Attractions include:
Birdland - Park and Gardens
The Miniature Village
The Model Railway Exhibition
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
Cotswold Farm Park
Cotswold Water Park & Keynes Country Park
Cotswold Wild Life Park
Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway
Prinknash Bird and Deer Park
Nearby attractions (Safari & Leisure Park,
Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace etc)
Birdland - Park and Gardens
For Adults and children of all ages. Seven acres of woodland, river
and gardens, inhabited by over 500 birds, flamingos, pelicans, penguins
and cranes, 50 aviaries, also tropical, temperate, and desert houses.
Picnic areas, cafe, gifts and play area.
Open all year. Birdland, Bourton-on-the-Water, GL54 2BN.
Tel: 01451 820480.
The Miniature Village,
a small-scale faithful recreation of the Bourton itself, through which
the children can stroll like Gulliver in Lilliput.
The Model Railway Exhibition,
an indoor exhibition of half a dozen working models of complex railway
networks, that will entertain children of all ages for hours.
Cotswold Motoring Museum &
Toy Collection
For adults and older children. Famous as the home of "Brum"
the little car from the childrens' TV series, this collection of vehicles
includes cars, motorcycles and caravans displayed with all kinds of
memorabilia. There is also one of the largest collections of metal motoring
signs and a number of teddy bears and rare pedal cars - something for
everyone.
The Maze, next door to Birdland and a challenge to the most adventurous
child
Allow yourself a full day for a visit to Bourton on the Water
Cotswold Farm Park
A rare treat for all the family and especially children. From Gloucester
cattle to Guernsey goats, Cotswold sheep to Crested ducks, there is
a rare British breed for every week of the year. Animal audio tour,
tractor school and Farm Safari Ride. Touch animals, adventure playground,
pets corner, gift shop, and cafe.
Open 24 March to 30 September. October at weekend only and Autumn half
term. Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, GL54 5UG. Tel:01451 850307.
Web site: www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk. Directions: Follow brown signs
from Stow-on-the-Wold or Bourton-on-the-Water.
Cotswold Water Park & Keynes
Country Park
For adults and children of all ages. Britain's largest Water Park -
132 great lakes south of Cirencester. All outdoor needs are satisfied
including:- nature reserves, country parks, water sports, Thames Path,
cycling, fishing, riding, caravanning and camping. Safe summer bathing
, lakeside cafe, walks cycling, barbecues, children's play area, bike,
boat, and surf bike hire. Waterland outdoor activities centre. Disabled
wheelchair access at Keynes Country Park.
Open all year. Cotswold Water Park & Keynes Country Park, Shorncote,
Cirencester, GL5 6DF. Tel: 01285 860186. Web site: www.waterpark.org.
Directions: 3.5 miles west of A419 Spine Road junction.
Cotswold Wild Life Park
For adults and children of all ages. The great favourites are the rhinos
which roam in a wide ranging field surrounded by a ha ha, and when they're
in their pen they are so close you can scratch their backs. The Park
exhibits over 200 animal species in approximately 200 acres of parkland
and beautiful gardens with a fine variety of plants around a setting
of a listed Victorian Manor House. Facilities include cafe, picnic areas,
adventure playground, narrow-gauge railway, and gift shop. Disabled
wheelchair access provided for.
Open all year. Cotswold Wild Life Park, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX18 4JW.
Tel: 01993 823006. Web site: www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk.
Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam
Railway
The Steam Railway is based at Toddington (between Broadway and Winchcombe)
and operates a round trip of 13 miles to just beyond Gotherington a
few miles from Cheltenham Racecourse. Departing from the restored station
at Toddington you will travel past the village of Didbrook and the site
of Hayles Abbey onto Winchcombe and finally Gotherington. The line is
being extended to Cheltenham Racecourse and will be open 2003. Good
views of the Cotswolds Hills can be seen from both sides of the train.
Open certain dates throughout the year. Gloucestershire Warwickshire
Railway, Toddington, Gloucestershire, GL54 5DT. Tel 01242 621405. Web
site: www.gwsr.plc.uk.
Prinknash Bird and Deer Park
For adults and children of all ages. Feed and stroke the beautiful Fallow
Deer. See one of the biggest collections of displaying peacocks, the
numerous waterfowl, the exotic pheasants, ducklings, the amusing Pygmy
goats and the lovely two storey Tudor Wendy house by the lake.
Open all year. Prinknash Park, Cranham, GL4 8EX. Tel: 01452 812727.
Directions: M5 Junction 11a, on A46 between Cheltenham and Stroud.
Nearby attractions:
Depending on which part of the Cotswolds you're staying
in it's an easy drive to places that offer lots of entertainment to
children; for example Stratford on Avon, Warwick and especially the
magnificent castle, Oxford with punting and the endlessly fascinating
Pitt Rivers Museum, The West Midlands Safari Park at Bewdley, and Bath
with its recently refurbished Roman baths.
Safari & Leisure Park
The Safari and Leisure Park caters for adults and children with many
wild animals to see and drive next to. The children will love the leisure
park with many amusements.
The Park is situated on the A456 between Kidderminster and Bewdley and
is open 7 days each week, including Bank Holidays, from Saturday 16
March until Sunday 3 November 2002. West Midland Safari and Leisure
Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF.
E-mail www.
Warwick Castle
A great day out for both adults and children. The Castle is one of the
best preserved in the UK and dates back to William the Conqueror. It
brings to life a thousand years of history. Here you can experience
the sights and sounds of the medieval household, chilling dungeon and
torture chambers, state rooms, towers and ramparts. In addition there
are live shows of sword fighting, falconry, and knights jousting. This
venue is a must for children of all ages.
Open all year. Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4QU. Tel:
01926 406600. Web site: www.warwick-castle
Cirencester, an attractive town in its own right
but also the home of arguably the best and most child-friendly Roman
Museum in the country. If your youngsters are on to the Romans at school
see if you can get permission to go up the tower of the church in the
market place; from the top you get a magnificent view of the four Roman
roads running as straight as an arrow into the far distance.
Blenheim Palace Woodstock. Probably the kids won't
be too interested in the opulence of the palace and the Churchill memorabilia
exhibition but the parkland is a magnificent place for a picnic, and
the miniature railway provides a popular ride through the park to the
walled garden. Here you find a top class Jungle Jim, a challenging maze,
a collection of other mazes to appeal to the nerds in your family, large
scale chess and draughts boards and a putting green.
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