Family Friendly things to do in and around Cirencester

Family friendly things to do around Cirencester

When staying at Stratton House Hotel, you’ll find yourself conveniently located near various family-friendly venues that are perfect for an enjoyable day out with your loved ones. From engaging activities to educational experiences, there are plenty of options to keep everyone entertained.

Visit Birdland

Birdland, nestled within nine acres of enchanting gardens and woodland along the meandering River Windrush, you’ll encounter over 500 avian wonders. Explore the riverside habitats where flamingos, pelicans, cranes, and various waterfowl reside, their vibrant plumage adding a splash of colour to the scenery. Engage with England’s only breeding group of King Penguins and witness the delightful antics of the African Penguins.

Journey through the Out of Africa area to encounter a diverse array of birds from the continent. Delve into the woodland, where life-sized dinosaurs lurk between the trees in the Jurassic Journey area, transporting you back in time. Be captivated by the vibrant and colourful parrots, from macaws to lorikeets, in the Pandemonium of Parrots.

Birdland promises an unforgettable experience, blending nature, history, and the awe-inspiring beauty of our feathered friends.

The Cotswold Wildlife Park

Step into a wild adventure at The Cotswold Wildlife Park Get up close to giraffes, watch rhinos graze on the lawns, walk with lemurs, and ride Bella the Train (April-Oct). With 260 species in 120 acres, there’s plenty of space to relax and enjoy wildlife. Kids will love the adventure playground, farmyard, penguin and lemur feedings. Explore reptiles, insect and bat houses, and the lush Tropical House. Experience the beauty of themed gardens, meerkat habitats, and seasonal displays. Get ready for an unforgettable journey through nature’s wonders!

Bourton on the Water Model Village

Discover the enchanting Model Village in Bourton on the Water, the only grade II listed model village in the country. Crafted from Cotswold stone, this one-ninth scale replica faithfully captures the essence of the actual village, complete with a miniature model village nestled within. The River Windrush gracefully flows beneath Bourton’s iconic bridges, offering a picturesque backdrop to the meticulously crafted miniature landscape adorned with beech, cherry, and chestnut trees. Immerse yourself in the charm as you listen to music emanating from the tiny model church and explore the winding lanes, peering into the intricately designed buildings.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway

The Swindon & Cricklade Railway stands as a remarkable achievement in heritage railway preservation. As one of the first railways to embark on a complete reconstruction of a standard-gauge railway from scratch, they proudly commemorated their 40th anniversary in 2018.

Visitors can embark on memorable round-trip journeys spanning approximately 4.5 miles, aboard charming steam and diesel hauled trains that traverse between Blunsdon and Hayes Knoll Stations. For an extended adventure, an additional route leads south to Taw Valley Halt, conveniently accessible at Mouldon Hill Country Park in North Swindon.

Immerse yourself in the nostalgic atmosphere of this exceptional railway experience.

Soft play at Rugrats and Half Pints

Rugrats and Half Pints in Cirencester is a one-of-a-kind children’s play center, offering a delightful array of sensory and soft play activities for kids aged from birth to 13 years old. For the littlest ones, there’s a spacious sensory area complete with captivating elements like bubble tubes, infinity tunnels, and touch walls, all nestled in the safety of an enclosed soft play space.
Toddlers will have a blast exploring the brand new toddler frame, with added features like ball jugglers, ball pool, and a fun track with slides and activity boards. Older children can release their energy by bouncing on trampolines and engaging in traditional soft play.
Thrilling features such as fast slides, tyre swings, and zip wires provide endless fun, along with a disco area, perspex floors, and a ball pit filled with bash bags! With reserved seating outdoors, parents can relax and socialise while their children have a fantastic time playing.

Holiday Adventure Zone

Holiday Adventure Zone specialises in organising exhilarating outdoor activities designed to provide children and young people with opportunities for fun, exercise, and the chance to make new friends.

Parents have the option to join in the excitement or entrust their children to the capable hands of the experienced staff. The team is highly qualified in all the activities on offer, and the company goes the extra mile by employing a full-time safety officer with extensive knowledge of outdoor adventure.

Whether beginners or more experienced individuals, participants can enjoy a wide range of activities, including RYA Sailing Courses, British Canoe Union activities, Paddle Power kayak and canoe programs, Bushcraft and Survival training, Explore Rowing, Learn to Row Courses, Start Archery, Low Ropes, Windsurfing, Raft building, and much more.

Open Air Swimming Pool in Cirencester

Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool, established in 1870 and nestled in a charming location adjacent to Cirencester Park, offers a delightful experience for visitors. With a main pool as well as a small pool catering to young children. The pool is supplied with water from a natural spring and maintained at a comfortable average temperature of 26°C throughout the season.

A diverse range of swimming activities awaits, including general swims suitable for families and children, drop-in swims, designated lanes, Aqua Aerobics inclusive swims, and dedicated sessions for adults accompanied by pre-school children.

Our guests love us....

" Lovely, interesting old building. Very good, comfortable and large well appointed bedroom and ensuite. The guest areas, bar, lounge, dining room were freshly decorated, clean and nicely furnished. The food was good, fresh and hot. Staff were friendly and very helpful. All in all a good couple of nights. Would definitely stay again and would certainly recommend."

" Was a treat for my birthday and enjoyed our stay immensely. Great food and the spa massage treatment was very good. A great romantic weekend break, close to Cirencester and other Cotswolds villages/attractions."

"The Hotel is beautiful, room was amazing and the bed was lovely and comfortable 😍. Thank you to all the staff including a special thank you to Andy, Luca and Dan for all the laughs and making us feel welcome and also thank you to Lucy for giving us helpful tourist information. 😘 We had a very lovely stay and would recommend it to everybody 😊"

"Fabulous 3 night stay for my birthday 🎂 Gorgeous room, wonderful view of the walled garden. All the staff were lovely, you can really appreciate its a family run business. ♡♡ Great team. Exquisite and perfect stay."