Broadway Tower: Is It Worth It? My Honest Review (2026)

Broadway Tower is my favourite place in the whole of the Cotswolds to watch the sunset…I don’t think you can get a better spot for it.

I lived in Stratford-upon-Avon for years, right on the edge of the Cotswolds, so I’ve been up to the tower maybe 8 times now. I’ve been in every season, I’ve parked at the top and walked up from the village, and I’ve been inside once. I’ve also fallen flat on my bum on the hill on the way back down… but we’ll get to that lol.

So in this Broadway Tower review I’m going to tell you what it’s actually like up there, whether it’s worth paying to go inside, the best time to go and how to get there. I’ve also checked all the 2026 prices and opening times for you (the official website still shows some VERY old prices, so watch out for that). If you’re planning a bigger trip, my 3-day Cotswolds itinerary starts in Broadway.

📅 Visited around 8 times, in every season · 2026 prices, parking and opening times checked November 2026

Broadway Tower At A Glance

What	Details
Where	Beacon Hill, just above Broadway village in the Cotswolds (Worcestershire)
Tickets	Grounds £4, tower and grounds £14 (adults)
Parking	On site: £3 for up to 4 hours, £6 all day
Opening times	Usually 10am to 5pm, can be shorter in winter. Closed 25 and 26 December
How long	1 to 2 hours at the tower, or half a day if you walk up from Broadway
Best time	Sunset, in any season
Walk from Broadway	About 1.5 miles each way on the Cotswold Way. Steep and often muddy
Dogs	Welcome on a lead outside (there are deer), but not inside the tower
Where I’d stay	The Broadway Hotel in the village
Getting there	Easiest by car (compare car hire)
Prefer a tour?	Day tour from London or a private villages tour

Map Of Broadway Tower And Nearby

Is Broadway Tower Worth It? My Quick Answer

Yes, it is. I love it and I’d do it over and over again (which, to be fair, I have lol).

For me, the view is the main event. The views over the Cotswolds from the top are some of the best you’ll get, especially at sunset. And it’s for all ages, so it works whether you’re going with kids, your parents, your other half or just yourself.

As for whether it’s worth paying to go inside, I think so. I remember it being a reasonable price, and the story behind the tower is SO not what you’d expect. But if you’re on a tight budget, the view outside is the bit I keep going back for.

What I Didn’t Love

Not much. The only thing that’s ever gone wrong for me here was completely my own fault (more on that below).

But the hill gets REALLY muddy, and I’d never walk up from Broadway in normal trainers again. And going inside means a narrow spiral staircase with no lift, so it’s not ideal if stairs are tricky for you.

What It’s Like At Broadway Tower Country Park

The View From The Top

The top of the hill is my favourite spot, obviously. You’re standing on one of the highest points in the Cotswolds, and the countryside just rolls out in front of you in every direction.

The tower says you can see 16 counties from the roof on a clear day. I can’t promise I’ve ever counted them lol, but I can promise the view is worth the trip on its own.

Sunset At Broadway Tower

Sunset is when it’s at its best, in my opinion. I’ve been at different times of day in every season, and sunset wins every single time. I don’t think there’s a better sunset spot in the Cotswolds.

One of my favourite Cotswolds memories is from a little getaway we had in Broadway: watching the sun go down from the tower… and then falling over on the muddy hill on the way back down. Classic me.

My tip is to check the sunset time before you go, because the timings change massively through the year:

Month	Roughly when the sun sets
November	4:05pm to 4:40pm
December	Around 4pm
January	4:05pm to 4:50pm
February	4:50pm to 5:40pm
March	5:40pm to 6:30pm, then about 7:30pm once the clocks go forward
April and May	7:30pm to 9:15pm
June and July	9:15pm to 9:30pm
August	8pm to 9pm
September	6:50pm to 8pm
October	6:50pm down to about 4:45pm once the clocks go back

In winter, the sun goes down around 4pm, so you can usually catch it while the tower is still open. Aim to arrive by about 3:30pm to get parked and up the hill.

In summer, sunset is long after the tower closes and the car park gates lock (at 5:15pm). So for a summer sunset, park in Broadway and walk up the Cotswold Way, which is a public footpath that runs right past the tower. If the grounds are closed, stay on the footpath.

The Deer

Keep an eye out for the deer on your way up. We usually spot them in the field to the left, just below the tower.

They’re a herd of red deer that has lived here since the early 1980s, and the stag is apparently called Lancelot.

Is It Worth Going Inside Broadway Tower?

I’ve only been inside the tower once, and it’s completely different to what you’d expect. I don’t remember every floor in detail tbh, but I remember there being a LOT of pink and stripes. And I loved the decor so much that I took some inspiration for my own home!

