Broadway lies at the foot of the Cotswold plateau, within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The High Street is a focal point of the town’s medieval layout. In Broadway, a distinctive local history meets the landscape of the Cotswold plateau. When planning a stay, you can choose from different areas of interest: the historic layout, museums and architecture, or trails in the surrounding area.
Landscape and architectural history
From the west, the Cotswold escarpment and Broadway Tower, which stands on it, form a striking backdrop to Broadway. Broadway Tower & Park is set within a 200-acre parkland estate. The tower is a Grade II-listed folly, built by James Wyatt for Lord Coventry in 1798. Its construction and the medieval planning of the High Street point to different chapters in the town’s history: the historic street layout and an 18th-century building can be explored separately here. Those interested in architecture and landscape will find more than a single historical landmark.
Museums and local history
The Gordon Russell Design Museum celebrates design pioneer Gordon Russell and the company that bore his name. It is located in one of the former workshops of Gordon Russell Limited on Russell Square. The subject of the museum and its former workshop location come together here: the story ranges from Russell’s design work to the company that bore his name. The Broadway Museum & Art Gallery is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Broadway’s history and cultural significance. Its “Fossils and Finds” exhibition features fossils and artefacts found locally, dating from the Iron Age and the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. It offers a different perspective on the town from its design history or medieval High Street.
St Eadburgha’s Church is also part of the town’s history: the building dates from the 12th century. The Broadway Arts Festival, meanwhile, celebrates Broadway’s artistic heritage and its enduring connection with a world-renowned community of American artists and writers who visited and worked in Broadway in the late 19th century. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance. The church, museums and festival represent different themes; they do not all need to be the main focus of the same trip.
Walking and practical planning
The circular walk from Broadway to Broadway Tower and back is 4 miles long. It takes 2½ to 3 hours without breaks; allow extra time for breaks. The distance and duration describe different aspects of the same circular route and help you fit it into your day. Broadway is also on the national long-distance trail, The Cotswold Way. This means walkers can choose between a circular route with a specified distance and the town’s location on a long-distance trail.
Broadway Activity Park is free to access all year round and adds another place to visit alongside the town’s historical and landscape attractions. Bus services connect Broadway with Evesham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham. If you plan to use one of these services for your journey to or from Broadway, check the timetable in advance. Your interests may determine whether Broadway is the right place to stay: local history and museums, the circular walk to the tower, or bus connections are practical considerations to help you plan your stay.
Discover more destinations: Berrington, Droitwich, Abberley, Shrawley, Bransford, Rochford, South Littleton, Harvington.
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