Home Destinations 14 Unique Things to Do in Broadway [The Jewel of the Cotswolds]

14 Unique Things to Do in Broadway [The Jewel of the Cotswolds]

by Michele
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Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - The Ultimate Guide
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Plan your perfect visit to Broadway, an elegant village often referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds”. From eating the best fish and chips in the Cotswolds to climbing Broadway tower for exquisite views, here are the best things to do in Broadway you mustn’t miss!

Located just 25-minutes from Stratford-Upon-Avon, Broadway is a large village named after its chestnut-lined High Street and wide “broad way” thoroughfare that once formed part of the road linking London and Wales, via Worcester. Broadway’s grass-fringed main street is flanked by ex-coaching inns and honey-coloured Cotswold limestone cottages, many dating from the 16th century. Today, these buildings are home to cute antique shops, cozy tearooms, art galleries, and luxurious hotels.

From where to stay to where to eat, here are the best things to do in Broadway, The Cotswolds. 

1. Explore the pretty houses on Upper High Street

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Rainbows over pretty Jacobean homes on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Pear Tree house on Upper High Street.jpg Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Honey-coloured stone cottage on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Garden with lots of flowers on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Garden with lots of flowers on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Elegant Jacobean homes on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Tiny cottage and garden on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Jacobean homes on Upper High Street Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Jacobean homes on Upper High Street on a sunny dayBroadway’s High Street is made up of a delightful cluster of ex-coaching inns. The most photogenic of which is located at the top of the High Street past the round-about. With the busy village behind you, this quiet residential area is a lovely place to meander and explore its many beautiful facades.

2. Don’t miss the hidden Millennium Garden

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - The Millennium Garden Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Entrance into The Millennium GardenThe Millennium Garden is quite literally a hidden gem and one of the most commonly missed spots in Broadway. Tucked away beside the Broadway Museum on the High St, this small enclosure was created to celebrate the turn of the 21st century, hence the name Millennium Garden. 

This easy-to-miss idyllic garden features several benches offering mesmerising views of the rolling Cotswolds hills and a change to stop and take it all in. You’ll also find a variety of plant species and wildlife that occupy the garden. Don’t miss this hidden delight during your visit!

3. Eat the best fish and chips at Russell’s Fish & Chips

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Eat at Russell's Fish and Chips Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Eat the best fish at chips at Russell's Fish and Chips Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Russell's Fish and ChipsYou can’t beat Russell’s Fish and Chips for a traditional fish and chips experience! This is undoubtedly the best place for the best battered fish and chips in the Cotswolds. Being a vegetarian, I got the mushy peas, chips, and battered gherkins. Oh my, were they delicious!

  • Address: Located at 20a High St, Broadway WR12 7DT between the Broadway Cook Shop and Trinity House Fine Art in a small side street.
  • Opening times: Open Monday – Saturday: 12.30pm to 3.00 pm / 4.30 pm to 8 pm; Sunday 12 noon to 6 pm
  • For more details, visit the official Russell’s Fish and Chip website here

4. Dine at the award-winning Russell’s Of Broadway

Located in front of Russell’s Fish & Chips and housed within the old workshop of the influential 20th Century British furniture designer, Sir Gordon Russell, is the award-winning Russell’s Of Broadway. Famous for serving delicious modern British food from their daily-changing menus and locally sourced ingredients, you can even stay in one of their seven stylish guestrooms and suites.

5. Eat the best scones in town at Tisanes Tea Room

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Have Afternoon Tea at Tisanes Tea Room Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Cream tea and scones at Tisanes Tea Room Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Eat Scones at Tisanes Tea Room Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Wall of Tea at Tisanes Tea RoomThis might be a bold statement, but Tisanes Tea Room is one of two places in the Cotswolds where I had the best scones and would rush back to in a heartbeat! The first one was at Lucy’s Tearoom in Stow-on-the-Wold where I had the best Afternoon Tea of my life (and I’ve had a few) and Tisanes Tea Room is the other. 

This traditional tearoom plays vintage music and serves homemade cakes, sandwiches and shortbread. Their jam and clotted cream is so light and fresh that I ate what was left over on its own! Something I never do. I sat out the back near the kitchen which didn’t provide much of an atmosphere, so I recommend asking for a table in the front room with its bay window and views of the village.

6. Climb Broadway Tower and explore Deer Park

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Visit Broadway Tower and Park Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Tower and ParkBest Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Views from the top of Broadway Tower Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Deer grazing at Broadway Tower Deer Park Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Deer grazing at Broadway Tower and Park Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Climb Broadway Tower Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Tower stairs to rooftop platform Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Tower rooftop viewing platform Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Tower and Park Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Tower and Park - Cold War BunkerNo visit to Broadway would be complete without paying a visit to Broadway Tower for a view over the whole of the Cotswolds. This eye-catching folly stands atop one of the highest hills in the Cotswolds’ and offers spectacular views from its roof platform of the surrounding 16 counties.

