Lady’s 10 Beautiful Things to Do in Painswick, England

If there’s one part of England that keeps drawing me back, it’s the Cotswolds. I’ve fallen in love with this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty over the years, and today I want to share about my favorite village: Painswick. It will be the first in a series of blog posts I’ll publish about Cotswolds villages, and I hope you’ll enjoy hearing about them (and visiting, of course!). So read on for A Lady in London’s guide to things to do in Painswick.

Painswick, England

Painswick might just be the loveliest Cotswolds village, and indeed one of the prettiest villages in Britain.

Painswick came into its own during the historic boom in the wool trade, and now it’s known as the Queen of the Cotswolds for its heritage architecture and unique landscapes.

With its stone buildings and magical topiary trees, this village in Gloucestershire is packed with beauty.

Things to Do in Painswick

There’s no shortage of things to do in Painswick, from exploring the famous churchyard to eating at the village’s restaurants.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Painswick, from a beautiful winter escape to an autumn getaway and a spring weekend. I can personally say that the village is worth a trip at any time of year.

Whenever you go, make sure to check opening hours. Some places are only open on certain days or at specific times, so it’s good to be prepared before you visit.

1. Stay at The Painswick

First on my list of things to do in Painswick is stay at The Painswick. This honey-coloured hotel is my favorite place to stay in the UK, and I’ve stayed at a lot places.

The Painswick is all historic beauty on the outside and stylish decor on the inside. With 16 individually-designed bedrooms, a cozy bar, fun board games in the lounge area, spa treatment rooms, and a great restaurant, there are a lot of reasons to love this place.

Add to that the fact that they’ve created a number of self-guided walks guests can do to explore the area, and this hotel is my idea of heaven.

2. Admire St Mary’s Church

Once settled in at The Painswick hotel, one of the best things to do in Painsiwck is see the church.

St Mary’s Church, which is officially called the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, lies at the heart of the village. No visit would be complete without seeing it (and it’s so tall you couldn’t miss it if you tried).

This Grade I-listed church was largely constructed between the 14th and 16th centuries. The dramatic spire was added in 1632.

A Gothic wool church, it’s surrounded by a churchyard dotted with tombs and walk-through yew trees (more on that in a minute).

The church has an eventful history. It was occupied by Parliamentarian forces in 1644 during the English Civil War. Royalists recaptured it after heavy fighting, and bullet holes and cannon scars can still be seen on the tower today.

Inside, St Mary’s Church features a 17th-century font, a commemorative screen from World War I, and other historic details.

3. Wander through the Churchyard in Painswick

The churchyard of St Mary’s is one of the most unique places in the Cotswolds, and exploring it is one of the most popular things to do in Painswick.

The Painswick churchyard is known for its 99 yew trees. They were planted in the late 18th century and have been sculpted to offer walk-through archways around the green.

Legend has it that every time a 100th tree is planted in the yard, it dies.

In addition to the trees, the churchyard is home to a number of historic gravestones and tabletop tombs. They add drama to both the scene and the legend.

4. See the Houses

Another of the best things to do in Painswick is admire the houses. The village has a number of notable historic homes, some of which date back to the 14th century.

Two of them on Bisley Street have original ‘donkey doors’, entrances spacious enough for the donkeys who carried baskets of wool on their backs to get through.

The 16th-century Court House on Hale Lane is associated with King Charles I, who stayed here during the English Civil War’s Siege of Gloucester in 1643.

Legend has it that the king and his soldiers still haunt the house today (it’s a hotel, so you can go in and see for yourself).

5. Visit the Painswick Rococo Garden

Another of the best things to do in Painswick is go to the Painswick Rococo Garden.

This 18th-century garden was laid out by Benjamin Hyett in the 1740s to resemble an expansive outdoor ‘room’. It has been restored to its former glory and is now the UK’s only complete surviving Rococo garden.

