Often described as the jewel of the Cotswolds, Broadway is a charming large village famous for its honey-coloured stone cottages and attractive high street which is full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants.
The village is home to around 2,500 people and is centred on the green. Its name comes from the ‘broad way’, the wide main high street which is lined with horse chestnut trees and boasts period buildings, many of which are listed, on either side.
One of the main features of the high street is the Lygon Arms, a 16th century coaching inn which is steeped in history and has hosted many famous names including King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell and Elizabeth Taylor. Today it remains a hotel and is also renowned for its restaurant and spa.
Broadway is also well-known for arts, crafts and antiques. Furniture designer Gordon Russell grew up in the village and a design museum celebrating his work can be found just off the high street, while Broadway Museum and Art Gallery celebrates the village’s rich history.
It is reported that many eminent faces such as Oscar Wilde, Claude Monet and Edward Elgar have spent time in Broadway, drawing on its charm and beauty as inspiration for their work. American actress Mary de Navarro retired to the village, while Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie played cricket there.
Broadway Tower, a folly which is located at the top of Broadway Hill – the second highest point of the Cotswolds after Cleeve Common – is a short walk away. The Saxon tower, which was the brainchild of Capability Brown, is 65 feet high and was built in the 18th century. It boasts beautiful views of the village and the surrounding countryside and is a hugely popular tourist attraction.
The Cotswold Way, a 102-mile long distance footpath which runs between Chipping Campden and Bath, takes in both Broadway Tower and Broadway itself. The route descending the hill from the tower into the village and running along the high street before forking left and taking you towards Stanton.
Situated at the foot of Fish Hill on the edge of the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire, Broadway is two hours from London and is best accessed by car. The nearest train stations are Evesham, Honeybourne and Moreton-in-Marsh, which are all a short drive away, and the latter two offer frequent bus services to Broadway.