The tower’s concept was Initiated by Capability Brown and designed by James Wyatt in 1794. It wasn’t until a few years later that Lady Coventry sponsored the construction of the folly and Broadway Tower was built a beacon hill and lit on special occasions. 

Lady Coventry took an interest in its construction as you wanted to know whether a beacon on this hill could be seen from her house in Worcester, some 22 miles (35 km) away. Spoiler! Yes it could!

There’s more than just the tower itself to visit. Broadway Tower is set within a 50-acre estate of parkland, where you can not only climb the tower itself and visit the Tower Museum inside, but you can also visit the Deer Park, relax in the Morris & Brown café or take the 1.2km Broadway Circular Walk around the grounds.

For war and history buffs, you might be interested in visiting the subterranean Cold War-era nuclear bunker located fifteen feet below ground. Tours are by private appointment only.

  • Address: Middle Hill, Broadway WR12 7LB
  • Admission
    • Broadway Tower, Park and Picnic Ticket – Adult £8.00; 
    • Broadway Tower, Park and Picnic Ticket – Child (6-16 years) £4.00
  • Opening times: 
    • The Park – 9am – 5pm daily
    • The Tower – 10am – 5pm daily
    • Morris & Brown Cafe – 9am – 5pm daily
  • For more details, visit the official Broadway Tower & Park website here

7. Pick up the best produce at Broadway Deli and Café

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway DeliBroadway Deli is an independent delicatessen and café and an absolute must when visiting Broadway. Its colourful window display is enough to entice you inside where you can pick up a variety of fresh local produce and high quality products from around the world.  I recommend ordering a charcuterie platter and either sit outside in the garden or head upstairs to their red-clothed indoor tables.

  • Address: St Patricks, 29 High St, Broadway WR12 7DP
  • Opening times: 
    • Deli  â€“  Monday to Saturday 8 am – 5 pm; Sunday 9 am – 4 pm
    • Café –  Monday to Saturday 8 m – 3.30 pm (tea, coffee & cakes available until 4 pm); Sunday 9 am-2.30 pm (tea, coffee & cakes available until 4 pm).
  • For more details, visit the official Broadway Deli website here

8. See microscopic sculptures at Broadway Museum and Art Gallery

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Broadway Museum and Art GalleryLocated in one of Broadway’s most prominent Tudor buildings is the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery. The Museum explores the heritage and history of Broadway village and how it thrived during its wool trading years and gained popularity with travellers and artists of the time. 

It’s most exciting addition to its permanent collection is the new Willard Room, home to a permanent exhibition of over 25 micro sculptures by internationally renowned artist Willard Wigan MBE.  His sculptures are so small and invisible to the naked eye that a microscope is needed to see these incredible masterpieces! It’s no wonder they’ve been celebrated in the Guinness Book of World Records.

9. Visit The Gordon Russell Museum

Sir (Sydney) Gordon Russell was an influential 20th Century British furniture designer famous for creating mass produced furniture that retained a strong sense of British tradition and the highest possible standards of craftsmanship. 

Russell, who moved to Broadway in 1904 when he was twelve years old after his father bought the Lygon Arms Inn. He attended Grammar School at the nearby village at Chipping Campden.

In 1923, He opened a workshop in the current Russell’s building where he employed 200 highly skilled craftsmen in his firm over the next 60 years. Russell became instrumental in developing utility furniture during World War II.

This small museum is housed in the original Grade II listed drawing office and workshop and showcases Russell’s works and that of his company, which operated for over sixty years in Broadway.

  • Address: 15 Russell Square, Broadway WR12 7AP
  • Opening times: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 am – 4 pm (last timed entry at 3pm).
  • Admission: Adult £5.00; Child (under 16) Free; Students Free
  • For more details, visit the official Gordon Russell Museum website here

10. Drink a seasonal beer at the Crown & Trumpet

Crown & Trumpet is known for its good pub grub including its Sunday roast with Cotswold Beef and Tewkesbury Mustard. But perhaps  Crown & Trumpet is even more famous for being CAMRA recommended (the Campaign for Real Ale) for serving four exclusively brewed seasonally.

All lunches and dinners are homemade and sourced from locally produced ingredients. You can enjoy a fireside meal or a cool Pimm’s in the summer on their patio.

