South Cotswolds - Tetbury
Tetbury, in the southern most part of the Cotswolds, is known for its antique stores and the Royals who live nearby. Prince Charles' Highgrove Estate is outside of town and there is a new Highgrove shop in town (with products from the estate). This area is flatter than the area around Stroud and Nailsworth to the north - there is more of a "wide-open" feel to the countryside.
Tetbury, Market House
About the Town
Walk the High Street: There is no "High Street" but instead the town centers around the Market House, with the main shopping streets radiating out from there.
Market House: The historic Market House (1655) in the center of town is larger than most in the Cotswolds, with three rows of pillars. Antique markets are sometimes held here.
Church: St Mary, an 18th century Gothic church, is on Church Street, south of Market Place and near the public car park. See the woodwork on the box pews and the interesting churchyard.
Historic Buildings: Many 17th and 18th century homes. Long Street, off the Market Place, is lined with historic buildings. Look for The Close, now a hotel, but up until 1950 a private residence.
Chipping Steps: From the Market Place take Chipping St to the parking lot. At the end of the parking lot are the Chipping Steps, medieval steps with a row of historic houses on one side. At the bottom of the steps, find the historic houses The Croft and Croft Cottage.
Photos: Photos of Tetbury
Food & Drink
Cafe 53, 53 Long St. Cafe serving breakfast, lunch, bagels, coffee, tea. website
The Chef's Table (restaurant), 49 Long St. The Michelin-starred chef Michael Bedford, who previously ran the Trouble House pub, now runs The Chef's Table, a bistro, deli and cooking school in Tetbury. Because of the chef's reputation, this bistro was famous the minute that it opened, so make a reservation. website
The Priory Inn (pub), London Rd. Gastro-inn with meals and gourmet pizza. Uses locally grown products where possible. Vegetarian options. website
The Snooty Fox (pub). Hotel with a pub and bistro in the center of Tetbury across from the Market Hall. website
The Two Toads (tea room), 19 Church Street. A regular English tea room in this very chic town. Good food, good service. website
Food & Drink in Nearby Villages
Calcot - The Gumstool Inn (pub), near Tetbury. Gastropub at Calcot Manor and Spa (hotel). Vegetarian options. website
Shops
Food Shops
There are many small specialty food shops in the center of Tetbury.
The Chef's Table, 49 Long St. Deli with prepared meals, vegetables, cheeses, fresh fish (crabs from Cornwall), breads, deserts, etc. website
Highgrove Shop, 10 Long St. Newly opened in spring 2008, this shop sells the Duchy Organic products, gardening things and much more. Duchy Organics and the Highgrove Shop are affiliated with Prince Charles' nearby Highgrove Estate. website
Hobbs House Bakery, 10-20 Church St. Artisanal, and some organic, breads and pastries. Small eating area. The main bakery is in Chipping Sodbury in the southern Cotswolds, with shops in Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Nailsworth. They also sell at the Saturday Stroud Farmers' Market. website
Supermarkets
Tesco, Priory Way. (The Tesco site says this is a full size supermarket, but I remember it as being smaller.)
More supermarkets are in Stroud or Cirencester (see our list of supermarkets in the Cotswolds).
Other Shops
Tetbury is a center for antiques. You will find many antique shops in the center of town. There are many more shops - art galleries, clothing, etc.
Top Banana Antiques Malls, Long St. A huge marketplace in four buildings, with over 70 antiques dealers. website
Nearby Villages & Sites
Since this is our southern-most Cotswolds town, I will include the best of the southern villages that lay between Tetbury and Bath, some of which are not technically in the Cotswolds.
Villages
Castle Combe: A beautiful Cotswold stone village, which is not in the Cotswolds by some definitions. The movie "Doctor Doolittle" was filmed here in 1966, and more recently "Stardust" was filmed here in 2007. There is a good walk here. website
Lacock: Lacock, south of Tetbury in Wiltshire, is a well preserved 13th century historic village with medieval abbey. The Lacock Abbey and almost the whole village are owned and maintained by the National Trust. There is a somewhat "Disneyland-ish" feel to the village, but the streets and buildings are beautiful. Lacock is used for many films: Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice (1995 version), Cranford Chronicles (2007) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2007). website
Malmesbury: Malmesbury is a market town and is not in the Cotswolds. I include it here because it is close to Tetbury and is well worth a visit to see the charming town and the remains of the 12th-century Malmesbury Abbey. website
Historic Buildings
Badminton House: Built in the 17th century - not open to the public. The game of Badminton was invented here. Now this area is known for the Badminton Horse Trials.
Beverston Castle: 13th century building with 17th century additions. Not open to the public but you can see it from the road (A4135 from Tetbury to the A46).
Chavenage House: Elizabethan Manor open sometimes to the public and visible from the road (small road off the B4014 to Avening). Oliver Cromwell slept here! You can walk on a bridleway from here to Beverston Castle. website
Highgrove: Family home of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. website Duchy Home Farm is the large organic farm on the Highgrove estate. They went organic in 1986. website Read their farm blog. The Highgrove shop in Tetbury sells many of the Duchy products. No, we don't get to visit the Highgrove manor, but garden tours are available.
Gardens
Westonbirt: The National Arboretum near Tetbury. website
Events
Badminton Horse Trials: Held in May near Tetbury. This is a big tourist draw and vacation rentals may be hard to book for the period of the trials. website
Walks in the Area
Walking in the Cotswolds: Recommended guidebooks and maps for walking in the Cotswolds. We use these guides: Jarrold Short Walks - Cotswolds, Pathfinder Guide - Cotswolds and More Cotswolds, Goldeneye - The Complete Collection of Cotswold Walks (map pack). Using those books, I listed our favorite hikes in this area below. All are circular walks - begin and end at the same spot.
Castle Combe (Pathfinder - 2hrs): Nice walk from the charming village of Castle Combe through woods and farmland. Goldeneye has a different version - Castle Combe, 2.5hrs and a shorter 1hr version.
Resources
Visit Tetbury: Tourist information and events, run by Tetbury Tourist Office.
Tetbury Online: Local information and events.
Tetbury Chamber of Commerce: Travel information and lists of businesses.
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