22 things to do in and around the Cotswolds in July
Our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds this month MUSIC
Village Singers Concert
Wine and dine with the music of Sir Karl Jenkins, featuring the Village Singers and chamber orchestra, at this summertime musical picnic extravaganza.
Saturday, July 2, 6pm for 7, St Andrew’s Church, Market Place Chippenham, SN15 3HT, villagesingers.co.uk FAMILY
The Battle Proms Picnic Concert
The spectacular summer celebration celebrates its 25th Anniversary, bringing a feast of sublime music and dramatic Spitfire, parachute, cavalry, and firework displays to stately home gardens around the UK.
Saturday, July 2, Blenheim Palace, blenheimpalace.com
OPEN-AIR THEATRE
Round and Round the Garden
The Worcester Rep Company are reinterpreting the ageless comedy by Alan Ayckbourn.
July 6-17, The Commandery Gardens, Worcester, tel: 01905 611427, worcestertheatres.co.uk FAMILY
Summer Celebration
Cheltenham Animal Shelter’s popular on-site open day with local stallholders, barbecue and other refreshments, fun dog show, family entertainment, and appearances from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and shelter patron Pam Ayres.
Saturday, July 9, 12 noon-4.30pm, Gardner’s Lane, GL51 9JW, gawa.org.uk MUSIC
River of Song
A concert with Corinium & Painswick Community Choirs, in aid of The Rivers Trust.
Tickets GBP8 advance/GBP10 on the door.
Saturday, July 9, 7.30pm, The Parish Church, Cirencester, GL7 2NX, tel: 01285 654180, sophiesterckx.co.uk THEATRE
Blithe Spirit
Tethered Wits Theatre Company present a live showing of Noel Coward’s play, using the Corinium Museum’s beautiful Hare gallery as their back drop. Cost: GBP16 per adult, GBP14 members.
Monday, July 11, 7pm, Corinium Museum, Cirencester, GL7 2BX, coriniummuseum.org
Chapterhouse perform their new open-air production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Lacock Abbey on Thursday, July 14 – Credit: chapterhouse.org
THEATRE
Romeo and Juliet
Chapterhouse perform their new open-air production of William Shakespeare’s classic play, dressed in Elizabethan costume. Pride and Prejudice will be performed on Friday, July 15.
Thursday, July 14, 7pm, National Trust Lacock Abbey, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, chapterhouse.org EXHIBITION
Open Studio & Exhibition
Three local fibre artists – Anne Hopkins, Hilary Davies and Helen DenDulk – are demonstrating and exhibiting their work for the first time.
July 15-17, 10am-4pm, 22 Barton Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5PR, fellowshipoffibre.co.uk
FAMILY
Fantasy Forest
This inclusive family-friendly festival celebrates all genres from the world of sci-fi and fantasy.
July 15-17, Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, GL54 5JD, fantasyforest.co.uk FAMILY
The Old Ford Rally
Featuring around 400 classic Fords, ranging from Model Ts to Zephyrs, Zodiacs and Granadas, many of which are aged between 50-100 years old.
Sunday, July 17, British Motor Museum, Gaydon, CV35 0BJ, britishmotormuseum.co.uk FAMILY
Summer Garden Party
Stroll around the picturesque gardens of Highnam Court and enjoy refreshments in the Orangery.
Entertainment includes live music and garden games, stalls, raffles, children’s activities and more.
Sunday, July 17, 2-5pm, Highnam Court, GL2 8DP. Tickets: bit.ly/38uK06q
Warwick Folk Festival – Credit: John Wright Studio MUSIC FESTIVAL
Warwick Folk Festival
The popular festival returns for its eagerly awaited 42nd year at a new location next to Warwick Castle.
July 21-24, Castle Park, Warwick, warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Bampton Classical Opera – Credit: (C)paul – stock.adobe.com
OPERA
Bampton Classical Opera
Open-air performances, with free pre-performance talks, of FJ Haydn’s Fool Moon (Il mondo della luna).
July 22 & 23, 7pm, The Deanery Garden, Bampton OX18 2LL, bamptonopera.org MUSIC FESTIVAL
Guiting Music Festival
Bringing an exciting variety of highly talented performances of classical, jazz and blues music by artists from around the world to the Cotswolds for over half a century.
July 22-31, Guiting Power, GL54 5TX, guitingfestival.org THEATRE
Great British Bake Off The Musical
Created in association with the TV series’ executive producer Richard McKerrow and produced by Mark Goucher, GBBO The Musical is having its world premiere in Cheltenham!
July 22-August 6, The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ, everymantheatre.org.uk
Open to the Skies is at Bowood House & Gardens on Sunday, July 24 – Credit: Wikipedia/Creative Commons
FAMILY EVENT
Open to the Skies
A brand new evening of celebration for all ages, centred around rousing military music to raise funds for a number of RAF, Army and Wiltshire charities, featuring music, parachute displays, fly-pasts and fireworks.
Sunday, July 24, Bowood House & Gardens, Calne SN11 0LZ, bowood.org GUIDED WALK
Roman Cirencester Town Walk
Join Ian Thomas as he discusses the Roman archaeology of Cirencester and key discoveries that point to this being one of the most vibrant and wealthy towns in Roman Britain. Meet at Corinium Museum, GL7 2BX.
Cost: GBP8 per adult, GBP7 members
Monday, July 25, 11am-12.15pm, coriniummuseum.org MUSIC
Summer Sounds
The pop-up summer festival is heading to the heart of Cirencester this year, featuring Mania – the Abba Tribute (formerly ABBA MANIA) – on the Friday, Symphonic Ibiza on the Saturday, and Majesty on the Sunday.
July 29-31, Cirencester Park, The Bathurst Estate, GL7 1UR, summer-sounds.co.uk
JB Gill and Jose Souto in The Field Kitchen Theatre at The Game Fair – Credit: Philip Hollis 2017 FAMILY
The Game Fair
This year, the three-day celebration of the great British countryside features a trio of celebrities: former JLS star and popular farming presenter JB Gill; hill farmer, inspiring public speaker and Sunday Times best-selling author Amanda Owen; and chef, countryside advocate and TV presenter James Martin.
July 29-31, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, thegamefair.org
Treehouse Festival of Music and Arts returns to Oxfordshire from July 29 to 31 – Credit: treehouseaf.com
FESTIVAL
Treehouse Festival of Music and Arts
One of the UK’s most sustainable festivals returns to Oxfordshire for the sixth year, featuring a magical hand-built treehouse in the woods, three music stages, talks, workshops, food trucks and more.
July 29-31, Marcy Fields, Uffington, SN7 7QJ, treehouseaf.com FAMILY
Compton Abdale Village Fete
A traditional village fete held in a beautiful walled garden, with stalls, fun dog show, music from Gloucester Excelsior Band, and refreshments, including teas, homemade cakes, ice cream, barbecue and Pimm’s tent. Admission GBP2.50 for adults; children and parking free.
Saturday, July 30, 1.30-4.15pm, Lower Farm, Compton Abdale GL54 4DS.
FAMILY FETE
Windrush Valley Flower Show, Dog Show and Fete
A traditional fete with refreshments, fun dog show, produce competitions, arts and crafts, stalls, music and traditional games.
Entry GBP2 per adult (children 15 and under free).
Saturday, July 30, from 1pm, Great Barrington Village Hall, OX18 4US.