Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Visitor information

Opening hours

Westonbirt is open every day, Monday - Sunday, except Christmas day, from 9am. Last admission is at 4.30pm, 30 minutes before the arboretum closes.

Plan your visit.

Weekdays

Monday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4pm

Tuesday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4pm

Wednesday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4pm

Thursday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4pm

Friday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4pm

Weekends

Saturday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4.30pm

Sunday
Opening hours	9am - 5pm
Restaurant	9.30am - 4.30pm
Shop	9.30am - 4.30pm

How to find us

Sat Nav Postcode:

GL8 8QS

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury

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

Bus routes and times

Why not go car-free and enjoy a discount on your admission cost. You can reach us by bus on Mondays to Saturdays. Stagecoach - Single journeys capped at £2 - Starts 1st January 2023 until 31st October 2023

From Stroud Bus 69 runs to Westonbirt several times a day, allowing for a 3 or 6 hour visit.

From Bath take Bus 620, which continues as bus 69 from Old Sodbury to Westonbirt (stay on the same bus).

From Bristol take Bus Y1 or Bus Y5 to Yate Shopping Centre to connect with bus 620/69.

You can also save money with the Cotswolds Discoverer Pass, which gives you unlimited off-peak travel around the Cotswolds by train and bus for the day.

Train travel

There are direct trains to Stroud from London, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester and Cheltenham. You can also visit Westonbirt by train and bus from Bath.

Kemble and Yate Stations are the closest stations to Westonbirt. It’s a 20-minute taxi ride from either. A group of 3 or more can save 34% on GWR trains with a GroupSave ticket.

Book your bike onto the train to Kemble, and cycle 15-miles to Westonbirt. No cycling is allowed inside the arboretum.

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.

OS Grid Ref

ST851898

Get directions

51.605504436381, -2.2136914730072

Parking and prices

Westonbirt is open every day, Monday - Sunday, except Christmas day from 9am.

Prices >>

Book tickets >>

Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum Membership >>

Group bookings >>

School / educational visits >>

Forestry England National members >>

Electric Vehicles

Westonbirt does not currently have any Electric Vehicle Charging points.

Coaches

Coach parking is available. A coach drop off spot is located near the Welcome Building and parking is located behind the main car back. Please follow signs on arrival.

Motorhomes / Caravans

Motohomes and caravans are welcome to park at Westonbirt. There is no vehicle height or width restriction. If the vehicle is larger than the main car park spaces, visitors should use the coach car park. They are not permitted to remain in the car park overnight.

Additional information

Number of accessible parking spaces: 22

Facilities and access

Food and drink >>

Shop >>

Dogs >>

Children's Bikes and Scooters >>

Drones >>

Things to do with the kids >>

Access information

A Personal Assistant is free while visiting with the person they are assisting. Proof of concession is not required.

Accessible Admission Tickets >>

Accessible Admission Tickets permit flexible entry to the arboretum between 9am and 4pm. These tickets are available for visitors with accessibility needs that may find arriving at Westonbirt within a fixed time slot prohibitive.

Hire a wheelchair, mobility scooter or Trike wheelchair >>

Westonbirt Shuttle bus >>

Visual Story >>

If you require a word document to edit before your arrival please email us.

Not visited before? Take a short tour with street view on google maps.

View Accessibility Guide

Accessible toilet
All-terrain mobility scooter hire
Assistant dogs welcome
Baby changing facilities
Bike lock-up facilities
Bird hide
Cafe
Changing places
Dogs allowed
Picnic area
Play Area
Ranger's Office
Shop
Toilets
Visitor Centre

A mum and son walk along a woodland path surrounded by bluebells

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

A magical tree garden, where you can explore trees from all over the globe

Book tickets

Home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to escape, relax or have an adventure! Take a journey up into the canopy on the STIHL Tree Top Walkway, stop by the café for a tasty treat or see if you can spot the Gruffalo!

This spring we are celebrating our wildlife superheroes at Westonbirt, revealing the superpowers of some the animals and insects that make this special place their home.

Don't forget, if you join as a Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum member, you can enjoy free entry to this spectacular setting for a whole year. Find out more about becoming a member here.

Westonbirt map

At a glance

Essential pre-booking: Autumn 2024

02/09/2023 09:00

Dogs are welcome off lead in Silk Wood. Dogs are not permitted in the Old Arboretum or at events (except assistance dogs)

15/02/2022 10:51

Children's bikes and scooters are welcome if below 70cm

23/06/2022 13:07

What's on

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Forest event

Wildlife Surveys – spring family activity day

Sat 20 Apr

10:30 - 3:30pm

Silk Wood Barn

Come and join us at Silk Wood Barn as we discover some of the wildlife that lives at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Look for and listen to evidence - tracks, signs, and sounds – and find hidden creatures. Increase your identification skills with our wildflower challenge.

Make sure to explore our Nature Superheroes spring family trail in Silkwood too!

