

with homemade scones, jam, organic clotted cream and locally 

produced biscuits with tea and coffee on arrival. 

Guests can also get involved with a 

‘Farm Workshop’ from bushcraft, weighing 

lambs to sheep herding and 'Farmcraft' 

sessions to include farm tours, sheep 

herding, and even farm olympics! 

Pictured previous page left to right: Camping at The Farm 

Camp; Enjoying the outdoors at The Farm Camp. 

Pictured: Alpacas at Bozedown Farm

“In the gardens there are ‘wild’ areas... attracting many bees and 

butterflies... owls, red kite, buzzards and kestrels...” 

Buttle Farm 

Located in Compton Bassett Buttle Farm is home to Robert 

and Sara, who live in the farmhouse, a converted Victorian 

brick and slate barn which was once winter housing for the 

dairy cows that used to live there. Across the yard is the Chalk 

Barn holiday cottage – also a converted barn and probably 

the oldest building on the site, constructed largely from chalk 

blocks – the local building material. In the gardens there are 

‘wild’ areas which are never cut, and as such produce a wide 

variety of so-called weeds and wildflowers, attracting many 

bees and butterflies as well as providing habitat and corridor 

for the wildlife that share the farm. This encourages the owls, 

red kite, buzzards and kestrels that can be regularly seen 

soaring over the fields. 

Buttle Farm is also home to a flock of guinea fowl who 

roam free range around the barns and into the fields, eating 

bugs and seeds along the way, as well as delivering fabulously 

yellow, rich eggs for use in the kitchen. They may not be 

the smartest birds but they certainly are one of the more 

entertaining varieties and make a point of greeting visitors to 

the farm. →

“Mill Farm have recently launched Belle Vue Farm Shire – three 

unique and luxurious super-chic canvas lodge retreats... each with 

its own private courtyard and hot tub.” 


Pictured left to right: Four poster bed at Mill Farm Glamping; 

relaxing at Totteridge Farm; Totteridge Farm Camping Pods 

Mill Farm Glamping 

Situated in the village of Poulshot just three miles from 

Devizes, Mill Farm have recently launched Belle Vue Farm 

Shire – three unique and luxurious super-chic canvas lodge 

retreats, in a newly planted woodland landscape with 

wild flower meadows, overlooking the beautiful Wiltshire 

countryside - each with its own private courtyard and hot tub. 

Joe and Izzy Dyke are the third generation of Dykes to 

tend this very special corner of the British countryside inviting 

guests to experience the joys of their family-run, organic farm. 

You will meet the ducks, dairy cattle and donkeys, and 

have fun on Farmer Joe's organic farm tour. Walk, ride, paddle, 

fish – or just soak up the sun and the tranquil scenery. It all 

adds up to a naturally inspirational experience: a unique break 

that you will treasure for a lifetime. 

There is a small gaggle of organic geese, Wiltshire Horn 

sheep, donkeys, rabbits and guinea pigs as well as a range of 

activities available to pre-book during your stay to include: 

fitness classes, pizza evenings, archery, painting classes, laser 

shooting and pub taxis via gator or tractor and trailer. 

Sheephouse Manor 

Sheephouse Manor is an ideal base for visiting all attractions 

along the Great West Way, their five cottages offer comfort 

and relaxation with everything you need. 

Situated in rural Berkshire countryside, close to the scenic 

River Thames, yet two miles from Maidenhead town and 

station. Everything along the Great West Way is within 90 

minutes by car or train. 

The 16th Century Sheephouse Manor was originally a dairy 

farm, and now the five converted barns sit in two acres of 

pretty gardens. Four legged friends don't need to stay at home 

as they are pet friendly, and even have a dedicated dog run, 

plus a children’s play paddock amongst the chickens. 

Totteridge Farm 

Totteridge Farm Camping Pods offer a wonderful English 

countryside experience, for those who want to be close to 

nature without giving up home comforts. 

Step out of your timber lodge into the fresh calm of a rural 

Wiltshire morning, explore the towns, villages and trails of the 

Vale of Pewsey, or sit out under the stars around a wood fire 

with a glass of their farm-grown English wine… with the home 

comforts of a hot shower, crisp white cotton sheets, and even 

underfloor-heated in your own luxury pod. 

Pod and camping areas offer fantastic views across the 

Vale of Pewsey, looking across to the majestic backdrop of 

Martinsell Hill, and the area is perfect for walking and cycling, 

as well as for trips further afield in Wiltshire and beyond. 

Cliffe Farm Dairy 

Set on the edge of Salisbury Plain, Cliffe Farm Dairy is a 

converted disused milking parlour set on an organic farm 

owned by the Holloway family. It is now a wonderfully 

spacious three-bedroom barn conversion ideally situated to 

explore the beautiful county of Wiltshire. 

As a guest you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the 

stunning chalk escarpment of Salisbury Plain with just sheep 

and wildlife as your neighbours. The Holloway family have 

farmed in the village for over a century and with the opening 

of their holiday cottage they have been able to offer guests a 

glimpse of what their rural life is like living on a farm. 


33

AS SEEN ON SCREEN 

BRIDGERTON 

Netflix’s Bridgerton has stolen our hearts ever since its debut release 

on Christmas day two years ago. With the recent launch of Season 

Two it's time to celebrate the series on a Bridgerton-inspired tour of 

the Great West Way, visiting the glamorous locations seen on screen. 

Words | Melanie Abrams 

Produced by Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey's Anatomy 

and Scandal, and based on the novels by Julia Quinn, 

the show has proved a hit with audiences around the 

world thanks to its modern take on life in Regency 

England – not to mention its passionate romance scenes. 

But did you know several of the scenes were filmed right 

here on the Great West Way? With the second series out 

now discover the real-life filming locations and Bridgerton 

experiences on the Great West Way. 

Starting in the west of London, east of the route, is Syon 

House, the London home of the Dukes of Northumberland 

with its 200 acre park. Used as Bridgerton’s Buckingham 

House, the smaller forerunner to Buckingham Palace, it’s 

where Queen Charlotte dined with her husband, George III, 

whilst its Print Room doubled for Hastings’ study. → 

Take some time to visit the beautiful historic properties and 

locations used as backdrops for the show including famous 

landmarks like Hampton Court Palace to the lesser-known 

secrets such as the Abbey Deli in Bath (previously called 

Pickled Greens). Incredible historic houses and charming 

cities from the whole length of the Great West Way are being 

used as filmsets to bring the Bridgerton story to life. 

If you are beginning your Great West Way journey in London 

its Regency heritage offers the perfect inspiration. Many of 

the events in Bridgerton are set in London Mayfair's, within 

the residences of the best families in England. Take in 

Regent’s Park and Regent Street or see London through its 

Bridgerton homes. 


“Incredible historic houses and charming cities from the whole 

length of the Great West Way are being used as filmsets to bring 

the Bridgerton story to life.” 


35

Located on the river Thames and surrounded by swathes 

of stunning gardens and parkland, Hampton Court Palace 

may be best known for its Tudor and Stuart heritage – but in 

Bridgerton, it stood in for St James’s Palace. Carriages swept 

into the famous red brick courtyard for Queen Charlotte’s 

Ball. “We were there for an afternoon,” says Bailey, who plays 

Anthony. 

Hampton Court Palace is one of Britain’s most famous 

buildings and a must-visit destination on the Great West 

Way. The former home of King Henry VIII, you can imagine 

following in the footsteps of its stars with a stroll through 

the palace’s 60 acres of gardens, including the ornate Privy 

Garden, which was beloved by the King himself, or exploring 

the beauty of Richmond Park - home to herds of red and 

fallow deer since 1637. 

Although Hampton Court Palace was used for exterior 

shots of Queen Charlotte’s Palace, Lancaster House in 

Westminster, London, was used for the interior and also 

acted as a backdrop for scenes filmed inside Buckingham 

Palace. With its sweeping staircases and Grand Hall, which 

mirrors the style of the Palace of Versailles, the building is 

a favourite filming location for period dramas and has also 

appeared in Downton Abbey and The King’s Speech. 

If in London you might choose to venture a short distance 

from the route across Bushy Park into Teddington for 

Normansfield Theatre in the Langdon Down Centre, where 

Hastings and Anthony had their boxing match. Located 

in the heart of Pall Mall and founded in 1832, The Reform 

Club is another London filming location immortalised in 

the series. The setting of episode one’s meeting between 

the Duke of Hastings and Anthony Bridgerton, in reality the 

private members' club is the haunt of some of Britain’s most 

forward-thinking political minds, not to mention one of the 

area’s most striking buildings. 

In Twickenham you can visit the medieval St Mary’s Church 

where early 18th century English poet, Alexander Pope 

is buried, used for St George’s church where Daphne and 

Hastings married. Although not featured in Bridgerton 


nearby is Great West Way’s Strawberry Hill House & Garden 

– Horace Walpole’s 18th century architectural masterpiece, 

internationally renowned as Britain’s finest example of 

Georgian Gothic revival architecture. 

Another short detour from the route you can stroll like the 

Featheringtons in Surrey’s 18th century Painshill Park - the 

beautifully manicured grounds feature in the hit show. Look 

out for oft used scenes like the Chinese bridge, rowing lake 

and winding paths. There is also Wilton House, near Salisbury 

– the home of the Earls of Pembroke acts as multiple sets 

for Hastings, his honorary godmother, Lady Danbury (Adjoa 

Andoh) as well as Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). 

Most recognisable will be the exterior – which was used for 

Hastings’ London home and the Double Cube Room for the 

Queen’s presentation chamber. Whilst the garden hosted 

Lady Danbury’s party in the last episode of season one. 

Head to Bath where much of the filming took place. Founded 

by the Romans, the Somerset city was a buzzing social hub 

for the well-to-do in the 1800s and it remains a jewel of 

Regency architecture to this day. If you’re keen to experience 

a slice of Bridgerton visit No.1 Royal Crescent, a museum 

of a Georgian home including a Withdrawing Room and 

Gentleman’s Retreat. → 


37

It was used as the exterior of the Featheringtons’ family pad, as “with the 

Featheringtons, it is all about show,” says Bridgerton production designer, 

Will Hughes-Jones. Whilst there, pop a few doors down to sample the 

Royal Crescent Hotel’s champagne afternoon tea or hop on a carriage. 

Stop at the city’s impressive Guildhall as its banqueting room with 

unmissable chandeliers stood in for the Rambury ballroom. 

Follow the footsteps of your favourite characters, walking along streets 

where filming took place. There’s Abbey Green, Bath Street, Beauford 

Square, as well as Trim Street, where inside number 12 Gunter’s Tea Shop 

was filmed. 

The Holburne Museum in Sydney Pleasure Gardens, another must-visit 

attraction on the Great West Way, doubles as Lady Danbury's home and 

the stunning Grade I listed elegant façade is seen in almost all episodes. 

Lady Danbury was filmed here stepping down from her carriage while 

reading Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheet. 

Situated in the centre of Bath, Abbey Green’s cobbled streets and quaint 

boutiques make it a dream filming location for Bridgerton and it’s here 

that the fictional dress shop, Modiste, is located. Owned by renowned 

seamstress Madame Genevieve Delacroix, the shop is a hotbed of style and 

gossip and the setting to several key scenes in the show. If you’re a fan of the 

show, you can look forward to donning your best outfits for a turn around 

the square, before a spot of lunch and shopping in true Bridgerton style. 

Bath Street features in the very first episode of Bridgerton, when the Duke 

makes his heart-stopping appearance on horseback. Although it doubles 

as a Mayfair street in London, this Georgian delight is actually the location 

of a quintessential Great West Way highlight, the Thermae Bath Spa, an 

award-winning spa featuring the 18th-century Cross Bath and an open-air 

rooftop pool. → 


Pictured first page left 

to right: The long gallery, 

Syon House; Bridgerton's 

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen 

Charlotte Pictured previous 

page clockwise from left: 

Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey 

as Anthony Bridgerton; 

Bridgerton's Rupert Young 

as Lord Jack Featherington, 

Bessie Carter as Prudence 

Featherington, Nicola 

Coughlan as Penelope 

Featherington, Polly 

Walker as Lady Portia 

Featherington, Florence 

Emilia Hunt as Hyacinth 

Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell 

as Lady Violet Bridgerton, 

Luke Newton as Colin 

Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey 

as Anthony Bridgerton, and 

Luke Thompson as Benedict 

Bridgerton; Strawberry Hill 

House & Garden Pictured 

left to right: The Holburne 

Museum; Jonathan Bailey 

as Anthony Bridgerton and 

Simone Ashley as Kate 

Sharma. Pictured next page 

left to right: Bridgerton's 

Jonathan Bailey as Anthony 

Bridgerton and Simone 

Ashley as Kate Sharma; Leigh 

Court, Bristol; Allen Leech 

and Tuppence Middleton on 

the set of Downton Abbey: A 

New Era. 


39

“Leigh Court was the lavish filming location for three of the 

season’s most opulent events, from Daphne’s jaw-dropping reveal... 

to the dramatic scenes at the Crawford Ballroom.” 

IMAGES © LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX / CR. COLIN HUTTON/NETFLIX / BEN BLACKALL / © 2022 FOCUS FEATURES LLC 


Many of the scandalous storylines in Bridgerton revolve around big 

social events, where high society comes together to celebrate, mediate 

and fall in love, much to the delight of gossip columnist extraordinaire, 

Lady Whistledown. The Assembly Rooms tea room and ballroom were 

the setting for many of these extravagant evening scenes and have also 

featured in film adaptations of classics including Persuasion, in addition 

to being home to a highly regarded Fashion Museum. 

Situated just outside Bristol, at the very Western end of the Great 

West Way route, Leigh Court was used for many of Bridgerton's ball 

scenes. Although it is now a dreamy wedding and private events 

venue, a visit to Leigh Woods, a tranquil woodland nestled above the 

Avon Gorge and the iconic Bristol Suspension Bridge, gets you just a 

stone’s throw away. 

Leigh Court was the lavish filming location for three of the season’s 

most opulent events, from Daphne’s jaw-dropping reveal to Prince 

Friedrich (Freddie Stroma) to the dramatic scenes at the Crawford 

Ballroom. Built during Regency times, the suspended double staircase 

in the Great Hall is where Daphne appeared before dancing with 

Prince Friedrich. Whether Bridgerton, Featherington or brooding 

Duke, never are the characters of Bridgerton more extravagant than 

when attending a ball! 

Alternatively, you can plan to experience a slice of 18th century life at 

Bristol’s Georgian House Museum, a restored period home with formal 

rooms and kitchens. You can also enjoy a behind-the-scenes interview 

with Penelope Featherington, played by Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, 

who reveals the secrets of the show while shooting at Leigh Court. 

Many other films, TV shows and period dramas have been filmed along 

the Great West Way. Fans of Jane Austen may recognise the Temple 

of Apollo at the National Trust’s Stourhead Gardens (just south of the 

main Great West Way route) as the place the Darcy proposes to Lizzie 

in the rain in the film version of Pride and Prejudice. And, Potterheads 

– get those cloaks and wands at the ready! There are several magical 

Harry Potter locations, not to mention Paddington Bear, Shaun the 

Sheep and Wallace & Gromit. Click here to find out more. 

You might also enjoy... 

Celebrating the new Downton Abbey 

sequel film, Downton Abbey, A New 

Era, coming to theatres in 2022 

Bowood House & Gardens 

A cottage located on the Bowood House 

Estate was used as a filming location in 

the Downton Abbey film and can even 

be seen in the trailer. Bowood House 

sits within 100 acres of beautifully landscaped 

parkland, and features a hotel, 

spa and championship golf course. 

Lacock Village 

Within the village of Lacock, producers 

of Downton Abbey created the annual 

Malton Show at a farmer’s market. 

There is lots to see and do including 

visiting Lacock Abbey and the Fox 

Talbot Museum. 

Highclere Castle 

Most of Downton Abbey the TV series 

and movie were filmed at Highclere 

Castle, or ‘The Real Downton Abbey’, as 

it’s known. Highclere Castle is located 

in North Hampshire on the Great West 

Way, and is currently home to the 

eighth Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. 

Throughout the year, Highclere Castle 

holds tours and events open to the 

public where you can explore the Estate 

and the various filming locations that 

have appeared on our screens. 


41

TEN GREAT REASONS TO VISIT 

THE GREAT WEST 

WAY THIS SUMMER 

There are plenty of excuses to celebrate this summer, 

including a special long Bank Holiday weekend, an 

array of excellent exhibitions and some exciting 

period dramas coming to our TV screens. 

1 

CATCH 

THE EVENTS YOU MISSED LAST 

YEAR 

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many of our 

favourite annual events had to be cancelled, postponed 

or curtailed in 2019 and 2021. 

