Cirencester Attractions
The range of attractions in and around Cirencester includes the excellent Corinium Museum, the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre and Cirencester Park (just a short walk from the town centre). The Abbey Grounds behind the church provides a convenient and pleasant location to sit and eat a sandwich as you have a break from walking around the town.
Slightly further afield, The Cotswold Water Park and The Cotswold Wildlife Park are a short drive from Cirencester.
Mention Cirencester attractions, and you really must mention the Corinium Museum. Many people will have childhood memories of The Corinium Museum as it is on the list of school visits for many schools, but the quality of the Museum may only really be appreciated if you visit again as an adult.
The Corinium Museum strives to encourage access for all to its nationally important collections. Access to the museum collections is provided through the permanent displays within the museum, plus an extensive education and outreach programme. Further access is achieved through a diverse and imaginative temporary exhibitions programme.
There is no parking for the Corinium Museum, so use one of the town centre car parks which are within easy walking distance.
A Host Of Holiday Fun At The Corinium Museum
From storytelling to life in Roman Corinium workshops, there is something for all the family at the Corinium Museum, Cirencester over the Easter school holidays.
The Park Street museum will host several family drop-in sessions during the holiday break, including attempts to recreate crafts and characters from both the Victorian and Medieval eras, as well as workshops were children can explore household items and their uses through history.
A ‘Victorian Quilling’ pictures session will take place on Wednesday April 9th, where children and visitors can re-create the popular 19th Century craft activity and make their own pictures with rolled-up paper. This event runs from 1pm-3pm and the price is included in the Museum’s cost of admission, or £1 for the activity only.
Children will also be able to make their own Medieval figure with the ‘Make a Jousting Knight’ (1pm-3pm) event on April 16th, where pieces of card and paper are folded and fashioned into your very own Medieval knight complete with jousting tent. Booking for this event is essential and is included in the Museum’s normal admission price, or £1 for the activity only.
Places are available on the children’s workshops, with youngsters sure to take an interest in ‘Toilets through Time’ on April 10th, where they will hear about the range and quality of different types of toilet used through history. The children will also work together to make large model toilets. Or why not book for the workshop on April 17th on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. These sessions run from 10.30am-12pm, are suitable for children aged 7–11 and cost £4 per child (£2 per child for season ticket holders/Friends of Corinium Museum).
The family workshops, which run from 2.30pm-4pm, are Life in Roman Corinium on April 8th and ‘Cracking the Code’ on April 10th which both provide fun and learning for all the family. These workshops are included in the cost of admission but pre-booking is required and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Or why not come to the Corinium Museum on April 17th at 2pm to listen to the Storysmith with his ‘Tales from the Court of King Arthur’. Find out about Sir Gawain, the bearded lady and the Green Knight. Tickets are on sale now and cost £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for children.
The museum will also hold Archaeology seminars for 9-12 year olds. These are a great introduction for children about how archaeologists build a picture of the past using site reports and objects from the collection. This is a new activity developed by museum staff to encourage children to discover new things about their past. Contact the museum for further details.
Events tailored for adults include the Rural Cinema scheme visiting the Corinium Museum for showings of the romantic Julie Christie film ‘Away from her’ on March 30th (2.15pm) and ‘La Vie en Rose’, a biopic of the French singer Edith Piaf, which will be shown on April 27th.
There are also places left on the evening lecture series – Paul Nichols of Gloucestershire Archaeology will be talking about the Iron Age Discoveries at Bourton on the Water on Thursday 27th March (7pm).
For more information and to book a place on any of the above event, please contact the Corinium Museum on 01285 655611, email museums@cotswold.go.uk or visit our website at www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/museum
Cirencester Park, home to the Bathurst family, is a sea of tranquility just a short walk from the centre of the bustling market town of Cirencester.
The main pedestrian entrance to Cirencester Park can be found at the top of Cecily Hill. Entrance to the park is free of charge and it is usually open 8am to 5pm (opening times are posted on the gates at the entrance to Cirencester Park).
Dogs are allowed in the park and they can run freely, apart from near the entrance where you are asked to keep them on a lead. You can also ride through the park on horseback.
On entering Cirencester Park from the Cecily Hill entrance you will see a long tree-lined path stretch into the distance. This is known as the Broad Ride and it is approximately 1 mile in length. You can walk up this pathway or take one of the many pathways which lead off the main route.
There are several follies and buidlings in the park one of which, Pope's Seat, was built for Alexander Pope, friend and advisor to the first Earl Bathurst.
The Abbey Grounds can be found behind the Church and The Market Place. The grounds contain the site of St Mary’s Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. It remained until the Dissolution in 1539 when the Abbey was completely demolished. Today, the site of the Abbey isoutlined with paving stones.
In the Abbey Grounds grounds you will find a lake (home to a large population of wildfowl), impressive trees and greenery and section of ancient Roman Wall.
The Abbey Gounds is also home to a bandstand (completed in 1999) on which bands perform during the summer months.
Cirencester's Roman Amphitheatre lies to the West of the town, and eagle-eyed motorists may have seen it whilst driving along the dual carriageway between Waitrose and the roundabout by the Fire Station.
The Roman Amphitheatre in Cirencester is one of the best preserved amphitheatres in Britain and consists of a large oval arena with steeply sloping banked sides.
Pedestrians and motorists are advised to enter the amphitheatre from Cotswold Avenue.