I found the story really interesting too, and not what you’d expect at all (see below). So for me, it was definitely worth the ticket price.

Here’s what you’ll find inside now, according to the tower and recent visitors:

• Recreated Georgian rooms on the upper floors, including a dining room, a sitting room and a gentleman’s study
• A multimedia guide and a printed guidebook, included with your ticket
• About 60 steps up a narrow spiral staircase, with no lift
• The roof viewing platform, which the tower says is officially the highest point in the Cotswolds

If you’re only going for the view, a grounds ticket will do. But if you’ve never been, I’d go inside at least once.

The Surprising Story Of Broadway Tower

This is the bit I didn’t expect. It looks like a little castle, but it’s had the weirdest life:

When	What happened
1588	Beacon Hill was used to send signals, including a warning about the Spanish Armada
1798–99	The tower was built for the 6th Earl of Coventry, designed by James Wyatt from an idea by Capability Brown
1822–1862	Book collector Sir Thomas Phillipps ran a printing press inside it
1866 onwards	William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti stayed here on holiday
1943	A Whitley bomber crashed nearby during a training flight, killing five crew. A memorial stone marks the spot
1960–1991	A Royal Observer Corps nuclear bunker next to the tower monitored for fallout during the Cold War
1976	The tower opened to the public

The legend is that Lady Coventry wanted to know if a beacon on the hill could be seen from their home at Croome Court. And a nuclear bunker next door to such a pretty tower? I definitely didn’t see that coming (there’s more on the tower’s history page).

Broadway Tower Walk: From Broadway Village Or Park At The Top

Most of the time, I park at the top, as it’s easy and you’re at the tower in a few minutes. But a couple of times I’ve walked up from Broadway, and it’s a lovely way to do it if you’ve got the legs for it.

Option	What to expect
Park at the top	Car park next to the Morris & Brown Café: £3 for up to 4 hours or £6 all day. Gates lock at 5:15pm. Don’t park on the A44
Walk up from Broadway	About 1.5 miles each way on the Cotswold Way, climbing around 200m. Roughly 45 minutes up. Steep and often muddy
Circular walk	About 4 miles from the war memorial in Broadway, 2.5 to 3 hours, past the church and round the deer park

The Cotswolds National Landscape has a free Broadway Tower circular walk map, and the circular route is in my guide to the best Cotswolds walks too.

The Time I Stacked It On The Hill

Okay, story time. One time we walked up from Broadway, and on the way back down I was acting all confident and decided it would be fun to RUN down the hill.

My confidence soon took a backseat. I stacked it, completely embarrassed myself, and had to walk the rest of the way back to Broadway covered in mud lol.

So please learn from me on this one: walk down that hill like a sensible adult, and wear proper boots.

Broadway Tower Tickets, Prices And Opening Times 2026

I don’t remember exactly what I paid, but I remember thinking it was a reasonable price, so here’s what it costs now. Heads up: the official website still shows prices from years ago, so these come from the tower’s current listings and the tourist board.

Ticket	Price (2026)
Grounds only	Adults £4, children £2
Tower and grounds	Adults £14, children 11–16 £6, children 6–10 £3
Nuclear bunker only	Adults £12, children £6
Tower and bunker	Adults £20, children £10
Parking	£3 for up to 4 hours, £6 all day

The tower and grounds are usually open daily from 10am to 5pm, but winter hours can be shorter, and it’s closed on 25 and 26 December. Hours can also change in bad weather, so check the opening times before you go.

You don’t need a ticket to walk the public footpaths across the estate, but you do need one to wander the grounds around the tower.

Broadway Tower Café: Food And Drink

I’ve never eaten at the tower itself, but there’s a café just across from it and it was pretty good! I don’t remember the prices though, sorry.

The main café is the Morris & Brown Café by the car park, which does breakfast, lunch, cakes and hot chocolate, with a log fire in winter. There’s also Tower Barn, just below the deer park, for brunch, lunch and afternoon tea.

Or head back down into Broadway, which has loads of cafés and pubs. I’ve eaten at The Lygon Arms on the High Street (fun fact: a friend’s dad used to be the chef there!).

The Broadway Tower Nuclear Bunker

Next to the tower is a Cold War nuclear bunker you can tour (details on the bunker page):

What	Details
When	Weekends and bank holidays, April to October
How long	Up to 45 minutes
Access	Down a ladder, so no disabled access. Minimum age 10
Price	Adults £12, children £6, or £20 / £10 with the tower

What To Wear To Broadway Tower

If you’re just going for the view and the tower, I’d say any shoes are fine.

