Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, sits near Tetbury, under an hour's drive from Bath, and is one of the best tree collections in the country, particularly famous for autumn colour. Pricing changes through the year: weekday adult tickets run from around £13 to £14 outside peak periods, weekend tickets are higher, and the peak autumn colour season (roughly late September to mid-November) carries its own, higher pricing again, so check the current rate before you go rather than assuming a single fixed price.
What it is
Westonbirt is a Forestry England site holding one of the world's most complete collections of temperate trees, spread across 600 acres of old and new arboretum. It's open every day of the year except Christmas Day, from 9am, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. A treetop walkway lets you see the tree canopy from above rather than only from the ground, and the site runs a full programme of trails, from short accessible loops to longer walks through the older, wilder parts of the collection.
What it costs
Pricing is genuinely tiered by day type and season, which catches some visitors out if they only check one figure online. As a general guide: weekday tickets are the cheapest, weekend and bank holiday tickets cost more, and the autumn colour peak (when the maples and other specimen trees turn) is priced highest of all, reflecting the demand for that specific few weeks each year. Discounted entry applies to young adults aged 19 to 25, students, and anyone arriving by public transport, bus, train or bike, rather than by car, an unusual but genuine incentive to leave the car at home if you can. Children aged 5 to 18 pay a lower flat rate across all seasons, and under-5s go free. Pre-booking is required, with tickets released online roughly one to two weeks ahead, so this isn't a spontaneous, turn-up-on-the-day visit.
| Weekday | Weekend/bank holiday | Peak autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | From around £13-14 | Higher | Highest of the year |
| Discounted (19-25, student, public transport) | Lower | Lower | Lower |
| Child (5-18) | Low flat rate | Low flat rate | Low flat rate |
| Under 5 | Free | Free | Free |
Getting there from Bath
By car, it's under an hour via the A46 and A433, past Cirencester. Public transport is possible but slower: a bus connection (services change, so check current routes and numbers before travelling) links towards Old Sodbury and on to Westonbirt, a journey that takes considerably longer than driving and is worth planning properly rather than assuming a direct link exists. If you're arriving by public transport, remember to claim the discounted entry rate at the gate.
When to go
Autumn, roughly late September into November, is Westonbirt's headline season, when the maple collections in particular turn deep red and orange, and it's also the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Spring brings magnolias and fresh growth, and summer gives full green canopy and shade for a walk, both quieter and cheaper than the autumn peak. If you want the colour without the crowds, aim for a weekday in the early part of the season rather than a weekend at its height.
The honest take
Westonbirt is worth the drive if you like trees, gardens or a proper woodland walk, and it's genuinely one of the best autumn colour displays in the country when the season lines up. It's less appealing as a spontaneous half-day trip given the pre-booking requirement and the seasonal price swings, so plan ahead rather than deciding on the morning. For other countryside day trips from Bath that don't need pre-booked tickets, see our day trips from Bath guide, and for closer, free green space, our Royal Victoria Park and Botanical Gardens guide if you want trees without leaving the city.