But don't worry – they're back in 2022 and there’s an exciting 

calendar of events planned for the coming year. Why not time 

your visit to coincide with Royal Ascot or Henley Royal Regatta in 

June or Reading Festival in August? 

Or join a course at Marlborough College Summer School 

which runs more than 500 different courses in July and August. 

There will also be plenty of festive fun-filled events in the run up 

to Christmas. If you’ve been missing out on seeing live music or 

theatre performed, now is the time to book your tickets for 2022. 

You can catch top-notch performances of all kinds at the 

Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire Music Centre in pretty 

Bradford on Avon, the Watermill Theatre near Newbury or Pound 

Arts Centre in Corsham. 

42 GreatWestWay.co.uk 

Pictured left to right: Painting, Marlborough College Summer School; 

Thermae Bath Spa roof top spa.

2 

ESCAPE 

THE EVERYDAY 

Shake off the mundane and the everyday, 

and go on an adventure this year! Discover 

stunning street art as you explore bustling 

Bristol. Take a swim in a rooftop pool 

and visit the brand new Mary Shelley's House of 

Frankenstein museum in Bath. See a historic windmill in 

action in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding 

Natural Beauty. 

Watch horses thunder past at Newbury Racecourse. 

Take a boat trip along the Thames, spotting famous 

landmarks and pretty wildlife. Uncover the mysteries of 

Wiltshire's dramatic crop circles. Float up, up and away 

in a hot air balloon, or jump out of a plane with Skydive 

Netheravon. We all deserve a little bit of luxury, so why 

not prioritise your wellbeing and treat yourself to a 

sumptuous spa stay, and enjoy a fine-dining experience 

at a Michelin star restaurant. 

You might even enjoy wine-tasting experience at 

one of the Great West Way’s thriving vineyards, or a 

cocktail masterclass at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. 

However you choose to Escape the Everyday let’s make 

2022 a thrilling year and make up for lost time with 

families and friends! 


43

3 

EXPLORE 

BATH’S NEW WORLD 

HERITAGE CENTRE 

There’s a brand-new World Heritage Centre 

opening in Bath in spring 2022. The new centre will 

illuminate Bath's history with fascinating interactive 

exhibits and displays about Bath’s hot springs, Roman remains 

and Georgian architecture. A perfect excuse to visit the grand 

and gentile city of Bath as you travel along the Great West 

Way. 


Pictured left to right: Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon in Bath; 

Bath’s new World Heritage Centre; Graham from Tours2Order

4 

CELEBRATE 

WILTSHIRE 

WILDLIFE TRUST’S 60TH 

BIRTHDAY 

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's first nature reserve 

was Blackmoor Copse, a Site of Special 

Scientific Interest and one of the most important 

woods in Wiltshire for butterflies. 60 years after it was 

first formed, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust now looks after 

40 nature reserves in Wiltshire, many of which are 

easy to access from the Great West Way. 

The trust creates living landscapes across Wiltshire 

by restoring, reconnecting and recreating wildlife 

habitats across landscapes for wildlife and people. 

Stop off at the grasslands and lakes at Lower 

Moor near Cricklade, the wildlife-rich hay meadows at 

Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve just down the road or 

the woodland, ponds and wet grasslands at Jones's Mill 

in the Vale of Pewsey in 2022 to enjoy nature, improve 

your wellbeing and help Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 

celebrate their big birthday year. 

GREAT WEST WAY TOURS 

Tours2Order 

Graham is a Blue Badge Tourist Guide 

based in Royal Berkshire, there to help you 

discover the Great West Way. 

tours2order.com 

Bath Insider Tours 

Founder of Bath Insider Tours, Daniel is a 

local guide who was born and grew up in the 

beautiful City of Bath. 

bathinsidertours.co.uk 

Britain’s Best Heritage Tours 

Founders Ian and daughter Heather 

together with Sandrine – all registered Blue 

Badge Guides – offer expert-led tours. 

bbhtours.co.uk 

Galahad Tours 

Private guided tours of the Great West Way 

from Bath in a luxury vehicle. Sightseeing 

in style in a luxury Mercedes V Class. 

galahadtours.co.uk 

Tour and Explore 

Anne Bartlett is a specialist Blue Badge 

Tourist Guide of the Great West Way. 

tourandexplore.com 


45

5 

DISCOVER 

THE WORLD OF 

STONEHENGE 

There’s a major new exhibition coming to the British 

Museum in 2022; The World of Stonehenge - the first 

of its kind in the UK. Explore the history and mystery of 

one of England’s most iconic sites, built thousands of years ago on 

Salisbury Plain, just below where the Great West Way runs today. 

At the British Museum between 17 February and 17 July you 

can see hundreds of ancient objects relating to the stone circle, 

then learn more about its history at Wiltshire Museum before a 

short detour to see Stonehenge itself. 

Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, Stonehenge is 

perhaps the world’s most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle, and 

its image is famous around the globe. 

The World of Stonehenge exhibition will bring the story 

of Stonehenge into sharper focus, showing that rather than a 

shadowy age of mystery, the Britain and Ireland of four millennia 

ago were places of big ideas, commerce and travel. 

Journey back to the time of its construction around 

3000–2500 BC, and with the help of objects from across Europe 

– including stone axes from the North Italian Alps and stunning 

metalwork from Ireland – the world of Stonehenge will be 

illuminated like never before. 


Pictured left to right: Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury 

Plain; Reading – famous for its biscuit manufacturing

6 

ENJOY 

A BISCUIT 

FUELLED BREAK IN 

READING 

In 2022, Reading will 

be celebrating the 200- 

year anniversary of its biscuit 

manufacturing history. In 1822 

Thomas Huntley opened his first 

shop in the town and went on to 

become one of the world's largest 

biscuit manufacturers with Huntley 

& Palmers, earning Reading the 

nickname of ‘Biscuit Town’ in the 

process. 2022 will see biscuit focused 

tours, events and offers come to 

Reading, so make sure you stop off 

here as you travel along the Great 

West Way. Visit the special exhibition 

Biscuit Town: 200 years of Huntley 

and Palmers in Reading at The 

Museum of English Rural Life, see the 

astonishing collection of decorative 

biscuits tins and ephemera in the 

Huntley & Palmers Gallery at Reading 

Museum, and be sure to join a Biscuit 

Walkabout guided tour of Reading’s 

biscuit heritage with Terry’s Reading 

Walkabouts Reading. 

Children’s Festival, 14 May – 5 June, 

will also be taking on the theme of 

Biscuit Town and you might wish to 

finish off your biscuit itinerary with 

Afternoon Tea at the Reading Room 

and Lounge at the Roseate Reading 

Hotel, complete with biscuits inspired 

by Huntley and Palmer. Available from 

9 May 2022. Or have Afternoon Tea 

afloat on a Thames River Cruise as the 

banks of the River Thames glide by. 

Download the 

Reading Pocket Map 

Reading sits at the heart 

of the Great West Way 


47

7 

CELEBRATE 

LITERATURE ON THE 

GREAT WEST WAY 

Literature lovers will have plenty to please them in 

2022 on the Great West Way. Thomas Hardy, the 

author of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure 

and Far from the Madding Crowd, was born in South West 

England and set many of his novels here. In 2022, four exhibitions 

dedicated to his life and work will take place on and near to 

the Great West Way, in Devizes, Wiltshire, Poole and Dorset. 

Wiltshire Museum will host "The Ancient Landscape" exploring 

how Hardy's writing was influenced by Wiltshire's timeless 

landscapes. 

Plus, the first of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books was 

published in 1997. And if you’re a lover of this magical world, 

you can celebrate its 25th anniversary on a trip along the Great 

West Way. Take a look at the best places to pretend you're Harry 

Potter and discover some of the filming locations used to bring 

Harry’s world to life in the film series, from the ancient Abbey in 

Wiltshire that doubles as a Hogwart's classroom to the woodland 

setting for the Quidditch World Cup. 


Pictured left to right: The World-Famous Jacobite Express Train also known as 

the ‘Harry Potter Steam Train'; Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea at Cliveden House

8 

CELEBRATE 

THE QUEEN’S 

PLATINUM JUBILEE 

Explore the Royal Connections of the Great West 

Way as her Majesty the Queen becomes the first 

UK monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. A fourday 

Bank Holiday in June will mark the Queen’s 70-year reign, 

and there will be celebrations and special events throughout 

the whole of the year. So plan a trip fit for royalty in 2022 with 

a visit to Windsor Castle – the Queen’s favourite weekend 

residence - book an overnight stay in a regal suite at one of 

our luxury hotel options, or plan a day out at Royal Ascot. 

Here on the Great West Way, there will be lots of events 

taking place throughout the year to mark the occasion, from 

street parties to special exhibitions. 

Click here to see our many events including: The Queen's 

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations! - Hobbs of Henley Cruise; 

The Monkton Park Royal Scarecrow Trail 2022, Chippenham; 

Platinum Jubilee Walk and Jubilee Picnic in the Park, Windsor; 

and the Beacon Lighting and Fireworks – being held in Windsor 

during the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. 


49

9 

TRAVEL 

GREEN AND BE ACTIVE 

As we all become more aware of our impact on 

the planet, many of us are trying to choose more 

sustainable ways to travel. Make 2022 the year you 

go on an eco-friendly trip along the Great West 

Way. You can traverse the entire route by public transport, 

leave the car at home and cycle and walk sections. And along 

the way you will find fine-dining restaurants stocked with 

sustainable local produce, plastic-free towns, eco-friendly 

glamping pods, and attractions working towards achieving 

zero-carbon by planting trees across their land. 

If you’re making a New Year’s Resolution to be more 

active in 2022, a trip along the Great West Way will give 

you all the opportunities you need. From long walks 

along the Kennet & Avon Canal to cycle rides in Swinley 

Forest, or rowing on the River Thames, there is plenty to 

do to keep you busy and get your heart racing. 

For something more unusual, have a go at inland 

surfing at The Wave, book a tandem bike ride through the 

centre of Bristol, or try Stand-up Paddleboarding with 

Original Wild. 


Pictured clockwise from left: Cyclists at Windsor Castle; Clifton Suspension 

Bridge, Bristol; Bowood House & Gardens; Blenheim Palace

10 

TICK 

SOMEWHERE BIG OFF YOUR 

BUCKET LIST 

The maritime city of Bristol with its elegant Suspension 

Bridge. The regal town of Windsor. World Heritage site 

Blenheim Palace. Fascinating Berkeley Castle and beautiful 

Bowood House & Gardens. There are plenty of iconic locations to visit 

along the Great West Way route. Why don’t you make 2022 the year 

you visit these fascinating and famous locations? Within easy reach of 

the route you will also find spectacular Salisbury Cathedral and stunning 

National Trust landscapes at Cheddar Gorge. 

THIS WAY FOR A JOURNEY OF 

DISCOVERY 

Escape the Everyday on a unique 

adventure along the Great West Way 

in 2022, discovering iconic sites and 

hidden landscapes. 

Explore traditionally English market towns 

where narrow cottage-lined streets hide 

boutique shops and welcoming pubs. Finish 

a long countryside ramble with a wellearned 

slice of cake at a canal-side teashop. 

Catch up on some city culture in vibrant 

Bristol or gorgeous Georgian Bath, both well 

stocked with fascinating museums, tranquil 

galleries and historic landmarks. Then hop 

back on a train or bus and whizz off to your 

next Great West Way stop! 

Download our newly updated Great West 

Way map to discover the hundreds of places 

to visit, things to do, sites to see and places 

to stay along the route between Bristol and 

London. And book your Great West Way 

Discoverer pass for an easy, flexible and ecofriendly 

way to travel by public transport. 

Are you ready to start planning your 

Great West Way adventure? Click here to 

visit our campaign page. 


BEST DAYS OUT 

FOR FAMILES 

ON THE GREAT WEST WAY 

Bringing the kids on a Great West Way adventure? You’ll want some ideas 

for things to do that will keep everyone happy. Don't worry, there’s plenty 

of choice along the Great West Way for them too, from splish-splashy 

water parks to wonderfully wild safari parks, for unforgettable family fun. 

Of all the wow-worthy family attractions, there are 

a few big ones you should be aware of. Not far 

out of London is Legoland Windsor Resort. The 

colourful block-built land dreams are made of. 

This is probably one all kids everywhere will enjoy. In fact, it 

may well bring back happy memories for adults, too. You can 

visit just for the day to explore the amazing attractions, from 

Miniland – a lego replica of the world – to a Lego reef where 

you can build your own digital fish. There are some great 

rides sure to ramp up excitement too, like the Pirate Falls 

Treasure Quest, the Spinning Spider and the Vikings’ River 

Splash. You can also stay overnight in one of the resort’s 

fantastical hotels – check out The Castle with its fairytalethemed 

rooms. 

If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Swindon, 

the Museum of the Great Western Railway is a must. There’s 

plenty to enthral children, including a steam train simulator 

where they can get behind the controls and a 1930s 

platform, reconstructed to give a sense for the old glamour 

of train travel. Grown-ups can get to grips with some Great 

Western Railway history while kids go goggle-eyed over the 

locomotives. You might think the figures you see around 

the museum feel a little too life-like – that’s because they 

were cast from real Swindon folk, including ex-railway 

workers. After perusing the gift shop, you’ll find more 

shopping at the Swindon Designer Outlet next door. 

At Longleat, a little south of the Great West Way, you 

can take your little lions on a wild drive through a safari 

park. From the madness of the monkey drive-through to 

the awe-inspiring sight of real-life rhinos in the Big Game 

Park – it’s sure to be a lasting memory all-round. 

Buckle them in to see their faces light up over those 

enigmatic macaques, who aren’t shy, so make sure you 

wind up the windows – unless you want an extra cheeky 

monkey in the backseat. 

Elsewhere there’s lions, tigers, a pack of wolves, 

zebras, ostriches and much more. For those that want to 

get hands-on with the animals, there are various feeding 

opportunities – extend a branch off the pier for the giraffe, 

hand-feed deer from your car window, throw fish to the 

sea lions from the boat on the lake, hold cups of nectar for 

rainbow lorikeets. Cute! → 


53

EDUCATIONAL & ENJOYABLE 

Who remembers being dragged kicking and screaming round 

a so-called ‘educational’ attraction as a child? Well, no need 

for any of that along the Great West Way. 

In Bath, kids will love meeting the soldiers at The Roman 

Baths. Or playing Postman Pat at the Bath Postal Museum, 

or cowboys at the American Museum. 

In Bristol, there’s Aerospace Bristol, M Shed, Bristol 

Aquarium as well as REME Museum and the Atwell-Wilson 

Motor Museum. Schedule plenty of time for a visit to Brunel’s 

restored SS Great Britain. Its evocative cabins are filled with 

the sights, sounds and smells of its first journeys across the 

seas, from steerage to first class. Brave hearts can also climb 

the ship’s mast, as sailors once did, and get a grand view over 

Bristol’s floating harbour and toward the colourful houses of 

Clifton Wood. Included in the price of the ticket is entry to 

the new Being Brunel museum, where you enter the genius 

mind of the Victorian engineer. The gift shop’s pretty great 

too: who doesn’t need a bath duck dressed as Brunel? 

And don’t forget We The Curious, where children are 

invited to make their own discoveries through hands-on 

science experiments including running on a giant hamster 

wheel, dressing up like a bee to collect pollen and even 

having a go at making your own animation, inspired by stopmotion 

Aardman hits like Morph and Wallace and Gromit. 

(Watch out for cool new exhibitions coming soon as the 

museum is in the midst of an exciting revamp.) There’s also 

a planetarium where you can all don special 3D specs for a 

seasonal adventure in the night sky. 

Little green fingers will love a day out at The University of 

Bristol Botanic Garden exploring some 4,500 plant species 

from over 200 plant families within its five-acre site. This 

diversity of plants is unique and not found anywhere else in 

the Bristol area. 

A castle always goes down well, too. From the grandeur 

of Hampton Court Palace, with the maze that featured in 

‘Three Men in a Boat’ by Jerome K Jerome, Windsor Castle 

and Berkeley Castle to the evocative ruins of Old Wardour 

Castle, young imaginations are sure to be entertained. 

Stonehenge and Avebury are also natural choices – both 

allowing them to get a glimpse of history while roaming free 

like pint-sized prehistoric warriors. 


Pictured previous page: Longleat Pictured clockwise from left: 

Brunel's SS Great Britain; Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park; 

University of Bristol Botanic Garden 

ACTION AND ADVENTURE 

Kids won’t believe their eyes when they enter the tropical 

glasshouses at The Living Rainforest near Newbury – home 

to over 850 types of rainforest plants and animals including 

Cinnamon the sloth, primary-coloured toucans and blue 

poison dart frogs. Wannabe-keepers can even try a Keeper 

Experience, where they’ll get behind-the-scenes access to 

the animals and find out what it takes to care for them dayto-day. 

