Things to do in Broadway, Cotswolds: A local’s guide

Located in the southeast of Worcestershire, Broadway is a small village that’s big on charm. It’s known as ‘The Jewel of the Cotswolds’, and Broadway’s historic buildings, hilltop tower, fantastic shops and restaurants, and some of the most luxurious accommodation in the region keep visitors flocking back year-after-year. So discover the best things to do in Broadway, as well as where to stay, eat and drink, with this insider’s guide to the village from our local expert Caroline.

Broadway’s history

Broadway’s exact origins are unknown, but it’s thought to be one of the first ancient partial settlements in the UK, dating back over 5000 years. In the 9th century it was known as Bradsetena Gamere (Broad Village), undergoing several name changes over the years until becoming commonly known as ‘Broadway’ in the 16th century – taking its name from the wide High Street.

The Lygon Arms Hotel on the High Street is steeped in history. During the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell stayed a night here before the Battle of Worcester.

In the Middle Ages, Broadway grew and prospered thanks to the wool and cloth industry, with merchants building fine houses. And when a coaching route opened up over Fish Hill in the 1500s, Broadway became an important stop on the Worcester to London stagecoach route, with coaches having to stop in the village to harness extra horses for the steep climb up the hill.

It was at this time that the centre of the village moved. Originally it was a mile further south, located around St Eadburgha’s parish church. But with new inns opening along the stagecoach route the heart of the village moved north. At one point there were 33 inns in Broadway to cater for the traffic passing though. But once the railway in Evesham opened in 1852 it all stopped.

Broadway became a tranquil place, popular with Victorian artists and writers, and a centre for Arts and Crafts design. And the arrival of the motor car brought tourists to experience Broadway’s charms – it’s now one of the Cotswolds’ most popular, and busiest, villages.

Map of Broadway, Cotswolds

Things to do in Broadway

The High Street

One of the best things to do in Broadway is to take a stroll along the High Street and admire the beautiful golden Cotswold stone buildings. Many of them date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and were built as coaching inns. Some of the village’s prettiest buildings can be found at the top end of the High Street past the roundabout, which is quieter with more residential properties.

In spring and summer, buildings are draped in flowers – wisteria season around May is extra pretty (though very busy). And look out for the Millennium Garden, which is hidden away behind the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery and makes a peaceful spot to take a breather.

Independent shopping

Broadway has some of best shopping in the Cotswolds, with a diverse selection of independent boutiques selling fashion, food, homewares and gifts. Some of our favourite shops to browse are At Home With The Rudds for luxury interiors, Rikki Tikki for toys, The Man Cave or Wild at Heart for gifts, Scents On The Green for perfume and the Cotswold Distillery’s gin shop.

If you’re visiting Broadway in December, it’s worth trying to catch a traditional late-night Christmas shopping evening, with mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, carols and horse chestnut trees filled with twinkling lights making a stunning backdrop on a cold, crisp winter evening.

The Gordon Russell Design Museum

Furniture designer Gordon Russell moved to Broadway as a child when his father bought The Lygon Arms hotel. And the area left its mark on this pioneering designer, who was a great believer that good design could have a positive impact on people’s lives. His Arts and Crafts furniture designs became famous, combining traditional techniques with new machine technology.

You can find out more about his life and work at Broadway’s Gordon Russell Design Museum. The museum is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am to 4pm (entry £8 adults, children under 16 free). His name also lives on at Russell’s restaurant, which is in his former company headquarters.

Broadway Museum and Art Gallery

For an insight into Broadway’s rich history, pay a visit to the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery, set inside a 17th-century building (entry £10 adults, children under 16 free). It takes you on a journey through Broadway’s different eras, from its Roman roots to stagecoach tales and the history of the wool trade. There’s also a Cabinet of Curiosities, family trails and creative workshops.

As well as the permanent collections, there are a series of temporary exhibits – currently including one on John Singer Sargent and his circle, exploring the artist’s time in Broadway in the 1880s.

Broadway Tower and Deer Park

Located on a beacon hill just outside the village, Broadway Tower is the second-highest point in the Cotswolds, with panoramic views over 16 counties, out across the Cotswolds and Severn Vale towards Wales. The tower was built by architect James Wyatt in 1798 and has been used as a printing press and a retreat for artists including William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

It’s also more unexpectedly the site of a Cold War nuclear bunker. Now the tower is open to the public (entry £14 adults, £6 children 11–16, £3 children 6–10) and you can climb to the top or take a bunker tour. Look out for the herd of resident red deer in the park next to the tower too.

Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway

A trip on board the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway is a great was to see more of the stunning Cotswold scenery around Broadway. Around 14 miles of track has been restored, which runs between Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse, via Toddington and Winchcombe.

An army of volunteers keep things running smoothly, with a mixture of steam and heritage diesel engines and stations with plenty of vintage charm and period details, from piles of suitcases to retro posters. A £28 all-day rover ticket (£13 for children aged 5–15) lets you travel on the line all day, and there are events throughout the year, including The Santa Express at Christmas.

Walks from Broadway

The Broadway Tower is along the route of the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile long distance walking route connecting Chipping Campden and Bath. If you’d like to stretch your legs on a shorter stretch of the route, a 4.4-mile circular route links the village to the Broadway Tower, passing St Eadburgha’s Church on the way. It takes around two hours to walk, plus time to visit the Tower.

You can also walk a one-way stretch of the Cotswold Way, then catch a bus or take a taxi back to Broadway. Heading north it’s six miles to Chipping Campden, or to the south it’s four miles to Stanton or 12 miles to Winchcombe. The village is also on the route of another long-distance walking trail too, the Wychavon Way which runs for 40 miles from Droitwich Spa to Broadway.

