Moreton in Marsh, Cotswolds travel guide and Moreton in Marsh information

Visit Moreton in Marsh

Moreton in Marsh is a small town towards the north of the Cotswolds region, north-west of Chipping Norton and in the county of Gloucestershire.

Now a regional hub, Moreton in Marsh has a 'typical Cotswold high street' where yellow stone houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries contain an interesting selection of antique shops, art galleries, tea shops and restaurants. Along with Oxford Street, this forms the central hub of the town.

Visit Moreton in Marsh, Cotswolds

The town has held a weekly market since 1227, which is still held each Tuesday. Note: the Market Hall (in the centre of Moreton in Marsh) is much more recent, having been constructed in the 19th century - note particularly the Clock Tower. Another building of note is the 'curfew tower' (on the corner between Oxford Street and High Street) which still has its original warning bell from 1633.

Other noteable buildings include the Manor House and Redesdale Hall.

There is also a wide range of pubs and hotels available, some with long and illustrious histories that can be traced back 300 years or more to the days when they were staging posts on the Fosse Way, the London to Worcester road, and other important transport routes.

The White Hart Royal is one of the most popular and has a real sense of history, since it played host to King Charles I in 1644 during the Civil War. There is a copy of his unpaid bill on a plaque in the entrance hall.

Another interesting pub is The Bell Inn which is said to be the inspiration for The Prancing Pony in Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Note that the north door of St Edwards church in Stow on the Wold is also said to have been an inspiration to Tolkien.

One of the activities you can do is the town trail where you can learn about the Mitford sisters whose family seat was near Moreton in Marsh. If you are visiting in September go to the annual Moreton in Marsh Show which takes place on the first Saturday in September and is one of the biggest one-day agricultural shows in the UK.

Places to visit near to Moreton in Marsh

The most popular attraction near Moreton in Marsh is the Batsford Arboretum, two kilometres to the west. The arboretum has a very broad tree and plant collection and is a must for all garden lovers. A local centre for conservation of rare species, the collections of Far East plants are especially impressive, with everything from flowering cherries to black bamboo, and from acers to oaks. See Batsford Arboretum visitor information for details.

Stow on the Wold is a charming village with reputedly the oldest pub in England. The small villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter are two of our favourites in the Cotswolds area and there is a pleasant 2km walk between them.

Bourton on the Water is very pleasant and is a 'must' if you are travelling with children as it has a number of attractions including Birdland Park and Gardens and the Bourton Model Railway Exhibition.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Cotswolds guide and the