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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Anyone know Cirencester? Nice place to visit for w'end?

27 replies

BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 10:22

I have a...ahem... "significant" birthday coming up soon so DP is taking me away for the weekend ( childfree as ILs are going to come and look after children!).

Fancied the Cotswolds area. Apparently Cirencester is a lovely town but I've never been.

Looking for a hotel in the town so we have the option of going out for food, drink, walk etc without worrying about how to get back to the hotel.

Are there any hotels, restaurants, things to do you would recommend? Have looked at the websites and found the Corinium and the Fleece -anyone know of them?

Many thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 11:44

bump...

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mawbroon · 02/02/2007 12:23

Oh I know a MNetter who lives there. I will email her a link to this thread for you.

Furball · 02/02/2007 12:43

Betty - I went to cirencester for my 40th with a group of friends - we stayed overnight in a really cheapo hotel and spent the day at le Spa which is also a hotel

Went to a restaurant which was recommended called Harry hares but it wasn't that great.

Me thinks you are better off going to Bath.

Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 13:26

thanks mawbroon PS.love the name! my dads family are from Dundee so we used to get sent the Broons and Oor Wullie (sp?)annuals every year!

Furball -we went to Bath pre-kids and just fancied somewhere I haven't been, not too far from home. If we go, thanks for the tip about the dodgy restaurant.

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Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 19:19

bump for the evening crowd....

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Hayls · 02/02/2007 19:27

Hmmm, Cirencester is OK but not really worth staying in tbh. How about Cheltenham? PLenty to do in the evening if you stay within town centre and lots of places to visit by car/bus/train during the day- just bypass GLoucester! Other than Bath, which you've visited before, Stow on the Wold, Bourton on the Water and Evesham (although not Cotswolds) are great. (I live nearby but only place I haven't been is SOTW).

SturdyAngel · 02/02/2007 19:30

Cirencester is nice, but not an awful lot to do... as Hayls said Cheltenham is lovely.

Hayls · 02/02/2007 19:34

Dh does lots of cycling round the Cotswolds so i'll ask him to receommend somewhere in a bit (I'm sulking atm but can't remember why so will wait till I can work out if I'm being unreasonable or not before I ask him . I probably am though)

Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 19:35

I know Cheltenham fairly well as its my favourite shopping place within an hour of home.

SOTW and BOTW might be interesting -I don't think I've been to either before. Will do some research on the net.

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Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 19:38

at Hayls sulking

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Furball · 02/02/2007 19:40

Actually Betty - How about somewhere like This? The hotel doesn't open until later but the self catering is 5 star. Loads to do outdoors and there is also restaurants and the like. Then if you want to go into Cirencester for the afternoon it's not far. The parks got a very good reputation.

Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 19:50

I like the look of those lodges Furball but they're 3-4 bedrooms. Might bare that in mind for a family weekend away though.

Also I want a hotel as its so rare that we do anything like that as its always self-catering.

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mrsmalumbas · 02/02/2007 19:54

If you fancy the Cotswolds Cirencester is okay but maybe you would be better off looking at Broadway or Bibury, or Lower Slaughter - some lovely hotels in all these places and they are all very pretty although possibly a little twinset and pearls IFKWIM. Or a bit further afield but Tetbury is also nice, quite a few antique shops and pubs etc. I live near Bourton on the Water which is lovely but very touristy, but there are some absolutely gorgeous villages around to walk and cycle etc - in fact come to my house for a cuppa if you're in this neck of the woods! Or how about Bath - I think that's fab for a weekend, it has everything, lovely shops, restaurants, the Bath spa....

Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 19:59

mrsmalumbas -maybe I'll find your mooncup on my travels!

Is it still missing? Or has it turned up somewhere unlikely?

Thanks for the info -I'm going to be busy googling this weekend I think!

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Furball · 02/02/2007 20:10

Broadway? Is a nice town and not far from loads of things. The Lygon Arms has a good name and they have a spa and also offers on for feburary

mrsmalumbas · 02/02/2007 20:14

Hi Betty - no mooncup, alas!

Just a thought - Stow on the Wold is pretty nice, small market town, nice hotels, coffee shops, antique shops, delis etc - there is a lovely restaurant there called the Old Butchers Shop. There is also Burford, also lovely - The Lamb is supposed to be "the" place to go to eat there. But - none of these places are exactly jumping - very quiet, especially in the evenings. So it would be a quiet drink in a pub and a meal sort of scenario, no night life to speak of. So if you want anywhere lively then definitely Bath or maybe Cheltenham. Hope that helps!

LisaHy · 02/02/2007 20:16

I live in Tetbury - 10 miles from Cirencester. Cirencester is nice for shopping and very picturesque - not sure about hotels. Before we moved here we stayed at Calcot Manor which is the best hotel we have been to (everyone has different tastes though) - this is about 4 miles from here. We loved it so much - we moved here!!

If you want real Cotswolds try Chipping Campden, but more likely to come across Americans. Think the Lyggon is nice as well.

mrsmalumbas · 02/02/2007 20:20

I have also stayed at Calcot Manor - very nice, it has a spa, good restaurants etc. We had our first wedding anniversary there and so had lots of good hotel sex. Alas that was many many moons ago and so we now very rarely have get any kind of sex, hotel or not

Surfermum · 02/02/2007 20:21

I used to live in Cirencester and it's a lovely little town. Personally I'd rather stay there than in Bibury or Lower Slaughter so I suppose it depends what floats your boat as to whether you'd enjoy it or not. If it's a mung around some small shops and sitting in a pub for the afternoon it's probably your place. Or you could use it as a base and visit the lovely little villages around the Cotswolds. The 12 Bells is fab and has a very cantankerous landlord to add to the charm. It's 9 years since I left though so I'd be reluctant to recommend anywhere to eat.

Bath is lovely though and whenever I had a birthday when I lived there we'd head off there for the day.

Original poster
BettySpaghetti · 02/02/2007 20:45

lots more to think about -thanks all

I love the look of the pool at the Lygon, Furball.

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Hayls · 02/02/2007 20:48

ONly othere places I can suggest is Stroud (Egypt Mill in Nailsworth good) or anywhere in the Forest of Dean...

chenin · 02/02/2007 21:02

I live in this area... Cirencester is lovely and its not far from Barnsley (where Liz Hurley lives!) Barnsley has a fab pub called the Village Inn.

I live only 10 mins from Calcot Manor and it really is fabulous. If you get the chance, go to their Spa... it makes you feel rich and pampered!!!

chenin · 02/02/2007 21:04

BTW meant to say... know Cheltenham really well and it is a fabulous place to stay. Lots of shopping and a great nightlife!

pandagirl03 · 05/02/2007 15:55

cirencester is quiet nice, there is a hotel right in the center of cirencester called the jarvis fleece hotel. It was very nice when i worked there a few years ago. Nice little bar etc.

have a look at this

pandagirl03 · 05/02/2007 16:00

if that link doesn't work try www.fleecehotel.co.uk

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