The White House and the village of Little Bedwyn are about halfway between London in the east, and Bath/Bristol in the west, and between Birmingham (The Midlands) in the north and Southampton on the South Coast.
This particularly delightful area in the South of England offers a wealth of things to do and see – the natural phenomena of the beautiful scenery, ancient buildings from grand stately homes and magnificent manor houses to the man-made, Stone Age mysteries of Avebury, Stonehenge, Silbury Hill and the Cheddar Caves.
Contrast this with the beauty of the Kennet and Avon Canal with the gentle bustle of the holiday boats and working ‘narrow boats’ (= special canal boats) navigating their way through some of the most stunning parts of the British countryside …and with the historical and cultural surprises of cities like Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Salisbury and London – all within easy reach for a ‘day out’ …and with the gastronomic delights of the Michelin-starred restaurant, The Harrow, (just 200 metres from The White House) …or with the acclaimed Watermill Theatre just 20 minutes away by car – and you have a recipe for one of the most memorable holidays you can imagine.
Whatever your interests, age or attitude, there is always something for our guests to do.
You may prefer to plan your own itinerary but, if you would like some help in planning what to do, for an appropriate fee based on the complexity of your itinerary, Annie and Christopher would be delighted to help organize your itinerary, car hire, chauffeured/guided tours. See Index to Places of Interest and discuss your particular interests with Annie or Christopher when you make your B&B reservation.
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We have two mountain bikes and helmets available for hire for our guests. The White House garden is on the banks of the Kennet & Avon Canal which links Bristol in the West of England with Reading and, via the River Thames, to London. Cycling along the canal towpath is permitted (but please take great care near other cyclists, walkers and people fishing) and provides some of the most picturesque views of the locality.<
Summary of local attractions and activities…
Places of particular historical/architectural interest – such as Stonehenge, the Stone Age Cheddar Caves, the beautiful World Heritage City of Bath, Wilton’s working Windmill, the 39 Oxford University Colleges and the amazing architecture of the City itself, Salisbury Cathedral…
Activity Toys & Children’s Play Equipment – try before you buy – in beautiful farmhouse setting close to Newbury!
Beauty & Skincare Clinics – for that extra-special pampering during your stay.
Car Hire London – best value car hire. (see also Taxis, below).
Watercolour painting weekends and days with expert tuition by Frankie Cummins for both beginners and more experienced painters.
Goldsmiths & Jewellery Designers
Fishing Breaks – the best chalkstream fly fishing in Southern England.
Gardens/Villages that are open to the public – Avebury Manor, Stourhead, Longleat, Westonbirt Aboretum, The American Museum…
Health Clubs, Spas, Gyms and Sports centres – Hungerford Leisure Centre, Bath Spa, Littlecote…
Historic Houses, Stately Homes and Manors – Avebury Manor, Blenheim Palace, Bowood House, Longleat, Highclere Castle…
Market & Antique towns – Hungerford, Marlborough, Bath…
Museums & Art Galleries – American Museum, Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum, Beaulieu Motor Museum, The Tate Modern…
Nature Walks/Rides & Nature reserves – Kennet & Avon Canal towpath, The Wiltshire Downs, Slimbridge Bird Sanctuary, Savernake Forest and many more…
Restaurants and good ‘pub grub’ – such as the renowned Michelin-starred The Harrow (www.harrowinn.co.uk), and other local pubs and restaurants offering excellent ‘home-cooked’ menus…
Sports and adventure activities – spectator or participant: in addition to walking, cycling, horse-riding and local fishing, there’s Hot air ballooning, Narrow boat cruise, Paragliding/paramotoring, Tennis, Golf, Horse racing at Newbury Bath & Chepstow racecourses Motor racing circuits at Silverstone, Thruxton and Castle Combe motor racing circuits …and many other sporting activities…
Safari Parks, Amusement/Leisure Parks and Zoos – Bristol, Longleat, Whipsnade, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park…
Taxis – serving the Little Bedwyn area…
Theatres & Cinemas– from the acclaimed Watermill Theatre and the Newbury Corn Exchange to the Swindon cinema complex…
…some of which are ‘on our doorstep’, others which make a delightful half-day or day’s excursion.
