THE Cotswolds is well known for its quaint villages and limestone cottages.
But you might be surprised to learn that it’s also home to the UK’s largest sandy inland beach.
AlamyCotswold Country Park and Beach in Cirencester has swimming lagoons[/caption]
AlamyThe park also has a sandy beach[/caption]
Cotswold Country Park and Beach, found in the village of Shorncote, near Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, has stretches of sand, swimming lagoons, and an inflatable aqua park.
The easiest way to reach the beach is by car, but the beach can also be accessed by train from Swindon or Cheltenham.
Those looking for a day out at the beach will need to get off the train at Kemble and take a taxi to the park from there.
A return ticket from Swindon to Kemble costs £8 for a full-paying adult without a railcard.
Families looking for a swim should head to the Main Beach Swimming and Paddling Lagoon.
There are also several playgrounds as well as a mini golf course.
Other activities include an inflatable aqua park called Aquaventure.
Tickets to the aqua park cost £16 per person on top of entry into the park.
Visitors to the park can also hire boats and kayaks.
There’s also a beach shack where people can buy food or rent a barbeque.
Day-trippers looking to visit the waterpark should book tickets in advance online.
Peak tickets with a car cost £12.72 and include entry into the park, parking, the beach, swimming lagoon, and children‘s play parks for the whole day.
Several day-trippers have shared their views of the hidden beach on TikTok.
Kiera Jessica, who is known as kierajessicam, posted a video of her day trip to the beach last year.
In the caption, she wrote: “I drove 55 minutes away to the Cotswold Country Park and Beach, it was lovely!”
Another person added: “Brilliant place to take the kids for a day out.”
While a third wrote: “Honestly, this is the best place ever, I would definitely recommend it for a nice summer‘s day.”
Aside from the country park and beach, Shorncote is also home to very tiny 800-year-old church that was built around 1170.
The neighbouring village of Somerford Keynes also houses the Cotswold Sculpture Park, which exhibits the work of more than 70 sculptors.
Those looking to stay nearby have a range of accommodation options, from the 4-star De Vere Cotswold Water Park to the Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park.
Gloucestershire isn’t the only unusual location in the UK that has a beach.
There’s a sandy beach in London and you can even get there using the tube.
The UK has some other amazing beaches to add to your bucket list too.
Blackpool Sands in Devon was listed as the best in the UK by Conde Nast Traveller and even has its own music festival in the summer.
And Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, was voted one of the best beaches in the UK in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023.
One beach in the UK even has its own wild ponies.
AlamyVisitors to the beach can pay to go on the inflatable aqua park[/caption] Read More