The Cirencester Roman Amphtheatre is open all year round and there is no entrance fee.
Slightly further afield, The Cotswold Water Park and The Cotswold Wildlife Park are a short drive from Cirencester.
The Corinium Museum, Cirencester
Mention Cirencester attractions, and you really must mention the Corinium Museum. Many people will have childhood memories of The Corinium Museum as it is on the list of school visits for many schools, but the quality of the Museum may only really be appreciated if you visit again as an adult.The Corinium Museum strives to encourage access for all to its nationally important collections. Access to the museum collections is provided through the permanent displays within the museum, plus an extensive education and outreach programme. Further access is achieved through a diverse and imaginative temporary exhibitions programme.
There is no parking for the Corinium Museum, so use one of the town centre car parks which are within easy walking distance.
A Host Of Holiday Fun At The Corinium Museum
From storytelling to life in Roman Corinium workshops, there is something for all the family at the Corinium Museum, Cirencester over the Easter school holidays.
The Park Street museum will host several family drop-in sessions during the holiday break, including attempts to recreate crafts and characters from both the Victorian and Medieval eras, as well as workshops were children can explore household items and their uses through history.
A ‘Victorian Quilling’ pictures session will take place on Wednesday April 9th, where children and visitors can re-create the popular 19th Century craft activity and make their own pictures with rolled-up paper. This event runs from 1pm-3pm and the price is included in the Museum’s cost of admission, or £1 for the activity only.
Children will also be able to make their own Medieval figure with the ‘Make a Jousting Knight’ (1pm-3pm) event on April 16th, where pieces of card and paper are folded and fashioned into your very own Medieval knight complete with jousting tent. Booking for this event is essential and is included in the Museum’s normal admission price, or £1 for the activity only.
Places are available on the children’s workshops, with youngsters sure to take an interest in ‘Toilets through Time’ on April 10th, where they will hear about the range and quality of different types of toilet used through history. The children will also work together to make large model toilets. Or why not book for the workshop on April 17th on Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. These sessions run from 10.30am-12pm, are suitable for children aged 7–11 and cost £4 per child (£2 per child for season ticket holders/Friends of Corinium Museum).
The family workshops, which run from 2.30pm-4pm, are Life in Roman Corinium on April 8th and ‘Cracking the Code’ on April 10th which both provide fun and learning for all the family. These workshops are included in the cost of admission but pre-booking is required and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Or why not come to the Corinium Museum on April 17th at 2pm to listen to the Storysmith with his ‘Tales from the Court of King Arthur’. Find out about Sir Gawain, the bearded lady and the Green Knight. Tickets are on sale now and cost £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for children.
The museum will also hold Archaeology seminars for 9-12 year olds. These are a great introduction for children about how archaeologists build a picture of the past using site reports and objects from the collection. This is a new activity developed by museum staff to encourage children to discover new things about their past. Contact the museum for further details.
Events tailored for adults include the Rural Cinema scheme visiting the Corinium Museum for showings of the romantic Julie Christie film ‘Away from her’ on March 30th (2.15pm) and ‘La Vie en Rose’, a biopic of the French singer Edith Piaf, which will be shown on April 27th.
There are also places left on the evening lecture series – Paul Nichols of Gloucestershire Archaeology will be talking about the Iron Age Discoveries at Bourton on the Water on Thursday 27th March (7pm).
For more information and to book a place on any of the above event, please contact the Corinium Museum on 01285 655611, email museums@cotswold.go.uk or visit our website at www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/museum
Cirencester Park
Cirencester Park, home to the Bathurst family, is a sea of tranquility just a short walk from the centre of the bustling market town of Cirencester.
The main pedestrian entrance to Cirencester Park can be found at the top of Cecily Hill. Entrance to the park is free of charge and it is usually open 8am to 5pm (opening times are posted on the gates at the entrance to Cirencester Park).Dogs are allowed in the park and they can run freely, apart from near the entrance where you are asked to keep them on a lead. You can also ride through the park on horseback.
On entering Cirencester Park from the Cecily Hill entrance you will see a long tree-lined path stretch into the distance. This is known as the Broad Ride and it is approximately 1 mile in length. You can walk up this pathway or take one of the many pathways which lead off the main route.
There are several follies and buidlings in the park one of which, Pope's Seat, was built for Alexander Pope, friend and advisor to the first Earl Bathurst.
Abbey Grounds
The Abbey Grounds can be found behind the Church and The Market Place. The grounds contain the site of St Mary’s Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. It remained until the Dissolution in 1539 when the Abbey was completely demolished. Today, the site of the Abbey isoutlined with paving stones.In the Abbey Grounds grounds you will find a lake (home to a large population of wildfowl), impressive trees and greenery and section of ancient Roman Wall.
The Abbey Gounds is also home to a bandstand (completed in 1999) on which bands perform during the summer months.
Roman Amphitheatre
Cirencester's Roman Amphitheatre lies to the West of the town, and eagle-eyed motorists may have seen it whilst driving along the dual carriageway between Waitrose and the roundabout by the Fire Station.
The Roman Amphitheatre in Cirencester is one of the best preserved amphitheatres in Britain and consists of a large oval arena with steeply sloping banked sides.
Pedestrians and motorists are advised to enter the amphitheatre from Cotswold Avenue.
The Cirencester Roman Amphtheatre is open all year round and there is no entrance fee.