Index to places of interest…
Places of particular historical/architectural/’must see’sightseeing interest:
American Museum, Claverton, near Bath, Avon
Avebury, near Marlborough, Wiltshire
Bath Abbey, Bath, Avon
Bath the beautiful World Heritage city
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, London
Buckingham Palace, London
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, London
Cheddar Caves Somerset
Crofton Beam Engine, Wiltshire
Eton College, near Windsor, Berkshire
FoxTalbot Museum of Photography , Lacock, Wiltshire
Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire
Highclere Castle, near Newbury, Berkshire
Houses of Parliament, London
Jane Austen Centre, Bath, Avon
Laycock, a medieval village untouched by modern development, Wiltshire
Laycock Abbeylocation for several films including ‘Harry Potter’
London Eye, London
Oxford University, Oxford
OxfordCity of
Salisbury Cathedral , Salibury, Wiltshire
Silbury Hill, near Marlborough, Wiltshire
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
The Long Barrow, near Marlborough, Wiltshire
Tower of London, London
Welford Park, near Hungerford, Berkshire
Westminster Abbey, London
Westonbirt Aboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Wilton Windmill, near Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire
Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire
Activity Toys and Children’s Play Equipment;
The Active Toy Company is one of the UK’s leading retailers of activity toys and children’s play equipment. It has been bringing fun to homes and gardens across the UK for almost 19 years. With their large display area in beautiful farmhouse surroundings, The Active Toy Company offers you the chance to try before you buy – and you can also order over the phone or through their website.
Their online shop offers secure credit card sales with quick delivery nationwide of children’s activity toys and play equipment including wooden and steel garden swings, climbing frames, children’s slides, playforts and towers, trampolines, sandpits and much, much more…
Cheryl Graser Clinic, Newbury, Berkshire
Nova Car Hire – for cheap car hire, go Nova
Frankie Cummins – watercolour painting weekends and day courses. Winding Wood, Newbury, Berkshire
Goldsmiths & Jewellery Designers:
Furr and Company’s directors are a husband and wife team. Greg Furr is a goldsmith and designer who trained at Sir John Cass in London. His first jewellery shop was established thirty years ago in Wokingham. The move to Hungerford came in 1995. He now works with his wife Rachel, a gemmologist, whose background is in the London auction world. She is still an Antique Jewellery consultant for several auction houses as well as private clients.
ChalkstreamFly Fishing – Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset
Game fishing – Watermark, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Coarse fishing – Watermark, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
Corporate fly fishing – ‘Famous Fishing’ …individuals or small groups …all within 90 minutes south-west of London.
Gardens/villages of particular interest that are open to the public
American Museum Gardens, Claverton, near Bath
Avebury Manor Gardens, Avebury, Wiltshire
Bibury – village of outstanding beauty, Gloucestershire
Britain’s Finest Gardens – Wiltshire
…other counties
Bowood House & Gardens, Wiltshire
Castle Combe, Wiltshire – said to be the prettiest village in England
The Courts, Wiltshire
Highclere Castle gardensBerkshire
The Living Rainforest, near Newbury, Berkshire
Longleat Gardens, Wiltshire
Mottisfont Abbey Gardens, Hampshire
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB
Royal Botanical Gardens, Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, RH17 6TN
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Wisley, Surrey, GU23 6QB
Savill Garden, Berkshire
Stourhead, Wiltshire
The Peto Garden, Iford, Wiltshire
