Westonbirt Arboretum

Visitor Information

Address:
Westonbirt
The National Arboretum
Tetbury
Gloucestershire, GB
GL8 8QS
Tel.:
01666 880221 (Information)
01666 880200 (Guided tour bookings)
01666 881218 (Wheelchair bookings)
01666 881211 (Education team)
Email: westonbirt@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

Owner/management: The Forestry Commission

Opening times:
The arboretum
All year: 10am-8pm (the arboretum will close at dusk if earlier); 7 days a week
The Forest Shop, Plant Centre & Maples Restaurant
All year: 10am-5pm; 7 days a week
The Courtyard Café
Easter – Christmas: 10am-5pm; 7 days a week
The Great Oak Hall
All year: 10am-4pm; 7 days a week

Admission Prices:
Differing seasonal charges

Winter – 28th December – 28th February
Adults: £5.00; Concessions: £4.00
Children (Under 18): £1.00; Family Tickets: £10.00

Spring/Summer –1st March – 31st September Adults: £6.50; Concessions: £5.50
Children (Under 18): £1.00; Family Tickets: £13.00

Autumn – 1st October – Mid November
Adults: £7.50; Concessions: £6.50
Children (Under 18): £1.00; Family Tickets: £14.00

Winter – Mid November – 25th December
Adults: FREE; Concessions: FREE; Children (Under 18): FREE
Family Tickets: FREE
Family tickets include two adults and two children.

Customer Services:

• Shop: The Forest Shop for gifts and books. The Plant Centre has built a reputation for selling high quality - often unusual – plants and shrubs. The Plant Centre can be visited without passing through the Arboretum admissions point.
• Tea Room/ Restaurant: Maples restaurant and Courtyard Café. Both are situated in the central complex
• WC: Toilets situated close to the main car park. A secondary toilet block is situated near Silk Wood.
• Parking: There is one very large car park and a separate car park for the plant shop.
• Seats and benches: Plentiful benches and seats are scattered around the Arboretum. There is a large picnic area near the car park.
• Average visitor duration: Suggested forest walks take around 90 minutes each, but allow more time when possible.
• Accessibility - in the park/ garden from the car park: Wheelchairs and buggies can be booked in advance on 01666 881218. A small donation towards their upkeep is required.
• Paved paths suitable for wheelchairs are marked on complimentary maps. The Old Arboretum is almost totally flat; Silk Woods is quite steep and hilly at both entry points with slight undulations throughout.
• Dogs are welcome in the Silk Wood area of the arboretum.

Children’s programme/ events or other educational activities:
A children’s trail is provided.
There is a dedicated education centre. Detailed programs for differing age-groups are available, see the website for more details and contact: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5y4fff

Maps of sites/ visitor information:

• Several free maps are provided upon entry, duplicates available at the Great Hall information centre. Westonbirt provide a general map and seasonal routes, specially designed to show the garden at its best during your visit. Guides in the Great Oak Hall can use a computer to show you other season routes and will assist you if you are looking for something in particular. There is also a board that is updated with the plants that are particularly worth seeing on the day of your visit.
• Trees are labelled and numerous information boards mounted low throughout the garden and especially in front of special trees. Each avenue is signposted at its entrance helping to locate oneself on the map.
• The seasonal routes are signposted with red markers and specific information boards that help visitors stay on track.

Transport:

• By road: Westonbirt The National Arboretum is situated on the A433 approximately three miles from Tetbury. It is sign posted both from Tetbury and Junction 18 on the M4 (look out for brown signs) about 20 min from this junction. From junction 18 follow the A46 towards Stroud. Turn onto A433 and follow brown signs.
  From the M5 take Junction 13 to Stroud, then take the A46 to Bath and turn on to the A4135 for Tetbury. Turn right in Tetbury and again on to the A433. Carry on this main road through Doughton and Westonbirt is found on the right hand side, about 3 miles SE of Tetbury - again about 25 minutes from the M5.
• By public transport: For a list of buses running Monday – Saturday, click here: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/tetburybusinfo.pdf/$FILE/tetburybusinfo.pdf
  For Sunday buses, see here: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/sundayflyer.pdf/$FILE/sundayflyer.pdf