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Westonbirt Arboretum

Gardens ·Tetbury ·Open now
4.612.9K
#3Things to do in Tetbury Cotswolds EnglandMost reviewed in Tetbury
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About

Westonbirt is a national arboretum in Gloucestershire, on the A433 about three miles southwest of Tetbury.

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Westonbirt Arboretum

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What's on here

Home Educated Learning event Home Educated Learning event Thursday · All day Home Educated Learning event – relaxed sessions Home Educated Learning event – relaxed sessions Thursday · All dayFree Nature Journaling - autumn treasures Nature Journaling - autumn treasures Until 8 Nov Christmas at Westonbirt Christmas at Westonbirt 27 Nov – 31 Dec Introduction to the Japanese art of kintsugi ceramics repair Introduction to the Japanese art of kintsugi ceramics repair Until 18 Dec Forest Bathing at Westonbirt Arboretum Forest Bathing at Westonbirt Arboretum Until 29 Dec Forest Bathing at Westonbirt Arboretum Forest Bathing at Westonbirt Arboretum Until 29 Dec

Why go

  • More than 2,500 tree species from around the world.
  • Walk through the canopy on the Tree Top Walkway.
  • Explore the Old Arboretum’s designed views, grand avenues and rare exotic trees dating to the 1850s.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday09:00 – 17:00
Thursday09:00 – 17:00
Friday09:00 – 17:00
Saturday09:00 – 17:00
Sunday09:00 – 17:00

What's in season

  • NowNov – DecFrom late November through December, an illuminated evening trail highlights the Old Arboretum’s winter scenery.

Don't miss

  • Silk Wood audio trailExplore one of the arboretum’s oldest sections in a working woodland dating to the 13th century.Silk Wood
  • Blue-labelled treesLook for blue labels identifying Britain’s tallest or largest trees of their kind.On specimen-tree labels

Best time to visit

  • Autumn is the time to visit for the arboretum’s maple-focused programme.

Facilities

  • Café
  • Toilets
  • Parking
  • Visitor centre
  • Shop
  • Picnic area
  • Woodland play areas
  • Bird hide
  • Cycle racks Spare bicycle locks can be borrowed at the Welcome Building.
  • Electric vehicle charging

Shorts

History

Coppice workers maintain traditional green woodworking skills and produce charcoal.

  1. 1292Evidence of coppicing at the site dates to 1292.
  2. 1309The name “Weston Birt” first appeared, combining a nearby settlement’s name with the Bret family name.
  3. 1829Robert Stayner Holford established the arboretum; his son George Lindsay Holford later expanded it.
  4. 1926After George Lindsay Holford died, the arboretum passed to his nephew Edmund Parker, 4th Earl of Morley.
  5. 1927Westonbirt House, formerly the Holford family mansion, became a girls’ boarding school after being separated from the arboretum.
Show all
  1. 1956The Forestry Commission took ownership of the arboretum.
  2. 2003–2005Westonbirt hosted Britain’s first designer-led garden festival.
  3. 2011Treefest began as an August bank holiday celebration with camping, music and nature activities.
  4. 2019Forestry England assumed the arboretum.

How to get there

  • BusBus 69 connects Stroud and the arboretum several times a day.
  • BusFrom Bath, bus 620 continues as route 69 from Old Sodbury to the arboretum without a change.
  • 20 minTrainKemble and Yate are the nearest railway stations; each is about 20 minutes away by taxi.
  • BikeThe ride from Kemble station is about 15 miles. Adults and older children may not cycle inside the arboretum; bikes under 70 cm are allowed.
  • CarThe arboretum is within an hour’s drive of Gloucester, Bristol and Swindon.

Accessibility

  • Assistance dogs Welcome throughout the site.
  • Hard paths Ten miles of hard paths are suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams and pushchairs.
  • Treetop Walkway Accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
  • Mobility equipment hire Mobility scooters, manual wheelchairs and trikes can be hired when booking day admission, subject to availability.
  • Accessible toilets In the Welcome Building and Great Oak Hall.
  • Accessible parking Less than 50 metres from the main entrance.
  • Changing Places facility At Great Hall, 400 metres from the Welcome Building.
  • Seasonal shuttle From April through October, a shuttle leaves the Welcome Building every 30 minutes and serves the starts of short walks.

Sources: Westonbirt Arboretum - Wikipedia · Westonbirt, The National Arboretum | Forestry E… · School visits to Westonbirt Arboretum | Forestr… · Access information at Westonbirt, The National … · Arboretum national Westonbirt - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026

Where
Waste Dr, Tetbury

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

What does Friends membership include?

Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum members receive free entry for a year.

Can I plan a visit using bus 69?

The service allows time for a three- or six-hour visit.

What are Westonbirt Arboretum’s opening hours?

It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.

Do I need to book Westonbirt Arboretum tickets?

Yes. Admission must be pre-booked.

Can I bring my dog to Westonbirt Arboretum?

Pet dogs are allowed in Silk Wood but not in the Old Arboretum; assistance dogs are welcome throughout.

What can children do at Westonbirt Arboretum?

Look for the Gruffalo and take part in hands-on learning about nature, habitats, plant science, climate change and landscape design.

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