The Cotswolds without doubt has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. With a myriad of picture postcard villages to visit, you can spend a day here or a month here and still not take in all it's beauty and charm. Looking at a map of the Cotswolds it is clear to see that Bourton-on-the-Water is the most perfectly postioned place from which to explore.
The Cotswolds is a small area located about one and half hours drive from the west of London; famous for its picturesque villages and gentle rolling hills.
There are famous cities such as Bath, well-known beautiful towns like Cheltenham and hundreds of delightful villages such as Burford and Castle Combe. Above all, the local honey-coloured limestone, used for everything from the stone floors in the houses to the tiles on the roof, has ensured that the area has a magical uniformity of architecture.
You will see ‘Drystone walls’ everywhere in the fields. Many were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, a matter of considerable skill as there is no cement to hold the walls together. They represent an important historical landscape and a major conservation feature – and are of course still used by farmers to enclose sheep and cattle.
During the 13-15th centuries, the medieval period, the native Cotswold sheep were famous throughout Europe for their heavy fleeces and high quality of wool. Cotswold wool commanded a high price and the wealth generated by the wool trade enabled wealthy traders to leave their mark by building fine houses and wonderful churches, known as “wool churches”. Even today, the sight of sheep on the hillside is still one of the classic Cotswold images.
Not all villages are well known, and today many still hold their secrets. Amongst the treasures to be found are perhaps a hidden village off the beaten track, perhaps Painswick, Biddestone, Winchcombe or Woodstock, or an unspoilt historic church, such as at Northleach often called the “Cathedral of the Cotswolds” – open the church door and you will discover a hidden world of history.
Today, the larger market towns and villages of the Cotswolds are famous for their shops, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Tetbury.
It is perfectly possible to visit the Cotswolds from London just for the day, but we recommend that you plan to stay at least one night in the Cotswolds for two reasons. Firstly, you will need time to enjoy the area and, secondly, early morning and evening are the most romantic times in the Cotswolds, often with glorious sunsets and beautiful early morning birdsong. In popular villages, you will also avoid the crowds and have more chance to meet local people. Our hotels and B&Bs are great value compared to London.
The area is an excellent base for touring, ringed by Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham and Gloucester.
If travelling by car it will take 1-2 hours to reach the Cotswolds from London, using well signposted major roads. The M4 and M40 motorways provide easy access from London.
Shopping is an important part of a visit to the Cotswolds.
If you are looking for fashionable and stylish shops, such as Laura Ashley, a visit to Cheltenham or Bath is a must. For the bustle of a busy market town, with weekly open air markets, try towns like Moreton-on-Marsh and Cirencester, and for arts and crafts a visit to The Rope Store in Stroud or Harts jewellery workshop at Chipping Campden are worth while.
You can browse for antiques in many of the Cotswold market towns and villages, in particular Woodstock, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury. For more information on antiques shops in the Cotswolds visit the Cotswolds Antiques Dealers website www.cotswolds-antiques-art.com
For those looking for gifts to buy in the Cotswolds many towns, villages and attractions have gift shops with a great selection of souvenirs and presents.
The Cotswolds has some of the finest gardens and arboreta in Great Britain. Many are designed on a grand scale, but there are also lots of smaller gardens full of the old-fashioned romance of an English country cottage.
Apart from the cottage garden, it is the manor house garden that most typifies the Cotswolds.Hidcote Manor Garden, near Chipping Campden, and Snowshill Manor, near Broadway, both owned and run by the National Trust, are two of the best known, and Abbey House Gardens near Malmesbury, is quickly gaining a world-famous reputation.
Some gardens are open to visitors all year and it is also worth looking out for the colourful displays of flowers in towns as well as villages.
Walking in the Cotswolds countryside is relaxing and a great way to see more. You can enjoy your surrounding at first hand, see the flowers, hear the birds and have time to talk with people you meet. There are some great walks in the Cotswolds, many based in and around the characteristic villages and market towns.
One of the best ways to walk with confidence in the countryside is to use a Circular Walk, following a leaflet describing the route. This will provide a map with clear instructions and usually notes places of interest to look out for on your way.
To explore some of the historic towns in the Cotswolds, why not spend an hour following a Town Trail taking in the architectural heritage and history written in stone, before stopping for a drink at a traditional pub or afternoon tea at a tea-room?