Rodw, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do · Northleach
Chedworth Roman Villa
A Roman villa found in woods near Northleach in 1864, with mosaics, two bath suites and a water shrine, owned by the National Trust.
Family-friendly
The best Roman site in the Cotswolds to pair with the Corinium Museum. There is no practical bus, so come by car or taxi, and leave the dog at home: only assistance dogs are allowed.
- Good: Lift, ramps and an accessible toilet; wheelchairs to borrow
- Good: Audio guides at reception and family trails in half-terms
- Worth knowing: Assistance dogs only
- Worth knowing: No public transport from the stations; book a taxi
- Worth knowing: Narrow lanes to the villa and poor phone signal
About
Chedworth Roman Villa lies in a wooded Cotswold valley at Yanworth, west of Northleach. The Victoria County History calls it one of the most extensive Roman villas uncovered in England. In the winter of 1863 to 1864 a gamekeeper showed James Farrer pieces of mosaic found in the woods, and excavation began in 1864; Farrer’s nephew Lord Eldon, who owned the land, roofed over some of the remains and built a museum, and the villa passed to the National Trust in 1924.
The remains include mosaics, two heated bath suites and a water shrine at the spring that fed them. Visitors see the West Range building, a museum and a visitor centre. Audio guides are handed out at reception, free hour-long guided tours run on some Mondays in the season, and there are family trails in the half-term holidays. The café serves drinks and snacks, and the shop sells Roman-themed books, games and plants.
From the A429, follow the brown signs to "Roman Villa" rather than to Chedworth village; the lanes in are narrow. Only assistance dogs are allowed. The Monarch's Way passes the villa, and our walk from Northleach to Hampnett and the Saltway starts a few miles to the east.
Opening hours and season
| Monday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
Daily 10am to 4pm, café to 3.30pm, until 29 November 2026; closed from 30 November through December. Check the Trust's calendar for the 2027 reopening.
Facilities
- Car park35 spaces within 20m of the visitor centre, a lay-by and a woodland car park (March to October)
- CaféDrinks and snacks
- ShopRoman-themed souvenirs, books, games and plants
- ToiletsIncluding accessible toilets
- Lift and rampsSome steps, uneven surfaces and narrow corridors; wheelchairs available
- Family trailsIn half-term holidays
The details
- Features
- Café · Shop · Parking · Bike storage · Guided tours
- Parking
- Parking for 35 cars within 20m of the visitor centre, 10 to 15 more in a lay-by 50m away, and a woodland car park about 250m away on uneven earth (March to October). Bike parking by the café.
- Without a car
- No public transport from the stations (Cheltenham Spa 18.7km, Kemble 25km); pre-book a taxi. Buses are few. National Cycle Route 48 passes Northleach, 7.7km away.
Photos
A mosaic floor Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
The hypocaust Photo: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
The villa from the north-east 
The nymphaeum
Location
Accessibility
- Accessible toilet
- Parking within 50 metres
- Assistance dogs welcome
Blue Badge parking and a drop-off point. There is a lift and ramps, but some surfaces are uneven, with steps and narrow corridors. Wheelchairs are available and there are accessible toilets. The lanes to the villa are narrow and phone signal is poor.
Places to stay nearby
-
The Inn at Fossebridge
Pubs · Chedworth
An inn, a hostelry since the early seventeenth century by its own account, where the Fosse Way crosses the River Coln, between Cirencester and Northleach, with 4 acres of riverside gardens, log fires and seven rooms.
Dog-friendly · Walker-friendly
Verified Nov 2026
-
Far Peak Camping
Camping · Northleach
A seasonal campsite with tent and hook-up pitches, tipis, bell tents, shepherd huts and glamping domes beside the Far Peak climbing centre, about a mile from Northleach.
Dog-friendly · Family-friendly
Verified Oct 2026
-
Wheatsheaf Inn
Inn · Northleach
A seventeenth-century coaching inn on West End, Northleach, with 14 bedrooms, a garden and food all day, friendly to families and dogs.
Dog-friendly · Family-friendly · Walker-friendly
Verified Nov 2026
Nearby walks, places and things to do
- The Inn at Fossebridge 3.3 km away
- Far Peak Camping 4.0 km away
- Far Peak Climbing, near Northleach 4.0 km away
- Colesbourne Park 5.2 km away
Sights nearby
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River Coln
Sight · River · Cirencester and the Coln Valley
The limestone river of the south Cotswolds, rising near Sevenhampton and running south-east past Chedworth, Bibury and Arlington Row, Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington and Fairford to join the Thames at Inglesham above Lechlade. Five of our walks follow or cross it.
-
St George's Church, Hampnett
Sight · Church · Northleach
St George's is the small Norman church of Hampnett, a hamlet a mile from Northleach, built about 1125. Its chancel was painted around 1868 to 1871 under William Wiggin, later its rector, with stencilled flowers and stars, and survived a villagers' fund to remove it. Grade I.