Car Hire Stanway

Stanway sits beautifully along the A46 and A44 corridors, providing excellent access to this enchanting corner of Gloucestershire, renowned for its royal castle heritage. The area enjoys typical Cotswold weather with pleasant summers averaging 18°C and crisp winters around 5°C, while the local population of approximately 350 residents creates that intimate village atmosphere perfect for peaceful exploration throughout the year.

Stanway is renowned for its magnificent Jacobean manor house, Stanway House, featuring the world’s tallest gravity fountain (300 feet) and stunning formal gardens, rather than castle heritage. The village showcases quintessential honey-coloured Cotswold limestone architecture, including the famous thatched cricket pavilion and historic tithe barn, creating one of England’s most photographed village scenes.

Attractions In Stanway

Discover Cotswolds village beauty and historic attractions, featuring magnificent Jacobean manor houses, traditional stone architecture, scenic countryside walks and excellent access to surrounding honey-coloured villages and heritage sites.

Sudeley Castle

Royal history reaches its pinnacle at this magnificent castle in Winchcombe, where Katherine Parr lies buried in the only private castle to hold such distinction. You’ll discover Stanway’s most popular attraction with its outstanding 4.6 rating from over 4,000 visitors, exploring remnants of multiple historical eras throughout the property as magnificent peacocks roam the beautiful grounds, creating perfect photographic opportunities against centuries of architectural splendour.

Cotswold Lavender

Photographers’ paradise unfolds across purple fields at Hill Barn Farm Cottage in Snowshill, where you’ll find yourself in absolute photo heaven surrounded by fragrant lavender stretches. The attraction maintains an excellent 4.5 average from over 2,000 visitors who explore daily from 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, with clear pathways protecting the plants and providing spectacular views and abundant picnic areas.

National Trust – Snowshill Manor And Garden

Charles Wade’s extraordinary collection transforms this Tudor mansion in Snowshill into something resembling a fascinating museum rather than a traditional country house, where 10,000 unique objects fill 17 captivating rooms. We particularly love exploring the samurai outfits, vintage bicycles and ship models that create this remarkable 4.6-rated experience from over 3,000 visitors, plus beautiful gardens offering stunning countryside vistas throughout the seasons.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

Heritage comes alive during scenic journeys from Churchward House in Winchcombe, where nostalgic steam trains carry you through stunning Cotswold countryside between charming market towns. You’ll appreciate the lovely route to Broadway with friendly staff providing cheerful commentary, operating Wednesday through Thursday and weekends from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM, complete with excellent onboard cafe facilities perfect for leisurely travel dining.

Cotswold Farm Park

Animal encounters create delightful family experiences at this wonderful farm park in Guiting Power, where you can stroke gentle bunnies, hold fluffy chicks and watch children enjoy bouncy outdoor equipment and sandpits. The £2 animal feed bags from the ticket office provide excellent value, while clean facilities, ample parking and friendly staff ensure comfortable visits for all ages seeking authentic countryside farm experiences.

Sudeley Castle Gardens

Seasonal magic transforms these castle gardens in Winchcombe throughout the year, from summer’s natural beauty enhanced by regular events to winter’s spectacular light displays that illuminate the entire grounds. You’ll find daily access from 10 AM to 5 PM allows flexibility for experiencing both the gardens’ horticultural splendour and the seasonal celebrations that make each visit unique and memorable.

Exploring the broader region becomes effortless when you consider these nearby destinations:

• Teddington
• Southam
• Cheltenham
• Moreton in Marsh
• Stow on the Wold
• Bourton on the Water
• Tewkesbury
• Barrow

Belas Knap Long Barrow

Neolithic mysteries await discovery at this remarkable 5,500-year-old burial mound in Winchcombe, where ancient civilisations created lasting monuments that continue to fascinate modern visitors. The remains of around 30-40 individuals were found in the chambers. The 20-minute walk through hills and woodlands to reach this hilltop site provides excellent exercise and the 24/7 accessibility and free entry make it perfect for spontaneous exploration, though limited lay-by parking accommodates only about five vehicles.

Hailes Abbey

Medieval grandeur lives on through atmospheric ruins at this English Heritage site in Hailes, where you can explore fascinating abbey remains and discover incredible artefacts housed in the comprehensive museum. We find the audio guide particularly helpful for understanding the site’s significance, with knowledgeable staff ready to share additional insights during Wednesday through Sunday visits from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Stanway House & Fountain

Architectural marvels combine with natural spectacles at this remarkable estate, where gravity-fed fountain displays create amazing 300ft water shows that can thoroughly soak unwary visitors, depending on wind direction. You’ll explore the beautiful 14th-century tithe barn built with extraordinary skill, plus the working watermill where traditional flour production continues, creating a masterpiece of historical building craftsmanship and engineering innovation.

Winchcombe Museum

Housed within a characterful half-timbered building at the centre of the historic market town of Winchcombe, this volunteer-run museum showcases the area’s fascinating local heritage. The collection spans centuries, featuring Roman and Saxon relics alongside exhibits that explore the town’s medieval prosperity as a wool trading hub and important pilgrimage site. Visitors can discover police artefacts, traditional farming equipment from the Cotswolds countryside and learn about St Kenelm, the young Saxon prince whose shrine once attracted pilgrims nationwide. Operating from Easter to October, this intimate museum offers an authentic window into the compelling history of Winchcombe and the surrounding Gloucestershire landscape.

Cotswold Working Horses

Cotswold Working Horses offers a unique opportunity to experience the timeless charm of heavy horse-drawn transport in the Gloucestershire countryside. This family-run enterprise provides a range of memorable experiences, including leisurely carriage rides through picturesque Cotswold lanes, countryside picnics, pub jaunts and elegant horse-drawn transport for weddings and special celebrations. Visitors can also learn carriage driving skills through professional tuition.

St Kenelm’s Well

This medieval holy well in Winchcombe, a site of ancient pilgrimage, marks the legendary spot where the body of the boy-king St Kenelm rested on its journey to the nearby Abbey in the 9th century. Housed in a 19th-century wellhouse (reusing older stone), the constantly flowing natural spring water was historically famed for its healing properties. Although the main door is often secured, visitors can still peer inside and sample the water from the exterior conduit, connecting to centuries of Cotswold folklore and religious tradition.