The Cotswolds is beautiful region, which falls into the counties of Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, among others. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966, it offers a true perception of English rural countryside, with idyllic towns and villages, sweeping Cotswolds hills and close-knit communities.

Despite the popularity of the Cotswolds you can still find peace and quiet, and be at complete ease within this beautiful area. Those looking for a self-catering holiday will find many options from charming, traditional honey-coloured limestone Cotswolds cottages to the more luxurious and modern self-catering lodges. Alternatively, there are many guest houses and country hotels dotted throughout the picturesque countryside.

Walking in The Cotswolds

One of the best ways to explore the region is by the endless walking routes across the Cotswolds countryside, whether you choose to join a guided walking tour or use your own map. The marked trails of the Cotswolds Way, Gloucestershire Way and Shakespeare’s Way are among the best walks in the Cotswolds area, especially for first time visitors.

Historic Sites and Gardens

The Cotswolds is steeped in history with its grand houses, abbeys and castles located throughout the region.  The World Heritage Site of Blenheim Place in Woodstock is set among 2100 acres of beautiful parkland and landscaped gardens and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Berkeley Castle in Berkeley is an outstanding example of mediaeval domestic architecture and has been the home of the Berkeley family for 850 years.

The Cotswolds is also home to some of the finest gardens in England. These range from the smaller cottage gardens to more famous gardens such as Abbey House Gardens at Malmesbury, which is filled with fabulous garden designs and powerful aromas. Another garden worth visiting is Rococo Garden situated in a hidden Cotswolds valley. It is the sole survivor from the brief 18th Century period of the English Rococo Garden design.

Local Towns

The Cotswolds is the hub of rural England, where the small Cotswolds towns and villages have retained and preserved English character and charm. Cirencester is the largest of towns and is known as the ‘capital’ of the Cotswolds. It still holds its weekly street market in the large and impressive Market Place.  The town of Broadway is a typical picture perfect Cotswold town with its honey-coloured limestone buildings, specialist stores and spectacular surrounding scenery, making it popular with visitors. Another Cotswolds town which is a must see for first time visitors is the Spa town of Cheltenham which is renowned for its Regency architecture, stylish shops, horseracing and award-winning gardens.

Technorati Tags: attractions, Cotswolds, Holidays, Towns

I am travelling to the Cotswolds in September and was hoping someone could suggest to me some movies or books that are about or set in this area. Thanks.

Books:
Paradise Fields by Kati Fforde
A Summerstroke Affair and A Tangled Summer by Caroline Kington
Enduring Love by Ian Mcewan
Brother and Sister: A Novel by Joanna Trollope
Jane Austen’s books generally take place partly in Bath, and the movies are filmed there.
Movies:
Bridget Jones’ Diary, the house her parents live in is actually in The Cotswolds
Some of Stardust was filmed in The Cotswolds.

These were very friendly sheep which came running towards us as soon as we stopped the car. I think they were hungry! Amuse or annoy your friends by playing this at high volume.
We are unsure what breed the sheep are but they were filmed near Taddington in the COTSWOLDS!

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Technorati Tags: Animals, Baa, Cotswolds, england, Farm, Lambs, Sheep

If you’ve been searching for the true English countryside, then this is it – The Cotswolds. This most traditional region of Britain is famous for the beauty of its towns and villages. Everything about the Cotswolds, from lofty manor houses to beautiful old churches is steeped in a unique heritage and history.

Cotswolds, from lofty manor houses to beautiful old churches is steeped in a unique heritage and history. There’s a uniformity about it all which offers instant appeal; it’s that mellow golden limestone which soaks up the sun. Here you’ll find excellent accommodation, too, from friendly country guest houses and B&Bs to superb cosmopolitan hotels with a true international flavour.

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Technorati Tags: attractions, best, breaks, britains, Cotswolds, cottage, guest, Holiday, hotel, house, visit

If you’ve already visited The Cotswolds it’s not hard to see why this is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK. The Cotswolds region is a perfect perception of true English living with its honey coloured stoned towns and villages, fabulous scenic countryside, rolling hills and steeping valleys. It was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966 and provides a perfect countryside retreat for all the family.

Accommodation in The Cotswolds

Finding accommodation is easy in the Cotswolds. There are a number of places to choose from. If you want that independent holiday without the ties of having to be up for breakfast before 10am then there are a range of self-catering cottages available in the area. If you really want to get immersed in rural life then why not stay on a farm bed and breakfast and soak up the countryside atmosphere with traditional English cooking. Alternatively, if you want to receive the service from a Cotswold hotel there are many country house hotels and luxury boutique hotels in the Cotswolds with spa and leisure facilities to keep you occupied during your Cotswolds break.

Attractions in The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is an area rich in history which is reflected by the number of historical sites dotted throughout the region. They provide brilliant attractions for all the family. Blenheim Place, situated near Woodstock, is a Designated World Heritage Site and is home to the Duke of Marlborough and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Berkeley Castle is situated at Wotton-under-Edge and was built to keep out the Welsh with its various traps such as trip steps, murder holes and enormous barred doors.

