Winchcombe

Winchcombe is a town of 5,300 people (2019) in the Cotswolds. Winchcombe is a popular destination for walkers and history fans. With people often visiting the running Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage Railway steam train that connects it to Broadway and the Cheltenham Racecourse; and Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Queen Katherine Parr, that lies on its outskirts.

Understand

 * Experience Winchcombe visitor information

By car
Winchcombe is isolated from motorways and main A-roads. If you are driving in you will be relying on rural B-roads:


 * From Cheltenham, Winchcombe is a drive along the B4632.
 * From Evesham, on the B4078.
 * From Tewkesbury, on the B4077.
 * From Stow-on-the-Wold, on the B4077.

By bus
Stagecoach run the W bus from the Royal Well bus station in Cheltenham to Winchcombe hourly, with the N bus providing an early morning and a late evening bus option.

By train
The nearest train station is Cheltenham Spa in Cheltenham, which has connections to London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

Evesham station in Evesham is also nearby, which has connections to London Paddington, Oxford and Worcester.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage Railway runs from the Cheltenham Race Course to Broadway, stopping in Winchcombe.

By car
Parking is available around the town and isn't expensive.



See

 * A structure was built on what would later be called Sudeley Castle as far back as the Anglo-Saxon Princess Goda (1004-1027).
 * The castle itself and many surrounding buildings such as the chapel was constructed in 1442 by Ralph Boteler, when he acquired the title Baron Sudeley from King Stephen. Unfortunately Boteler had allegiance to the Lancastrians, which meant Sudeley Castle was requisitioned by King Edward IV and given to his brother Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King Richard III to plan for the Battle of Tewkesbury (which they'd later win). Henry VII, Richard III's successor inherited the property and gave it to his uncle Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford. Then Henry VIII and his then wife Anne Boleyn visited Sudeley Castle in 1535. His 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr died in the castle and was buried in the chapel, which is unusual for any monarch.
 * In 1837, Sudeley Castle was bought by the Dent family, a glove magnate from nearby Worcester whose clientele include the royal family and the actors Daniel Craig and Jack Nicholson. Since 1972, it has been owned by Lady Ashcombe (the widow of the late Mark Dent-Brocklehurst) and her family. A 2007 BBC documentary Crisis at the Castle suggested there was a family feud over whether Lady Ashcombe should have moved out to the dowry house on the estate.
 * A structure was built on what would later be called Sudeley Castle as far back as the Anglo-Saxon Princess Goda (1004-1027).
 * The castle itself and many surrounding buildings such as the chapel was constructed in 1442 by Ralph Boteler, when he acquired the title Baron Sudeley from King Stephen. Unfortunately Boteler had allegiance to the Lancastrians, which meant Sudeley Castle was requisitioned by King Edward IV and given to his brother Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King Richard III to plan for the Battle of Tewkesbury (which they'd later win). Henry VII, Richard III's successor inherited the property and gave it to his uncle Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford. Then Henry VIII and his then wife Anne Boleyn visited Sudeley Castle in 1535. His 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr died in the castle and was buried in the chapel, which is unusual for any monarch.
 * In 1837, Sudeley Castle was bought by the Dent family, a glove magnate from nearby Worcester whose clientele include the royal family and the actors Daniel Craig and Jack Nicholson. Since 1972, it has been owned by Lady Ashcombe (the widow of the late Mark Dent-Brocklehurst) and her family. A 2007 BBC documentary Crisis at the Castle suggested there was a family feud over whether Lady Ashcombe should have moved out to the dowry house on the estate.
 * The castle itself and many surrounding buildings such as the chapel was constructed in 1442 by Ralph Boteler, when he acquired the title Baron Sudeley from King Stephen. Unfortunately Boteler had allegiance to the Lancastrians, which meant Sudeley Castle was requisitioned by King Edward IV and given to his brother Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King Richard III to plan for the Battle of Tewkesbury (which they'd later win). Henry VII, Richard III's successor inherited the property and gave it to his uncle Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford. Then Henry VIII and his then wife Anne Boleyn visited Sudeley Castle in 1535. His 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr died in the castle and was buried in the chapel, which is unusual for any monarch.
 * In 1837, Sudeley Castle was bought by the Dent family, a glove magnate from nearby Worcester whose clientele include the royal family and the actors Daniel Craig and Jack Nicholson. Since 1972, it has been owned by Lady Ashcombe (the widow of the late Mark Dent-Brocklehurst) and her family. A 2007 BBC documentary Crisis at the Castle suggested there was a family feud over whether Lady Ashcombe should have moved out to the dowry house on the estate.

Walks
Winchcombe is surrounded by beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, with many walking trails passing through it.



Buy
Being a small Cotswold town, Winchcombe's shops are mostly convenience stores such as The Co-operative or independently owned businesses. The nearest large supermarket is the Tesco Superstore in Bishop's Cleeve.



Drink
Winchcombe has a few pubs and inns.

The town has its own brewery, Goffs Brewery; serving brews named after medieval military units such as Goffs Jouster (though this brand seems to have had a lukewarm reception ) due to the town's proximity to Sudeley Castle.



Sleep
Winchcombe primarily offers B&Bs and rooms within pubs. However, there are also self-catering cottages dotted around the town. Cheltenham would have more accommodation though it would be all booked out in April when Cheltenham Gold Cup is on.

Connect


Despite being part of the Tewkesbury district, Winchcombe uses Cheltenham's telephone area code of 01242 (or +44 1242). After the area code, most phone numbers have a prefix of 602 or 603.



North

 * Broadway – – another Cotswold town, known for its tall tower and the nearby Snowshill Manor
 * Evesham – – town

East

 * Burford – – another Cotswold town, known for its garden centre and antique shops
 * Stow-on-the-Wold – – another Cotswold town, known for its antique shops and market
 * Oxford – – city, known for its university and museums

West

 * Tewkesbury – – town, known for its abbey and its eponymous battle in 1471

South

 * Cheltenham – – spa town, known for its racecourse (particularly the gold cup) and its festivals
 * Cirencester – – town, known for its Roman heritage