Neatly situated in-between Bath and Bristol Avon Valley 

Adventure and Wildlife Park is full of farmyard favourites 

including a zoo, children's playground, mini train and go-karts. 

Alternatively, take them for a splash about at Cotswold 

Water Park, a short detour from the Great West Way. The 

term ‘water park’ doesn’t convey the magnitude of this 

place – it’s a complete holiday destination with lots of lovely 

lakeside accommodation ranging from camping to swish 

self-catering villas. The park encompasses a whopping 150 

lakes – and there’s even a beach, not quite what you’d expect 

in the Cotswolds countryside! There’s plenty to keep kids and 

grown-ups busy including archery, fishing, golf, horse riding, 

kayaking, wakeboarding and bird watching. And when you’re 

not picnicking on cheese and pickle sandwiches by one of the 

lakes, there are family-friendly places to eat and drink. 

Plus, check out Active England’s Family Adventures for 

ideas and try a boat trip with Bristol Packet Boat Trips, Jubilee 

Boat Trips and Barbara McLellan Canal Boat. → 


55

SOME WILD CARDS 

Family Raceday at Ascot is packed full of memory making 

activities for all the family to enjoy from dog agility 

performers and Ferret Racing to adventurous treasure hunts 

and pony rides. You might enjoy taking the kids to meet 

red panda Lady Hilary at Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit Janu the 

elephant at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, pet ponies and piggies at 

Roves Farm Visitor Centre or to take a walk in the tree canopy 

at Westonbirt Arboretum. 

Just north of the Great West Way, Westonbirt is well 

set up for young naturalists. The nice clear paths and 

new Treetop Walkway make arboretum adventures easy, 

whatever the season. Keep an eye out for special events and 

activities, too. Their Enchanted Christmas never fails to ignite 

the imaginations of little ones with its twinkly tree lights and 

magical trails – Mr & Mrs Christmas also like to attend. 

Spring and autumn are also natural highlights, with a 

confetti of golden leaves or pink blossoms bound to put a 

bounce in your tiny tot’s steps. At WWF wildlife reserves like 

Blakehill Farm, Lower Moor and Jones’s Mill they can don a 

pair of baby binos and spot their first birds. And they’ll also be 

captivated by the pretty spectacle at Studley Grange Butterfly 

World – also home to meerkats, otters and terrapins. Finally, if 

they just need to run around for a bit, Windsor Great Park has 

more space than they could ever need. 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY STAYS 

If you’re not camping or glamping at one of the idyllic 

countryside camps along the Great West Way, there are 

some excellent hotels well-suited to families. At both 

Cricklade House and Woolley Grange Hotel, on the edge 

of the Cotswolds, you’ll be delighted to find mum and dad 

delights, like spas and bars, alongside lots of child-friendly 

activities. And for every night you stay at Woolley Grange, 

you get two hours of complimentary childcare in the Ofsted 

Registered Woolley Bears Den crèche, allowing parents to 

have a fun and relaxing time too! 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO EAT 

The Great West Way incorporates lots of amazing family 

days out along its route with plenty of places to eat and 

drink with children of all ages. 


Pictured clockwise from left: Ascot Racecourse; 

Bowood House & Gardens; Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen 

Take the kids for a trip on a narrowboat, and stop 

at a friendly canal-side café for a bite to eat. Spend the 

day exploring a castle, meeting animals at the zoo, or 

watching children’s theatre – then relax in the sunshine in 

an unpretentious pub garden. Enjoy a lovely family meal at 

a welcoming restaurant after a tiring day of adventurous 

activities like cycling, learning to surf or rock climbing. 

There are welcoming family-friendly cafés at many of the 

attractions along the Great West Way – perfect for picking 

up lunch during a family day out. Aerospace Bristol Café, 

Westonbirt Restaurant and the Pump Room at The Roman 

Baths will all happily welcome children. At Bowood House 

and Gardens, the Stables Restaurant and Treehouse Café are 

two great options for the whole family, not to mention the 

ever-popular Ice Cream Kiosk in the middle of the adventure 

playground! From toddlers to teenagers, keep the whole 

family happy at the many family-friendly restaurants, pubs, 

hotels and cafés along the Great West Way. You can expect 

sunny, welcoming service and tasty food to suit fussy eaters 

(both adults and children!) 

There are even lots of dog-friendly places to eat and drink 

along the Way to keep the whole family happy. For a fun 

family day out, head to Longleat Food and Music Festival in 

the summer, or stop off at welcoming Cobbs Farm Shop & 

Kitchen, Hungerford for a bite to eat as you travel the route. 

At Cobbs you can sit on the garden terrace to enjoy a 

meal and a drink, with a clear view over the children’s play 

area - so the whole family will be happy! 


57

THE MYSTERY OF 

STONEHENGE 

The world-famous British Museum is running a major exhibition 

dedicated to Stonehenge; the most famous ancient stone circle in 

the world. Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, you can 

now learn all about this special monument’s fascinating history in 

London before visiting Stonehenge itself on a wonderful 

prehistoric journey of the Great West Way

“The exhibition has given us the incredible opportunity to put 

Stonehenge in the context of this era, including the arrival 

of the first farmers who transformed the British landscape; 

the first metalworkers who redefined social, economic, 

and cosmological connections; and the introduction of 

long-distance trade and exchange networks,” says Neil. 

“Stonehenge features throughout the narrative we tell, acting 

as a familiar thread. We took the opportunity to show that the 

monument meant very different things at different times and 

that these meanings were informed by what was happening 

elsewhere across Europe”. 

Stonehenge is a famous and much-loved British 

monument that has fascinated historians, 

archaeologists and enthusiasts for centuries. In The 

British Museum’s special exhibition, The World of 

Stonehenge, running this summer its story is being told. And, 

if ever there was an iconic structure that evokes questions of 

who?, when?, why? and how? Stonehenge is it. This is the first 

time an exhibition about Stonehenge and its era has ever been 

staged in London. “That seems remarkable to me given how 

famous the monument is around the world,” Neil Wilkin, The 

British Museum Stonehenge Exhibition Curator, tells us. 

Over 430 objects have been brought together from across 

Europe in this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle on the history – 

and mystery – of the ancient monument. “It was an amazing 

opportunity to bring so many wonderful objects to London 

from across Britain, Ireland, and North-West Europe and to 

display them together and tell such a compelling story”, Neil 

explains. 

And there is quite a history, Stonehenge was built 4,500 

years ago around the same time as the Sphinx and the Great 

Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, one of the most remarkable eras on 

the islands of Britain and Ireland, which saw huge social and 

technological revolutions, alongside fundamental changes in 

people’s relationships with the sky, the land and one another. 

At the heart of the exhibition is the sensational loan of a 

4,000-year-old Bronze Age timber circle, dubbed Seahenge 

due to its similarity to Wiltshire’s Stonehenge. It is a hugely 

significant and extremely rare surviving example of a timber 

monument that has also been called “Stonehenge of the Sea.” 

It re-emerged on a remote Norfolk beach in 1998 due to the 

shifting sands, and it consists of a large, upturned tree stump 

surrounded by 54 wooden posts. The oak posts, some up to 

3m tall, were tightly packed in a 6.6m diameter circle with 

their bark-covered sides facing outwards. Inside the circle was 

a mighty oak, its roots upturned towards the heavens like 

branches. Collectively the circle creates a giant tree. A narrow 

entranceway was aligned on the rising midsummer sun and it 

is thought this monument was used for ritual purposes. 

“The exhibition could never replace the opportunity to visit 

Stonehenge itself - or indeed many of the other wonderful 

sites and museums along the Great West Way, including 

Salisbury Museum, Wiltshire Museum in Devizes or Avebury 

henge and standing stones”, says Neil. “It does, however, 

provide the perfect complementary experience and I really 

hope visitors to the Way will be able to start or end their 

journeys at the British Museum exhibition”. 

When asked about his favourite part of the exhibition, Neil 

enthuses, “I love so many of the objects, from the newly 

discovered Burton Agnes chalk 'drum', buried with three 

children in a poignant and powerful grave in North Yorkshire 

around 3000 BC, around the same time as the bluestones 

were being raised at Stonehenge to the Nebra Sky Disc from 

Germany, a portable version of Stonehenge and the earliest 

known depiction of the heavens in the world! I'm particularly 

fond of Seahenge too - we have been able to bring key 

elements of this wonderfully preserved timber circle to London 

(the oaks to build it were felled in the spring or summer of → 


59

“I love so many of the objects, 

from the newly discovered Burton 

Agnes chalk 'drum' ... to the Nebra 

Sky Disc from Germany.” 

Neil Wilkin, Exhibition Curator 

2049 BC). It is the next best thing to being able to exhibit 

Stonehenge itself, especially given the importance of timber 

monuments during the era of Stonehenge - monuments that 

so rarely survive due to their perishable material. 

The new Prehistoric Journey of the Great West Way takes 

you on an adventure through the ancient landscapes of the 

Great West Way, and journeys between two historic cities; the 

famous English capital, London, and the small city of Salisbury 

just to the south of the main Great West Way route. Over 

three busy days, you may only cover a few hundred miles but 

you will travel through thousands of years of history. 

The journey begins at the British Museum World of 

Stonehenge exhibition, then it’s an hour and a half train 

journey to the Wiltshire city of Salisbury, to spend a few hours 

exploring the historic streets; it might not reach back in time 

quite as far as Stonehenge itself, but there are 800 years of 

fascinating history to see here. 

After a busy day exploring England's past, venture back to the 

modern day with a meal at one of Salisbury's contemporary 

restaurants, and a quiet drink at one of the city's many 

bars or pubs before getting up bright and early for a visit to 

Stonehenge itself. 

With space for just 30 visitors, a Stone Circle Experience lets 

you get up close to the world-famous ancient monument, 

walking amongst the towering, mysterious stones as the day 

begins. Each visit takes place at dawn and lasts an hour, after 

which you can explore the museum-quality exhibitions at the 

Stonehenge Visitor Centre to find out more detail and context 

about the stone circle's past. 

Spend your afternoon back in the city of Salisbury for a visit 

to Salisbury Museum. Located in the Cathedral Close, the 

museum is surrounded by the city's historic sights, including 

the awe-inspiring Salisbury Cathedral. Inside Salisbury 

Museum you will discover a world-class gallery of archaeology 

housing one of Europe’s most extensive collections of 

Stonehenge and prehistoric artefacts, as well as other 

exhibitions dedicated to the history of the local area. 

Spend your evening exploring and experiencing Salisbury’s 

nightlife; the city has a huge array of restaurants, bars and 

pubs to enjoy as well as theatres with a busy programme of 

plays and performances throughout the year. 

For those who would like to see more of the ancient 

landscapes of the Great West Way travel out of Salisbury to 

the Wiltshire market town of Devizes, taking less than an 


Pictured previous page left to right: Stonehenge; Decorated sun-disc from a woman’s belt, found in 

Langstrup, Denmark. Pictured clockwise from left: Neil Wilkin, British Museum Curator inspects a beaker 

pot before it goes on display; Bronze twin horse–snake hybrid; Nebra Sky Disc; Seahenge; Rare Saxon coin 

found in Wiltshire field and bought by the Wiltshire Museum for £21,600 after a fundraising campaign 

hour by car. This pretty little town boasts a traditional market 

square, independent shops aplenty and pleasant walks along 

the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

Here you will also find Wiltshire Museum, a treasure trove of 

information about the area’s history. The Prehistoric Wiltshire 

Galleries tell the story of the people who built the mysterious 

monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, and features 

artifacts from the over 4,000 years ago, to complete your 

understanding of our area's ancient history. 

In the afternoon, explore the surrounding countryside to walk 

through the timeless landscapes you have heard about on your 

trip. The large stone circle at Avebury - dating back more than 

4,000 years and running through the village itself - is a short 

drive away from Devizes. While you're there, visit West Kennet 

Long Barrow and Silbury Hill to fully immerse yourself in the 

ancient landscape, and enjoy a walk with far-reaching views 

over the Wiltshire countryside. West Kennet Long Barrow is a 

Neolithic tomb built more than five thousand years ago - step 

into the dark interior to feel like you have travelled backwards 

through the millennia. A short walk away, Silbury Hill is a manmade 

hill created at roughly the same time as the Avebury 

stone circle, similar in size to some of the ancient Egyptian 

pyramids, and built for mysterious unknown purposes. 

Now that you have thoroughly explored the ancient 

landscapes and prehistoric past of the Great West Way, it's 

time to end your journey by returning east to London. 

Or you may prefer to explore the rest of the Great West Way 

route by travelling west to the vibrant cities of Bristol and 

Bath, which both have a wealth of attractions, activities and 

history to enjoy. Click here to find out more. 


PICTURESQUE 

VILLAGES 

TO STOP AT ALONG THE 

ROUTE BY BOAT OR TRAIN 

Ready to plan a Great West Way adventure by train or on water? 

You can visit these pretty villages plus plenty of other fascinating 

destinations and attractions along the way. Book a Great West Way 

Discoverer pass for easy and convenient travel, with the option to hop 

on and off at stops all along the route... 

Words | Poppy Ryan

Pictured previous page: The market town of Hungerford near Kintbury 

Pictured clockwise from left: The Ferry Cookham; Sir Stanley Spencer 

Gallery; North Wessex Down 

There are many ways to travel the Great West Way 

between Bristol and London; by bike, boat, car, foot 

or by public transport using the Great West Way 

Discoverer pass. If you choose to explore by rail, you 

can easily hop between vibrant cities like Bath or Bristol, 

historic towns like Windsor or Newbury, and even small, 

sleepy villages where you can enjoy a taste of traditional 

English village life. Here’s a selection of some of our favourites 

within easy reach by train or by water. 

cygnets and assigns ownership. You might also enjoy a visit to 

the Stanley Spencer Gallery where guides offer walking tours 

around Cookham, the heart of the village and the river path. 

Or find your own way with the Gallery’s Walks Booklet. 

Getting there: Travel with Great Western Railway to 

Cookham railway station or take a cruise along the River 

Thames. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Cookham 

include Bel and the Dragon, Cliveden and the Thames Riviera. 

THE COOKHAMS VILLAGES 

Cookham, Cookham Rise and Cookham Dean are referred 

to locally as ‘The Cookhams’. Although Kenneth Grahame’s 

children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, was mainly a 

product of the author’s imagination, the sleepy riverside 

village of Cookham Dean, where he lived as a boy, may well 

have inspired him. Try the National Trust’s 3-mile Wind in the 

Willows walk. In fact, these well-heeled Berkshire villages by 

The Thames have attracted plenty of creative residents over 

the years, including artist Sir Stanley Spencer and actress 

Jessica Brown Findlay - Lady Sybil Crawley in Downton Abbey. 

Plan your visit to Cookham to see the colourful Swan Upping 

Ceremony taking place during the third week of July. This is 

the time when the Royal Swankeeper catches all the new 


PANGBOURNE 

The pretty Berkshire village of Pangbourne, near Reading, 

boasts a selection of independent shops, pubs and cafes, and 

was once home to Kenneth Grahame, who wrote the beloved 

children's book The Wind in the Willows. The River Thames 

runs through the village, offering lovely riverside walks to 

visitors, as well as the chance for some wildlife-watching. 

Pangbourne railway station is on the Great Western main line 

between London Paddington and Bristol, making this an easy 

stopping-off point as you travel along the Great West Way. 

The large town of Reading - with its fascinating museums, 

bustling shops, and historic connections to the likes of Jane 

Austen and Oscar Wilde - is also near to Pangbourne and easy 

to reach by train. 

Getting there: Pangbourne is also on the Great Western 

main line, with the River Thames running through it, so 

travelling there is easy by both boat or train. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Pangbourne 

include Hilton Reading, The Roseate and Bird in Hand at 

Knowl Hill. 

WOOLHAMPTON 

A few miles East of the pretty market town of Newbury is the 

lesser-known Berkshire village of Woolhampton. This small 

village boasts a couple of country pubs, riverside walks along 

the River Kennet, and its own railway station with direct links 

to nearby Newbury and Reading. Somewhat confusingly, 

the railway station at Woolhampton is not named after the 

village itself, but after Midgham - another village two miles 

down the road! 

Getting there: Woolhampton has its own station, Midgham. 

It was formerly known as Woolhampton railway station - 

travel with Great Western Railway. Travelling by boat? It is 

easy to find the canalside from the Kennet & Avon Canal, 

stop off at The Rowbarge, a truly characterful traditional pub 

on the canal. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Woolhampton 

include The Rowbarge, Chestnuts B&B and Rowe's 

Farmhouse. 

