Although the Abbey was founded in 1087 by nobleman Robert FitzHamon, building of the present Abbey did not start until 1102. Built to house Benedictine monks, the Norman Abbey was near completion when consecrated in 1121. Embellishments to the long nave roof and the apsidal chancel were made in the first half of the 14th century in the Decorated style. After the dissolution in 1540 most of the claustral buildings and the Lady Chapel were quarried for their materials but the Abbey Church was sold to the parishioners for £453. Changes made since then to the internal configuration have developed to reflect contemporary styles of devotion, currently of the Anglo-Catholic persuasion.

Lying at the southern edge of the old town, the Abbey quietly dominates the land and skyline with its long nave “probably the largest and finest Romanesque tower in England” (Pevsner). Vestiges of its social domination can be deduced from the layout of the streets and buildings, and the occasional relic; the Abbot’s gatehouse, the Abbey Mill, The vicarage and the Tudor-style dwellings in Church Street. The area surrounding the Abbey is protected from development by the Abbey Lawn Trust, originally funded by a United States benefactor.

Directions : Head north on A435/Cirencester Road

Slight left at A40/London Rd

Continue to follow London Rd 0.6 mi

Slight left at A46/High St

Continue to follow A46 0.4 mi

Turn left at A46/St Johns Ave

Continue to follow A46 0.3 mi

Continue on A4019/St Margaret's Rd

Continue to follow A4019

Go through 1 roundabout 4.9 mi

Turn right at A38 2.5 mi

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Gloucester Rd 1.1 mi

Continue on Church Street

Destination will be on the left
Opening :

Address	Church Street,Tewkesbury,Gloucestershire,GL20 5RZ
Telephone	01684 276655‎
Contact Email	www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk

The Shambles Victorian Village:

Cobbled streets and alleys to wander round.

Over 80 shops and shop windows to peer into:

there is a Policeman keeping an eye on things, a fantastic photographers studio in a conservatory - all manner of stuffed animals in the taxidermists workshop, the Chapel just ready for a service, two old men having a yarn over a pint in the gas-lit beer cellar……....a music shop, pawnbroker, post office, butcher, grocer, solicitor, bookdealer, tobacconist, printer, wheelwright, carpenter, corn-merchant, blacksmith………...we could go on!

Not to mention the houses and cottages from the widow's hovel and simple gardener's cottage, to the well-to-do draper's four storey house.

The Shambles is as a small country town or village would have been in about 1890 - with a 'lived in' feel - with each room looking as if the people had just popped out for a minute.

Children love climbing up to the attics and down into the musty cellars. Adults enjoy the 'how it used to be' feel. Very exciting for the youngsters to guess what's round the next corner, and very nostalgic for the not so young.

Directions : By road: A40 Gloucester - Ross-on-Wye road, for approximately 1.5 miles South of Gloucester, then B4215 Gloucester - Dymock Road. Or M50 Junction 3 then 5 miles on B4217 Newent - Ross-on-Wye Road.

By rail: Nearest mainline station is Gloucester (Wales & West and Great Western trains)

By bus: Regular services by several operators from Gloucester Bus Station (approx. hourly service)
Opening : mid March to end October :

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays

10am - 5pm (last admission 4pm)

Address	Newent,Gloucestershire,GL18 1PP
Telephone	01531 822144
Contact Email	www.simonchorley.com
Web Address	www.shamblesnewent.co.uk

Situated outside the beautiful Cotswold town of Painswick, and famous for its snowdrop display, the Rococo Garden is a fascinating step back to a flamboyant and sensual period of English Garden Design. This gem of a garden, which was originally laid out in the early 18th century, is set in a hidden Cotswold valley with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

A magazine article of 1753, describing this style of garden, finished with the line .......You are taken to a pompous and gilded building, consecrated to Venus for no other purpose that the squire riots here in vulgar love with a couple of orange wenches from the local play-house.

It seems he was unimpressed with the frivolity of the owners of these gardens. We will leave you to judge for yourselves and we hope this site will help you plan your visit and give you an insight to our magical Garden.

Directions : Head south on A435/Cirencester Rd toward Timbercombe Ln 1.6 mi

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A436

Go through 1 roundabout 2.3 mi

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A417 heading to A46/Stroud/Gloucester/Chelt'm (Central)/M5/Hucclecote/Brockworth 2.0 mi

Take the A46 exit 0.2 mi

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A46/Shurdington Rd

Continue to follow A46

Go through 1 roundabout 4.6 mi

Slight right at Golf Course Ln 0.6 mi

Turn right at B4073 200 ft

Turn left

Destination will be on the right
Opening : 10th January - 31st October

Daily 11.00 - 17.00

Address	Gloucester Road,Painswick,Gloucestershire,GL6 6TH
Telephone	01452 813204
Fax	01452 814888
Contact Email	info@rococogarden.org.uk
Web Address	www.rococogarden.org.uk

Whether you want to visit us for a recreational ski, have a go at tubing in our rubber rings, or want to come for a Christmas party, there is something here for everyone!

