Aust
United Kingdom · Europe
About Aust
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.
Aust travel guide
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.
Getting there
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.
Getting around
The 309 and 310 bus services are frequent, also Thornbury is small enough for most able bodied travellers to explore on foot.
See
1 Thornbury Museum, 4 Chapel St, BS35 2BJ, ☏ +44 1454 857774. (updated Nov 2016) 2 St Mary's Church, Castle St, BS35 1HQ, ☏ +44 1454 281900. (updated Nov 2016) Thornbury's High Street, a mixture of Georgian and other classical architecture.
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. (updated Jan 2018) 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. (updated Nov 2016) Locals usually shop at Aldi or Tesco.
Drink & nightlife
1 White Lion, High St, BS35 2AQ, ☏ +44 1454 415132. (updated Nov 2016) 2 Royal George, 7 The Plain, BS35 2AG, ☏ +44 1454 416223. (updated Nov 2016)
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. (updated Jul 2020) 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. (updated Mar 2016)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.