A breath of fresh air

It's the kind of place that genuinely rewards spending several hours wandering through rather than just popping in for an afternoon stroll.

The arboretum divides into two distinct areas with quite different characters. The Old Arboretum features formal landscaping and exotic species, while Silk Wood brings together native woodland alongside newer plantings. What makes it work so well across different seasons is how each time of year offers something different—autumn brings spectacular colour from maples and Japanese acers, spring showcases rhododendrons and magnolias, and the Treetop Walkway gives you a completely different perspective high above the forest floor with full accessibility in mind.

The story goes back to the mid-19th century when Robert Stayner Holford started developing it as a private project, which eventually grew into the world-class collection you see today. Whether you're after an unhurried stroll, a full family day, or something that gets you properly immersed in nature on a larger scale, you'll find it works for all these approaches.

It's conveniently positioned just a short drive from Tetbury and Malmesbury, so it fits easily into southern Cotswolds plans or combines well with visits from Bath and beyond.