The Cotswolds Village of Broadway
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A Brief History of Broadway

It is documented that Broadway was a settlement as early as 1900BC. When occupied by the ancient Beaker people and then later by the Romans. In 972 AD King Edgar granted possession of Broadway to the Benedictine Monastery in Pershore. It remained in the monastery's ownership until 1539, when following the Reformation, ownership passed to the Crown.
The Cotswolds village of Broadway

In 1558 the Crown sold the Manor of Broadway and the manorial right and for the following 200 hundred years the estate was owned by a series of interesting people; including Sir William Babington whose son Anthony was hung drawn and quartered for his involvement with an unsuccessful plot to free Mary Queen of Scots from Fotheringay Castle.

Owing to its unique location circa 1600 Broadway became important as a major stage-coaching centre located on the route between London and Worcester.

The world famous Lygon Arms was one such coaching inn. During the second half of the 19th Century following the arrival of rail travel and the introduction of cycles artists and writers were able to travel freely and many of them discovered Broadway and made it into one of the most famous villages in England.

One of Broadway's most famous landmarks, the Tower, was built by the Earl of Coventry in 1798. The folly is the second highest point in the Cotswolds, standing 1031 feet above sea level.

Today Broadway is a popular destination for travellers from all over the world.
   

Places to Visit
Broadway is ideally situated and provides a good location from which to explore many interesting places including the following:
  • Broadway Tower and Country Park offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
  • Typical Cotswold villages and towns such as Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper and Lower Slaughter and Snowshill
  • Cheltenham and Worcester provide good shopping facilities
  • Gardens such as Hidcote, Kiftsgate, Sezincote and Sudeley
  • Batsford and Westonbirt Arboretums
  • Cotswold Wild Life Park, The Great Weston Railway Centre at Toddington and the Severn Valley Railway Centre at Bewdley, and Bibury Trout Farm
  • Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, with its famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre is only 20 minutes away
  • Historic buildings such as Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace, Sudeley Castle and Snowshill Manor
  • Discover the Spires of Oxford and explore the world famous colleges (out of term times).

    • There are many other towns and villages in the area, each boasting a unique place in history
   

Things to Do
  • Walking in unspoilt countryside
  • Horse Racing at Cheltenham, Stratford, Warwick and Worcester
  • Fireworks concerts at Blenheim Palace, Ragley Hall and Sudeley Castle
  • Take a ride on a steam train (including Christmas specials)
  • Play golf at a selection of local courses
  • Horse Riding
  • Cycle Rides
   

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