Nestled in a secret 6-acre valley with views over the surrounding countryside, the Painswick Rococo Garden combines formal and informal elements in a style that employs strategic garden structures for dramatic effect.

Located on the outskirts of the village, it’s worth a trip to see the garden when it’s in full bloom in late spring and summer.

6. Take a Walk in the Area

One of my favorite things to do in Painswick is walk. The village is set on a hill in the Stroud district. It overlooks one of the Five Valleys, a group of valleys in Gloucestershire that converges on the nearby town of Stroud.

The scenery makes it worthwhile to explore the countryside around Painswick on foot. There are great walking paths from Painswick to places like Slad that go past pretty houses and through woodland areas.

Once in Slad, it’s fun to have lunch or a drink at the The Woolpack, a famous pub in the Cotswolds. It was a favorite watering hole of Laurie Lee, a local author.

He wrote the classic semi-autobiographical book Cider with Rosie, a coming-of-age story set in the Cotswolds during and after World War I.

7. Visit the Ashton Beer Collection

One of the most under-the-radar things to do in Painswick is visit the Ashton Beer Collection. Hidden away on Gloucester Street, this secret Arts and Crafts Movement museum and gallery is housed in a deconsecrated village church.

It’s home to a treasure trove of furniture and art by famous makers and designers like Ernest Gimson, Ernest and Sidney Barnsley, and others.

One of the best things about the Ashton Beer Collection is that the church has a stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones, a prominent Pre-Raphaelite artist.

The museum’s owner even jokes that he bought a window and it came with a church attached.

Given the rich Arts and Crafts Movement history in the Cotswolds, it’s a great place to see the work of many of the people that lived and created in this part of England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In fact, Painswick has its share of more recent Arts and Crafts history, too. In 1944, artist Charles Gere and his half-sister, Margaret, settled in Painswick and formed an offshoot of the Birmingham Group of Artist-Craftsmen.

8. Explore the Streets of Painswick

Back outside, one of the most enjoyable things to do in Painswick is explore the streets. The wealth of the wool trade means there’s no shortage of historic shops, houses, and churches to see in town.

Streets like Tibbiwell Lane have pretty homes and details to admire. New Street is full of shops, restaurants, and inns. Knapp Lane has dramatic hedges and pretty cottages, and it leads so some of the walks you can do in the area.

You really can’t go wrong in Painswick, so it’s worth getting out and exploring all the streets in town.

9. Eat in Painswick

If you’re hungry while you’re here, you’re in luck. The village has some great restaurants and cafes, and one of the best things to do in Painswick is eat.

I love eating at the restaurant at The Painswick, which has a range of dining options from small plates and nibbles to classic lamb and beef Wellington.

Beyond that, The Falcon Inn is a good choice of a restaurant in Painswick. Dating back to 1554, this place is steeped in history and serves a menu of seasonally-inspired British-European fare. There’s also a selection of real ales to try here.

If you want some entertainment with your food, The Falcon Inn is home to Britain’s oldest bowling green. Built in the 16th century, it’s still in use today.

10. Explore the Area around Painswick

As beautiful as Painswick is, it’s worth venturing further afield to see more of the surrounding area. One of my favorite things to do in Painswick is get out and take in the stunning scenery of the Cotswolds.

Not far from the village, you can visit the Painswick Beacon. High on a hill, it has sweeping views of the Severn Valley, the River Severn, and the towns and villages in the countryside around it. You can even walk to it from Painswick if you’re feeling ambitious.

Other places I like near Painswick are Sheepscombe, which has a great 17th-century pub called The Butchers Arms, and Sapperton, another beautiful Cotswolds village with lots of Arts and Crafts Movement history.

Things to Do in Painswick

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about all these great things to do in Painswick. If this post has inspired you to visit, whether for the first time or the tenth, I’ll be happy. And so will you.

Painswick is such a beautiful place that it’s hard not to keep returning and discovering more of what it has to offer. I can’t wait to share more of my favorite Cotswolds villages with you in the future.

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