Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Visitor Information
Visitor Information: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
  • Opening Hours
  • How to find us
  • Parking and Prices
  • Facilities and access
  • Contact Details

Opening Hours

Opening Hours

Please note that we will be closing early on Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 & Monday 17 December, to prepare for Enchanted Christmas. Last entry to day visitors and members will be at 2pm, and the site will shut at 3pm. Entrance to Enchanted Christmas will open at 4pm.

We are open everyday from 9am except Christmas Day.

Final entry to the arboretum is at 4:30pm from March - November (inclusive), and at 4pm December - February (inclusive).

Tidings at Westonbirt Shop: 9:30am to 4pm

Westonbirt Cafe: 10am to 3pm
Westonbirt Restaurant: 9:30am to 4pm

Westonbirt Restaurant opening times over Christmas and New Year

  • Thu 20 December               9.30am – 2pm - food served until 1pm
    (The Courtyard Café will remain open as usual)
     
  • Christmas Eve                    10am – 3pm – food served until 2pm
  • Christmas Day                    CLOSED                                           
  • Boxing Day                         10am – 3pm – food served until 2pm
  • 27th – 30th Dec inclusive        9.30am – 4pm                               
  • New Years Eve                    10am – 3pm – food served until 2pm
  • New Years Day                    10am – 3pm – food served until 2pm

On Enchanted Christmas evenings Westonbirt Restaurant will be serving food & drink from 4pm - 8pm

Weekdays

Monday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
Tuesday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
Wednesday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
Thursday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
Friday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time

Weekends

Saturday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
Sunday
Opening hours 09.00-16.00
Cafe 09.30-16.00
Visitor Centre 10.00-16.00
Restaurant Default Time
How to find us

How to find us

How to find us
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury
Sat Nav Postcode: GL8 8QS
By Car

From M4 (approx 20 mins)                       

  • Exit Motorway at Junction 18
  • Take the A46 north towards Stroud
  • After a few miles turn right onto the A433 (signed Cirencester). Continue on this road for approx three miles and the arboretum is on your left.

From M5 (approx 20 mins)

  • Exit at Junction 13 onto the A419 (towards Stroud) Take the A46 (towards Bath)
  • After going though Nailsworth, you come to traffic lights at the cross-roads
  • Turn left onto A4135 to Tetbury
  • In Tetbury, turn right on the A433
  • Continue on this road, passing through Doughton, for approx three miles. The arboretum is on your right.
By Public Transport

We welcome car-free visitors and offer a discount on admission to those arriving by public transport or bike – plan your journey at Good Journey.

Bus routes and times

The Cotswolds Conservation Board have a guide to exploring the Cotswolds by public transport, which includes routes to Westonbirt. You can download the guide or order a printed copy from the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) website

The route 69 bus operated by Stagecoach runs from Stroud to Tetbury, stopping off at Westonbirt Arboretum on some of its services. Please see the timetable here

For bus times and routes you can also contact travel line on 0871 2002233 or visit the Traveline website

Train travel

The nearest train station is Kemble, located between the towns of Tetbury and Cirencester and is a 15 minute drive away from Westonbirt Arboretum. Yate train station is also of equal distance.

For information on train times please contact National Rail on 08457 484950 or visit the National Rail website:

Arriving by bicycle?

Westonbirt welcomes visitors who arrive by bicycle (and offer cyclists admission at concession rate). Cycling is not permitted in the arboretum itself, but we have plenty of bike racks at the Welcome Building.

OS Grid Ref
ST851898

51.6070137, -2.2163951

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Parking and Prices

Parking and Prices

There are no parking charges at Westonbirt Arboretum, however the following entry fees apply:

Peak Entrance (March - November inclusive)

Adult: £10 

Students, job seekers and those arriving by public transport or bike^: £7

Child (5 - 18 years inclusive; under 5s go free): £4

Group rate (10+ people, pre-paid only): Adult £8, Child £2 *To book a group visit please call 0300 067 4891

Off Peak Entrance (December - February inclusive)

Adult: £7

Students, job seekers and those arriving by public transport or bike^: £5

Child (5-18 years inclusive, under 5s go free): £3

Group rate (10+ people, pre-paid only): Adult £6, Child £1 *To book a group visit please call 0300 067 4891

* Disabled visitors are charged standard entry to the arboretum, but admission includes free entry for one essential carer per disabled visitor.
^We welcome car-free visitors and offer a discount on admission to those arriving by public transport or bike – plan your journey at Good Journey.

