Things To Do in Cirencester
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Cirencester Attractions
Cirencester has some of the greatest walks and scenic views of any town in the Cotswolds. You don't have to go miles out of town to enjoy a stroll -- they are easily reached from the center at Market Place. On the grounds of the Church of St. John the Baptist , attractive trees and shrubs highlight a well-manicured landscape. You can see swans and wild fowl on the River Churn and the lake, even remnants of the town's Roman walls. For a great stroll, take 1.6km-long (1 mile) riverside walk along the Churn from Barton Lane to the Abbey Grounds.
For more walks, head south from Market Place for 4.8km (3 miles) to Cotswold Water Park, a 1,214-hectare (3,000-acre) setting of parkland and woodland walks. Pedestrian access is from Cecily Hill (no vehicles). This is Britain's largest water park, with more than 133 lakes created by extracting gravel. Known for its wildlife, the park is filled with picnic tables and barbecue sites, along with a network of footpaths. Concessions here will hook you up with sailing, fishing, canoeing, cycling, kayaking, horseback riding, and water-skiing. All equipment needed is for rent on-site. Swimming is possible June to September. The park is signposted off B4696, Shorncote (tel. 01285/861459; www.waterpark.org). Entrance to the park June to August Monday to Friday is £3 for adults, rising to £4 on Saturday and Sunday; the rest of the year it's £1 for adults. Children pay 50p April to September; from October to March, children enter free.
Brewery Arts Centre
The living heart of this arts complex is the workshop area of 15 resident crafts workers, who produce everything from baskets to chandeliers. Other components of the center include three galleries, featuring crafts and fine-art exhibitions alike, a theater, education classes, a shop…- Religious Site
Church of St. John the Baptist
A church may have stood here in Saxon times, but the present building overlooking the Market Place in the town center dates from Norman times and Henry I. In size, it appears more like a cathedral than a mere parish church, with a variety of styles, largely Perpendicular, as in the…
Cirencester Shopping
For antiques in Cirencester, try William H. Stokes, the Cloisters, 6-8 Dollar St. (tel. 01285/653907; www.williamhstokes.co.uk), which specializes in furniture, tapestries, and other items from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The arts complex known as the Brewery Arts Centre has 15 independent workshops of area craftspeople ranging from jewelers and weavers to basket makers. Three galleries and a crafts shop recognized by the Crafts Council sell many of the artists' wares.