FACILITIES:

220 metre main slope

Snowflex Fun Park

150 metre trainer slope

40 metre nursery slope

Snowflex nursery slope

3 drag lifts

Lubricated slopes for enhanced slide

Directions : 1.Head south on A435/Cirencester Rd toward Timbercombe Ln 1.6 mi

2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A436

Go through 1 roundabout 2.3 mi

3. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A417 heading to A46/Stroud/Gloucester/Chelt'm (Central)/M5/Hucclecote/Brockworth

Go through 2 roundabouts 5.7 mi

4. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A38/Eastern Ave 1.1 mi

5. At Painswick Rd, take the 1st exit onto B4073/Painswick Rd 0.7 mi

6. Turn right at Matson Ln

Go through 1 roundabout 0.7 mi

7. Turn left at Larkham Close
Opening :

Address	Matson Lane,Gloucester,Gloucestershire,GL4 6EA
Telephone	01452 874842‎
Fax	01452 524 547
Web Address	www.gloucesterski.com

God has been worshipped on this site for over 1300 years. Some of the key events of that period are listed here.

678-9A religious community was founded here in Anglo-Saxon times by Osric. A noblewoman, Kyneburga, was the first Abbess.

Early 1000s Becomes a Benedictine Monastery.

1072Serlo, the first Norman abbot, appointed to the almost defunct monastery by King William I.

1089Foundation stone of the new abbey church laid by Robert, Bishop of Hereford.

1100Consecration of St. Peter’s Abbey.

1216First coronation of King Henry III.

1327Burial of King Edward II.

1330sRemodelling of the Quire in perpendicular style. Great East Window 1350s. The fan-vaulted cloisters are finished by 1412.

Early 1400sThe west end rebuilt. The south porch built.

1450Tower begun by Abbot Sebrok; completed by Robert Tully.

1470sLady Chapel rebuilt by Abbot Hanley; completed by Abbot Farley (1472-98).

1540Dissolution of Abbey.

1541King Henry VIII establishes the Cathedral as the mother church of the new Diocese of Gloucester.

1616-21William Laud, Dean of Gloucester.

1649Parliament abolishes the Dean and Chapter.

1660Charles II reinstates Dean and Chapter.

1735-52Martin Benson, Bishop of Gloucester carried out major repairs and alterations to the cathedral.

1847-73Beginning of extensive Victorian restoration work (F.S.Waller and Sir George Gilbert Scott, architects).

1898-1913Reglazing of Lady Chapel windows by Christopher Whall.

1989900th anniversary appeal.

2006Replacement of gargoyles commences on south aisle.

Directions : Head south on A435/Cirencester Rd toward Timbercombe Ln 1.6 mi

2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A436

Go through 1 roundabout 2.3 mi

3. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A417 heading to A46/Stroud/Gloucester/Chelt'm (Central)/M5/Hucclecote/Brockworth

Go through 2 roundabouts 5.7 mi

4. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A38/Barnwood Rd 0.6 mi

5. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto B4063/London Rd 0.8 mi

6. Turn right at A430/Black Dog Way 0.1 mi

7. Turn left at Worcester St 0.1 mi

8. Turn right at Northgate St 282 ft

9. Turn right at Pitt St 279 ft

10. Turn left to stay on Pitt St 0.2 mi

11. Continue on Archdeacon St 495 ft

12. Turn left at St Marys Square
Opening :

Address	2 College Green,Gloucester,Gloucestershire,GL1 2LR
Telephone	01452 528 095‎
Fax	01452 300 469‎
Web Address	www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk

Established in 1957, (previously a trout farm and prior to that a Poplar Tree plantation) Birdland is located in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

Birdland is a natural setting inhabited by over 500 birds from around the world, including the only King Penguins in England and over 50 aviaries of parrots, falcons, pheasants, hornbills, toucans, touracos, pigeons, ibis and many more. Tropical, Desert and Toucan Houses are home to the more delicate species.

We house over 500 birds; Flamingos, pelicans, penguins, cranes, storks, cassowary, and waterfowl can be seen on various aspects of the water habitat.

Over 50 aviaries of parrots, falcons, pheasants, hornbills, toucans, touracos, pigeons, ibis and many more. Tropical, Desert and Toucan Houses are home to the more delicate species.

Home to the only King Penguins to be found in England, Wales and Ireland.

Directions : Cheltenham take A40 to Oxford . At Andoversford Traffic lights Turn left to Bourton on the Water and follow Brown tourist signs.
Opening : APRIL - OCTOBER 10am - 6pm

NOVEMBER - MARCH 10am - 4pm

Last admission one hour before closing

Open All Year except Christmas Day

Address	Rissington Road,Bourton-on-the-Water,Gloucestershire,GL54 2BN
Telephone	01451 820480
Web Address	www.birdland.co.uk