Looking for things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh? You’re in luck, because the problem you’ll have isn’t finding things to do, but rather finding time to do everything that’s on offer! Whether you’re here for the history and soaking up the atmosphere of the streets lined with Cotswold-stone buildings, or raring to get out and about to explore the local attractions, you’ll not be short of interesting activities to fill your itinerary.
The Moreton-in-Marsh agricultural show is the highlight of the town’s events calendar, while the regular outdoor market brings locals and visitors together throughout the year. Spectacular day trips from Moreton-in-Marsh include Batsford Arboretum and Bourton House Garden, while the resident birds at Cotswold Falconry Centre will wow you with their majestic aerial displays.
Scroll on down to discover some of the top things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh and the surrounding Cotswolds area. The well-connected town has a train station, with a direct rail link to London, making it the perfect destination for an escape from the city. If you’re worried you won’t have enough time to fit it all in, why not book a stay in one of our Moreton-in-Marsh cottages and take a leisurely week to explore?
Moreton-in-Marsh holiday cottages
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A simple pleasure in Moreton-in-Marsh is ambling up and down the handsome high street, letting your attention be caught by tempting items in the windows of the shops housed in the historic honey-coloured buildings. Quaint tea rooms rub shoulders with antique emporiums and inviting gift shops. Try The Cotswold Snug to be enticed by all sorts of lovely things that you never knew you needed. London House Antiques is a treasure trove of objects, furniture and curiosities from throughout the centuries, while Henry’s of Moreton and Jacana are bang up to date when it comes to fashion.
If your tummy’s rumbling, stop at Otis and Belle Artisan Bakery to indulge in pastries and baked goods galore, then stock up on cheese at The Cotswold Cheese Company – a fresh baguette and local cheese: a match made in heaven! The high street becomes a hive of activity on Tuesdays, when the largest market in the Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh Outdoor Market, sets up with stalls selling everything from gifts to fresh produce. To supplement your market purchases, the Co-Op food market is a convenient one-stop shop at the north end of the high street. An Aldi and Tesco Express complete Moreton’s supermarket offering.
Eating out in Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh’s broad high street is somewhat of a foodie paradise; you’re never more than a few steps away from a delicious meal. During the day, the welcoming cafes offer respite from shopping ‘til you drop, with the promise of a slice of cake and a caffeine fix. The old-fashioned tea room vibe is evident at Rixy’s Cotswold Tea Room, Martha’s Coffee House and Victoria Coffee House, all of which are dog friendly. Hop on your bike to visit The Revolution Cafe, which is on the outskirts of town in the Cotswold Cycles Store – well worth a trip for an excellent value light lunch.
For pizzas, pasta and all things Mediterranean, book a table at ASK Italian or Bellini, or if you’ve got a hankering for a hearty meal in a local pub, try The Black Bear Inn, The Swan Inn, Inn on the Marsh or The Bell Inn; the latter is believed to have been the inspiration behind Middle Earth’s Prancing Pony pub in JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
The Spice Room and Raj Mahal cater for those looking for a taste of India, both offering eat-in and takeaway options, while Siam Cottage serves up mouthwatering Thai cuisine. For a special celebratory meal, make a reservation at Restaurant Henne, an intimate and refined eatery where local, seasonal produce comes together with a touch of alchemy to make meals to remember. As if that weren’t enough choice, Sakura Bistro, Mermaid Fish Bar, The Boneyard and Redesdale Arms add to the eclectic mix of dining out options.
Out of town, but with menus tempting enough to warrant the trip, are Blockley Cafe, a 4-mile drive northwest, and Cotswold Barn, 4 miles southwest. The latter has been voted the best cafe in the Cotswolds – why not judge for yourself? There are so many more places to eat in Moreton-in-Marsh, that we couldn’t possibly fit them all into this article – we reckon it could have one of the highest restaurant counts in the UK!
Walks near Moreton-in-Marsh
You'll never be stuck for what to do in Moreton-in-Marsh, thanks to the abundance of walking trails nearby. There are lots of pretty Moreton-in-Marsh walks through the Cotswolds countryside that leave directly from the town itself. The Monarch’s Way long-distance path traverses Moreton-in-Marsh, offering lovely local stretches if you’d prefer to tackle a short section in an afternoon. Similarly, the Heart of England Way skirts close to the town, and the Donnington Way and North Cotswold Diamond Way also pass through. The following walks are some local jaunts to enjoy during your time here – what’s more, walks are one of the best free things to do in Moreton-on-Marsh.
Moreton-in-Marsh circular walks
This 12.5-mile romp leads through the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, striking out from Moreton-in-Marsh and promising a peaceful day with a return along a scenic ridge. An alternative, longer route, takes in Chipping Campden and passes through a series of charming Cotswold-stone villages with a choice of places to stop for lunch.
Blockley circular walk
The quaint village of Blockley is the start and finish point for this delightful walk, which is a leafy circuit through woodlands and fields. Leave time at the end to wander through the gorgeous village and learn about its silk milling history, perhaps stopping off for afternoon tea in one of the cafes.
Moreton-in-Marsh–Batsford circular walk
This gentle and beautiful walk starts in Moreton-in-Marsh, following paths and meadows to Batsford village, where you can take a small detour to incorporate a visit to the famous Batsford Arboretum (more details below). Dog-legging back to Moreton-in-Marsh via the tiny hamlet of Dorn, you’ll have worked up an appetite to satiate in one of the town’s many, many cafes!
