The effects of Reynolds number (Re), freestream turbulence intensity (Tu) and integral length scale (${Lambda}$) on the drag coefficient ($C_d$) of a circular cylinder in cross flow were experimentally studied for $6.45{ imes}10^3$ < Re < $1.82{ imes}10^4$. With the help of orificed plates, Tu was fixed at approximately 0.5%, 5%, 7% and 9% and the normalized integral length scale (L/D) was varied from 0.35 to 1.05. Our turbulent results confirmed the general trend of decreasing $C_d$ with increasing Tu. The effectiveness of Tu in reducing $C_d$ is found to lessen with increasing ${Lambda}$/D. Most interestingly, freestream turbulence of low Tu (${approx}5%$) and large ${Lambda}$/D (${approx}1.05$) can increase the $C_d$ above the corresponding smooth flow value.