Things to Do in Painswick Village Including Walks & Nice Pubs

Painswick is a beautiful place to visit in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Especially if you enjoy hiking, pretty buildings and picturesque countryside. Painswick is one of England’s oldest Wool Towns, thus money from the wool industry enabled lots of pleasant buildings to be built in the town.

Painswick is one of many nice places to visit on the famous Cotswold Way Walk. This is a 102 mile long distance walking trail that traverses the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire. Thus it is a fantastic place for a walk in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside. The village is also a rather dog friendly place to visit as the local cafes, pubs and restaurants are very pet friendly and the area is also fantastic for dog walking.

The Gloucestershire town of Painswick has many historic Cotswold stone buildings to see. The focal point of the town is St Mary’s Church, a fantastic church building to visit. Their churchyard is rather special and is home to 99 yew trees, which makes it a rather special landscape. You can also visit some of the town’s museums and the popular Rocco Gardens. As it has some friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants to eat out.

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Things To Do In Painswick

There are many attractions to visit and things to do while visiting Painswick. This includes some beautiful walks in the Cotswold countryside.

The Cotswold Way Walk

From Painswick you can head in both directions along the long distance Cotswold Way hiking trail. The pretty village is actually the halfway point of the 102 mile long walking route. The section of the route from Whiteshill to Painswick via Randwick Woods and Haresfield Beacon is beautiful. This route has it all; forest, open countryside and some splendid views. You can also see birds of prey doing their thing on the way, too.

Heading the other way on the trail can eventually take you to the Cotswold town of Chipping Campden. However, more locally for a day hike, you can visit Painswick beacon or head to Birdlip via some picturesque woodland. There are many other great walks in Gloucestershire.

St Mary’s Church & Churchyard

In the centre of the town is St Mary’s Church, a fantastic place to visit, especially inside and through the churchyard. St Mary’s Church is has a beautiful churchyard which has historic tombs and 99 yew trees, apparently legend says, 100 will not grow. The churchyard attracts tourists from all over the world for excellent reasons. It’s very picturesque.

Also, in the churchyard is a historical timber framed building with some inscriptions on its walls. This is where visitors can find the tourist information centre and church rooms. Just outside the walls are some fascinating stocks you can see. It is also home to the village war memorial, which is a nice place to sit nearby.

The Rocco Gardens

Just outside the principal town is the popular tourist attraction, Painswick Rocco Gardens. It’s a unique place to visit for a day out and can be quirky in places. They designed the Rocco gardens in the 1740s as a pleasure garden for the owner of Painswick House and their many guests.

Nowadays, the guests are tourists who can roam free and enjoy the gardens. You can see the stunning gardens and even see some nature while visiting. The site also has some fantastic views of the local part of the Cotswold Hills. The gardens are well known for seeing snowdrops in bloom which burst into flower each January. They apparently have 5 million of these beautiful flowers. Each season brings new flowers and things to see. You can find out more on their website.

Walk And Enjoy the Views on Painswick Beacon

From the town centre, you can walk along the Cotswold Way to Painswick Beacon, a lovely place for a walk. Painswick Beacon has some amazing views of the nearby countryside. The beacon has a golf course, many trails and is also a great place for a picnic. When it occasionally snows, the slopes of the beacon are great fun to get a sledge out.

Buildings On New Street

The main road through the village that runs alongside the churchyard has some pretty special buildings. This includes some Tudor timber-framed houses and other buildings made from Cotswold stone. New Street is also where the bus stop is to get to Stroud and onwards.

Pubs, Cafes & Restaurants

There are options for places for a drink or food while visiting Painswick. There are also some others accessible while enjoying a walk in the area. Many of these establishments are pet friendly.

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak in Painswick village pub that serves great food and beer. It’s a nice place for a rest stop if sightseeing or hiking in the area. They have a fantastic range of drinks including local beers, ciders and lagers. The Royal Oak also has a daily food menu on their blackboard, which changes frequently. This includes some great hearty meal options like venison steak or beef rib. They also have cakes, which is a great option for a snack while walking in the area. Inside, The Royal Oak is cosy with a fireplace during the colder months. They also have an outside courtyard to the rear of the pub, which is ideal on a warm summer’s day.

The Falcon Inn

On New Street near the parish church is The Falcon Inn, a pleasant place for food or a drink. They have a bar area, an inside restaurant and an outside seating area. The Falcon Inn has a good range of drinks to choose from, including beer, wine and cider. Their restaurant menu is rather nice and includes lots of fresh and locally sourced food. They also do a Sunday roast each weekend, which is rather popular with walkers in the area.

The Edgemoor Inn

Between Haresfield and Painswick is a fantastic pub and restaurant, The Edgemoor Inn. They serve delicious food, local beers and their beer garden is dog friendly. As a bonus, the views towards the village from their garden and dining area are special.

Where To Stay Nearby

The village inns are a fantastic choice for a place to stay, including the dog friendly Falcon in. There are also many other places to stay, including holiday homes. You can find many options on Booking.com.

A Unique Place To Stay – Painswick Glamping

For a unique glamping experience in the heart of the Cotswolds. The Mill Pool offers the perfect environment to get back to nature. Set within peaceful surroundings to give you a relaxing break. Their site is only a half-mile walk from the village of Painswick. The site’s accommodation includes an Eco-friendly camping pod which blends into the surrounding rural setting. This has a spacious decking area for dining and a fire pit to relax around. More info…