For those interested in Roman towns and Roman history, a visit to the Gloucestershire town of Cirencester is a must. Originally called Corinium, it was second only in status to London, and today proudly displays evidence of its roman history in the Corinium Museum.
Another testament to Roman times is the Cirencester Amphitheatre located in the West of the town. Although today it looks like nothing more than grassy mounds, the large oval arena and steep banks form one of the best preserved amphitheatres in the country. A sense of history also awaits visitors to the Abbey Grounds, once the site of St Mary’s Abbey. Today a Norman Arch and Part of the Roman Wall are all that remains on the site, though the grounds and lake still attract many visitors. Other places of note within the town include The Lockup, a two cell space for prisoners before the Police Station came to be, and the scenic, peaceful, Cirencester Park.
Although the shopping facilities in this town are modern, and somewhat predictable, there is the Cirencester Charter Market and The Black Jack Street area to interest tourists, while traditional buildings house many of the town’s eating establishments, such as Harry Hare’s Restaurant, and the Talbot Inn, and accommodation like the Fleece Hotel and Hesters Barn. There are also more modern restaurants, pubs, bed and breakfast, and hotels throughout the town, and in the surrounding villages.
The famous town of Cheltenham is within easy reach, as are attractions like Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water, and Chedworth Roman Villa, so there is no shortage of things to do on a trip here. Cirencester can be accessed via the M4 and M5 motorways, the nearest railway station at Kemble, and by air through Bristol Airport. Travel guides say that it’s some 90 minutes from London, and 75 minutes from Birmingham, so it’s the perfect distance for a holiday or short break.