Things to do near Broadway

If you’re visiting the Cotswolds in summer, don’t miss a trip to the Cotswold Lavender fields, two miles south of Broadway. Each year they open their fragrant display fields up to the public for a few weeks from mid-June until early August when the crop is harvested and distilled.

Nearby Snowshill (3 miles) is centred around a village green and Victorian St Barnabas Church. It’s home to Snowshill Manor and Garden, a National Trust property restored by Edwardian architect, artist and poet Charles Paget Wade in the 1920s which now houses his quirky collections.

You’re also within easy reach of Chipping Campden (5 miles) with its historic High Street and the Court Barn Museum of Arts and Crafts design. Or it’s 6 miles to the village of Blockley, filming location for TV series Father Brown, and 8 miles to the gardens at Hidcote and Kiftsgate.

Where to eat in Broadway

Cafés and delis

The Broadway Deli has the most ‘Instagrammable’ shopfront in the village, with colourful piles of produce and a retro truck parked outside. As well as selling food to take away, there is also a café with both indoor and outdoor seating. They serve an all-day menu which includes sandwiches, soups, salads and quiches, and there’s a selection of gluten-free and vegan options.

If you have a sweet tooth, The Cotswold Larder Cakery is tucked away just off the High Street down Kennel Lane, with sweet treats like cakes, brownies and milkshakes. Or call into Guilt Trip Coffee and Donuts for delicious donuts, with flavour combos including Salted Caramel Twix and Nutella Mousse. They also serve toasties and organic, fair trade teas and coffees.

Restaurants and pubs

Russell’s is an award-winning restaurant, taking advantage of the delicious produce from the Cotswolds and Vale of Evesham in dishes like Roast Poussin and Gloucester Old Spot Tenderloin. Menus change daily, with a good-value fixed-price menu of three courses for £38.

Just behind the restaurant is Russell’s Fish and Chips, mentioned in Giles Coren’s and Marina O’Loughlin’s ‘100 Best Places to Eat in the UK’. This upscale take on the traditional chippy offers dine-in and takeaway options, with salt and pepper squid and beer-battered halloumi alongside the usual cod and chips, served with crushed minted peas and homemade tartar sauce.

Tattersall’s Brasserie at the Broadway Hotel has a relaxed, unstuffy feel. This two AA rosette restaurant focuses on local produce, serving lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in the light-filled atrium – as well as a good Sunday roast. There’s also the more casual Jockey Bar next door, inspired by the Cheltenham Races, for drinks in the courtyard overlooking the village green.

The Grill by James Martin is a recent venture for the celebrity chef at The Lygon Arms. The menu features 30-day dry-aged steaks and West Country lamb cooked on the grill, all served in the grand setting of their historic dining room with its vaulted ceilings and chandeliers.

The Broadbean is a cosy, family run restaurant serving dishes from around the world, prepared in an open kitchen. The menu is made up of small plates served tapas style so is perfect for sharing, from lamb tagine and ham and cheese croquetas to mushroom paella, with well-matched wines.

Another casual Broadway restaurant is Flipside, who serve delicious burgers (and are known for their wisteria-draped building in spring). Their succulent burgers come with a choice of chips, coleslaw or bean salad, and there are veggie, vegan and gluten-free options.

Where to stay in Broadway

Former coaching inn The Lygon Arms* dates back to the 1300s, with many famous names passing through its doors over the centuries. The hotel has a mix of rooms and suites, some with beamed ceilings and antique furniture, as well as more contemporary rooms in the annex and courtyard. It’s dog-friendly and has a luxury spa with swimming pool, as well as a restaurant and bar.

Abbots Grange* is another historic Broadway hotel, this time a medieval manor house that makes a perfect romantic break. This adults-only hotel has just nine bedrooms and is surrounded by eight acres of grounds with plenty of historic charm, including a wood-panelled dining room, four-poster beds, stone fireplaces and a cocktail bar complete with a medieval pulpit.

You can also stay in the former headquarters of furniture designer Gordon Russell, now Russell’s* restaurant with rooms. There are seven individually designed en-suite bedrooms which mix period features with a stylish, modern décor featuring luxurious bed linen and toiletries.

The Olive Branch Guest House is a traditional bed and breakfast in a 400-year-old listed building on the quiet upper end of the High Street. Rooms are furnished with antiques in a pretty, country style and there’s a guest lounge to relax in, and a Full English breakfast is included.

If you prefer self-catering, St Michael’s Cottage* is a beautifully restored thatched cottage on the edge of the village. It sleeps six in three bedrooms, with three bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, garden room and lounge with open fire, and is surrounded by a country garden.

Looking for somewhere to stay in Broadway?*

How to get to Broadway

Broadway by car

Broadway is on the A44 around seven miles south of Evesham and 10 miles northeast of Moreton-in-Marsh. There is short stay parking at Church Close (WR12 7AH), just off the High Street, for up to three hours. Or long-stay parking at Leamington Road (WR12 7ET) from £1 for one hour.

Broadway gets very busy in summer, so if the car parks in the centre are full there’s plenty of parking at the Milestone Ground by the football club (WR12 7HA), a short walk away from the village.

Broadway by public transport

Broadway’s closest train stations are in Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh. Both are connected by bus – the Stagecoach 1/2 bus from Moreton-in-Marsh to Broadway takes 30 minutes (Monday–Saturday) or the NN Cresswell Rural 4 bus from Evesham takes 20 minutes (Monday–Friday).

You can also take a train to Cheltenham, then catch the Pulhams 606 bus which also goes to Winchcombe and Chipping Campden, but it’s fairly slow, taking 1 hour 40 minutes.

A better option from Cheltenham is the scenic Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway from Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway, which takes 70 minutes (though it only runs on certain dates). The station in Broadway is around a mile/15 minutes’ walk from the village centre.

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