Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles (150 km) west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural college in the English-speaking world founded in 1840. The Roman name for the town was Corinium, which is thought to have been associated with the ancient British Dobunni tribe, having the same root word as the River Churn.
The town serves as a centre for surrounding villages, providing employment, amenities, shops, commerce and education. Cirencester is the hub of a significant road network with important routes to Gloucester, Cheltenham, Swindon, Stroud, Bristol and Bath.
Visit the Corinium Museum and step back in time. Learn what the Romans did for us, and how life wouldn't be the same without them!
Take a peek through a Roman town house, and enjoy the sights and smells of our Roman garden. Marvel at the stunning mosaics, and experience what it was like to be a Roman soldier.
The Corinium Museum has one of the finest and most extensive Roman collections in the country. Corinium, Roman Cirencester, was the second largest Roman town outside London and the major Roman administration centre for south-western Britain.
Cirencester Park is the grounds of the Bathurst Estate, owned by the Earl Bathurst. They are open to the public 8am to 5pm every day, free of charge for walking and horseriding, although those walking dogs should be aware that some of the park is a no-dog area.
It's a beautiful place to take a stroll, with views over the town from certain vantage points.
Situated outside the Roman town of Corinium (Modern Cirencester) lie the remains of one of the largest amphitheatres known from Roman Britain.
The amphitheatre was constructed in the first half of the 2nd century AD on the site of an existing Roman quarry. The cavea or seating bank was probably retained using timber and dry-stone wall. In the Later 2nd AD century the arena was then enclosed by a high stone wall, plastered and painted to look like marble.
The seating banks, originally 10 metres high, had tiered wooden seats laid on low dry-stone walls, with an area behind for standing spectators. An estimated 8,000 or more people could be accommodated at any one time; probably the entire population of Corinium and more.
The Abbey Grounds are located to the north of the Church of St John the Baptist and very near the Market Place right in the town centre.
The grounds contain the site of St Mary's Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. In the Abbey grounds is a lake, impressively sized trees and a section of the ancient Roman Wall.
Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Take a break on animal adventure at the Cotswold Wildlife Park! Encounter Anteaters, peer at Giraffes, roar at the Lions or waddle like a Penguin, in over 160 acres of beautiful parklands.
Take a ride on the railway around the Park or climb into the tree house in the adventure playground. You're never too old to visit, there's something for everyone. Whether it's the beautiful planting, or over 250 different species of animals, insects and birds. It's wheelchair and pushchair friendly!