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Stretching from London to Bristol, the Great West Way offers a vast collection of things to do on route, perfect for all year-round travel! From historic landmarks to family-fun activities, famous destinations, and luxury places to stay, here’s you’re A-Z guide to the Great West Way to help inspire your journey this year…
A visit to Aerospace Bristol explores the incredible story of Bristol’s amazing aviation achievements. Starting from the earliest days of powered flight, through to today’s cutting-edge technology, including the Concorde: the world's fastest passenger jet! Discover aeroplanes, helicopters, missiles, satellites and more, as well as interactive exhibits for all ages.
Open between April and November every year is Bowood House and Gardens, the magnificent family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. Inside, explore Robert Adams’ Library, the Chapel and even the Laboratory where Dr Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in 1774! Each rooms displays a remarkable collection of family heirlooms and works of art built up over 250 years.
Surrounding the house is Capability Brown’s Grade 1 park. The pleasure grounds that form part of the 1760 design contain an outstanding collection of trees and shrubs, full of colour all year round!
Bowood’s separate Woodland Gardens is open from late April to mid-June and the perfect location for summers walk. Almost 30 original hardy hybrid rhododendrons have recently been discovered within the collection, making it one of the earliest rhododendron gardens in the country!
Nestled on the banks of the River Avon and with direct transport links across the Great West Way, Chippenham offers an ideal centre for relaxation and exploration of rural Wiltshire, Bath, and the Cotswolds.
The town enjoys a reputation as a flourishing and lively market town, with a compact centre and thriving commercial life. With a wealth of beautifully maintained parks, play areas and open spaces, visitors can enjoy a relaxing walk-through colourful trees and winding paths of flower beds, or a slow stroll beside the banks of the River Avon.
Just south of Chippenham is the historic market town of Devizes. Featuring a colourful Medieval past with a wealth of history, architectural heritage and traditional independent shops completing the high street, Devizes offers plenty for visitors along the Great West Way.
Sitting along the famous Kennet and Avon Canal, Devizes is home to one of the most iconic landmarks in Wiltshire, the Caen Hill Locks. Climb the flight of 29 locks as you appreciate its triumph in Georgian engineering, a sight not to be missed!
Be sure to pop into Wiltshire Museum, which showcases award-winning galleries featuring gold from the time of Stonehenge and many other artifacts that tell the story of the World Heritage Site.
Perfectly located along the Great West Way, Exclusive Collection offers a luxury experience within each of their country house properties, featuring everything from spas, a golf club, cookery school and classic English pub.
Set in 123 acres of Surrey countryside with a host of individual experiences, Pennyhill Park offer exceptional overnight breaks, Michelin starred dining, family celebrations and an award-winning spa.
The Manor House is a 14th century luxury hotel and golf club set in the picturesque Castle Combe village. Rest your head in one of the exclusive bedrooms, all individually styled each with their own special features perfectly demonstrating five-star luxury.
Running boat trips along the River Thames from Windsor, Runnymede and Maidenhead, French Brothers welcome you to explore this famous waterway and its surrounding landmarks on their 40-minute or 2 hour tours.
Make use of our Great West Way Discoverer Pass, offering unlimited off-peak train and bus travel options with Great Western Railway!
Our Great West Way Discoverer Pass provides an affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly way to explore from London to Bristol and everywhere in between! Choose from a day pass or a week-long ticket and enjoy your next Great West Way adventure.
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Located just outside of Kingston upon Thames is Hampton Court Palace, famously known as the home of England’s King Henry VIII. Be transported from Tudor England to the late 17th Century as you venture through the royal grounds, featuring beautifully decorated rooms, furnished with a historic collection and galleries telling stories of the past.
Venture outside to the 60-acres of riverside and landscaped gardens, complete with sparkling fountains and over 200,000 flowers in the Spring and Summer!
Tucked away at the bottom of a tranquil valley, just 15 minutes from Bath is Iford Manor Gardens, an award-winning Grade I listed landscape. With blends of Italian, Byzantine, Ancient Roman and Oriental inspirations, together with architecture and classical sculpture, Iford Manor transports you into another world!
Jones’s Mill, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust-owned nature reserve, is a fen featuring wet woodland, ponds, and wet grassland. With peaty soils fed by natural springs and the Salisbury Avon flowing through, it once housed watermill and grazed cattle for milk and watercress cultivation. The reserve supports diverse wildlife, including water voles, dragonflies, water shrews, and various bird species.
Grazed by Belted Galloway cattle, the wet grassland blooms with colourful flora like flag iris, lady’s smock, orchids, and rare plants. Boardwalks navigate wet areas, while uneven paths lead through the reserve, welcoming leashed dogs.
