Canals, fairways and ski slopes
Shoot simulated game at Stroud Clay Club, or 54 holes at Minchinhampton Golf Club. Ride the canal towpaths with The Bike Works. Or hit the Cheltenham Foodie Tour. Kids can cable-ski, sail, row or just watch the wildlife at Cotswold Water Park. Meet some more at Slimbridge. Walk or cycle Stroud and the Severn Valley, starting from your doorstep. Or check out Harry Potter spots at Gloucester Cathedral.
Country kids
Pepper your pals with CO2-powered marker guns at Paintball Raiders. Try just about anything at the Cotswold Water Park, including mountain-biking the lakeside paths, cable skiing, sailing, rowing or just watching the wildlife. Or catch 50 collections of British rare-breed animals, games and activities at the Cotswold Farm Park.
Stick with the animal theme at Bristol Zoo Gardens, the fifth oldest zoo in the world and home to everything from ring-tailed lemurs to the Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo. Enjoy indoor and outdoor attractions at Cattle Country Adventure Park, including the animal experience centre, jumping pillows, mini golf, assault courses and boating lake.
Discover significant finds from the local Roman town at the Corinium Museum. Follow the history of the States at the American Museum. Head to Gloucester for the National Waterways Museum’s interactive exhibits, café and museum shop. Stick around to cruise the same water that features in Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Go up the wall at The Warehouse Climbing Centre. Catch the latest movies at Vue Stroud. Get creative at Paint-a-Pot in Nailsworth. Ride the longest slope in England and Wales at Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre. Meet amazing wildlife at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre. Or check out the Harry Potter locations at Gloucester Cathedral.
For the grown ups
Always wanted to blast birds from the sky, but humanely? Try skeet, down-the-line and sporting shooting at Stroud and District Clay Club, with simulated game shooting also available. Prefer shooting holes? You can fill 54 of them at Minchinhampton Golf Club, and buff up your shots on the short-game area and performance centre.
Catch some lake and river monsters with first-class fishing at Apperley Pools, Bourton Lakes and Horcott Lakes. Hire cycles from The Bike Works and ride the dedicated route from the shop around Nailsworth, or try the Thames and Severn Canal towpath route, complete with coffee shops. Keen on walking or cycling? You’ve come to the right place. Surrounded by National Trust land, your adventure starts at the gate with all the beauty of Stroud and the Severn Valley to explore.
Swap two wheels for four legs and ride horses whatever your age or standard from Barton End. Learn about trees among the 15,000 specimens from all over the world at Westonbirt Arboretum. Hit the gym at Cirencester Leisure Centre. Or chill out at Calcot Spa, with its lavender-lined hot tub and open fire.
Take the three-hour Cheltenham Foodie Tour, with six authentic taste sensations, including Cotswold bakery, specialty cheese shop and 1920s cocktail lounge. Head to Bath, to bathe in naturally hot spa water and original Roman Baths. Or see vintage car collections and classic cars and bikes at the Cotswold Motoring Museum.
