Cirencester Property Finder

For a relatively small town, there are a wide variety of good academic establishments to choose from. For state primaries Powell’s C of E and Watermoor C of E Ofsted scored “good”, while Stratton C of E and the secondary schools of Deer Park and Kingshill were given “outstanding”. South Gloucestershire also has a collection of great Grammar Schools; Sir Thomas Rich’s and Marling for boys (with mixed sixth forms), Ribston Hall for girls (mixed sixth form) and the co-ed Crypt and Pates Grammar – consistently voted one of the best in the country.

Parents are spoilt for choice by the range of independent schools in Gloucestershire with many in stunning locations offering diverse extra-curricular programmes and outstanding academic results. For junior schools look at Hatherop Castle School and exclusive Beaudesert and Pinewood, all co-ed. While the excellent Rendcombe and Cheltenham Colleges offer junior on through to sixth form.

Cirencester has its own non emergency hospital, with the well-equipped “A&E” Cheltenham and Gloucester hospitals both less than half an hour away.

The Cotswold Leisure Centre offers the main sporting facilities for the town with a comprehensive range of swimming and exercise classes with badminton and squash courts available and no membership fee required. In Watermoor, St Michael’s Park has it’s own collection of floodlit courts, it’s inexpensive membership including use of their crazy golf course and table tennis tables. Cirencester is also home to the UK’s oldest continually used outdoor swimming pool. Cirencester lido was built in 1869 and is still fed by natural springs today.

Out of town the Cotswold Water Park is an area of 40 square miles with 150 lakes – perfect for country strolls and sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing opportunities.

For retail therapy, Cirencester boasts the usual range of “High Street” shops from Boots the Chemist to Fat Face, White Stuff and Joules as well as attractive interiors shops, (French Grey and Parlane) and small upmarket boutiques.

Well served by large stores, Waitrose is right on the edge of town with a small M&S in the centre and a Tescos Extra, Aldi and Lidl on the outskirts.

Friendly farm shops also supply locally reared organic meat; The Organic Farm shop, just out of town and Jesse Smiths butchers in Love Lane, both with inviting cafés. The brilliant Market Garden in the town centre supplies local fruit and veg and a small but good-value array of plants, flowers and occasionally, ornamental trees.

Cirencester has plenty to choose from. Chains include the good-value, classic French “Cote” and the inevitable Pizza Express as well as one-off’s such as the reassuringly expensive, Made by Bob. At Jesse’s Bistro you’ll get a damn good steak, with upmarket fish and chips at the Malt and Anchor and delicious “cooked from fresh” curry at Indian Rasoi.

Cafés too abound with Jacks and Coffee# 1 topping the list. Further afield there are a plethora of traditional Cotswold pubs, think log fires, low ceilings, exposed brickwork, squidgy sofas and menus boasting local meat and fish served with organic vegetables. Some of the best include the Village Pub at Barnsley, Bell at Sapperton, Wheatsheaf at Northleach, The Potting Shed at Crudwell and The Keepers Arms in Quenington.

Cirencester’s highlights include its glorious Church, one of the largest in the UK, the Corinium Museum with its beautiful Roman mosaics and the Brewery Arts Centre (local artisan wares, workshops, café and shop). The towns Roman Amphitheatre, once seating 8,000 people, is little more than a mound now but a pleasant walk, as is the majestic Cirencester Park with its tree-lined avenue. Summertime brings Polo here and a chance to spot the princes playing for the club.

Further afield the delights of Cheltenham Spa, Bath Spa, Oxford, Tetbury, Bibury, Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, Westonbirt Arboretum, Berkeley Castle and Sudeley Castle, Slimbridge Wild Fowl Trust and Cotswold Wildlife Park can all be reached in under an hour.

There are plans for a new cinema in Cirencester, but both Cheltenham and Swindon have good cinema complexes and popular theatres which can be reached in around 20 minutes. Bristol’s Old Vic and Bath’s Theatre Royal both attract West End shows and are less than an hour away by car.

The list is endless but key events include Badminton Horse Trials, Fairford Air Tattoo, Kemble Air Show, Cheltenham Races, Cheltenham Literary Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, Cirencester Polo and WOMAD music festival.