Stretching between Reading and Bristol is the iconic Kennet and Avon Canal, one of the best ways to enjoy slow travel along the Great West Way. Looked after by the Canal & River Trust, the Kennet and Avon Canal offers plenty walking and cycle routes as well as opportunities to explore its waters by narrowboat. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle of a busy city, discovering the beautiful nature that sits along the waters edge, and wildlife that call the canal their home.
Home to the UK’s original Safari Park, Longleat offers a great day out for the whole family, with plenty opportunities to get up close to a range of exciting wildlife including monkeys, koalas, giraffes, and their famous lions! From the famous safari drive-through, to the Main Park, Longleat is home to animals both big and small, guaranteed to keep you entertained for hours of fun!
Did you know that Mary Shelley wrote the world’s first science fiction novel, Frankenstein, whilst living in Bath? Now, you can learn more about her unconventional tragic life and the lasting legacy of her infamous creation at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein. Extending over 4 atmospheric floors within the 300-year-old town house, explore the award-winning, multi-sensory museum bustling with unusual artefacts, soundtracks, and special effects.
Along the Great West Way, there are 3 National Landscapes, offering plenty walking and cycling routes across stunning paths overlooking some of the most spectacular views. North Wessex Downs encompasses parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, making up England’s 3rd largest National Landscape. Here you can find ancient woodland, river valleys and some of the rarest species of rich chalk grassland, as well as historic towns and villages including Avebury, home to the world’s largest Stone Circle!
Within easy reach of the Great West Way lies Old Sarum, the original Salisbury city. Stand in the footprint of Salisbury’s first cathedral or conquer the ruins of the royal castle as you discover over 2,000 years of interesting stories from one of the South’s most significant historic sites.
When heading to Bath this year, be sure to visit Prior Park. This National Trust property is a beautiful and intimate 18th-Century landscape garden boasting stunning views across the city. One of only 4 Palladian Bridges of its design in the world can be crossed here and there is plenty of walks to enjoy with the whole family.
Explore the Great West Way, your way, with Quirky Campers. With over 230 hand-picked, unique, privately-owned campers for hire, ranging from fully electric to family wagons, you can enjoy a unique adventure off the beaten track this season.
Head to the eastern part of the Great West Way to enjoy the thriving town of Reading. Offering the excitement of a modern city, blended with an unexpected slice of English Heritage, all whilst located between the river Thames and Kennet and Avon Canal, Reading creates the perfect journey of discovery.
Walk through the Abbey Quarter, featuring over 900 years of history and burial place of founder, King Henry I. Enjoy a hands-on museum experience as you discover the full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry at Reading Museum. Explore the famous waters with a circular river tour from Thames River Cruise.
Credit English Heritage
Possibly one of the most famous landmarks along the Great West Way, Stonehenge welcomes thousands of visitors each year to explore its impressive site. Explore the prehistoric stones as well as surrounding burial mounds and earthworks as you learn more about the monument and its mysterious connection to the astronomical calendar.
Centrally located in the World Heritage City, the Roman Baths offers unique insight into Britain’s only hot spring as you wonder around the magnificent temple and bathing complex used by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago! Here you will also find the ruins of the temple of Minerva, where worshippers gathered, and the fascinating museum sharing stories of those who lived and worked here.
The University of Bristol Botanic Gardens cultivated over 4,500 plant species from over 200 plant families within its 5-acre site! Here you will find special collections including Cycads, Tree Ferns and Wollemi Pine, as well as rare Southwest native and threatened plants.
A trip to the glasshouses at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden will take you to the Amazon rainforest, the Highveld in South Africa, the cloud forests and a magical world of tropical food and medicinal plants.
Offering a range of facilities including a Health & Wellness Club, Pub & Grill and stylish rooms, Village Hotel Swindon offers the perfect destination to work out, stay, eat and play along the Great West Way.
Head to Bristol to experience the world’s first Amazement Park, Wake the Tiger. Enter its portal into the parallel world of Meridia and explore 27 unique spaces featuring art displays and sculptures, each showcasing themes of connection, innovation, inspiration and discovery.
YMCA Bath Hostel, centrally located, provides affordable and clean accommodation within walking distance of major attractions like the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, and Bath Abbey. Catering to school groups, families, couples, and backpackers, the hostel offers various room options, from singles to dorms. Prices range from £14 to £36 per night, inclusive of a light breakfast.
This year, embark on your own journey of discovery as you experience all the Great West Way has to offer!
© Great West Way 2024.
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