Name: Woodchester Park
Rating: 5.0

Woodchester Park

Tinkley Lane, Nympsfield, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 3UH, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Woodchester Park the tranquil wooded valley contains a 'lost landscape' with remains of an 18th- and 19th-century landscape park with a chain of five lakes. Park Mill Pond is the last of these lakes and features a man-made island that is now a heronry. Large carp can also be seen in the waters.

Secreted away in the surrounding woodland, you'll find an old Boat House, built in the early 19th century. It was restored in 1998 and bats now roost in the roof space, emerging at dusk to hunt over the lake. The wood also hides a disused quarry, which was in use until the early 1900s and provided stone for the Woodchester Estate.

If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Parkland: Tranquil wooded valley with remains of an 18th and 19th-century landscape park and a chain of five lakes.
Woodchester Mansion (not National Trust): Unfinished, Victorian Gothic mansion where building was halted when the owner, William Leigh, ran out of money. Open seasonally, check the Woodchester Mansion Trust website for dates.
Natural play trail: Stepping logs and balance beams in a woodland setting.
Boathouse: 19th-century boathouse believed to have been designed by John Adey Repton, son of landscape designer, Humphry Repton.
Woodchester Mansion café (not National Trust): Tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice cream. Open seasonally. Please check the Woodchester Mansion Trust website for details.
Pre-loved Bookstore: We have a second-hand bookstore available at Tinkley Gate. In a cosy cabin area, pick a book and take some time to yourself, or why not help yourself to our free walking poles for visitors and backpacks to carry on your walk.
Tramper Hire Available: Working with the Countryside Mobility Scheme, we are very pleased to be able to open up the countryside for everyone thanks to an all-terrain mobility scooter. View our accessibility tab for more information on how to book.
Things to see and do at Woodchester Park: Situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, Woodchester Park boasts waymarked walking trails, limestone grasslands and lakes. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, its extraordinary variety of habitats provides an invaluable refuge to a wide variety of wildlife including birds, spawning fish and rare bats.
Family-friendly things to do at Woodchester Park: Explore nature with the whole family at Woodchester Park. Whether you're discovering trails at Tinkley Gate, exploring the play trail or taking a walk in Woodchester Park itself, there's plenty to enjoy for the whole family. This summer, why not also join us for Summer of Play.
Accessibility at Woodchester Park: In this article, read more about the facilities available at Woodchester Park and Tinkley Gate to make your visit here easier and more enjoyable.
Christmas at Woodchester Park: The Christmas and winter season at Woodchester Park is the perfect time to visit to see the changing seasons, offering offer peaceful walks, festive cheer at Tinkley Gate and a deep connection to nature.

Facilities

Parking: Pay and Display £3 all day (NT members park for free), no change given from ticket machine.
Food & Drinks: The café is available at the Tinkley Gate entrance to the park. The café at Woodchester Mansion is open seasonally, for more details please check the Mansion Trust website. For more information on the Tinkley Gate café menu and serving times, view our article 'Eating and Shopping at Tinkley Gate'
Toilet: Toilet facilities are available at the café at the Tinkley Gate entrance to the park. Toilets available at Woodchester Mansion (not NT) on mansion open days.
Dogs allowed: Keep dogs on a lead at all times.

What to see

History of Woodchester Park: Once home to a lavish house set in acres of wild parkland, complete with terraced gardens and a boathouse, Woodchester Park was the epitome of a gentleman’s country estate. Today, an unfinished Gothic mansion that stands within its grounds harks back to the human history of this landscape.

For more upcoming events information please visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gloucestershire-cotswolds/woodchester-park/history-of-woodchester-park

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Buckholt car park: Dawn - Dusk
Tinkley Gate car park: 09:00 - 16:00
Tinkley Gate café: 10:00 - 15:30

Address: Tinkley Lane, Nympsfield, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 3UH, UK

Post Code: GL10 3UH

Council: Stroud

County: Gloucestershire

By road: For Tinkley Gate entrance - from Stroud direction, follow the A46 into Nailsworth. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto Nympsfield Road. Continue up the hill, and follow Tinkley Lane for half a mile. The entrance to Tinkley Gate is on your right. From Bath direction, follow the A46 into Nailsworth. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Nympsfield Road. Continue up the hill, and follow Tinkley Lane for half a mile. The entrance to Tinkley Gate is on your right. For Buckholt car park - off B4066 Stroud to Dursley road.
On foot: The Cotswolds Way goes around the outside of the park, and meets Dursley’s Lantern Way.
By train: Stroud train station is 5 miles away. Trains run to Stroud from: Cheltenham Spa (30 mins), Gloucester (15 mins), Swindon (25 mins) and also London Paddington.
By bus: The number 65 bus operates between Stroud and Gloucester, with a stop at Tinkley Corner. Most buses in England are offering £2 Single Fares until 31st December 2024.
Cycling: Cycle route National Route 43, the Stroud Valleys Trail goes from Stroud to Nailsworth. Plan your cycle route here. We are Good Journey accredited at Tinkley Gate, so let it be known if you arrive on your bike, and you'll receive a free hot drink on us.
Parking: Pay and Display £3 all day (NT members park for free), no change given from ticket machine.