KINTBURY 

The quiet Berkshire village of Kintbury is surrounded by the 

stunning countryside of the North Wessex Downs Area of 

Outstanding Natural Beauty. Kintbury has everything you 

could want in a village; pubs, a bakery, a shop and a post 

office. The village also offers direct access to the Kennet & 

Avon Canal, which can be explored by foot, bike or boat. 

Nearby are two bustling, historic market towns - Newbury and 

Hungerford - which can also be reached by train and are well 

worth a visit for a spot of shopping or something to eat. → 


65

Pictured left to right: The village of Ramsbury; Burbage 

Wharf and Crane in Pewsey Vale 

Getting there: Travel to Kintbury train station with Great 

Western Railway or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon 

Canal 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Kintbury include 

Manor Farm Courtyard Cottages, Hampstead Norreys, and 

Donnington Grove. 

EASTBURY 

This lesser-visited Berkshire village offers an authentic glimpse 

at rural English life. It is home to weeping willows, thatched 

houses and duck races. Pop into the local pub, The Eastbury 

Plough, for one of their ‘Proper English Roasts’. You’ll have 

your pick of local produce: roast Berkshire venison, the belly of 

Windsor Estate pork and rib of Marsh Farm beef have all been 

featured on the menu recently. Eastbury also makes a fine 

place to stop off if you’re in Lambourn for horse racing. 

Getting there: Take the train to Eastbury Plough station or a 

narrowboat along the River Lambourn. 

Where to stay: The Queens Arms at East Garston, 

Hungerford, an award-winning hotel, pub and restaurant 

with its own private lodge. 

RAMSBURY 

Historic Ramsbury is just a quick jaunt east of Marlborough. 

The Bell, a 300-year-old coaching inn, has a restaurant that’s 

as well-regarded as its comfortable rooms. If you enjoy a 

tipple, take one of the Ramsbury Estate’s guided distillery 

or brewery tours - they make their own gin, vodka and beer 

with chalk-filtered water. Try Honey Bee Nectar, a golden 

pale ale produced in cooperation with North Wessex Downs 

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - except for the hops, 

all the beer's ingredients come from within the AONB. When 

you’ve had your fill of food and drink, explore the village’s 

rich heritage which goes all the way back to the Saxons. The 

magnificent mosaics at Littlecote Roman Villa are a must-see 

- and there is a lovely flat 1-mile walk from Littlecote to the 

Ramsbury Brewery. 

Getting there: Possibly the most difficult of our villages to 

reach by train or boat, as the nearest station is Hungerford, 

which takes around 10 minutes (from Hungerford Station) to 

Ramsbury in a taxi. The River Kennet runs through the village 

which makes for a beautifully picturesque scene. By boat 

stop at the nearby Hungerford Canal and from there make 

your way by bike or foot. 

Where to stay: The place to stay in Ramsbury is The Bell, 

or nearby in Hungerford you could try the Herongate 

Apartments, conveniently located just minutes' walk from 

Hungerford High Street. 


GREAT BEDWYN 

Located canalside in the stunning landscapes of the Vale of 

Pewsey, in the centre of the Great West Way, the Wiltshire 

village of Great Bedwyn is connected to the rest of the route 

by road, rail and canal. This pretty village offers lots of lovely 

hikes, including a walk to 200-year-old Wilton Windmill, 

with stunning views over the local countryside. Or you could 

explore the peaceful Kennet and Avon Canal on a narrowboat 

trip or towpath cycle ride. Of course, nothing completes a 

traditional English village like a traditional English pub, and in 

Great Bedwyn you will find an award-winning independent 

freehouse, The Three Tuns, serving high-quality food and drink. 

Getting there: Travel to Bedwyn station with Great Western 

Railway or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

Where to stay: You might have to make it a day trip to Great 

Bedwyn, or you could combine it with a visit and stay in the 

nearby village of Ramsbury (see previous entry). 

PEWSEY 

The Historic Wiltshire village of Pewsey is the perfect place 

to base yourself when exploring the ancient landscape of the 

Great West Way. The characterful village even has its own 

chalky White Horse, just a mile or so south. It’s also a lovely 

launchpad for some great walks and bike rides along the 

Kennet & Avon Canal or through the surrounding countryside. 

Just outside the village is Jones's Mill, a Wiltshire Wildlife 

Trust nature reserve where you can walk amongst woodlands, 

fens and wet grasslands, spotting rare plants and beautiful 

wildflowers. 

But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all sleepy and rural 

here - the Pewsey Vale is known for its lively music festival 

and top pubs too. (In summer you can pitch your tent at The 

Woodbridge Inn.) 

Getting there: Travel to Pewsey train station with Great 

Western Railway or take a barge trip along the Kennet & 

Avon Canal. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Pewsey include 

Troutbeck Guest House and Totteridge Farm Camping Pods 

STEEPLE ASHTON 

Steeple Ashton is a quintessential West Country Village, 

offering visitors an opportunity to marvel at its variety of 

architectural styles, spanning 700 years, set amidst beautiful 

Wiltshire countryside. There is also a warm welcome and 

refreshment to be enjoyed at the Village Shop and at The 

Longs Arms public house. At the centre of the Village is the 

green with its lock-up gaol and market cross. 

Getting there: Nearest rail stations are at Trowbridge and 

Westbury 

Where to stay: Newhouse Farm Bed & Breakfast → 


67

Pictured clockwise from left: Pretty thatched cottages in the village of 

Avebury; Castle Combe; The National Trust village of Lacock 

AVEBURY 

Museums, 16th-century manor houses, megalithic stone 

circles, some villages have it all. As home to the largest stone 

circle in the world, some of Avebury village lies within the 

stones. Go on one of the National Trust’s regular guided tours 

to find out more about all the strange sarsens and burial 

mounds around you. Make sure you check out Avebury Manor, 

too, and the Alexander Keiller Museum, which shines a light 

on the many archaeological finds from the area. Follow up 

with a cream tea in one of the cafés, and maybe even stay the 

night in a cosy B&B so you can capture that misty, mysterious 

morning view on camera. 

Getting there: The nearest rail station to Avebury is Pewsey 

(see previous entry) or cruise there along the Kennet & Avon 

Canal. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Avebury include 

Buttle Farm, Mill Farm Glamping and The Kingsbury @ No.7 

& No.8. 

streets are lined with charming stone cottages, and there’s a 

Tithe Barn and traditional bakery too. Stop and peer in the 

windows at 2 High Street. If you thought the UK’s buzzing 

coffee culture was something new, think again! Although the 

old shop window now replicates a local store at the beginning 

of the 20th-century, it was previously a busy coffee tavern. 

Other attractions in the village include Lacock Abbey and the 

Fox Talbot Museum - the birthplace of photography. 

Getting there: By train travel to Melksham or Chippenham 

LACOCK 

You’ll find this National Trust village - a film set for Pride and 

Prejudice and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - just 

a few miles south of Chippenham. It’s been so beautifully 

preserved that it feels like a living museum. Its medieval 


station which are around three miles from Lacock Village. It 

is also easy to navigate there by bike (you will find bike racks 

in the village car park adjacent to the Red Lion pub) with a 

surrounding network of footpaths, including a route beside 

the Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Lacock include 

Cherry Tree Barn, Guyers House Hotel and Restaurant and 

Lorne House. 

CASTLE COMBE 

No list of villages along the Great West Way could miss out 

Castle Combe, often referred to as the prettiest village in 

England. The quaint limestone cottages that feature in many 

a travel snap, however, were not built for their aesthetics 

but to house the weavers who made the village's distinctive 

red and gold cloth, often used for military uniforms. They 

lived and worked close to the Bybrook River as the water was 

needed for ‘fulling’ or cleansing the wool. If you have your own 

wheels - bike, car or even chauffeur-driven classic car - don’t 

miss the chance to explore nearby Cotswolds villages such 

as Badminton, Bibury, Lower Slaughter and Bourton-on-the- 

Water. 

Getting there: The nearest station to Castle Combe is 

Chippenham. The river Bybrook forms the heart of many 

communities in North Wiltshire as it carves its way through 

beautiful countryside and villages all the way from Burton 

down to Bathford and flows through the heart of Castle 

Combe. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Castle Combe 

include The Manor House and Golf Club, Best Western Angel 

Hotel, Guyers House Hotel and Restaurant and Lorne House 

BATHAMPTON 

Bathampton is a wonderful place for rest and contemplation, 

just an 11-minute drive from the high society of Bath. The 

almighty views from Bathampton Down offer perspective not 

just on the village but on the city, and the countryside beyond. 

With the Kennet & Avon Canal running through it, it’s also a 

great place to take a boat ride – aboard the Pulteney Princess 

perhaps - or just enjoy a stroll along the banks. Look out for 

herons and cormorants, both regular visitors to the waterways 

here. Fun Fact: Plasticine was invented here in 1897 by local 

art teacher William Harbutt. 

Getting there: Bathampton has its own train station 

however it has been disused since 1966. Instead, head to 

Bath’s Manvers Street and jump on a D1 discover bus towards 

Warminster to reach Bathampton (Hantone Hill) taking just 

ten minutes. Alternatively, located on the beautiful Kennet → 


69

Pictured top to bottom: Family go for a walk in Freshford; 

The Inn at Freshford 

& Avon Canal what better a way to travel to Bathampton 

than along the canal. (Pulteney Princess and Bath & Dundas 

Canal Co both offer boat trips). 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Bathampton 

include The Old Mill Hotel and Bailbrook House. Or head 

into Bath where there is a superabundance of wonderful 

accommodation options. 

Great Western Railway or by boat along the River Avon. From 

the station you can join the footpath along the River Avon. 

This will take you through Avoncliff Wood to the Avoncliff 

aqueduct. The significant structure carries the Kennet & 

Avon Canal and the Bath to Westbury railway line over the 

River Avon. It was built by John Rennie and chief engineer 

John Thomas between 1797 and 1801 and is a Grade II listed 

FRESHFORD 

Picture-perfect and with a train station that will whisk you 

to either the Georgian city of Bath or the pretty market 

town of Bradford on Avon in around ten minutes, you might 

be surprised to discover just how rural the Somerset village 

of Freshford feels. This countryside idyll offers a breath 

of fresh air; here you will find narrow streets lined with 

higgledy-piggledy cottages, as well as fantastic views over the 

surrounding countryside. There are lovely walks heading out 

from the village in all directions, including a picturesque stroll 

through woodland and river meadow to Iford Manor Gardens 

where you can enjoy a walk through flower-filled terrace 

gardens followed by tea and cake in the cafe. Or, stop off for a 

brew at the beautiful 16th Century village inn ideally located 

on the banks of the River Frome. 

Getting there: Travel to Freshford train station with the 


TheOldBellHotel 

oldbell_hotel 

Abbeyhousemanor 

Abbeyhousemanor

This Way for 

a Journey 

Through Time 

The Great West Way weaves through 

the timeless county of Wiltshire. 

The Ancient Briton, Romans, Normans and 

Saxons have all left their mark. 

Now it’s time for you to follow in 

their footsteps. 

It’s Time for Wiltshire 

www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

uilding. From its elevated position there are fine views over 

the river below. 

Where to stay: The closest place to stay is Homewood, an 

eclectic, luxurious and slightly eccentric hotel; think grand 

Georgian country house and grounds filled with creative 

artworks and ultra-modern indulgences including a spa and 

heated outdoor swimming pool. 

BLAISE HAMLET 

For something a bit different, head four miles north of Bristol 

to see this attractive hamlet - built to provide housing for 

workers of Blaise Castle Estate in their retirement. The nine 

comfortable cottages now seem almost ornamental, with 

their tall chimneys and attractive thatched roofs. They were 

commissioned in the 19th century by John Scandrett Harford, 

a Bristol banker and prominent Quaker. See if you can read the 

sundial on the village green. 

Getting there: It's simple to reach Blaise Hamlet by train. 

Hop on at Bristol Temple Meads to Sea Mills station taking 

around 20 minutes. You can also cycle along the National 

Cycle Network Route 4 via Henbury. 

Where to stay: Stay at Best Western Henbury Lodge Hotel 

or one of the many brilliant nearby accommodation options 

in Bristol. 

TISBURY 

A little south of the Great West Way you’ll find Tisbury, one 

of Wiltshire’s prettiest villages. It’s worth the trip for a view 

onto the Nadder Valley - and both the Cranborne Chase and 

West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

It’s fantastic for walkers, but also caters to those who prefer 

to potter along a well-kept High Street, with its independent 

boutiques and tea rooms. Other highlights include a 

4,000-year-old yew tree and possibly the largest Tithe Barn in 

existence in England. Oh, and it’s very close to Old Wardour 

Castle of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves fame. 

Getting there: Tisbury railway station is managed by South 

Western Railway and is on the West of England Main Line. 

Where to stay: Places to stay in and around Tisbury include 

Wingmore, The Benett Arms and the Grosvenor Arms. 

Click here to find out 

more about purchasing 

the Great West Way 

Discoverer pass 

Did you know? 

With Sally 

Narrowboats you 

can plan your own 

journey to see these 

picturesque villages 

by boat? Located on 

the Kennet and Avon 

Canal in Bradford 

on Avon, Sally 

Narrowboats offers 

Canal Boat Holidays 

for accommodation 

that goes wherever 

you go… 

Click here to find 

out more 


73

Arts and Events 

Cultural Calendar 

As well as its natural scenery, cultural scene and lovely locals, the 

Great West Way is known for its many festivals and events 

JUNE 

02 

In Windsor the Platinum 

Jubilee weekend begins with 

the lighting of the Windsor 

beacon and fireworks 

14 

Royal Ascot presents an 

all-star cast, unparalleled 

racing and exquisite fine 

dining again this summer 

2-5 

JUNE 

CITY OF BATH 

1-5 

JUNE 

Kids Rule at Stonehenge 

Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum 

Jubilee with historic performers, 

family fun and hands-on activities 

Queens Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend 

In celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in the 

City of Bath there will be a city parade, a service at Bath 

Abbey and a picnic in Royal Victoria Park 

11-12 

JUNE 

Bradford on Avon Food & Drink Festival 

Enjoy demonstrations from local 

and celebrity chefs, markets, live 

music and a dog show 


FROM 

01 

JUNE 

The Platinum Jubilee Tea at 

Bite Me Burger, Marlborough 

Enjoy Bite Me burgers, 

homemade cupcakes, 

burger cakes, scones with 

clotted cream and jam, 

petit fours, macarons, an 

assortment of chocolates, 

and caramel popcorn 

served on a fabulous 

millennium wheel 

Until 30 June 

Visit the Royal Crescent 

Hotel & Spa in Bath to 

see paintings by Alina 

Maksimenko in a special 

solo exhibition 

23 

JUNE 

DANESFIELD 

HOUSE HOTEL 

A Right Royal Tea Party 

Replicating Her Majesty's 

favourite sandwiches and cakes 

in celebration of the milestone 

UNTIL 

05 

JUNE 

WADDESDON 

Waddesdon Colourscape 

An extraordinary experience 

of colour and light lands again 

on the Waddesdon lawns 

2-3 June 

Love Saves the Day will 

kickstart the Queen’s 

Jubilee celebrations at 

Bristol’s Ashton Court 

while also celebrating its 

10 year anniversary 


75

Against the backdrop 

of a renowned collection 

experience critically acclaimed 

exhibitions of historical and 

contemporary art, lectures, 

concerts, workshops and 

events or indulge in our 

Garden Café. 