Welford Park, Berkshire
Westonbirt Aboretum, Gloucestershire
Wild Flower Farm Visitors’ Centre, near Shalbourne, Wiltshire
Health Club, Spas, Gyms and Sports Centres:
The newBath SpaBath, BA1 1LZ
Thermae Bath Spa, Bath, BA1 1SJ
Cannons Health Club Newbury, RG14 7PN
Elcot Park/Sebastian Coe Health Club
Stables Leisure Club, Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford, RG17 0SU
LA Fitness, Newbury, RG14 1EB
Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford, RG17 0SU
LivingWell Newbury Newbury, RG14 7HL
Herongate Leisure Centre Hungerford, RG17 0YU
Northcroft Recreation Centre, Newbury, RG14 1RS
Sebastian Coe Health Club, Newbury, RG20 8NJ
YMCA – Sports Centre, Newbury, RG14 2AY
Your Wellbeing Centre, Marlborough, SN8 3UA
Historic Houses, Stately Homes and Manors:
Blenheim Palace, Gloucestershire
Bowood House, Wiltshire
Britain’s Finest – historic houses,
…by other counties
Buckingham Palace, London
Clarence House, London
Corsham Court, Wiltshire
Frogmore, Windsor, Berkshire
Highclere Castle, Berkshire
Kensington Palace, London
Longleat, Wiltshire
St. James’s Palace, London
Market & Antique Shops:
Marlborough Sporting Gallery and Bookshop
American Museum, Claverton, near Bath, Avon
Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum, Calne, Wiltshire
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire
Britain’s Finest – museums and galleries
British Museum, London
Building of Bath Museum, Bath, Avon
Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms, London
Design Museum, London
Imperial War Museum, London
London Transport Museum, London
Madame Tussauds, London
Museum of Costume and Assembly Rooms, Bath, Avon
Museum of Garden History, London
National Gallery, London
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Natural History Museum, London
Science Museum, London
Science Museum Swindon, Swindon, Wiltshire
Sherlock Holmes Museum, London
Steam – Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon, Wiltshire
Tate Britain, London
Tate Modern, London
The Queen’s Gallery, London
West Berkshire Museum, Newbury, Berkshire
Nature Walks/Rides & Nature reserves:
Beal Park Wildlife Trust
The Ridgewaywalk
Walking/Cycling/Riding in Berksire - please see local Tourist Board leaflets.
Walking/Cycling/Riding in Wiltshire - please see local Tourist Board leaflets
Horse riding lessons:Sue Ackworth, Little Hidden Farm – 01488 683253
Kennet Horse Boat Co. Ltd, Newbury, RG20 8HD
Kennet & Avon Canal towpath walk
Sarcen Trail & Neolithic Marathon
Wild walks in unspoilt Wiltshire
Xpress Train Ltd, Elocution & Speech Training, Swindon
Restaurants and good ‘pub grub’:
Ask, Newbury, RG14 5AG
AskMarlborough
CasenovaHungerford, RG17 0ES
Cross KeysGreat Bedwyn, SN8 3NU
Crown & Garter, Inkpen, RG17 9QR
Harrow at Little Bedwyn, Little Bedwyn, SN8 3JP
Moonlight Indian, Hungerford, RG17 9TL
Swan Inn, Inkpen, RG17 9DX
TheCrown, Marlborough, SN8 1NE
The Palm, near Marlborough, SN8 3HT
The Red House, Marsh Benham, RG20 8LY
The Pagoda, Marlborough, SN8 1NE
The Pelican” Froxfield
The Swan, Wilton, SN8 3SS
The Three Tuns Great Bedwyn SN8 3NU
The Vineyard, Stockcross, near Newbury
The Yew Tree Inn, Highclere, RG20 9SE
Sport and adventure activities – spectator or participant:
Archery
Littlecote House Hotel/Spa, Hungerford
Ballooning
Cycling
The White House, ‘Learning English on Holiday’, has two mountain bikes and helmets available – free of charge to our students.
Fencing
Littlecote House Hotel Chalkstream Fly Fishing Game fishing – Watermark, The Cotswolds Coarse fishing – Watermark, The Cotswolds Corporate fly fishing – ‘Famous Fishing’…individuals or small groups Golf Horse-riding Sue Ackworth, Little Hidden Farm – 01488 683253 Narrow boat cruising Paragliding/Paramotoring ParAvion – paragliding, Marlborough, Wiltshire Lambourn Paramotor Club, Berkshire Racecourses – Newbury Bath Racing Circuits - Silverstone, Northamptonshire Thruxton, Hampshire
