Things to do in Cirencester

Roman Cirencester

The best of Cirencester is Roman, and it starts at the Corinium Museum on Park Street, with Roman mosaics from a town and district where more than 90 are known. It opens every day from 10am to 4pm and suggests allowing at least an hour. From there it is about a kilometre's walk to the Roman amphitheatre, the grassed-over banks of an arena built early in the second century to hold about 8,000 people. It is free and open in daylight. See the museum first, then walk out.

In the town

New Brewery Arts, in the old brewery buildings on Brewery Court, has free exhibitions of contemporary craft, makers at work in their studios and a café. It opens Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm and is closed on Sundays. The parish church of St John the Baptist faces the Market Place, where the Charter Market is held on Mondays and Fridays. Cirencester Park, to the west, needs a day pass, £4 for an adult in 2026.

Gardens and the lakes

About 3 miles north, Cerney House Gardens at North Cerney open 364 days a year, with a Victorian walled garden, woodland walks and a self-service tea room. South of the town are the Cotswold Lakes, the flooded gravel workings long called the Cotswold Water Park.

ROX at South Cerney, 4 miles out, offers an hour's pay and play on a paddleboard or in a kayak, with introductory coaching from an instructor, from £18 (2026), for children from eight. Cleveland Lakes near Ashton Keynes, run by the Cotswold Lakes Trust, has booked swims and paddling on Waterhay Lake and paths to wildlife viewing points around the reserve.

Towards Fairford, Poulton Hill Estate is a small family vineyard with summer tours, winter tastings and a cellar door shop.

Who it suits, and when

Cirencester works in any season: the museum, the craft centre and the amphitheatre are open all year, and only the lakes keep to the weather and the light. Families do well at the museum, where under-fives go free, and at ROX, which also runs children's holiday clubs in the school holidays.

Prices, parking and dogs

The museum cost £8.70 for an adult and £23.10 for a family in 2026. The amphitheatre and New Brewery Arts are free, and Cerney House Gardens charge £7 for adults and £1 for children. The council's town car parks are paid by card, phone or app, with an hour at £2 in the short-stay car parks (2026). The amphitheatre has a free car park at the end of Cotswold Avenue, and ROX parks free.

Dogs on leads are welcome at the amphitheatre and Cerney House, but not on the swimming and paddling site at Cleveland Lakes. Kemble is the station, about 4 miles away, with the 882 bus from Monday to Saturday. The 51 from Swindon and Cheltenham stops at ROX's gates. For a bed, see where to stay in Cirencester.

In September, Heritage Open Days open buildings free across the town; in 2026 Cirencester alone had about 20 entries. For lunch, see places to eat in Cirencester, and for the villages around, things to do in Cirencester and the Coln Valley.