Sudeley Castle
 

We will be back in London in mid to late April. I see that Sudeley Castle reopens in March and would love feedback about from those who have been.

The gardens look beautiful and while it looks like a hike to Cheltenham by train - it does look like a great place to visit on a nice day. I am less interested in the castle and more interested in the gardens and perhaps St Mary's chapel. I am interested in Catherine Parr - the ultimate survivor in the Henry VIII wives game.

For those who have been, would you recommend?

I have been to Sudeley Castle, walked over from where I was staying in Winchcombe. Gardens in England are one of my particular interests and while as good as many I wouldn't rank it among the most special, especially if you aren't already planning to be in the area. There is (or was) local bus service from Cheltenham train station to Winchcombe but you'd want to time things well after determining how often it runs. There are so many spectacular gardens in England that planning to see some in locales that coincide with other plans would make more sense to me. Unless, as you say, your particular interest in Catherine Parr would compel you to visit. That would make more sense to me than the actual quality of the garden.

Reading between the lines it sounds like you are asking about a day trip - perhaps from London??

If you were staying several days in the Cotswolds, fitting in Sudeley Castle/Garden would make sense, but a special trip -- not really IMO. The logistics are difficult. ( I'd think that if C. Parr is of special interest, you'd also want to visit the castle??) The gardens are lovely so if I'm wrong about the say trip -- where will you be staying.

What area(s) are you staying while in England -- there are scads of glorious/better gardens all over

We spent a long weekend at Sudely Castle in one of the cottages when our Australian family visited we all enjoyed it immensely. The castle and grounds are most definitely worth visiting and there are some great walks around there as a number of cotswold footpaths converge on Winchcombe. Winchombe itself has some nice restaurants and is quite pleasant but is not really the quintessential Cotswold village. Personally I think its a great place for a weekend but not the best choice for a day trip to the Cotswolds.

Thanks Fodorites - message received. It would be a day trip from London and it sounds like that's not the best way to visit so we'll save for another trip when we are staying in the area.