Group Bookings

Bring your group to visit one of the UK's most beautiful tree gardens!

We offer discounted prices for pre-booked groups of 10 or more - and with coach dropping off points close to the welcome building, dedicated coach parking, and a friendly team of staff and volunteers organizing a group trip to the arboretum is a breeze!

Why not get even more out of visit by booking a guided tour? Our knowledgable guides offer tours lasting around 1.5 hours. The cost of a guide is £50 in addition to your admission

To book please fill in our Group Bookings Form and email it to westonbirt@forestryengland.uk or mail it to us at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Forestry Commission, Tetbury, GL8 8QS

For further information on group bookings phone 0300 067 4891

School / Learning Bookings

Inspire your pupils with a led programme or self-guided visit to the Arboretum. Find out more and book by visiting our learning pages here.

Help support the arboretum by joining the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.

In return you'll get free access to Westonbirt for a year for yourself and your children, exclusive discounts, early bird entry to events such as Forest Live and Enchanted Christmas and much, much more!

Pricing

Single membership: £39

Joint membership: £76

Join Today

Please note that Westonbirt Arboretum does not accept the Discovery Pass.

 

Parking Charges

Coaches/Minibuses charges

Additional Information

 

 

Number of disabled parking spaces: 22
Card payments accepted
Coaches/Minibuses welcomed
Facilities and access

Facilities and access

Dog policy

Dogs are welcome on the central downs area on a lead and in Silk Wood, which makes up around two-thirds of the arboretum. Dogs are permitted off the lead in Silk Wood as long as they are kept under control and return when called. 

The Old Arboretum is a no dog area (except assistance dogs), providing a safe space for visitors with young children and mobility scooters.

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the whole arboretum.

Dog bins and poo bags are available throughout the site and dog water is available at the restaurant. 

Hire a wheelchair or mobility scooter

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available from the Welcome Building. Please book wheelchairs and mobility scooters in advance by calling Visitor Services on 0300 067 4861.

Mobility scooters are available for free loan in two time slots: from 10am to 1pm and from 1.15pm to 4pm.

For more information on planning your visit, take a look at our accessibility information:

Westonbirt Shuttle

The Westonbirt Shuttle is designed to help those who need a little extra help getting around get from the Welcome Building up to the restaurant, shop, and edge of the Old Arboretum. It runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, between 10am – 4pm. The service is un-timetabled but runs around every 30 minutes or so from the Welcome Building. During peak times, if you are waiting for the shuttle please be patient, it will be there as soon as possible.

The shuttle service does not operate during Winter and will stop running on 11 November 2018 until Spring 2019.

Children's Bikes and Scooters

Children aged 5 years or under may ride bikes and scooters in the arboretum, as long as the bike/scooter measures 70cm or less from the ground to the top of the handle bars in the arboretum.

Please check your bike or scooter before you visit to make sure it fits the bill. Parents and guardians should ensure that children ride carefully throughout the arboretum and be mindful of other visitors

 

View Accessibility Statement
Assistant dogs welcome
Baby changing facilities
Bike lock-up facilities
Cafe
Changing places facilities
Disabled toilet
Dogs allowed
Easy access trail
Picnic area
Play Area
Ranger's Office
Shop
Toilets
Tramper/Mobility Scooter hire
Visitor Centre
Contact Details

Contact Details

Landline Number
0300 067 4890
E-Mail Address
westonbirt@forestryengland.uk
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/WestonbirtArb/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/westonbirtarb/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/WestonbirtArb
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/WestonbirtArboretum

Please note that we will be closing early on Friday 14, Saturday 15, Sunday 16 & Monday 17 December, to prepare for Enchanted Christmas. Last entry to day visitors and members will be at 2pm, and the site will shut at 3pm. Entrance to Enchanted Christmas will open at 4pm.

 

Boasting 15,000 specimens, 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure.

Created by the wealthy Holford family, back in the heyday of Victorian plant hunting, today the arboretum is internationally renowned not only for the diversity and importance of its collection but also its breath-taking beauty.

Click here for opening times, admission prices and dog policy.

Please click the blue Visitor Information tab for information on how to find us, facilities, access and contact details.

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At a glance

  • 15,000 tree specimens, 2,500 species, 5 national tree collections,142 champions.  
  • STIHL Tree Top Walkway.
  • Seasonal trails.
  • Seasonal family trails, as well as a range of family events and activities.
  • Biffa Award Welcome Building and Christopher Mitchell Interpretation Centre.
  • Community programme.

Find out more about the National Arboretum.

Activities at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

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