Broadway's High Street is one of the most beautiful in England -- perhaps the most beautiful, if the summer tour buses and hordes of visitors don't run you down. Many of its striking facades date from 1620 or a century or two later. The most famous facade is that of the Lygon Arms , a venerable old inn that has been serving wayfarers since 1532. Even if you're not staying here, you may want to visit for a meal or a drink.
You may also seek out St. Eadurgha's Church, a place of Christian worship for more than 1,000 years. It's located just outside Broadway on Snowshill Road and is open most days, though with no set visiting hours. If it's closed at the time of your visit, a note on the porch door will tell you what house to go to for the key. Occasional Sunday services are held here.
On the outskirts of Broadway stands the Broadway Tower Country Park on Broadway Hill (tel. 01386/852390; www.broadway-cotswolds.co.uk/tower.html), a "folly" created by the fanciful mind of the sixth Earl of Coventry. Today, you can climb this tower on a clear day for a panoramic vista of 12 shires. It's the most sweeping view in the Cotswolds. The tower is open from April to October daily 10:30am to 5pm, and November to March Saturday and Sunday 11am to 3pm. Admission is £3.80 for adults, £2.30 for children, and £10 for a family ticket. You can also bring the makings for a picnic here and spread them out for your lunch in designated areas.
Five kilometers (3 miles) south of Broadway, a final attraction is Snowshill Manor, at Snowshill (tel. 01386/852410; www.nationaltrust.org.uk), a house that dates mainly from the 17th century. The village of Snowshill itself is one of the most unspoiled in the Cotswolds. It was once owned by an eccentric, Charles Paget Wade, who collected virtually everything he could between 1900 and 1951. Queen Mary once remarked that Wade himself was the most remarkable artifact among his entire flea market. You'll find a little bit of everything here: Flemish tapestries, toys, lacquer cabinets, narwhal tusks, mousetraps, and cuckoo clocks -- a glorious mess, like a giant attic of the 20th century. The property, owned by the National Trust, is open March 19 to December 14 Wednesday to Sunday noon to 4pm; the gardens are open during the same period. Admission is £8.10 for adults, £4.10 for children, and £21 for a family ticket. Garden admission is £4.40 adults, £2.20 children, and £11 family ticket.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
