England
Gloucestershire

Cirencester Travel Information

The 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds', St John the Baptist church with its ornate south porch

Summary
Cirencester was a bustling town during the Roman settlement of Britain, and the town retains strong ties to its past, with the award-winning Corinium Museum telling the story of the town's rich history.

Extensive excavations of the old Roman town have revealed much of the town layout, and many of the remains uncovered during excavations are on display at the Corinium Museum.

One of the most striking features to survive in Cirencester is the Roman amphitheatre, built in the 2nd century AD. It had a seating capacity of 8000, which was more than the entitre population of Corinium. Legends tell of mysterious tunnels under the site, but no evidence of these has ever been found. The amphitheatre is now run by English Heritage, and is open to the public at any time.

Heritage Highlights

St John the Baptist church Corinium Museum Romam amphitheatre

PHOTO GALLERIES

Cirencester Photo Gallery St John the Baptist church Corinium Museum

Accommodation

Self catering Hotels

The parish church of St John the Baptist is known as The Cathedral of the Cotswolds. The chief architectural glory of the church is its elaborate 3 story south porch, which, curiously, was not built for the church, but as a meeting place for the monks of Cirencester Abbey. The Abbey is gone now, a victim of Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, but visitors can stroll through the Abbey Grounds beside the current parish church.

Inside the church you can view Anne Boleyn's Cup, a 16th century gilded silver goblet given by the unfortunate Queen Anne Boleyn to the doctor who cared for her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I.

Related
Gloucestershire Towns and Villages Gazetteer
Cotswolds Travel Guide