Heart of England Forest Coxmere Wood
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Stratford-upon-Avon
What it’s like
Free waymarked forest walks with den building and bug hunting through holiday clubs, no ticket needed.
This one's proper woodland rather than a visitor centre with a car park bolted on. You follow waymarked trails through the trees, there's an audio trail if you fancy a guide talking you through what you're looking at, and the holiday clubs run den building, bug hunting and bushcraft sessions for the school-break crowd. It's free to get in, which is rare enough to mention twice.
There's no age range given, but the mix of gentle walking trails and hands-on den building suggests it suits anyone from a toddler in a carrier up to a kid who wants to build something out of sticks and refuse to leave. Bring your own snacks though, there's nothing on site to feed you.
The car parks ask for a donation rather than charge a fixed fee, which feels fair for what you get. Watch the height barrier at the entrances though, it's 2.1 metres, so anything taller than a standard car or small van won't fit through. Winter visits need a bit of planning too: the car parks shut at 5pm rather than staying open till 9pm like the summer months, and they're not gritted, so an icy morning walk needs proper boots rather than trainers.
One thing to flag if you're a map person: not every bit of the forest is open to the public, so you'll want the permissive footpath map before you wander off the main trails. And if you're heading for Morgrove Coppice on the 7th or 8th of September 2026, that section's shut for boardwalk repairs.
What’s on here
- SAT24
Leaf Bowl Making - with finalist Dave from C4's The Great Pottery Throwdown
10:00 - 13:00 · from £50
- SAT24
Mini Foresters Does Halloween!
13:00 · from £20
- SAT14
Woodland Animal Figurine Making with the Great Pottery Throw Down's Dave Short
10:00 - 13:00 · from £40
- SAT5
Christmas Wreath Making in the Heart of England Forest
09:30 · from £35
- SAT5
Mini Foresters Does Christmas!
13:00 · from £20
- SAT12
Reading the Forest: Identifying Trees in Winter
10:00 · from £15
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Donation requested at six off-road forest car parks
- Bring the permissive footpath map, not all of the forest is open to walkers
- 2.1 metre height barrier at every car park entrance
- Permissive footpaths close for one day each year
- Morgrove Coppice section shut on 7th and 8th September 2026 for boardwalk repairs
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Getting in is free. The car parks just ask for a donation rather than charging a set fee.
Do we need to book?
No, there's no booking link, you just turn up during car park opening hours.
Is it OK for a toddler?
There's no age range listed, but the waymarked trails are walking-paced and gentle, and the den building activities look hands-on enough for younger kids with an adult helping.
What about parking?
Six off-road forest car parks, open 8am to 5pm in winter and 8am to 9pm from April to September. There's a 2.1 metre height barrier, so check your vehicle fits.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Nothing on site, so pack your own food and drink for the walk.
What if the weather's bad?
Car parks can close in severe weather and aren't gritted over winter, so an icy day is one to avoid or wrap up well for.
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