The Moreton-in-Marsh Show
The one-day Moreton-in-Marsh Show is an eagerly anticipated, annual agricultural extravaganza taking place on the first Saturday in September. Traditional competitions on farm-related themes including cattle and sheep shows, vintage tractor displays, show jumping and farriery take place throughout the day in the Grand Arena. Enjoy browsing the trade stands, which sell an array of things from food to clothing, and a choice of food stalls to get your mouth watering.
It’s a fun day out for the whole family, so if your visit to the Cotswolds coincides with the Moreton-in-Marsh show, you’re in for a treat!
Batsford Arboretum
Horticulturalists, green-fingered gardeners and those who simply appreciate the beauty in nature will love a visit to Batsford Arboretum. Awash with rare trees, shrubs and bamboo, the gardens are spread over 60 acres of colourful grounds.
Complete with a cafe, gift shop and garden centre, it makes for a fantastic day out and is sure to inspire with its ever-changing showcase of arboreal splendour. Whatever time of year you visit, you’ll be treated to a fabulous seasonal display: carpets of dainty snowdrops, an artist’s palette of spring flowers, delicate sprays of cherry blossom and dazzling autumnal leaves.
Useful information
- Address: Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre, Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh
Gloucestershire GL56 9AT - Entry: Adult £9, concession £8.10, children 4–16 £3.15, under 4 free, family £22.50. Cafe, garden centre and gift shop are free to enter.
- Opening times: 9.30am–5.30pm Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm Sunday, last entry 4pm
Cotswold Falconry Centre
Open since 1988, Cotswold Falconry Centre is one of the top attractions in Moreton-in-Marsh for bird and animal lovers. The centre houses many different species of birds, from vultures to owls, and puts on three flying demonstrations each day to demonstrate the natural abilities of these magnificent creatures.
When you’re not enjoying the displays, you can walk around the aviaries and admire the birds. Cotswold Falconry Centre breeds birds and houses some species that are critically endangered in the wild. If you’d like to get to know the birds even better, the centre offers various experiences to handle and learn more about them.
If you’re looking for day trips from Moreton-in-Marsh, why not combine a visit here with a wander around Batsford Arboretum (above)?
Useful information
- Address: Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9AT
- Entry: Adult £15, concession £12, children 4–15 £8, carer £6
- Opening times: 10.30am, last admission 3pm
Bourton House Garden
Another delightful place to visit if you’re looking for things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh is Bourton House Garden, which is just 2 miles west of the town. The garden encompasses beautifully landscaped terraces, with a riot of luscious planting and many pleasant areas to discover.
There are spring-fed water features, a topiary walk, a white garden and a shade house, and also within the grounds is a 7-acre field with clusters of specimen trees. The seasonal cafe sells drinks, light lunches and cakes, the perfect tonic on a sunny afternoon.
Useful information
- Address: Bourton House Garden, Bourton on the Hill, Gloucestershire, GL56 9AE
- Entry: Adult £10, children free
- Opening times: 10am–4pm, Tuesday–Friday, April–October, last admission 4.15pm
Chastleton House
The National Trust’s Chastleton House is one of the best things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh, especially if you’re a history buff! The 400-year-old Jacobean house was built as a symbol of wealth and status by wool merchant Walter Jones but fell into increasing disrepair when the family lost their riches over subsequent years.
The interior decor and furniture were preserved, making it a haunting and romantic home to explore for modern-day visitors. Chastleton’s claim to fame is that it is the location in which the rules of croquet were written and published by Walter Whitemore-Jones. The garden, with its croquet lawns, is still a beautiful spot for a peaceful stroll, with the ‘best garden’, a kitchen garden and a wilderness walk to discover too.
Useful information
- Address: Chastleton, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxfordshire GL56 0SU
- Entry: Adult £13, children £6.50, family £32.50, 1-adult family £19.50
- Opening times: Vary seasonally, please see the website
Sezincote House and Garden
Spectacularly ornate Sezincote House offers a little slice of Indian paradise in the Cotswolds countryside. As Moreton-in-Marsh attractions go, you won’t find anything quite as exotic as Sezincote, a 200-year-old Mogul Indian palace set within an astonishing 3,500-acre estate. The grounds encompass waterfalls and Taj Mahal-style canals, as well as enchanting grottoes and elaborate temples.
Ferns and jungle-like plants drape around spring-fed pools, a curving orangery soaks up the sun’s rays and the extraordinary onion dome atop the palace can be spotted from throughout the garden. Let your curiosity take over and book onto a tour of the incredible interior, before heading to the Orangery Tea Room to round off your visit with refreshments.
Useful information
- Address: Sezincote Estate, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AW
- Entry: Garden – Adult £9, children under 16 £3, carer free. House tour and garden – adult £15, children under 16 £9, carer free
- Opening times: April–October 11am–5pm, last entry 4.30pm, gates close 5.15pm. November to March (closed Dec) 11am–4pm, last entry 3.30pm, gates close 4.15pm
Map of things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh
Find all of these things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh on our handy map.
Holiday cottages in Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh makes a wonderful base for exploring the Cotswolds, not least all of the attractions and things to do listed above. Why not book a stay in a charming honey-coloured cottage with your partner, or settle down for a family break in one of our larger Moreton-in-Marsh holiday cottages? Whatever your criteria for the perfect cottage break, you’ll find a welcoming sanctuary within our collection.
Moreton-in-Marsh holiday cottages