DON’T MISS 

Love Life: David Hockney 

Drawings 1963-1977 

27 May to 18 September 2022 

Rodin & Degas: Impressionist 

Sculpture 

3 September 2022 to 2 January 2023 

2019 HIGHLIGHTS 

George Shaw 

A Corner of a Foreign Field 

Édouard Vuillard 

Against The the Poetry backdrop of the Everyday of a 

renowned Lauren collection Child experience 

critically The acclaimed Art of Illustration exhibitions 

of historical and contemporary 

Rembrandt 

art, lectures, 

A Life in 

concerts, 

Print 

workshops 

and events or indulge in our 

Garden 

Henri 

Café 

Matisse 

Master of Line 

Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DB 

www.holburne.org 

Great Pulteney Street, Bath BA2 4DB 

www.holburne.org 

Discover Pewsey Vale 

One day or multi-day 

walking & cycling itineraries 

in the heart of the 

north wessex downs 

eat ~ drink ~ shop ~ stay 

• Tours in Bath 

• Trips from Bath 

• Stonehenge Tours 

• Custom Tours 

• Unique Experiences 

www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk 

tranquil ~ spiritual ~ ancient 

PRIVATE TOURS WITH A FRIENDLY AWARD-WINNING LOCAL GUIDE 

www.bathinsidertours.co.uk

Arts and Events Cultural Calendar 

JULY 

UNTIL 

17 

JULY 

The World of Stonehenge, 

The British Museum 

Shrouded in layers of 

speculation and folklore, 

Stonehenge towers 

above the Wiltshire 

countryside, and is 

perhaps the world's 

most awe-inspiring 

ancient stone circle 

28 June – 3 July 

Henley Royal Regatta is 

the most prestigious 

rowing regatta in the world 

a highlight of the Great 

West Way social season 

23 

JULY 

IFORD MANOR 

Ray Gelato's Giants Jazz Festival 

The Godfather of Swing, Ray 

Gelato and his band, promise a 

fun-filled evening of jazz tunes 

10 

JULY 

LITTLEWICK GREEN 

Maidenhead Bikeathon 

A popular cycling event (it is 

not a race!) with three 

different routes available 

25 June – 10 July 

Bristol Pride will feature 

a programme of events 

across the city over two 

weeks, while Pride Day 

will take place on 9 July 

returning to The Downs 


77

Arts and Events Cultural Calendar 

AUGUST 

FROM 

01 

AUGUST 

BRISTOL 

A trail of large Globe sculptures in Bristol 

The World Reimagined is a ground-breaking, national 

art education project aimed at transforming how we 

understand Transatlantic Slavery 

07 

The Sports Family Fun Race 

Day at Windsor Racecourse 

is a great day with live horse 

racing and entertainment 

28-29 

AUGUST 

The Joust, Berkeley Castle 

Knights and their stunning steeds 

from the Cavalry of Heroes battle it 

out in a spectacular jousting display 

27-28 

The Bristol Botanic Garden 

hosts a variety of events 

throughout the year including 

the Bee and Pollination 

Festival which celebrates all 

things related to bees and 

pollination 

5-6 

AUGUST 

THEATRE AT THE BOWL, SWINDON 

A Midsummer Night's Dream - in the heart of the Town Gardens 

The Fairy Kingdom is at War. Oberon and Titania's 

marital mayhem unleashes chaos on four young lovers 

with disastrous – and hilarious – consequences 

11-14 

AUGUST 

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 

Bristol’s largest free fiesta returns 

with over 100 hot air balloons at 

Ashton Court Estate 


SEPTEMBER 

UNTIL 

04 

SEPT 

Nature Detectives at Roves 

Farm, Swindon 

Take part in woodland 

crafts, gather sticks, build 

a den, follow the activity 

trail, go on a bug hunt, 

and join the farmer on 

a tractor and trailer ride 

of the farm. Plus, take 

on the giant slides and 

climbing ropes in the park 

10 May – 25 September 

Biscuit Town: 200 years 

of Huntley & Palmers 

in Reading exhibition at 

The Museum of English 

Rural Life 

15-18 

SEPT 

Blenheim Palace International 

Horse Trials 

A world class international 

equestrian event and day out 

UNTIL 

12 

SEPT 

THE HOLBURNE 

Love Life: David Hockney’s Drawings 

A sumptuous collection of rarely 

seen drawings by one of our most 

popular and recognisable artists 

7 July – 26 September 

In celebration of The 

Queen's Platinum Jubilee, 

Windsor Castle are 

hosting a special display 

commemorating Her 

Majesty's Coronation 


Ways to travel the 

Great West Way 

It’s fun to travel under your own steam. Welcome to a journey 

through time – an adventure across England by car, rail, boat, foot, bike 

or a combination of all. Start planning your journey of discovery here... 


BY BIKE AND FOOT 

Hiring a bike and cycling along the canal, countryside 

paths and trails, taking a walk through picturesque 

villages and visiting our three Areas of Outstanding 

Natural Beauty and three UNESCO World Heritage 

sites by foot is a beautifully scenic experience. 

Whether you’re up for a lengthy hike in the 

Cotswolds, a cycle ride racing down the 13.7km (8.5 

miles) steeply twisting Swinley Red trail with its 

berms, drops and white-knuckle descents, or just 

fancy a potter around some village antique shops, 

walking and cycling is a wonderful way to explore. 

You can cycle the entire length of the Great West 

Way via National Cycle Route 4, which links up 

regional cycle routes such as the Thames Valley Cycle 

Route and the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route. 

The National Trails website gives details of longdistance 

walking trails along the route: The Cotswold 

Way, The Ridgeway and the Thames Path. 

Go to Sustrans for more (shorter) cycle routes on the 

National Cycle Network, in and around the touring 

route. There are also some excellent routes along the 

Wiltshire Cycleway, including a picturesque 15.3k 

between Corsham and Bradford on Avon. 

Be sure to read the Information Points page to find 

out where to pick up local maps and walking trails. 

Plus, download our Great West Way map before you 

set off. 

Did you know? Bristol was officially Britain’s first 

cycling city. Join the locals with a ride on a 

pay-as-you-go YoBike, hire a tandem or go on a 

Great Bristol Food Tour with Cycle the City. 

BY BOAT AND ON WATER 

The Kennet & Avon Canal is a wonderful way to 

travel along part of the Great West Way. This ribbon 

of beauty and history stretches between Reading and 

Bristol and is looked after by the Canal & River Trust. 

Slow down and enjoy all 87 miles of the Kennet 

& Avon Canal as part of your Great West Way 

adventure, using our Kennet & Avon Canal map. 

Hire a boat or hop on a barge tour for the ultimate 

experience in slow travel. Multiple companies 

operate along the River Thames and the Kennet & 

Avon Canal. Visit Thames and The Kennet & Avon 

Canal Trust are useful places to start. 

You can canoe, kayak or book one of the numerous 

boat trips. Passing through countryside, market 

towns and picturesque villages, the canal offers an 

abundance of natural beauty, fascinating wildlife, 

outstanding canal structures, fabulous vistas and 

heritage galore. The lazy pop pop pop of the engine 

while you travel slowly through attractive towns like 

Hungerford, quaint villages such as Wootton Rivers 

and architectural masterpieces like Bath. 

Of course, the famous Caen Hill Lock Flight in 

Devizes is a real wow – look up from the bottom of 

the 16 locks that form the main ‘staircase’ – now 

that’s one way to get boats to travel uphill. 

Take a look at our Marina page for hire boats and 

boat tours and find details of river transport options 

in the capital on the Transport for London website. 

Did you know? Queen Elizabeth II reopened the 

Kennet & Avon Canal in 1990 after a passionate 

band of volunteers gave it an impressive revamp. 


81

Ways to travel the Great West Way 

BY CAR 

A road trip adventure along the Great West Way 

allows you to linger as long as you want in each 

destination, and even venture off on a complete 

tangent if the mood takes you – take a look at our 

suggested itineraries to help you make a start. 

The main road between London and Bristol is the A4 

Great West Road, based on an ancient horse track 

and later, one of King Charles I’s Great Roads, which 

facilitated the establishment of the British postal 

service – The Royal Mail. 

The A4 cuts a fairly direct path between the two 

cities, allowing you to travel the distance in less than 

2 hours 30 minutes if you wanted to. Of course, if 

you’re travelling by car, half the pleasure is being 

able to pull off and explore whenever you like. 

Wherever you decide to base yourself along the 

touring route, there’ll also be charming country lanes 

and winding rural roads to enjoy. Jump in the car and 

see where you end up. 

You may find the AA’s Route Planner tool useful for 

planning your road trip. Also, our pages on car hire 

and travel tips could be of interest - especially if this 

is your first time driving in the UK. 

If you want to hire a car for your Great West Way 

adventure, you’ll find plenty of car hire companies 

in just the places you’d expect – airports, larger train 

stations, cities and towns, for example Auto Europe 

and Practical Car & Van Rental. 

Did you know? The first mail coach was introduced 

between Bristol and London in 1784. 

BY TRAIN 

Making tracks on the Great West Way can point you 

at endless amounts of history and fun facts to be 

discovered along its length from London to Bristol. In 

one go the journey is just 1hr 40min, but by stopping 

off you can explore the route in your own time 

turning it into a holiday adventure of a lifetime. 

Relax and journey along the Great West Way using 

the Great West Way Discoverer pass. It includes 

unlimited Off-Peak train travel from London 

Paddington with Great Western Railway along the 

route to Bristol Temple Meads via Reading and 

Swindon, or Newbury and Pewsey, with options 

to branch off towards Salisbury via Westbury (or 

London Waterloo to Salisbury with South Western 

Railway). It also includes unlimited travel on listed 

bus services along the routes. The rail route is 

marked on the map with a green line. Choose from 

an East, West or Global one-day or seven-day ticket 

to enjoy your Great West Way adventure. 

You can purchase the Great West Way Discoverer 

pass online at GWR.com or from your local station. 

They come in the form of a standard orange ticket, 

clearly showing the route you have purchased 

and whether it is valid for one day or seven. If you 

are travelling from overseas, international passes 

(similar to a BritRail pass) can be purchased online 

at ACPRail.com or via your travel agent, where 

discounted international rates apply and with no offpeak 

travel time restrictions. 

Did you know? The Great Western Railway runs 

along the full distance of the Great West Way 

– from London’s Paddington station to Bristol 

Temple Meads. 


DISCOVER OUR THREE AREAS 

OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL 

BEAUTY ON THE ROUTE 

North Wessex Downs 

Marvel at the prehistoric stones of 

Stonehenge and Avebury, the Wiltshire 

White Horses and the White Horse 

at Uffington. Take time to visit 

Highclere Castle, where Downton 

Abbey was filmed, and get lost in the 

mysterious hillforts, neolithic burial 

mounds and genteel country houses. 

The Chilterns 

Characterised by neat farmland, 

ancient woodland and chalk downland. 

The Chilterns is a haven for wildlife 

including red kites. Explore the 

fabulous trails of The Ridgeway and 

the Chiltern Way Circular passing 

sparkling-clear chalk streams. 

The Cotswolds 

The Cotswolds Way starts in Bath 

and follows north for 102 miles, 

to the well-to-do market town of 

Chipping Campden. Explore Corsham, 

Castle Combe and Dyrham Park, 

or just take in the views: gentle 

hills, sweeping valleys and summer 

wildflower meadows dotted with 

warm limestone homes. This is 

England at its prettiest. 


83

Gourmet Guide to 

Food and Drink 

From the wild creativity of Bristol’s street food scene, to the glamour of 

London’s high profile restaurants, there’s a tantalising buffet of food and 

drink experiences along the Great West Way. 


Michelin Starred and Fine Dining 

Sit down to a meal of gastronomical delights at one 

of the award-winning fine-dining establishments 

along the Great West Way. Sample sumptuous 

tasting menus created by Michelin-starred chefs, 

innovative dishes featuring local produce, and 

traditional English delicacies cooked to perfection. 

The Vineyard, Stockcross, Berkshire 

Not only is The Vineyard a luxury five-star hotel and 

spa in a quaint country setting in Berkshire, it also 

has a 30,000-bottle wine cellar and a fine dining 

restaurant. Head chef Robby Jenks is at the helm of 

this 3AA Rosette restaurant. Diners can choose from 

an à la carte or a tasting menu where they can enjoy 

dishes such as veal sweetbread ravioli with pumpkin 

seeds in a pumpkin and brown butter sauce or roast 

brill, brassicas, caper berries and almond. 

Stockcross, Newbury 

Bulrush, Bristol 

One of the recent additions to the Michelin Guide, 

Bristol-based restaurant Bulrush is certainly on many 

a foodie’s ‘must visit’ list. Chef Proprietor George 

Livesey’s imaginative and well-balanced menu is 

chock-full of seasonal ingredients which are either 

organic or have been foraged. 

21 Cotham Rd S, Bristol 

Pony & Trap, Bristol 

Run by brother and sister Josh and Holly Eggleton, 

this Michelin Star pub, with exceptional views of 

the stunning Chew Valley, offers an ever-changing 

menu that focuses on fresh produce which is locally 

sourced. Diners can choose from a tasting menu or 

from the dinner and lunch menus where they can 

enjoy dishes such as wood pigeon and ‘day boat’ fish. 

Moorledge Road, Newtown, Chew Magna 

Olive Tree Restaurant, Bath 

Located in the renowned Queensberry Hotel, Olive 

Tree is a 3 AA Rosette restaurant in the heart of the 

beautiful city of Bath. It is a contemporary British 

restaurant offering informal fine dining under the 

direction of award-winning head chef, Chris Cleghorn. 

This is the only restaurant in the city to be awarded a 

Michelin Star. Chris’ menu is quintessentially British 

with Mediterranean influences. 

4-7 Russell St, Bath 

The Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire 

If you love theatre, Heston Blumenthal’s renowned 

eatery in Bray offers the perfect destination, serving 

innovative modern British cuisine in the most 

spectacular of settings. Heston has previously been 

described as the ‘Willy Wonka of British gastronomy’ 

and diners who would like to eat at his three-Michelinstarred 

wonderland pay £325 up front for a ‘ticket’ - 

providing them with access to the 17-courses on offer 

that showcase his multi sensory cuisine. 

High St, Bray 

The Dining Room, Malmesbury, Wiltshire 

Michelin’s European Young Chef of the Year Niall 

Keating showcases his skills as Executive Chef at this 

one Michelin star dining room restaurant at Whatley 

Manor Hotel. Serving seasonal British produce 

influenced by his world wide travels. 

Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Easton Grey, 

Malmesbury, Wiltshire 

Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, 

South Oxfordshire 

Described as ‘Oxfordshire heritage meets French 

flair’, Raymond Blanc’s two Michelin-starred chic 

restaurant has earned itself a global reputation 

for fine gastronomy and creative cooking. Diners 


85

Gourmet Guide to Food and Drink 

continue to be charmed by both the setting 

(country-house luxe) and the delicious treats on 

offer which includes the likes of spiced monkfish, 

ravioli of pumpkin and smoked trout amongst others. 

Church Road, Great Milton, South Oxfordshire 

The Miller of Mansfield, Berkshire 

Despite its intriguing name, the Miller of Mansfield 

is situated in the sweet village of Goring-on-Thames. 

This 18th-century country pub has been given a 

contemporary twist and can be defined as ‘Modern 

European’ which has earned two AA Rosettes 

and offers refined modern British dishes from the 

freshest seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. 

High Street, Goring on Thames, Reading 

The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, Nr. Marlborough 

Owned and run by Sue and Roger Jones, this Michelin 

Star gem has received worldwide accolades for its 

food and has also been critically acclaimed for its 

900 bin Wine List. Offering three menus, to include 

an eight course evening gourmet which changes daily 

to reflect the best seasonal ingredients. 

Little Bedwyn, Nr. Marlborough, Wiltshire 

The Hand and Flowers, Marlow 

The Hand and Flowers is the only pub in the UK 

with two Michelin stars and with celebrated chef 

Tom Kerridge at the helm it is easy to see why. The 

restaurant has a rustic feel which is complemented 

by the refined British cuisine on offer. 

126 West St, Marlow 

Cliveden House, Taplow, Berkshire 

Chef André Garrett’s innovative dishes, meticulous 

preparation and elaborate finishes showcase his 

exquisitely crafted creation. Produce is locally 

sourced and is highly seasonal – guests can choose 

between an à la carte menu or an eight-course 

tasting menu. 

Cliveden Rd, Taplow, Berkshire 

Casamia, Bristol 

Casamia is a family run restaurant serving a multicourse 

tasting menu within an intimate restaurant 

setting of just nine tables. Chef Peter Sanchez- 

Iglesias and his team create dishes which are 

influenced by the individuality, multicultural and 

creative vibes of their home city of Bristol. 

The General, Lower Guinea Street, Bristol 

Queens Arms, East Garston, Berkshire 

Perfectly placed as a stop-over destination within 

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This award 

winning, pub, restaurant and hotel (with its own 

private lodge) serves seasonal British cuisine. 

East Garston, Berkshire 

The Waterside Inn, Bray, Berkshire 

Bray is the place for foodies to be! The Waterside Inn 

which is under the leadership of chef patron Alain 

Roux has held three Michelin stars for over thirty 

years. Expect the most exquisite Classic French 

cooking coupled with the most impeccable service. 

Ferry Rd, Bray, Berkshire 

Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury 

Husband and wife team, Guy and Brittany Manning 

modestly describe themselves as “just a couple 

of chefs working to create a place with real soul”. 

Sourcing from the best possible producers, talent 

and hard work has earned the duo, and their team, 

one Michelin star status and a restaurant “where the 

food has personality, the surroundings are relaxed 

and the hospitality is warm and sincere”. 

East Chisenbury, Pewsey, Wiltshire 


THREE MICHELIN-STARRED 

RESTAURANTS 

The Great West Way is the only place 

where you can experience all five of the 

UK's Three Michelin Starred restaurants. 

