The government has said the single most important action we can all take to fight coronavirus is to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives. Westonbirt Arboretum remains open with a pre-booking system for local outdoor exercise once per day. However the government has instructed that you should minimise time spent outside your home, minimise the number of journeys you make and only travel a short distance within your local area to exercise. Please remember this when considering a visit. You must stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating and please follow the government’s rules on exercising and meeting other people during your visit.
Westonbirt is open every day except Christmas day from 9am.
Entrance to Westonbirt Arboretum is by advance booking only. When booking your ticket you will be asked to choose an entry time slot. Entry time-slots are every 20 minutes, 9am – 3.40pm, last entry 4pm. Once in the arboretum you can stay for as long as you like, but please be aware that we close at 5pm.
Find out more, how to safely book, plan and enjoy your visit.
Weekdays
| Monday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am – 2.30pm |
| Shop | Closed |
| Tuesday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am – 2.30pm |
| Shop | Closed |
| Wednesday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am – 2.30pm |
| Shop | Closed |
| Thursday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am – 2.30pm |
| Shop | Closed |
| Friday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am - 4pm |
| Shop | Closed |
Weekends
| Saturday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am - 4pm |
| Shop | Closed |
| Sunday | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9am - 5pm |
| Restaurant | 9.30am - 4pm |
| Shop | Closed |
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.
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 08712 002233 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. Adult and older children cycling is not permitted in the arboretum itself (we do allow bikes under 70cm in) and we ask that visitors lock their bikes up at the racks provided. Forgotten your lock? Don’t worry we have a few spare ones at the Welcome Building. Just ask a member of staff for more details.
51.6059365, -2.2161003
Westonbirt is open every day except Christmas day from 9am. Entrance to Westonbirt Arboretum is by advance booking only. Find out more on how you can book tickets and safely plan and enjoy your visit.
There are no parking charges at Westonbirt Arboretum, however the following entry fees apply:
Winter (December - February)
- Adult: £8
- Students & job seekers: £5
- Child (5-18 years): £3
Under 5s go free
Spring / Summer / Autumn (March - September & November)
- Adult: £11
- Students & job seekers: £7
- Child (5-18 years): £4
Under 5s go free
Peak Autumn (October 2021)
- Adult: £15
- Students & job seekers: £10
- Child (5-18 years): £4
Under 5s go free
Carers of access visitors will receive free admission. Click here for our accessibility guide
Westonbirt does not currently have any Electric Vehicle Charging points.
School / Learning Bookings
Find out more and book - visit our learning pages.
Annual Membership
Join the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
Please note that Westonbirt Arboretum does not accept the Discovery Pass.
Additional Information
In order to keep visitors, volunteers, staff and our local community safe, we have introduced a new booking system and reduced the number of people we can welcome at one time.
Find out more about how you can safely book tickets, plan and enjoy your visit.
We have also made some important changes to the site and facilities.
| STIHL Treetop Walkway | Open, but with a one way system. Please keep 2 metres apart. |
| Restaurant | Open, takeaway food and drink, card only. Operating with a reduced menu and opening times Mon - Thu, 9.30am - 2.30pm, Fri - Sun full take-away menu and open 9.30am - 4pm. |
| Picnic benches | Picnic benches have been removed from the arboretum |
| Dogs | Welcome on The Downs on leads. Permitted off lead in Silk Wood. The Old Arboretum is a dog free zone. |
| Toilets | Open, please wear a mask inside. |
| Children's Bikes and Scooters | Welcome if under 70cm from floor to handle bars. |
| Shop | Closed |
| Welcome Building | Closed - You can join or renew your membership online |
| Natural play areas | Open (excluding Exploratree). |
| Mobility Scooter Hire | Available to book online with your tickets. If a scooter is essential to your visit please check availability first, book your scooter and then purchase your entry tickets for a time slot no later than 2:20pm. Scooters must be returned by 3.30pm. Scooters can be hired for visitors aged 16 and over. Manual wheelchairs can be hired for visitors aged 15 and under. Book a scooter |
| Shuttle Service | Unavailable |
Got a question about membership? Visit the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum website
Book your tickets and plan your visit
Dog policy
Dogs are welcome on The Downs on a lead and permitted off lead in Silk Wood, which makes up around two thirds of the arboretum. In order to facilitate social distancing, please ensure that your dog is under effective control throughout your visit, and that it remains within sight and returns to you when called. In areas of Silk Wood where there are a number of people walking please consider putting your dog on the lead, in order facilitate social distancing. Dogs must be on the lead on the Downs, STIHL Treetop Walkway, in the car park and by the main facilities, such as the restaurant, Welcome Building etc.
The Old Arboretum and restaurant 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.
Children's Bikes and Scooters
Children 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.
To avoid disappointment please check your bike or scooter before you visit to make sure it fits the bill, any bikes or scooters over 70cm will not be allowed in the arboretum. Parents and guardians should ensure that children ride carefully throughout the arboretum and keep a 2 metre distance to other visitors.
Hire a wheelchair or mobility scooter
Mobility scooters are available to hire, free of charge, when you book your tickets. If a scooter is essential to your visit please check availability first, book your scooter and then purchase your entry tickets for a time slot no later than 2:20pm. Scooters can be hired for visitors aged 16 and over. Manual wheelchairs can be hired for visitors aged 15 and under. Book a scooter
Please book your scooter no later than the day before your visit. Scooters are not available for timeslots after 2:20pm. You can pick your scooter up from the Information Point, just opposite the entrance. In order to give us time to clean the scooter so that it is safe for the next user, please return your scooter no later than 3:30pm. If you have any queries about mobility scooter or wheelchair hire, please call the Westonbirt Office (phones answered Monday-Friday 0900-1700) on 0300 067 4890.
Accessibility Guide
We want to make sure you have a fun and memorable visit to Westonbirt Arboretum.
For more information and to help you plan your visit, please read our full access statement.
Not visited before? Take a tour with street view on google maps from the car park to the welcome building, over the STIHL Tree Top Walkway and you can even pop over to Acer Glade!
While the shuttle bus isn’t running at present we have introduced some new short walks in the interim with plenty on benches to sit and enjoy the view on route.
Drones
Please note that members of the public are not permitted to fly drones onsite at Westonbirt Arboretum. Professional photographers and members of the press wishing to fly drones at the Arboretum should contact us at westonbirt.marketing@forestryengland.uk
For more information on planning your visit, take a look at our accessibility information:
