Sitting at the top of the north-west escarpment of the Cotswolds and enjoying commanding views over the Vale of Gloucester is the village of Birdlip (8 miles east of Gloucester and 6 miles south of Cheltenham). The village sits on an old Roman Road - Ermin Street - that ran from Gloucester to Cirencester but this area is a much older landscape, it has been inhabited for several thousand years and scattered all along ridge is evidence of Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age settlements and burial sites. None more so than that at Birdlip, where in 1879, workmen in a nearby quarry uncovered three skeletons, found with the body`s were some of most important groups of pre-Roman metalwork ever found in Britain. Bracelets; bronze bowls, an amber neckless and a sliver gilt brooch were among the the items including the star find of a superb decorated bronze hand-mirror, it is one of the finest items of British Celtic art to have survived (some of these items can be seen in the Gloucester Museum). The modern history of Birdlip can be traced back to around 1200 where the population increase brought about by agricultural boom saw several new settlements spring up. Birdlip was ideally situated on the old Roman Road and crossed by the ancient Cotswold Ridge-way trackway. Whilst hills like Birdlip were no hardship to those on foot of horseback the steep road up from the Vale proved to be too much for the growing numbers of waggons in use in the 17th & 18th centuries. When the road to the north of the village was turn-piked (now the A417) through traffic by-passed the village. Birdlip is now thriving community, the church of S.Mary`s dates from 1957 having replaced the earlier Victorian church which was destroyed by fire and the Royal George Hotel is a fine example of an original Cotswold Inn. Birdlip an ideal spot from which to explore the fascinating history of this part of the county.
Inn
Pub and Bar
Restaurant
Golden Heart Inn
Kingshead House Restaurant
School
Places to Stay near Birdlip
Royal George Hotel (0.10 miles)
With spectacular views over the Gloucestershire countryside and set in 26 acres of beautiful, peaceful grounds, parts of this charming hotel date back to the 18th century. The Royal George is situated ... More
Premier Inn Gloucester (Little Witcombe) (1.45 miles)
Greenway (The) (2.17 miles)
The Greenway is one of the top Country House Hotels in the UK and has won more accolades than any other in the Cotswolds. The Hotel & Spa is privately owned by the Eden Hotel ... More | visit website
Cowley Manor (2.44 miles)
Designed as a chic alternative to country house chintz, Cowley Manor oozes minimalist cool without pretension. Located just outside Cheltenham and set in 55 acres, this 30 bedroom hotel was recently voted Best Leisure ... More | visit website
Premier Inn Gloucester Business Park (2.64 miles)
Bowden Hall Ramada Jarvis (3.52 miles)
An elegant country house on the outskirts of Gloucester, the hotel is surrounded by acres of beautiful grounds, yet only minutes from the M5.
Stay at the Ramada Bowden Hall and ... More
Moorend Park Hotel (3.99 miles)
Check availability and book this hotel online with Active Hotels
A fine example of a Regency-style building, this family-run hotel combines comfort with a hint of the historic, within reach of the Cotswolds and the ... More
Cheltenham Park Hotel (4.03 miles)
The Cheltenham Park Hotel is in the heart of the Cotswolds. Just two miles from the centre of Cheltenham, the hotel is the proud owner of the 1999 Silver Award ... More
Beaumont House Hotel (4.09 miles)
Cheltenham’s 5-star boutique guest house is managed and run by professional hoteliers, whose focus is on quality and friendly, efficient service; an ideal choice when visiting Cheltenham and the Cotswolds.
Within walking ... More
Hatton Court Hotel (4.25 miles)
This hotel is tucked away behind a bank of trees, on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment, between the city of Gloucester and Painswick. A former splendid Cotswold home, at Hatton ... More
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