But if you’re doing the walk up from Broadway, I’d wear hiking boots for sure, or wellies could be OK too. The mud is no joke (see above lol).

It’s also very exposed at the top of the hill, so bring a warm layer, especially for sunset.

Who Is Broadway Tower For?

Literally everyone. I think it works for all ages.

Who	Why
Families	Loads of space to run around, plus the deer
Couples	Sunset. Enough said
Walkers	Walk up from Broadway on the Cotswold Way
Dog owners	Dogs are welcome on a lead outside, but not inside the tower
Not ideal for	Anyone who can’t manage stairs, if you want to go inside. The grounds are on a hill too

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Honestly, not a lot, because I keep going back and doing it the same way! But:

• Don’t run down the muddy hill. Just don’t lol
• Wear proper boots or wellies if you’re walking up from Broadway
• Go for sunset. It’s always the best bit

Where To Stay Near Broadway Tower

If you want to stay over, I’d base yourself in Broadway village, just down the hill. It’s one of my favourite villages in the Cotswolds.

The Broadway Hotel (Where We Have Stayed)

The Broadway Hotel is my favourite place to stay in the Cotswolds, right on the village green with a brasserie downstairs, so we could walk to everything.

The Lygon Arms

The Lygon Arms is a historic coaching inn on the High Street, with a spa and pool. I’ve eaten there but I haven’t stayed, so this one’s a pick rather than a review.

Dormy House

Dormy House is a country house hotel with a spa on the hill above Broadway, close to the tower. I haven’t stayed here either, but it’s a popular choice for a treat.

Make A Day Of It

Broadway Tower is just one of loads of things to do around here. A few ideas nearby:

• Broadway village: wander up the High Street for shops, cafés and pubs. It’s day one of my Cotswolds itinerary
• Snowshill Manor: a National Trust house about 2.5 miles away, full of an eccentric collector’s treasures (check opening times)
• Cotswold Lavender: the lavender fields at Snowshill, open from mid-June to early August
• Chipping Campden: a gorgeous market town where the Cotswold Way starts
• In winter: pair it with the other ideas in my Cotswolds in winter guide, or the markets in my Cotswolds at Christmas guide
• No car? This small-group day tour from London stops at Broadway Tower along with Burford, Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water, or this private villages tour from Moreton-in-Marsh includes the tower

Broadway Tower FAQs

Is Broadway Tower worth it?

Yes. The view over the Cotswolds is one of the best in the area, especially at sunset, and the inside of the tower has a surprising history. If you’re on a budget, a £4 grounds ticket still gets you the view.

How much does it cost to go up Broadway Tower?

In 2026, a tower and grounds ticket costs £14 for adults, £6 for children aged 11–16 and £3 for children aged 6–10. Grounds only is £4 for adults. Parking is £3 for up to 4 hours or £6 all day.

Can you visit Broadway Tower for free?

The Cotswold Way public footpath runs past the tower, so you can walk by and enjoy the view for free. You need a ticket to go into the grounds and the tower.

How long do you need at Broadway Tower?

Allow 1 to 2 hours if you park at the top, or half a day if you walk up from Broadway and back.

Can you walk to Broadway Tower from Broadway?

Yes. It’s about 1.5 miles each way on the Cotswold Way, uphill all the way to the tower and often muddy. It takes roughly 45 minutes to walk up. Wear walking boots or wellies.

What is the best time to visit Broadway Tower?

Sunset, in any season. In winter the sun sets around 4pm, while the tower is still open. In summer, sunset is after closing time, so walk up on the public footpath.

Is Broadway Tower open in winter?

Yes, it’s open most days of the year, but winter hours can be shorter and it closes on 25 and 26 December. Check the official opening times before you go.

Is there parking at Broadway Tower?

Yes, there’s a pay and display car park next to the Morris & Brown Café, costing £3 for up to 4 hours or £6 all day. The gates lock at 5:15pm.

Are dogs allowed at Broadway Tower?

Dogs are welcome on the walks and in the cafés, but must be kept on a lead because of the deer. They aren’t allowed inside the tower.

How many steps are there in Broadway Tower?

There are about 60 steps up a narrow spiral staircase, and there’s no lift.

More Cotswolds Guides

• Cotswolds in Winter: Cosy Things to Do + a 2-Day Itinerary
• Cotswolds at Christmas: Markets, Light Trails and Things to Do
• Blenheim Palace Christmas Lights: Is It Worth It?
• Best Cotswolds Walks: Circular Routes
• Cotswolds Itinerary: The Perfect 3 Days
• Best Places to Stay in the Cotswolds