the battle trail
Tewkesbury's history is bound up with one day in May more than 500 years ago. A trail follows the route of the Yorkist and Lancastrian armies as they prepared to do battle.
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A must-see on any visit to The Cotswolds.
The castle has played an important role in England’s history, boasting royal connections that stretch back over 1,000 years.
Historic Cotswold attraction, Sudeley Castle & Gardens, is now fully open for the summer season and ready to welcome visitors by throwing open the doors to its treasured castle rooms and Royal Sudeley exhibition for the first time this year!
The inside areas including exhibitions, castle rooms and St Mary’s Church are all now open to visitors, having been closed for the last 15 months. Visitors can discover the castles eventful 1000-year history showcased throughout the recently refurbished Royal Sudeley 1000, Trials, Triumphs and Treasures exhibition and take in the private family castle rooms.
Sudeley boasts a vast artwork collection and whether exploring rooms or wandering the corridors, the walls are adorned with paintings by the great masters, such as Van Dyke and Turner, as well as the Tudor Succession Planning, originally commissioned in 1572 by Elizabeth 1.
Whilst exploring the castles award winning gardens, visitors also have the opportunity to see Queen Katherine Parr’s tomb, the last and surviving wife of Henry VIII. Entombed in the restored St Mary’s Church, Katherine Parr is the only English queen to be buried on private land.
There is so much to see and do on a full day out at Sudeley Castle and families will love exploring the Pheasantry, home to one of the largest collections of rare and endangered pheasants from across the world. To top off a jam-packed visit, children can let off some stream in the fully equipped adventure playground, with a giant fort, zip wire and so much more!
With all the facilities at the castle now open, visitors can also enjoy a range of freshly prepared light bites and snacks from the Castle Kitchen Pantry, the perfect pit stop on arrival at the castle. The Terrace Café, housed within the Banqueting Hall, also serves an extended menu featuring local ingredients, a selection of hot and cold food and speciality coffees.
All tickets for Sudeley Castle must be pre-booked online at www.sudeleycastle.co.uk and are on sale now with limited availability at weekends, so book early to avoid disappointment.
The number of Tewkesbury's buildings listed as being of special architectural or historical interest totals more than
350
Tewkesbury Abbey was bought from Henry VIII by the townsfolk for
£453
In 2021 tewkesbury celebrated two big anniversaries; 900 years since the consecration of the Abbey and 550 years since the Battle of Tewkesbury. The town will have plenty to celebrate
2021