Thornbury
- For other places with the same name, see Thornbury (disambiguation).
Thornbury is one of the most interesting market towns in South Gloucestershire, known for historic tales of treason, murders and for its modern day array of independent shops. It boasts a fully renovated Tudor castle and in summer flowers are all around as people take part in the towns competition, "Thornbury in Bloom". Apart from its own attractions, it's a convenient base or stop for those exploring the West Country. It is home to a former railway station. A local campaign seeks its reopening.
Understand
Thornbury's town charter was given in 1252. It was also mentioned in the Doomsday book. Today it has circa 12000 residents swelled with modern housing built from the 1950s to the present day.
Learn
Thornbury has one secondary school, The Castle School, and many primary schools including Gillingstool, Crossways School, Christ the King Primary school and more.
Get in
By car
Take the A38 after getting off the M5 motorway either at junction 16 or 14.
By bus
Take the local bus services 78 and 78 (formerly 309 and 310) operated by First Bus.
78 & 79 (First Bus): Bristol → Filton → Patchway → Cribbs Causeway → Aztec West → Almondsbury → Rudgeway → Alveston → Thornbury
By train
Thornbury's train station is closed. There are stations in Gloucester and Stroud than can be used to get close to the town.
Get around
The 309 and 310 bus services are frequent, also Thornbury is small enough for most able bodied travllers to explore on foot.
See
- 1 Thornbury Museum, 4 Chapel St, BS35 2BJ, ☏ +44 1454 857774.
- 2 St Mary's Church, Castle St, BS35 1HQ, ☏ +44 1454 281900.
- Thornbury's High Street, a mixture of Georgian and other classical architecture.
Do
Buy
Plenty of things to buy: as a market town pretty much everything is catered for. Shop in Thornbury's high street, and the St Mary's shopping centre which provides an array of independents and chain stores.
- 1 St Mary Shopping Centre, 8 Quaker Ln, BS35 2AD, ☏ +44 1454 888822.
- 2 Hawkins, 49 High St, BS35 2AR, ☏ +44 1454 416688. A large independent DIY shop, which has been reputably described as the "B&Q" of Thornbury.
Locals usually shop at Aldi or Tesco.
Eat
There is plenty of pubs and takeaways.
Drink
- 1 White Lion, High St, BS35 2AQ, ☏ +44 1454 415132.
- 2 [dead link] Royal George, 7 The Plain, BS35 2AG, ☏ +44 1454 416223.
Sleep
There are many places including the pubs, hotels, and hotels in neighbouring Alveston at the top of the B4061.
- 1 Old Church Farm, Church Road, Rudgeway BS35 3SQ, ☏ +44 1454 418212. Stylish B&B in a 16th C manor, can serve dinner with notice. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £140.
- 2 Thornbury Castle, Castle Street, BS35 1HH, ☏ +44 1454 281182. Luxury 26-room hotel in castle which dates from 1511. Has upmarket restaurant (two courses £42, tasting menu £65) and bar meals from £15. from £160.
Connect
- There is internet access in the local libraries. Also there are many coffee shops that offer Wi-Fi.
Go next
| Routes through Thornbury |
| Plymouth ← Bristol ← | SW  NE |
→ Stroud → Birmingham |
| Cardiff ← Chepstow (via Severn Bridge) ← | W  E |
→ merges with eastbound  → London |
| Bristol ← | SW  NE |
→ Berkeley → Gloucester |