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 

Royal Hospital Road, London 

gordonramsayrestaurants.com/ 

restaurant-gordon-ramsay 

Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester 

Park Lane, London 

alainducasse-dorchester.com 

Sketch - the Lecture Room & Library 

9 Conduit Street, London 

sketch.london/the-lecture-room 

The Waterside Inn 

Ferry Rd, Bray 

waterside-inn.co.uk 

Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck 

High Street, Bray 

thefatduck.co.uk 

MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANTS 

The Dining Room, Whatley Manor 

Easton Grey, Malmesbury 

whatleymanor.com 

Red Lion Freehouse 

East Chisenbury, Pewsey 

redlionfreehouse.com 


87


Dining Restaurants 

You’ll find many of the restaurants along the 

Great West Way are dining rooms within our 

Ambassador hotels. You’ll also find several celebrity 

chefs including Rick Stein, Pierre Koffmann and 

Marco Pierre White. 

Abbey Hotel Kitchen, The Abbey Hotel Bath 

Under the helm of Head Chef Marcus Bradley, Abbey 

Hotel Kitchen is in the perfect central Bath location. 

This relaxing and vibrant space offers high energy, 

attentive service and delicious fresh food and drinks 

abbeyhotelbath.co.uk 

The Orange Artichoke, Apex Hotel, Bath 

Perfectly placed in the heart of Bath, you’ll never 

be far from the action when you eat at The Orange 

Artichoke. Allow them to curb your cravings with 

locally sourced food, drink and delicious delicacies in 

contemporary, chic surroundings. 

apexhotels.co.uk 

Beau’s Bar and Restaurant at Donnington 

Grove Hotel & Country Club 

Set amidst beautiful parkland with the River 

Lambourn winding through the grounds, this 

Newbury restaurant has large picture windows to 

make the most of the picturesque river views. 

donnington-grove.com 

The Brasserie at Sir Christopher Wren Hotel 

With glorious river views and a stunning bar and 

terrace, The Brasserie offers upscale dining in the 

heart of Windsor. Large windows let you watch boats 

and swans glide down the Thames as you enjoy the 

delicious all day menu and fine wines. 

sirchristopherwren.co.uk 

Cedar at the Langley 

Dining experiences here are inspired by the bountiful 

English countryside. Savour delicious cuisine in 

our elevated restaurant overlooking the grounds, 

featuring sumptuous meals crafted with natural 

ingredients. 

marriott.com 

Clayton’s Kitchen 

Uncomplicated dishes that explore and showcase 

the freshest and very best ingredients. Chef Patron, 

Robert Clayton ensures that every dish is prepared, 

cooked and presented to perfection. 

claytonskitchen.com 

Cloisters Restaurant, Bailbrook House Hotel 

Tucked away in the historic mansion is Cloisters 

restaurant where the heritage of this country house 

hotel in Bath really comes into its own, with original 

archways made from traditional Bath stone. 

handpickedhotels.co.uk 

Cricklade House & Spa 

The chefs at Crickdale are passionate about using 

great local produce and change their menu monthly. 

Enjoy a three course meal, a traditional Sunday Roast 

or Afternoon Tea of finger sandwiches, homemade 

scones with jam and cream and a selection of cakes. 

crickladehotel.co.uk 

The Gainsborough Brasserie 

The Restaurant with its Georgian architecture, 

original artwork and impressive wine wall is open to 

hotel guests and non-residents. Enjoy contemporary 

British cuisine inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients 

in a stylish and relaxed environment. 

thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk 


UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES 

There are many ways to sample the best 

local cuisine on the Great West Way, 

from city tours and hands-on cookery 

classes to nostalgic river cruising. 

FOOD & DRINK TOURS 

A Taste of England 

atasteofenglandtours.com 

Around and about Bath 

alainducasse-dorchester.com 

Savouring Bath 

savouringbath.com 

COOKERY SCHOOLS 

Vaughan’s Kitchen 

White Horse Business Centre, Devizes 

vaughanskitchen.co.uk 

RIVER CRUISE DINING 

Hobbs of Henley 

hobbsofhenley.com 

Bristol Packet Boat Trips 

bristolpacket.co.uk 

Thames Rivercruise 

thamesrivercruise.co.uk 

French Brothers 

frenchbrothers.co.uk 


89


The Restaurant, No 15 Great Pulteney 

Open for a show-stopping supper or lovely lunch 

while you’re exploring the city of Bath. Seasonal 

local meat, fresh fruit and veg are sourced from 

Buxton Butchers and family-run grocers, Lovejoys, 

and as for bread and baked goodies, there’s nowhere 

better than beloved Bath institution, Bertinet Bakery. 

guesthousehotels.co.uk 

The Dower House Restaurant, The Royal 

Crescent Hotel & Spa 

Award winning dishes are created with passion and 

served with pride by award-winning Head Chef 

Martin Blake and his team. 

royalcrescent.co.uk 

Guyers House Hotel & Restaurant 

Set in a lovely old house with its own kitchen garden 

and orchard the pretty dining room restaurant offers 

a menu of finely cooked modern British cuisine. 

guyershouse.com 

Heyworth Restaurant, Henley 

Greenland’s Hotel 

Here you can enjoy an evening meal prepared by 

passionate chefs with menus designed using seasonal 

produce and locally sourced ingredients. 

hospitalityuor.co.uk 

The Marco Pierre White Restaurant 

at The Castle Hotel 

Savour the flavour of seasonal menus at the Marco 

Pierre White Restaurant at The Castle Hotel. Dishes 

include Chicken Milanese and cheesy and creamy 

Macaroni Cheese perfectly paired with a refreshing 

Marco Pierre White wine. 

mpwrestaurants.co.uk 

The Monkey Island Brasserie at the 

Monkey Island Estate 

The cuisine here is a delectable modern take on 

British classics, with produce freshly sourced from 

the gardens and surrounding countryside. Choose 

to dine in the elegant main dining room or on the 

terrace with views of the River Thames, where the 

surroundings are refined yet intimate and informal, 

and steeped in history. 

monkeyislandestate.co.uk 

The Moonraker Hotel Brasserie 

Like the seasons, menus change as Xavier and his 

team use fresh local produce to create and showcase 

some old-fashioned classics, putting the hotel 

Brasserie firmly on the culinary map. They have a 

walled garden used as the setting for their smokery 

which they use to smoke their meat and fish. 

moonrakerhotel.com 

The Old Bell Hotel, Saints & Sinners 

Home to some of the most delicious food in the 

Cotswolds, the Saints & Sinners restaurant at The 

Old Bell Hotel serves a menu of dishes made from 

deliciously fresh, locally sourced ingredients. 

The Old Bell Hotel is a Grade I listed hotel, rumoured 

to be England’s oldest hotel, located next door to 

Malmesbury Abbey. 

oldbellhotel.co.uk 

Plum + Spilt Milk, Great Northern Hotel 

An award-winning restaurant in the heart of King's 

Cross, offering a beautiful seasonal modern-British 

menu, with locally sourced ingredients. In an elegant 

yet cosy atmosphere, surrounded by the views of 

King’s Cross and St Pancras. 

plumandspiltmilk.com 


VINEYARD TOURS 

Discover crisp, white, award-winning 

bubbly varieties 

Alder Ridge Vineyard 

Between Hungerford and Marlborough 

alderridge.co.uk 

Aldwick Estate Vineyard 

Nestled beneath the famous Mendip Hills 

aldwickestate.co.uk 

Bluestone Vineyards at Cholderton 

Rare Breeds Farm 

10 acre on-site boutique vineyard on the 

McConnell family farm in Wiltshire 

bluestonevineyards.co.uk 

BREWERY TOURS 

Enjoy wine tastings, taprooms and tours 

Bristol Brewery Tours 

Mardyke Wharf, Bristol 

bristolbrewerytours.com 

Bristol Hoppers 

Walking Tours of Bristol's Craft Beer Scene 

bristolhoppers.co.uk 

The Bath Brew House 

14 James Street West, Bath 

thebathbrewhouse.com 

Wadworth Brewery 

Northgate Brewery, Devizes, Wiltshire 

wadworth.co.uk 

West Berkshire Brewery 

The Old Dairy, Yattendon 

wbbrew.com 


91


Rick Stein, Marlborough 

Rick Stein’s Marlborough restaurant brings a taste 

of Cornwall to the Great West Way. Located on 

Marlborough High Street, serving a combination 

of classic seafood dishes, excellent wines and with 

plenty of coastal charm. 

rickstein.com 

The Roseate Hotels, London, Reading and Bath 

All three of The Roseate Hotels, Roseate House in 

London, near Hyde Park, The Roseate in Reading and 

The Roseate Villa in Bath, located in a quiet corner of 

the city, offer exceptional dining in their restaurants. 

roseatehotels.com 

Shelburne Restaurant, Bowood Hotel, Spa & 

Golf Resort 

Laid-back, countryside dining with picture perfect 

views. The Two AA Rosette Shelburne Restaurant 

serves delicious food from seasonal menus every day. 

From long, lazy lunches to romantic moments over 

cocktails, you will enjoy a range of mouth-watering 

dishes prepared with passion and served with flair. 

bowood.org 

The Swan Bradford On Avon 

Locally sourced produce, beautifully prepared and 

cooked to perfection.Open for breakfast, lunch, 

dinner, Sunday carvery, coffee, or a light snack and a 

glass of wine or pint of local ale. 

theswanbradford.co.uk 

Woolley Grange Hotel 

With so many ingredients plucked from their own 

kitchen garden, it’s more about wheelbarrow yards 

than food miles at Woolley Grange. Visit for fine 

dining or family dining. 

woolleygrangehotel.co.uk 

Pubs and Inns 

From traditional thatched village inns to modern 

gastropubs with spacious beer gardens perfect for 

families to enjoy the summer sunshine 


East Chisenbury, Pewsey 


The Bear Hotel, Devizes 

2-3 The Market Pl, Devizes 

thebearhoteldevizes.co.uk 

The Black Swan in Devizes 

The Market Place, Devizes 

blackswandevizes.co.uk 

The Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill 

Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Reading 

butcombe.com 

Crown & Anchor Inn 

Ham, Wiltshire 

crownandanchorham.co.uk 

The Crown, Tolldown 

Toll Down Way, Dyrham, Chippenham 

butcombe.com 

The George Inn, Norton St Philip 

High Street, Norton St Philip, Bath 

butcombe.com 

West Berkshire Brewery Taproom and Kitchen 

The Old Dairy Frilsham Farm, Yattendon 

wbbrew.com 


BARS AND PUBS SERVING REAL ALES 

Helen Browning’s Royal Oak 

Cues Ln, Bishopstone, Swindon 

helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk 

The Newbury 

137 Bartholomew St, Newbury 

thenewburypub.co.uk 

The Prince Street Social 

Crown House, 37-41 Prince St, Bristol 

princestreetsocial.com 

Queens Arms, East Garston 

Newbury Rd, East Garston, Hungerford 

queensarmseastgarston.co.uk 

The Royal Oak Yattendon 

The Square, Yattendon RG18 0UG 

royaloakyattendon.co.uk 

The Royal Windsor Pub 

Datchet Rd, Windsor 

theroyalwindsor.co.uk 

The Swan Bradford On Avon 

1 Church St, Bradford-on-Avon 

theswanbradford.co.uk 

Three Tuns Freehouse 

1 High St, Great Bedwyn, Marlborough 

tunsfreehouse.com 


93


Tea Rooms & Cafés 

Whether it’s a quick cuppa with breakfast or a 

full-blown afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches, 

indulgent cakes and tasty scones, you'll find plenty 

of lovely cafes and tea rooms to enjoy along the 

Great West Way. 

Aldermaston Tea Rooms 

Traditional Tea Rooms in a lovely setting by the 

Kennet & Avon Canal. Leaf tea, cream teas, apple pie, 

canalman's lunch, whippy ice cream and more. 

facebook.com/aldermastontearooms 

Canal Trust Café 

A beautiful tea rooms and licensed cafe situated in 

Bradford on Avon along the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

with lovely gardens and delicious food and cakes. 

facebook.com/Canal-Trust-Cafe 

Teashop by the Canal 

Set in a unique grade II listed building by the Kennet 

& Avon Canal, blending the warmth of Italian culture, 

with fine and splendid rituals of English Cream Teas. 

teashopbythecanal.co.uk 

The Bridge Tea Rooms 

Housed in a former blacksmith's cottage dating 

from 1502, this quintessentially English tea room 

offers the very best in traditionally British afternoon 

tea. With delicate bone china, the finest leaf teas, 

and friendly staff in Victorian costumes serving 

homemade cakes, pastries and sandwiches. 

thebridgetearooms.co.uk 

Honeystreet Mill Cafe 

Situated in Pewsey Vale, Honeystreet Mill Cafe offers 

a range of delicious fresh and local food open for 

breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. Treat yourself to 

a chilled glass of prosecco on the terrace, and watch 

the world go by Wiltshire-style. 

honeystreetboats.co.uk 

Spring's Café and Restaurant 

Located at Thermae Bath Spa, Springs Café and 

Restaurant combines beautiful Georgian architecture 

with classic, contemporary style. Throughout the day 

and evening, spa users can enjoy delicious dishes and 

interesting drinks from an extensive menu. 

thermaebathspa.com/springs-cafe-and-restaurant 

The Tutti Pole 

A family run restaurant close to the Kennet & Avon 

Canal in a grade ll listed building, serving quality 

homemade food and luxury afternoon teas. 

thetuttipole.co.uk 

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum 

During your visit to Westonbirt The National 

Arboretum stop off at the restaurant for freshly 

prepared hot and cold refreshments including soups, 

sandwiches, savoury snacks, cakes and pastries. 

forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/restaurant 

Windsor Castle Undercroft Café 

The first café for visitors to Windsor Castle has 

opened in Edward III’s medieval Undercroft, which 

for centuries served as the Castle’s main wine cellar 

and is one of the oldest surviving spaces in the 

1,000-year-old royal residence. 

windsor.gov.uk/food-and-drink 

Lido Spa & Restaurant, Bristol Lido 

Spanish and Mediterranean menus, open kitchen 

with hot blazing Italian clay oven and bespoke 

charcoal grill by the grade 2 listed outdoor pool. 

lidobristol.com/restaurant-and-tapas-bar 


BEST PLACES FOR AFTERNOON TEA 

Abbey Hotel, Bath 

North Parade, Bath 


Cricklade House 

Common Hill, Cricklade, Swindon 



Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon 

thebridgetearooms.co.uk 

No15 Great Pulteney, Bath 

15 Great Pulteney Street, Bath 

guesthousehotels.co.uk 

The Pump Room Restaurant 

Searcys at the Pump Room, Stall Street, Bath 

thepumproombath.co.uk 

The Roseate Hotel, Reading 

26 The Forbury, Reading 

roseatehotels.com/reading/theroseate 

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa 

16 Royal Crescent, Bath 

royalcrescent.co.uk 

Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa 

Easton Grey, Malmesbury 



95

Where to Stay on 

the Great West Way 

Staying overnight on the Great West Way makes for a wonderful trip, 

whether on a romantic weekend away or a week-long adventure 

BATH 


Abbey Hotel is located perfectly central in the city of 

Bath, making it an ideal place to stay to when exploring 

the city. Independantly owned, this unique hotel offers 

an intriguing blend of stylish comfort, vibrant and 

eccentric contemporary art, and historic character. 


Dukes Hotel 

One of Bath’s most prestigious streets, this beautiful, 

boutique, guest house stands on Great Pulteney 

Street. Whether it is the high ceilings, sash windows 

or hand crafted Sanitan bathroom suites, each room 

uniquely reflects an era of Georgian elegance and charm. 

dukesbath.co.uk 

The Apartment Bath 

From Nespresso to Nintendo, The Apartment, Bath 

is a two-bedroom apartment in central Bath on 

Widcombe Parade, and the perfect home from home 

for guests exploring the Great West Way. 

apartmentbath.com 

The Roseate Villa Bath 

The Roseate Villa Bath occupies a quiet corner of 

the city, overlooking the tranquil Henrietta Park. 

Encompassing two characterful converted Victorian 

houses, the Villa offers 21 rooms with exclusive 

features. The Villa also has a private garden where 

you can relax and enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea. 

roseatehotels.com/bath/theroseatevilla/ 

Tucking Mill, Bath Apartments and Cottages 

Family owned range of award-winning luxurious 

properties including three cottages at Tucking Mill 

with outstanding views, and two apartments just 10 

minutes’ walk from Bath city centre. 

bathselfcatering.net 

YMCA Bath Hostel 

YMCA Bath Hostel is a city centre hostel with all 

the attractions located within walking distance; 

The Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, Bath Rugby 

Ground, The Circus and Bath Abbey to name a few. 