11. Walk the Cotswold Way Circular Walk from Broadway Village to Broadway Tower

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Walk the Cotswold Way circular walk from Broadway village to Broadway TowerThe best way to enjoy the stunning Cotswold countryside is to put on your Wellies (that’s British slang for a pair of rain boots) and take the circular walk from Broadway high street along historic tracks and up to Broadway Tower and back. The path does get muddy,  so rain boots are essential even during a typical British summer.

12. Have Tipsy Tea at The Fish Hotel & Retreat

There are a few reasons to visit The Fish, for some of the best surf’n’turf in the Cotswolds, sleeping in their magical treetop hideaways but also for their Tipsy Tea! It’s almost mandatory to have a traditional Afternoon at least once during your trip to the Cotswolds, but at The Fish, they serve it with a twist! 

Tipsy Tea makes this afternoon tradition even more exciting and gets your taste buds tingling. To start things off, you get one of their house blended Hoogly tea infused cocktails. Choose from white tea infused prosecco, marzipan mule and chocolate brownie with a slug of rum. Next, pair your cocktail with a selection of tasty savoury teatime treats. To top things off, indulge in their tipsy cakes and scones with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam.  To make things even better, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available. Booking is essential.

13. See Britain’s tallest fountain at Stanway House and Fountain

Located just a few miles outside of Broadway is the pretty village of Stanway where you’ll find the extraordinary beautiful Jacobean manor, Stanway House and Fountain complete with original furniture.

The House has been lived in by the same family since the 16th century and each room can be explored with an audio guide as well as room guides to help you learn more about its history of gossip and events of national interest.

Outside in its beautiful baroque water gardens is Britain’s tallest fountain, which erupts like a geyser to a whopping 300ft! 

  • Address: Stanway House, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 5PQ
  • Admission:  House and Fountain ticket – Adult £11.00; Concessions £8.50; Children under 14 £5.00
  • For more details, visit the official Stanway House website here

14. Visit the picturesque village of Snowshill

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Visit nearby Snowshill Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Visit Snowshill ManorOn your way to Stanway House, be sure to stop by the charming village of Snowshill where a cluster of cottages huddle around the Church of St Barnabas. You may recognise the church and village from several scenes in the first Bridget Jones film. “Turkey Curry Buffet“ anyone?

Located nearby is Snowshill manor, a 16th-century country house with an interesting collection of thousands of objects gathered by its previous owner, Charles Paget Wade, who donated the house to the National Trust in 1951. Expect to see everything from old bicycles, toys, instruments and even 26 suits of Japanese samurai armour.


Want to see more of the Cotswolds? Join one of these top-rated tours.


Don’t miss my Cotswolds travel guide for more tips


Accommodation: Where to Stay in Broadway

Luxury – The Fish 

Located on Fish Hill, The Fish overlooks the beautiful Cotswold countryside from its 400 acres of private estate. Each room room includes free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobes, and a hairdryer and an en suite bathroom.

Thanks to its size, The Fish is spread out like a sort of village with bedrooms and public areas located across separate buildings – The Farmhouse, The Outhouse and The Stables. There is even a games room.

For more details, check availability and book your stay at The Fish here.

Luxury – Russell’s

Enjoy all the luxuries of this 5-star boutique hotel located right in the heart of Broadway on the High Street. With period features, each bedroom features a luxury bathroom, quality linens and air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and designer toiletries, and some have a stand-alone bath and scenic views. Everyone morning wake up to their exceptional breakfast

For more details, check availability and book your stay at Russels’s here

Mid-Budget – The Lygon Arms

Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - Stay at The Lygon Arms Inn Hotel Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - The Lygon Arms Inn HotelThe Lygon Arms is a 16th-century coaching inn offering everything from cosy rooms to master suites. Some of The Lygon Arms Hotel’s most attractive features include its Bar & Grill with vaulted ceilings, their spa and wellness centre with an indoor pool with a retractable roof, and their excellent fitness centre (something that’s hard to come by in small English villages) where you can keep fit whilst travelling. All rooms are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and free parking is also available.

For more details, check availability and book your stay at The Lygon Arms here

For more places to stay in Broadway, you can check the latest prices here

Airbnb

For an alternative accommodation option, I would recommend renting out an apartment or room through Airbnb. Cute Airbnb options are popping up all over the area so you’ll find some really beautiful places at very affordable prices. Airbnb has numerous convenient options to choose from. If it’s your first time get US$65 OFF here or get £50 OFF your first stay here, when you sign up using my unique reader referral link. If not, compare prices and book your stay here. For more inspiration, visit my guide to the most unique cottages on Airbnb.

Here’s a handy map to see all available stays.

 

Planning a trip and need travel insurance? Get a free quote from World Nomads here.


Visiting the UK? Check out my other posts


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14 Best Things to Do in Broadway - The Cotswolds - The Ultimate Guide


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