Things to do in Broadway the Cotswolds

By Leonie Eastwood 2016-03-10T16:49:00Z

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Broadway is the jewel in the Cotswold crown - beautiful, historic, a lovely village to explore and a perfect base for touring the local area. The warm honey-coloured Cotswold stone buildings attract visitors from all over the world.

If you're planning to spend some time in and around Broadway, then don't miss the following attractions: Broadway Tower

This impressive tower stands 65ft high on top of an ancient beacon site that's the second highest point in the Cotswolds. From here on a good day you can gaze across a huge swathe of the country to see 16 other counties. The brainchild of Capability Brown, Broadway Tower was built for the Earl of Coventry in 1798 by the architect James Wyatt.

The story runs that Broadway Tower was built for the Countess of Coventry to see if her Cotswold estate was visible from Croome Court in Worcestershire. A fire was lit and Broadway Tower was clearly seen from Croome. As a result, the Earl of Coventry commissioned the Tower to commemorate the occasion.

Admission costs £5 for adults, £3 for 6 to 16s. A family ticket (2+2) costs £14.

Gordon Russell Design Museum

Gordon Russell was a design pioneer; not only a furniture designer but a calligrapher, entrepreneur and educator, too. You'll find the museum in Russell Square, right in the middle of Broadway, celebrating the work of Russell and his company over six decades in Broadway. Its unique collection of furniture embraces a wide range of styles, and there's an extensive archive of original drawings and notebooks. Admission costs £5 for adults, £1 for children 12 to 16.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

A short distance south-west of Broadway is Toddington and a stopping-off point for the lovely Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Hop aboard for a 25-mile round trip through some of the Cotswolds' most spectacular scenery, taking in Laverton, Stanway House, Winchcombe, Tewkesbury and even Cheltenham Racecourse. Plan your day to include a ride behind a steam or diesel locomotive, then hop off to enjoy one of 12 suggested ‘Railway Rambles'. For the true enthusiast, there are a few dates in the year where you can book a steam or diesel train driving day (from £260) as a thrilling gift for a loved one.

Fares and timetables

Bike hire Cycle Cotswolds

Cycling is a fun and healthy way to discover the beautiful area around Broadway. Cycle past pretty water meadows, leafy beech woods, sleepy stone cottages and gently rolling hills. Cycle Cotswolds (cyclecotswolds.co.uk) can plan the perfect itinerary for you, and will deliver your bikes from their base in nearby Chipping Camden. Helmets, pumps, puncture repair kits and padlocks are all included in the hire price, which starts from £12 per bike per day.

Cotswold Lavender

Spend some time at this third generation family farm set in the heart of the Cotswolds, overlooking Broadway. Lavender was first planted here in the year 2000, in fields previously used for growing wheat and barley. A visit to the Cotswolds Lavendar farm gives you the opportunity to stroll among the rows of lavender, enjoy a cream tea or light lunch in the converted stone barn, and browse the gift shop for an aromatic souvenir or two.

The seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer includes satellite navigation as standard, with real time traffic information. That lets you plan your routes around the Cotswolds to make best use of the precious weekend.