Affordable, clean accommodation ideal for families, 

couples, and backpackers on a budget. 

ymcabath.org.uk 

Bath Apartment Breaks 

Two luxurious self-catering apartments in Bath, each 

perfect for four guests. One apartment is on the 

ground floor and has its own sun-trap patio area with 

outside seating, whilst the other is on the first floor 

and has two small balconies off the living area. 

bathapartmentbreaks.co.uk 

Bath Area Self Catering 

High quality, luxury self-catering holiday cottages 

and apartments in Bath and the surrounding areas 

of Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. These 

properties are ideal for exploring the Western part 

of the Great West Way including Wiltshire, the 

Cotswolds, Bath and Bristol 

bathselfcatering.com 


No.15 Great Pulteney 


To be found at the heart of Bath’s 

fashionable society, No.15 Great 

Pulteney is an elegant and vivacious 

townhouse hotel on the very grandest 

street in Bath. Comprising 40 bedrooms, 

a cocktail bar, restaurant and boutique 

spa, No.15 exudes understated 

sophistication and luxury. 

guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-15-bath 

Brooks Guesthouse B&B 

Brooks Guesthouse Bath is an award winning four 

star boutique guesthouse in Bath city centre with 22 

uniquely furnished bedrooms with an eclectic mix of 

antiques, modern pieces and designer wallpapers. 

brooksguesthouse.com 

Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa 

Where dapper country house hotel meets hospitality 

with imagination, charm and spirit, surrounded by 

private gardens and set in glorious, rural Wiltshire. 

You might also enjoy a visit to sister hotels , The Bird 

& Homewood 

bishopstrowhotel.com 


97


The Gainsborough Bath Spa 

The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies two historic 

buildings with Georgian and Victorian facades in 

the heart of Bath. Named after the artist Thomas 

Gainsborough, the luxury hotel is welcoming and 

elegant. there are 99 berooms and suites with views 

across the city to surrounding countryside. 

thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk 

BRADFORD ON AVON 

Timbrells Yard 

Timbrells Yard is a stylishly revamped riverside inn 

at the heart of beautiful Bradford-on-Avon. It has 

award-winning food and 17 super stylish bedrooms. 

Grade II listed, it is family and dog-friendly, and has a 

wonderful terrace on the banks of the River Avon. 

timbrellsyard.com 

BERKSHIRE 

Royal Berkshire (Exclusive Collection) 

Royal Berkshire is a country house located in the 

heart of Ascot, perfect for overnight stays, with 66 

luxury bedrooms. The grounds are charming, perfect 

for a wedding location or event, with a private walled 

garden and a beautiful fountain plaza. 

exclusive.co.uk/royal-berkshire 


Set across seven acres, Monkey Island Estate features 

27 exquisite guestrooms and three sumptuous suites. 

There are six further Private Residences, set across 

seven acres, two Grade I listed heritage pavilions, 

beautifully landscaped gardens, luxury Floating Spa 

and picturesque views of the River Thames. 

monkeyislandestate.co.uk 

BRISTOL 

Brooks Guesthouse B&B and Rooftop Retro 

Rocket Caravans, Bristol 

A boutique contemporary guesthouse situated 

smack bang in the heart of Bristol's old town next 

to St Nicholas Market and just a short stroll to the 

vibrant Harbourside. 

brooksguesthousebristol.com 


The caravans are British built and capturing the 

glamour of the timeless vintage aluminium design 

with all the lux of a modern hotel room and beautiful 

rooftop views of Bristol City Centre. 

brooksguesthousebristol.com 

Hampton by Hilton Bristol Airport 

This is the ultimate hotel in terms of design, comfort 

and convenience, being on the doorstep of Bristol 

Airport – the only hotel within walking distance of 

the terminal. Spend a day exploring Noah's Ark Zoo 

Farm, Cheddar Caves and Gorge or Cabot Tower. 

hilton.com 

SOUTH WILTSHIRE 

Pythouse Kitchen Garden 

You’ve heard of restaurants with rooms – now we 

bring you the restaurant with a glamping village. 

Six bell tents and a cosy shepherds’ hut sit in an 

orchard near this lunchtime-only restaurant. 

They share showers, a cocktail area, kitchen and 

dining area. 

pythousekitchengarden.co.uk 

The Bristol Wing part of YMCA 

The Bristol Wing is a boutique hostel in Bristol city 

centre. After an extensive restoration, they opened in 

2018 in the Grade II listed old Police Headquarters. 

Located only a short walk from some of the best 

bits of Bristol including Bristol’s harbourside, Bristol 

Shopping Quarter and the Old City 

thebristolwing.co.uk 

CASTLE COMBE 

The Manor House - Exclusive Collection 

This 14th century luxury hotel and golf club is 

perfect for romantic nights away, with Michelin 

starred dining and a dedicated gin bar. Head into the 

picturesque village of Castle Combe or play a round 

at the championship 18-hole golf course. Situated in 

365 acres of rich parkland and widely regarded as a 

real hidden golfing gem in the Cotswolds. 

exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house 

CHEDDAR (WITHIN EASY REACH) 

Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site 

From its lofty position near Priddy, the highest 

village in the Mendip Hills, Cheddar Club Site is 

surrounded by spectacular landscapes, great for 

walking, cycling, caving and rock climbing. Less than 

five miles from the campsite is Cheddar Gorge, one 

of Britain's most spectacular natural landmarks. 

Explore its extraordinary subterranean stalactite 

show caves, venture inside hidden prehistoric 

chambers at Gough’s Cave, wander along the clifftops 

and experience spectacular panoramic views 

from Jacob’s Ladder and the Lookout Tower. 

campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 

CHERTSEY 

Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site 

Perched on the banks of the River Thames, this 

lovely campsite has a rural feel despite being just 

50 minutes from Central London by train. Walkers 

will enjoy the Thames Path Nature Trail - a longdistance 

towpath trail that starts in the Cotswolds 

and meanders through Chertsey towards the heart of 

London. It’s a peaceful and scenic trail that’s ideal for 

people of all ages and abilities. 



Enjoy the best of the beautiful British countryside 

from the comfort of a luxurious canvas lodge on this 

family-run, organic farm. Meet the ducks, dairy cattle 

and donkeys. Have fun on Farmer Joe's organic farm 

tour. Walk, ride, paddle, fish – or just soak up the sun 

and the tranquil scenery. It all adds up to a unique 

break that you – and your family or friends – will 

treasure for a lifetime. 

millfarmglamping.co.uk 


99

WILTSHIRE, MALMESBURY 


Whatley Manor is a grown-up getaway in the 

heart of the Cotswolds set in 12 acres of gardens. 

Try Grey’s Brasserie for a leisurely lunch, dinner 

or chilled glass of wine. Or the innovative tasting 

menu with specially selected wines in The Dining 

Room. There's also The Green Room where chefs 

prepare small plates of expertly crafted food in 

front of you, Aquarias Spa and even a cinema. 


HENLEY ON THAMES 

The Greenlands Hotel 

Set within the 30-acre Henley Business School estate 

in the Oxfordshire countryside, this magnificent 

Grade II Listed Building is steeped in history dating as 

far back as 1480. There are 100 bedrooms including 

eight luxury balcony rooms with views across the 

Chiltern Valley and the grounds leading to the River 

Thames. There's a fitness centre, tennis courts, giant 

lawn chess and footpaths leading into the Chiltern 

Hills. Located less than three miles from the centre 

of Henley-on-Thames home to the famous annual 

Henley Royal Regatta, five miles from the riverside 

Georgian market town of Marlow and a short car 

journey to Windsor and Oxford. 

hospitalityuor.co.uk/accommodation 

HUNGERFORD 

Herongate Apartments 

Welcome to Herongate Apartments, a collection of 

four purpose built self serviced/serviced apartments 

conveniently located just minutes walk from 

Hungerford High Street and the beautiful Kennet & 

Avon Canal. The apartments are situated next door 

to Herongate Club and all guests over the age of 16 

years can enjoy complimentary access to the gym 

and pool as well as discounts off classes and the 

fabulous Honesty Cafe. 

herongateservicedapartments.com 

LONDON 

Roseate House London 

Located near Hyde Park with stunning views over 

leafy Westbourne Terrace. John Constable, son of the 

famous landscape artist, once lived there, and Oscar 

Wilde married at St James’ Church opposite. The 

hotel comprises of three restored, mid-19th century, 

Grade II listed townhouses originally built in 1842 

which still retain the grace and charm of the original 

Victorian architecture. Located on a street steeped 

in history in a haven of tranquillity amidst the hustle 

and bustle of the capital. 

roseatehotels.com 

NEWBURY 

Donnington Grove Hotel & Country Club 

Donnington Grove, a three star country-house hotel 

in Newbury, is situated in 500 acres of beautiful 

grounds that include an 18 hole championship golf 

course, beauty and treatment rooms at Avalon 

Retreat, Clay Shooting and the New Beau's Bar 

and Restaurant. It is a fascinating destination with 

more than a whiff of English decadence. Built in 

'Strawberry Hill Gothic' style, this 250 year old, 

charming building has a unique heritage. 

donnington-grove.com 

OXFORDSHIRE 

The Chilterns View 

The Chilterns View offers luxury lodge 

accommodation overlooking the beautiful Chiltern 

Hills. Guests love the privacy and seclusion of these 

lodges with wonderful south-facing views and hot 

tubs. Sit around the fire pit with a glass of fizz to 

watch the sun set over the hills, and in the daytime 

you can relax by the pond or take a walk to one of 

the many fine pubs and eateries in the area. 

thechilternsview.co.uk 


Whately Manor Hotel & Spa, Malmesbury 

READING 

Hilton Reading 

Ideally located off junction 11 of the M4, the 

Hilton Hotel in Reading offers a warm and inviting 

atmosphere. Bedrooms feature air conditioning, 

wired and wireless Internet access, laptop safes, mini 

bar, on-demand movies, a spacious workdesk and 

famous Hilton Serenity bed system. Access to the 

24-hour LivingWell Health Club is included. 

hilton.com 

Novotel Reading Centre 

Perfectly suited in the heart of the town. Many of 

Reading's best restaurants, bars and shops are just 

a stone's throw from the hotel, and you are close 

to Windsor and Oxford, and family attractions like 

Legoland, Reading Museum, Reading Abbey Ruins 

and Forbury Gardens Public Park. Reading train 

station is a two-minute walk away and Thames 

Valley Park is just a shuttle bus away. 

all.accor.com/hotel 

The Roseate Reading 

Described as 'The UK's Sexiest Townhouse Hotel' by 

The Evening Standard, The Roseate Reading is also 

recognised for its artful conception and luxury. 

roseatehotels.com/reading/theroseate 

SALISBURY (WITHIN EASY REACH) 

Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site 

Within easy reach of some of the most famous sites 

in England. The historic centre of Salisbury, known 

as ‘the city in the countryside’, is an easy two mile 

walk from the campsite and offers many must-see 

attractions including the famous cathedral. 


The Merchant’s House Hotel, Salisbury 

37 newly and beautifully refurbished en suite 

rooms located in the city centre. A must visit is The 

Merchant’s Bar with open fire and wonderful choice 

of wines, beers and spirits. 

themerchantshousehotel.co.uk 


101

The Kingsbury @ No7 & No8, Marlborough 

SURREY 

Pennyhill Park 

There are only a few places able to offer such a 

diverse range of experiences as Pennyhill Park. 

Set in 123 acres of Surrey countryside with a host 

of individual experiences, they offer exceptional 

overnight breaks, Michelin starred dining, bespoke 

weddings, distinctive meetings and events, family 

celebrations and an award-winning spa. There are 

two award-winning restaurants, The Ascot Bar, and 

The Spa including a state-of-the-art fitness suite, 

treatment rooms, nail bar, hot tubs and indoor and 

outdoor pools. 

exclusive.co.uk/pennyhill-park 

Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning 

Club Site 

Tucked away in rural Surrey, you’d hardly know 

Walton on Thames Club Site is just half an hour from 

Central London. For a hearty dose of adrenaline, 

head to the much-loved theme parks of Thorpe Park, 

Chessington World of Adventures, and Legoland, 

where kids (and big kids too) can go wild on wacky 

rides and looping rollercoasters. For something a 

little more sedate, head to Hampton Court Palace, 

once the palatial home of King Henry VIII and his 

six wives, to experience Royal life by exploring 

the splendid interiors and wandering around the 

magnificent estate with its rich variety of gardens 

and plants. 


SWINDON 

Rose & Crown Inn, Ashbury 

Located in a charming ‘off the beaten track’ village at 

the foot of the rolling countryside of the Lambourn 

Downs and historic sites of the Vale of the White 

Horse. This village inn boasts an exceptional menu 

and very comfortable rooms. It has a unique 

atmosphere and very much reflects the gentle pace 

of a friendly and welcoming ‘unspoiled’ village inn. 

roseandcrownatashbury.co.uk 


WEST BERKSHIRE 

The Queens Arms Hotel 

The Queens Arms is an award-winning hotel, pub and 

restaurant with its own private lodge. Situated in the 

beautiful village of East Garston, between London 

and the West Country yet in the heart of an Area 

of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Queens Arms 

features 12 bespoke bedrooms, a large friendly bar 

with log fire that leads into the dining room, a south 

facing patio and a large enclosed garden – all ideal 

for alfresco dining. Children and dogs welcome. 

queensarmseastgarston.co.uk 

WILTSHIRE, MARLBOROUGH 

The Kingsbury @ No7 & No8 

Boutique hotel come Airbnb with modern, 

keyless entry system allowing you to come 

and go as you please. All rooms have been 

lovingly and individually designed to offer 

quality, comfort and style, for you to relax and 

enjoy your stay. Fun dining concept including 

fabulous afternoon teas and cocktail making in 

the restaurant (book in advance). 

thekingsbury.co.uk 

WILTSHIRE, BRADFORD ON AVON 


Enjoy a rural location on a working sheep farm 

staying in award-winning single storey cottages and 

barn conversions with exposed beams and vaulted 

ceilings. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural 

Beauty you can enjoy walking and cycling from your 

doorstep or it is a short journey to Bradford on Avon, 

Longleat and the World Heritage City of Bath. 

churchfarmcottages.com 

Cumberwell Country Cottages 

Set in a peaceful, rural location, these seven unique, 

luxurious and spacious self-catering cottages are set 

in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside on the edge 

of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just five 

miles from the World Heritage city of Bath and one 

mile from the Saxon town of Bradford on Avon. 

cumberwellcountrycottages.com 


Surrounded by 14 acres of stunning grounds, Woolley 

Grange is a Jacobean manor house located on the 

edge of Bradford on Avon. The hotel offers a warm 

welcome to families, has award-winning children's 

facilities, a beautiful spa, and great food using 

fresh produce from the walled kitchen garden. For 

a stargazing evening stay in one of the new Luxury 

Glamping Suites, you also have access to the historic 

hotel and its facilities, including heated indoor and 

outdoor swimming pools, spa, OFSTED-registered 

childcare and The Hideout Pizza Cafe. 

woolleygrangehotel.co.uk 

WILTSHIRE, CHIPPENHAM 

Best Western Plus Angel Hotel, Chippenham 

Superbly located five miles from the M4 between 

Bath and Swindon. This 400-year-old coaching inn 

has been sympathetically extended to include a 

gym, indoor pool, courtyard garden and bedroom 

wing. The addition of a stylish new brasserie, bar 

and lounge create the ideal surroundings to relax. 

A perfect base for enjoying motor racing at Castle 

Combe, the Badminton Horse Trials, Longleat Safari 

Park and Swindon designer shopping village. 

angel-hotel-chippenham.com 

WILTSHIRE, DEVIZES 


Self-catering accommodation in the heart of 

Wiltshire; ideal for families looking for that quiet 

escape. A secluded and unique cottage on a working 

farm. This special place offers uninterrupted views 

and wonderful walking opportunities. 

cliffefarmdairy.co.uk 


103

WILTSHIRE, BRADFORD-ON-AVON 

Rowley Cottage at Iford Manor 

Surrounded by nature in the beautiful Iford 

Valley and set within the Grade 1 listed 

Iford Manor Gardens, this luxury, self-catering 

period cottage is in an idyllic setting. Recently 

renovated, with three en-suite bedrooms, 

sleeping six it is the perfect base to explore 

from. Just 15 minutes from Bath. 

ifordmanor.co.uk/stay 

WILTSHIRE, MALMESBURY 

The Old Bell Hotel 

A comfortable, country hotel full of character and 

charm, reputed to be the oldest purpose built hotel 

in England (c.1220) and Grade I Listed. The hotel 

nestles in the beautiful medieval Cotswold town of 

Malmesbury and is 75 yards from the famous Abbey 

House Gardens with over 2000 roses. 

