Places to visit near Fairford

[737-200]

Hi Guys,

After a lovely few days at Fairford we are thinking of going to stay at Kempsford for the week next year.

The other half isn't really interested in aircraft and just puts up with it for me so I was wondering if any of you guys know of any places to visit if we came down say the Tuesday before?? I know Longleat is about an hours drive away so thinking of going there one day.

Any other ideas / suggestions?

Kind Regards,

Mark

[parabola50]

Stonehenge isn't too far from Longleat if that kind of thing interests you.

[lynothehammer]

The Cotswold Zoo is nearby too, was thinking of checking that out next year myself...

[bigwokka]

If you are into nature, the Cotswold Water Park is a beautiful place to go, if you google it, they have a website with maps.

If history and Trains are preferred to aircraft, then the Swindon Steam museum is a must. Or even Lydiard House and Bowood House are in the area.

[Russ]

Stroud is a lovely place too, very scenic and relatively local to Fairford.

[aviodromefriend]

Have you read http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/VisitorInformation/accommodation#top? and you can also find some local links at http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/Links/Links (just scroll down a bit).

[farnboroughrob]

I would say head up into the Cotswold's, of which Fairford is on the edge of. Two of the main towns are Bourton-on-the-water and Stow-on-the-Wold both picturesque small towns in a 1950's time warp. I would recommend the Cotswold Wildlife park if you are into animals, it has the bonus of being on the approach to Brize Norton too! They are all within an hour of Fairford

[737-200]

Thanks guys. A few ideas to work with there!

Got quite a while to get something sorted but I'll let you know.

Thanks again,

Mark

[henk99]

I would say head up into the Cotswold's, of which Fairford is on the edge of. Two of the main towns are Bourton-on-the-water and Stow-on-the-Wold both picturesque small towns in a 1950's time warp. I would recommend the Cotswold Wildlife park if you are into animals, it has the bonus of being on the approach to Brize Norton too! They are all within an hour of Fairford

I second all of these. I'm from the Netherlands myself and always spend the RIAT weekend with friends in Lechlade. They have also shown me around the Cotswold's a few times. I can add Bibury with it's Arlington Row as a personal favorite. I really like that one!

[BigRedDogATL]

If you decide to drive down to Stonehenge, it will take about an hour from Swindon to get there. Also be sure to arrive before 7 p.m., because Stonehenge closes to the public at 7 p.m., although you can see it from the road.

During RIAT 2011 I stayed in Swindon. Sorry to say this but I found the town to be quite boring. There wasn't anything there I felt compelled to get out and see. I tried to go to their Outlet mall and find the Train museum, but the road signs weren't easy to follow and I never found the places.

[Arthur Tee]

As mentioned before Bourton-on-the-Water is well worth a visit.
Burford Wildlife Park is very close by - but not too close as to get caught up in the show traffic.

Arthur

[Abingdonman]

How times have changed though,we visited Stonehenge around 1971 and had a nice relaxed walk among the stones,last visit we had to view through a fence .....and had to pay for the privilege!

[mrlovepantsuk]

Love Bourton On The Water, it has Birdland, Model Village, Car Museum and a minature world. Chedworth Roman Villa is not too far away as is the Roman Museum at Cirencester.

[trebleone]

If you've any interest in looking at varieties of trees (I know, I know ) there's the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, only about 25 miles from Fairford. See here: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

[Fumbles]

Sorry for the late reply... I have just finished my holidays here and just got back in the swing of things like work and such... After many years of staying at Kempsford. I will say there is tons of things to do within or just over an hour of driving. Fairford church we visited this year has some of the oldest if not the oldest original stained glass in all of the UK, Visit a little further and you can visit the Roman museum in Cirencester. If the wife is feeling adventurous... there is always a trip to Bath. Only about 1 hour away from Kempsford. A beautiful city with a great Roman bath. She could always try out the spa there too. You may not like it.. but Bath has a brand spanking new shopping center too.

[AlexC]

Fairford church we visited this year has some of the oldest if not the oldest original stained glass in all of the UK.

I love our ancient churches, and Fairford is one of the best of the many fine churches in Gloucestershire. The glass is very fine, but nowhere near the oldest in the UK. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the best places to see some of our oldest stained glass, although there are further remains all over the country, you just need to know where to look. The vast majority of our stained (probably better described as painted) glass was destroyed by the iconoclasts, and I hope that they are rotting in Hell, well I would if I believed in Hell!

[iainpeden]

Brunel's SS Great Britain at Bristol.