Suitable for children aged 3+

Find out more

Forest event

Tots & Twigs Forest School

School term time, Mon, Thu & Fri

10.15am - 11.45am & Mon & Fri 12.30pm - 2pm

Westonbirt Arboretum

Learning With Nature runs weekly Tots & Twigs Forest School sessions at Westonbirt Arboretum for pre-school children (2 years to 5 years of age) and their parents/carers.Each course runs during school term times and will focus on developing children's imagination, creativity and self-esteem whilst exploring the wonderful natural environment of the arboretum.The Forest School helps encourage young children, and supports their parents/carers in helping them, to get back to nature with a wildlife focus, creating a sense of woodland wonder and developing their outdoor knowledge through nature-based learning sessions.

Summer 2024 sessions will start on 22, 25 and 26 April 2024. The sessions will run for 10 weeks.Morning sessions on Mon, Thu & Fri run from 10.15am - 11.45am whilst the Mon & Fri afternoon sessions run between 12.30pm - 2pm.

The cost of the 10-week course is £75 (or £85 if you are not a Friend of Westonbirt Arboretum Member) plus the Eventbrite fee.

Find out more

Forest event

Two Day Willow Sculpture Workshop

Sat 27 & Sun 28 Apr

10am - 4pm

Learning Centre

Spend two days at stunning Westonbirt Arboretum creating something special from willow. Enjoy an escape, being focused and creative in a small group of like minded people. Your tutor Zoe is a talented sculptor and experienced tutor who can guide you in creating whatever you like - an abstract sculpture, a garden sculpture, willow animal (other students have created penguins, a snail….an owl!) ~ enjoy the meditative quality of focused creativity. In two days you can create something much larger and really special. Bring a friend or loved one and enjoy a great escape!

Find out more

Forest event

Home Educated Learning event

Thu 02 May, Thu 27 Jun, Thu 26 Sep, Thu 07 Nov

10:00am - 12:00pm

Meet outside the Great Oak Hall

Do you home educate your children?

We are running learning sessions throughout the year for home educated children, aged 7-11. Using the arboretum’s magnificent surroundings, students will have the opportunity to engage creatively with the natural setting. Each event has a different theme and learning activity for the children to immerse themselves in.

These events are specifically designed for children aged 7-11 years, however younger and older siblings are welcome to join in. Children aged 7-11 years are £6 per child, accompanying children are £4 per child. Two free accompanying adult tickets are available per booking, additional adult tickets are £10 per ticket.

If you require any assistance making a booking, please contact our Customer Relations Team on 0300 068 0400 or customerrelations@forestryengland.uk (Mon-Fri between 9:00am & 5:00pm)

Home Educated Learning Event Programme

Event Date Event Details Thursday 29th February 2024 Become a Woodland Manager for Wildlife Thursday 02 May 2024 Growing Green, explore the science of plant growth through discovery and games Thursday 27 June 2024 Forest Food Chains, discovering food chains linked to our global tree collection Thursday 26 September 2024

Finding Art In Nature, using our autumnal landscape to explore colour, texture, shape and form

Thursday 07 November 2024 Season of Mists, challenges linked to seasonal changes in the woodland

Find out more

Things to do

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Gruffalo Party Trail at Westonbirt Arboretum

The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday and to celebrate, everyone is invited to take part in a brand-new forest adventure. Trail starts 10 February.

What to expect

The interactive family trail features all sorts of party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures.

Follow the trail to help find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember. Search for balloons, pine cones, apples and the Gruffalo himself, and complete fun activities and rubbings as you go along.

The trail is located in the Old Arboretum which is our dog free area.

Get the party started with a Gruffalo Party Trail pack

Pick up your pack for just £4 from the Westonbirt shop, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure.

Inside you’ll find:

kraft bag to colour in party headband to wear party trail activity leaflet stickers pencil and crayon keepsake sew-on Gruffalo Party patch

Share your party fun using the #GruffaloTrail hashtag.

Find out more

Guided and self led walks

Choose one of our walks at Westonbirt Arboretum and find inspiration in one of the most diverse and beautiful botanical collections in the world.

Find out more

Spring family trail at Westonbirt Arboretum

Search for our nature superheroes that are emerging in spring at Westonbirt, by embarking on our spring family trail which is all about wildlife around the arboretum.

Will you be able to find all nine creatures and discover their amazing superpower?

Collect a trail map from the Welcome Building and follow the route to the left to find each stop where you will find a different superhero. There will be fun activities to complete along the way too!

Rate each one out of 10 as you go. Which superpower is your favourite? At the end of the trail, create your own nature superhero on the back of the trail map.

Let your imagination run wild!

Self-guided trail suitable for children aged 5yrs and over.

Find out more

Wellbeing trail at Westonbirt

Spending time amongst the trees and really noticing nature is scientifically proven to boost our mental and physical health. Follow the trail to take a mindful walk through the arboretum that invites you to really relax.

What to expect

Themed panels along the trail will invite you to pause, notice and connect with the forest environment around you.

A forest wellbeing journal is also available to help you get even more benefit from the experience, offering additional mindful things to do while you’re out in the forest and at home.

Get your copy on-site at the Welcome Building or download your forest wellbeing journal before you visit.

About the route

Walk over the Treetop Walkway into Silk Wood to find the starting point. Follow the path as it meanders around The Link up past Maple Loop and back down Willesley Drive.

All paths are hard and suitable for buggies and mobility aids.

This trail is supported by Sport England using National Lottery funding.

Find out more