With crackling log fires, cosy corners, squashy sofas, 

plump duvets, fine linen and fabulous food and wine 

– this is pure indulgence. 

oldbellhotel.co.uk 

Pettifers Hotel 

Pettifers Hotel is the perfect spot to relax, unwind 

and explore. You've got the fabulous Cotswold Water 

Park, Highgrove, Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, 

Malmesbury and Cirencester all on the door step - 

perfect for family stays and mini breaks, plus they are 

super dog friendly too so no need to leave your four 

legged friends behind! 

pettifershotel.co.uk 

Devizes Camping and Caravanning Club Site 

This peaceful campsite beside the Kennet & Avon 

Canal is perfect for walking, cycling, and exploring 

the region’s many historic attractions. Head out on 

a scenic walk to the historic market town of Devizes 

along the towpath, passing the Caen Hill flight of 29 

locks – one of the longest continuous flight of locks 

in the country, rising 237 feet over two miles. In the 

bustling market town of Devizes, visit the Wiltshire 

Museum with its award-winning galleries and ancient 

gold collection (which dates back to the time of 

Stonehenge) pop into the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust 

Museum to learn more about the local waterways. 

Head to Wadworth’s Brewery to take a tour and 

sample ales at the visitor centre, and see the famous 

shire horses making deliveries. If you fancy stretching 

your legs, take the five-mile circular walk from Devizes 

to Roundway Hill, taking in stretches of the Kennet & 

Avon Canal, with opportunities to take longer walks 

by joining the Mid Wilts Way, Wessex Ridgeway or the 

White Horse Trail. 


WILTSHIRE, SALISBURY 

Holiday Inn, Salisbury – Stonehenge 

This modern friendly hotel has over 100 air 

conditioned bedrooms and is the nearest hotel 

to Stonehenge, offering a stylish, contemporary 

gateway to the Great West Way and to the 

picturesque county of Wiltshire and beyond. 

Enjoy easy access to the colourful landscape of sights 

and attractions dotting the English countryside. 

hisalisbury–stonehenge.co.uk 

WILTSHIRE, SWINDON 

Cricklade House Hotel 

Standing in over 30 acres of peaceful, secluded 

grounds on the edge of the Cotswolds, Cricklade 

House Hotel offers a traditional, warm and friendly 

welcome for those in search of tranquility, comfort, 

good food and wine, with extensive recreational 

facilities. This beautiful and dignified country 

house, built at the turn of the last century, has been 

tastefully restored and carefully extended. 

Perhaps the most impressive addition is the 

magnificent Victorian-style glass conservatory 


Rowley Cottage at Iford Manor, Bradford-on-Avon 

which runs the full length of the original building, 

making the most of the hotel's elevated position, 

with wonderful panoramic views over the Wiltshire 

countryside. The ideal location for exploring the 

wonders Wiltshire and the surrounding area have to 

offer – with brilliant links to both the M4 and M5 and 

through to Oxford. 


DoubleTree by Hilton, Swindon 

West of Swindon, this relaxing hotel is an excellent 

base for touring the beautiful Great West Way 

countryside including the Wiltshire Downs and 

the Cotswolds, visiting pretty villages such as 

Chippenham and Marlborough, and, for a truly 

memorable experience, you'll find the World 

Heritage Site of Avebury nearby too. 

The accommodation comprises 171 bedrooms with 

61 Deluxe rooms and eight Suites and for food and 

drink head to The Larder Restaurant and Bar. 

hilton.com 

WILTSHIRE, VALE OF PEWSEY 

Totteridge Farm Camping Pods 

Totteridge Farm Camping Pods offer a wonderful 

English countryside experience, for those who 

want to be close to nature without giving up home 

comforts. Step out of your timber lodge into the 

fresh calm of a rural Wiltshire morning, explore the 

towns, villages and trails of the Vale of Pewsey, or sit 

out under the stars around a wood fire with a glass of 

farm-grown English wine. 

There are five luxury log pods in total, and they are 

exclusively for adults (for ages 18 and above), with 

fantastic views over the Pewsey Vale, and with the 

home comforts of a hot shower and a King Size bed 

in a double-glazed, underfloor-heated 

There is plenty of choice for walking, cycling or even 

kayaking, with many dog friendly pubs nearby. Come 

home to your own firepit, spectacular sunsets and 

dark skies. There is also an all-weather shelter and 

BBQ area. 

totteridge-farm.website/camping-and-holidays 


105

Experience the new 

menus by Executive Chef 

Ricki Weston and his team 

Bursting with flavour. Choose either the 

Michelin-starred restaurant ‘The Dining Room’, 

or Grey’s Brasserie. 

Enjoy a one-night break with dinner in 

Grey’s Brasserie from £449. 

Or the Michelin star experience with 

dinner in The Dining Room from £784. 

Book online whatleymanor.com 

or call reservations on 01666 822 888 

Escape to the Cotswolds this Summer 

Food bursts with flavour. Choose either the Michelin starred restaurant ‘The Dining Room’, or for a more relaxed experience 

Grey’s Brasserie. Unwind in Aquarias Spa, and take a leisurely stroll around the 12 acres of English country gardens. 

Whatley Manor welcomes children from the age of 12 and is dog friendly. 

Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa Easton Grey Malmesbury SN16 0RB 


Biscuit-themed Events, Exhibitions and more: 

VISIT-READING.COM/BISCUITTOWN 

Official Travel Partner

The Great West Way caters to the desires of 

all travellers, with its mix of quirky glamping 

and camping sites, pretty countryside B&Bs, 

cool city hotels, traditional village pubs and 

even fancy castles and stately homes 

Troutbeck Guest House 

The Red Lion Freehouse and Troutbeck Guest House 

at East Chisenbury have gained quite a reputation 

for providing the best of Wiltshire's food, drink and 

accommodation in a truly beautiful setting. East 

Chisenbury is in a designated Area of Outstanding 

Natural Beauty complete with the River Avon (Site of 

Special Scientific Interest) running straight through 

the tiny village, and is home to stunning countryside 

views, Stonehenge, fly fishing and excellent walking 

routes. The thatched pub now holds a Michelin star 

for its outstanding food, but has never changed its 

relaxed, distinctively 'pubby' atmosphere. 

If there were any improvements to be made to the 

Red Lion experience, it could only be the addition of 

a cozy, classy guest house to go back to after a lovely 

meal. In December of 2012 the Red Lion opened a 

newly converted bungalow to its loyal following – a 

gorgeously polished accommodation sat right on 

the bank of the River Avon. Each of the five unique 

rooms has been individually decorated, very carefully 

outfitted with all the best comforts and amenities 

and boasts uninterrupted countryside views from a 

private deck. 


HAMPSHIRE 

Lainston House 

Lainston House is a 17th century luxury hotel, 

offering luxurious stays, award-winning dining, 

bespoke meetings and memorable weddings. It is 

also home to the Season cookery school with awardwinning 

chefs and renowned external experts. 

Tucked away in 63 acres of rural Hampshire 

countryside, you can enjoy both a remote and 

relaxing escape in the country or a more activity 

filled getaway with lots to do on site, as well as so 

many attractions on your doorstep. Our luxurious 

and individually designed rooms and suites can 

Manor Farm Courtyard Cottages 

Luxuriously-appointed self-catering cottages 

situated in glorious Berkshire countryside. 

These 17th century former barns and stables, 

renovated by the Betts family farm, provide 

everything you need for a luxurious stay on the 

Great West Way and with a village community 

shop and café next door for fresh food. 

stayatmanorfarm.co.uk 

be hard to tear yourself away from, but when you 

do you can enjoy beautiful walks and bike rides in 

the grounds, inspiring cookery classes in Season 

and delicious dining in The Avenue or our brand 

new restaurant, The Wellhouse. Not to mention 

outstanding afternoon teas in the drawing room 

and casual dining in The Cedar Bar and on the 

sun-drenched terrace. Head out to explore local 

attractions, with the historic city of Winchester just 

10 minutes drive, as well as the River Test, Bombay 

Sapphire distillery, Marwell Zoo and Paultons Park 

(and so much more) all within 15 miles. 

exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house 

Plan your complete trip 

One of the most exciting ways to 

travel the Great West Way is to 

stop somewhere new each night. 


107

Prepare before you go 

There’s nothing like a good map to make you feel like a true adventurer 

This Way for a Journey of Discovery 

Download our 'This Way for a Journey of Discovery' 

map of the Great West Way, and get a sense for 

the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Will you 

venture out to explore the mysteries of the North 

Wessex Downs? Make a summer solstice pilgrimage 

to Stonehenge? Or set off to photograph the pretty 

villages of the Cotswolds? 

Food and Drink Map 

Food lovers can download our food and drink map for 

an overview of the incredible culinary delights available 

along the route, featuring local breweries, Michelin 

starred dining, farmers' markets, afternoon tea, food 

and drink festivals, quaint country pubs and more. 

Kennet & Avon Canal map 

Take a look at our Kennet & Avon Canal map to find 

out about travelling along the beautiful and historic 

canal that stretches between Reading and Bristol. 

Looked after by the Canal & River Trust, you can 

explore the towpath by foot or bike - or float gently 

along on a narrowboat, canoe or kayak. 

Of course, while these maps will steer you towards 

incredible attractions, beautiful landscapes and top 

places to stay, eat and drink – you are ultimately 

your own tour guide. Please do wander off course 

and find things to see and do that are not marked on 

our maps. This dreamy part of England is set up for 

surprising discoveries. 

Click here to book online 

with prices from just £24. 

Great West Way Discoverer Pass 

Tickets for the Great Western 

Railway can be bought from 

ticket offices at stations along 

the route but for cheaper tickets 

and no queues we recommend 

buying in advance. There are 

three Great West Way Discoverer 

routes available, (East, West or 

global) giving you the opportunity 

to explore your chosen area in 

one-day instalments or over the 

duration of a week. 

Click here to download the 

Great West Way Discoverer Pass 

Click here to download 

This Way for a Journey of Discovery 


Food and Drink Map 


Kennet & Avon Canal map 


THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO’VE HELPED 

US ALONG THE WAY... 

Aerospace Bristol 

Alder Ridge Vineyard 

Aldermaston Tea Rooms, Visitor Centre, 

& Shop 

Aldwick Estate 

All Saints Church 

American Museum & Garden 

Apex Hotel 

Apsley House 

Ascot Racecourse 

Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum 

Auto Europe 

Avebury 

Bailey Balloons 

Barrington Court 

Bath Apartment Breaks 

Bath Area Self Catering 

Bath Bus Company 

Bath Business Improvement District 

Bath Insider Tours 

Berkeley Castle 

Best Western Plus Angel Hotel 

Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa 

Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve 

Blenheim Palace 

Bluestone Vineyard 

Bombay Sapphire 

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection 

Bowood House & Garden 

Bozedown Alpacas 

Bradford on Avon Town 

Bristol Airport 

Bristol Cathedral 

Bristol Community Ferry Boats 

Bristol Packet Boats 

Bristol Tandem Hire 

Britains Best Heritage Tours 

British Museum 

Brooks Guest House Bath 

Brooks Guest House Bristol 

Bruce Branch Boats 

Brunel’s SS Great Britain 

Calne Town 

Canal & River Trust 

Canal Trust Café 

Castle Combe Circuit 

Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club 

Site 

Cheddar Caves & Gorge 

Chertsey Camping and Caravanning 

Club Site 

Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre 

Chippenham Town 

Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm 

Cholderton Youth Hostel 


Clayton’s Kitchen 


Clifton Suspension Bridge 

Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen 

Corsham Town 

Cotswold Water Park 

Cricklade House Hotel 

Crofton Beam Engines 

Crop Circle Visitors Centre & Exhibition 

Crown & Anchor 

Cumberwell Country Cottages 

Devizes Camping and Caravanning Club 

Site 

Devizes Town 

Devizes Wharf Tea Room 

Donnington Grove Hotel & Country Club 

DoubleTree by Hilton 

Dukes Hotel 

Dyrham Park 

Fashion Museum Bath 

First Travel Solutions 

Fisherton Mill 

French Brothers 

Galahad Tours 

Great Western Railway 

Great West Way Official Tour Operators 

Hampton by Hilton Bristol Airport 

Hampton Court Palace 

Henley Greenlands Hotel 

Henley Rowing Association 

Henley on Thames 

Herongate Apartments 

Hilton Reading 

Hobbs of Henley 

Holiday Inn, Salisbury - Stonehenge 

Honey Street Mill Café & Boats 

Hotel Novotel Reading Centre 

Hungerford Town 

Hungerford Wharf 

Iford Manor Gardens 

Jones’s Mill at The Vera Jeans Reserve 

Kenavon Venture 

Kennet & Avon Gateway 

Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum & Village 

Lainston House 

Lido Spa & Restaurant 

Live Escape Salisbury 

London Wetland Centre 

Longleat 

Lower Moor Farm Nature Reserve 

Lytes Cary Manor 

Mad Max Tours 

Maidenhead Heritage Centre 

Malmesbury Town 

Manor Farm Courtyard Cottages 

Marlborough College Summer School 

Marlborough Town 

Marlow Town 

Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein 

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet 

Merchants House 


Mompesson House 


Montacute House 

Museum of East Asian Art 

MV Barbara McLellan 

MV Jubilee 

National Garden Scheme 

National Trust 

Newark Park, Ozleworth 

Newbury Racecourse 

No. 1 Royal Crescent 


North Wessex Downs AONB 

Novotel Reading Centre 

Old Sarum 

Oldbury Tours 

Original Wild 

Parkway Shopping Centre 

Pennyhill Parkt 

Pettifers Freehouse Hotel 

Pewsey Vale of Tourism Partnership 

Prior Park Landscape Garden 

Reading Museum 

Reading UK 


REME Museum 

River & Rowing Museum 

Rose & Crown Inn 

Roseate House London 

Royal Berkshire, Sunninghill 

Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead 

Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site 

Salisbury Cathedral 

Salisbury, Stonehenge and Sarum Tours 

Sally Narrowboats 

Savouring Bath 

Shaw House 

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel & Spa 

Skydive Netheravon 

South Western Railway 

St Peter’s Church 

Stay in Bath 

Steeple Ashton 

Stonehenge 

Stonor Park 

Stourhead 

Strawberry Hill House & Garden 

Studley Grange 

Sulis Guides 

Teashop by the Canal 

Thames Lido 

Thames Rivercruise 

The Abbey Quarter 

The Apartment Bath 


The Bristol Wing/YMCA 

The Chilterns View 

The Courts Garden 

The Crown & Anchor 

The Engineman’s Rest Café 

The Gainsborough Bath Spa 

The Guild Wiltshire 

The Holburne Museum 

The Jane Austen Centre 

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust 

The Kennet & Avon Trade Association 

The Kingsbury @ No.8 

The Langley 

The Manor House 

The Merchant’s House 

The Merchants House Hotel 

The Museum of English Rural Life 

The Old Bell Hotel 

The Pound Arts Centre 

The Queens Arms Hotel 

The Roman Baths 

The Rose of Hungerford 

The Roseate Reading 

The Roseate Villa Bath 

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath 

The Royal Windsor Pub 

The Swan Hotel 

The Tutti Pole 

The Watermill Theatre 

The Wave 

Thermae Bath Spa 

Timbrells Yard 

Tintinhull Garden 

Totteridge Farm Camping Pods 

Tour and Explore 

Tours 2 Order 

TransWilts Community Rail 

Troutbeck Guest House 

Trowbridge Town 

Tucking Mill View 

Turner’s House 

Tyntesfield, Wraxall 

University Of Bristol Botanic Gardens 

Vaughan’s Kitchen 

Vintage Classics 

VisitBritain/VisitEngland 

Visit Gloucestershire 

Visit Highworth 

Visit Newbury 

Visit Thames 

Visit West - Bath 

Visit West - Bristol 

VisitWiltshire 

Waddesdon Manor 

Walton on Thames Camping and 

Caravanning Club Site 

We The Curious 

Wellington Arch 

West Berkshire Museum 

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum 


Whitchurch Silk Mill 

White Horse Inn 

Wilton Windmill 

Wiltshire Museum 

Windsor Carriages 

Windsor Castle, Royal Collection Trust 

Windsor Duck Tours 


Wyvern Theatre 

YMCA Bath Group 

Discover more about our Ambassadors at: GreatWestWay.co.uk

Begin your next adventure at 


#EscapetheEveryday 

DISCOVER 

YOUR WAY

Great West Way Travel Magazine | Issue 06

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