What to do · Cotswolds
Cotswold Farm Park
Information
- Duration
- 4 h
- Season
- Almost all year · closed for part of November
- Who it's for
- Ages 2 to 10
- With a dog
- On the Wildlife Walk, the event fields and The Ox Shed; not on the animal farm
What it is
The Cotswold Farm Park is a farm open to the public near Guiting Power, close to Cheltenham. It was founded in 1971 by Joe Henson to protect endangered native breeds of livestock, and today it is run by his son Adam Henson, known in the UK for presenting countryside programmes on television, with his partner Duncan. It is a visit designed for children aged 2 to 10: animals you can touch, bottle feeds and covered and outdoor play areas, so it works in the rain too.
What you do
The general admission includes:
- Discovery Barn: the small animals' barn, where you can hold chicks and see rabbits, guinea pigs, hens and ducklings.
- Animal Barn: bottle-feeding lambs and kids, every day at 11:30 and 15:30. This is the star moment: arrive with time to spare.
- Rare Breeds Walkway: the rare breeds walk, with animals you can feed.
- Adventure Barn: covered play area, with ride-on cars and a ball pit.
- Outdoor play: jumping pillows, swings, a zip wire, sandpits, pedal tractors and more.
- Woodland and conservation area: trails, an observation beehive, a mud kitchen and an obstacle course.
Paid separately are the Tractor Farm Safari, a trailer ride pulled by a tractor with a small fuel supplement, and the Fun Rides, with their own ticket. There are also Highland cattle experiences, from £50.
Allow half a day.
Opening times and dates
It is open almost all year; at the end of November 2026, 9:30 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30. In 2026 the farm closes from 2 to 26 November and reopens on the 27th with its Christmas programme, Christmas on the Farm, with tickets from £48.95. The calendar changes by season and in winter there are closed days: check the calendar on their website before you go.
The restaurant and shop, The Ox Shed, opens separately, Monday to Friday also in November, 10:00 to 15:00.
Tickets and booking
Tickets are bought on their website, with a discount if you book ahead ("Book Ahead & Save"). Prices change by date: the booking calendar gives you the price for the day you choose.
Getting there
The address is Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL; if your sat nav does not recognise the postcode, use GL54 5UG and follow the brown tourist attraction signs. It is close to Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. Without a car, count on a taxi.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome at The Ox Shed, in the event fields and on the Wildlife Walk, a walk of about 3 miles, about 5 km, around the perimeter of the farm. They are not allowed in the animal farm, according to its own website: confirm before you go if you are bringing a dog.
Sleeping on the farm
The farm has its own campsite, cabins and glamping tents. We explain it in Cotswold Farm Park campsite. Nearby, in Upper Slaughter, is Lords of the Manor.
Tips
- Plan around the bottle feeds They are at 11:30 and 15:30. Arrive at 10:00 and you will do the first one without rushing.
- Bring shoes that can get dirty It is a farm: between barns, sandpits and the mud kitchen, children go home dirty.
- Check the closures calendar In November it closes for several weeks and in winter it opens fewer days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best age for the Cotswold Farm Park?
From 2 to 10 years. The youngest enjoy the chicks and the bottle feeds; the older ones, the outdoor play.
Do you need to book the ticket?
It is advisable: you buy it on their website, with a discount if you book ahead.
Is it open in November?
In 2026 it closes from 2 to 26 November and reopens on the 27th with the Christmas programme.
With young childrenAs a familyWith a dog