Other attractions which are perfect for families include the Cotswold Water Park which is great for children and adults of all ages. There are many outdoor activities to keep you occupied with its nature reserves, water sports, fishing, cycling, camping and a safe summer children’s bathing area. The Cotswolds Wild Life Park is located near Burford and features over 200 animal species in approximately 200 acres of parkland.

Walking in The Cotswolds

This unique countryside is a walkers’ paradise whether you decide to follow a published walking route, with your own map or with a guided walking leader. The Cotswold Way is a long distance walking trail that runs between the market town of Chipping Campden in the North of the Cotswolds and the city of Bath in the South. This walk offers the perfect chance see some true English countryside, passing through picturesque towns, villages, historic sites, churches and lakes.

All in all, the Cotswolds provides the perfect place for a long holiday, romantic getaway or an Easter break with the family. The Cotswolds stunning countryside, quaint market towns, array of family attractions, gardens, historical sites and wildlife parks are all waiting to be explored. Cotswolds accommodation is available in abundance with its self catering cottages, town guest houses, farm bed and breakfasts and country house Cotswolds hotel. For those who want to really experience the outdoor then camping in the country is the perfect way – there are many camp sites located across the Cotswolds in hidden valleys and ancient Cotswolds woodland.

Technorati Tags: Cotswolds, Countryside, Holidays

I will be visiting in September and basing myself in the Cotswolds. Is it possible to do a day trip to Stonehenge and Avebury from there? We will have a hire car. Thanks for your time.

No problem at all – there is actually more to see at Avebury as the village is quite quaint with a great pub as well. Try and avoid weekends if you can as they are the busiest times.

A guide at Windsor Castle was struggling to make herself heard over the roar of low flying aircraft coming into land at nearby Heathrow. She was interrupted by a tourist who demanded what was wrong with the town planners, and why had they built the castle so close to the airport.

The highlight of a cruise liner’s visit to the Alaskan port of Valdez was a guided tour of the southern end of the great 800 mile pipeline through which, the guide informed them, some 1.3 million barrels of oil came daily from Prudoe Bay in the north. When he asked if there were any questions, someone solemnly enquired, `How do they get all those empty barrels back up to Prudoe Bay?’

`Good home wanted for year-old Basset bitch. Understands every word I say, but ignores it.’ Card in Portsmouth shop window.

A group of tourists escorted around the British Houses of Parliament suddenly found themselves in the presence of the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, resplendent in full wig and gown. Spying behind the group the figure of Neil Marten MP, the Lord Chancellor called out in greeting.`Neil’ with dignified vigour. And all the tourists did.

A tourist, on a driving holiday in Britain was reported to have been overcome by the Cotswolds but astonished at the number of villages with the same name. `After Chipping Sodbury,’ he said, `there were three villages in a row called Loose Chippings.’

An English classics scholar, trying to impress his tour party colleagues on holiday in Athens, offered to converse in Greek with the local ferry officers at the docks to enquire about departure times. The locals, after recovering from fits of laughter, then revealed to the rest of the group, in perfect English, the scholar’s question: When do the galleys sail for the Isle of Aegina, O sailors?’

In 1981, fifty San Francisco nudists arrived in Miami for a national convention to find their airline had lost all their luggage, including their clothes.

The 1982 Association of British Travel Agents conference in Phoenix, Arizona, had to change its venue at the last moment when it discovered that its original hotel had been double booked.

The story is told, apocryphal no doubt, of the DJ working on a small and remote radio station in Scotland midway through his programme late at night on 1 October 1977. News came to the station that Bing Crosby had died (the station producer happened to be on the phone to the States and picked the word up almost as it occurred). The DJ thought he could possibly be the first person in the UK to publicly announce the death, so he put on a long track and rushed off to record library to get an old recording to play. Upon returning, nervously excited by now, he put the first record onto the turntable without looking at it and broke into the record then playing with a sombre voice: ‘I am deeply sorry to have to inform’ you listeners that I have just received news from America of a great tragedy. The legendary Bing Crosby is dead. As a humble tribute, I would like to play one of his songs,’ and as he switched over to his Crosby ’selection’, the melody was beamed out, ‘Heaven . . . I’m in Heaven…’

BEWARE OF TRAINS GOING BOTH WAYS AT ONCE. – Notice at Durham level crossing

The universal language is laughter my friend and you did well to promote universal harmony in those gems.
Well done and Jolly ho, Pippin.
GOD BLESS ye, mate.

Taking a break from the daily grind is always something to look forward to. Most people set their sights on a sandy beach to soak up the Mediterranean sun and recharge the batteries; but ironically often say that they come back needing a holiday. All the hustle and bustle of airports and passports, travel insurance and immunisations can turn taking a break into a major mission. With the new credit crunch well under way, people are beginning to discover that there are places in England that are worthy of a weeklong break. The undulating countryside has become a welcome paradise and sought after space to get a real rest from routine, and many prefer a break in the British countryside to a stay on the Costa del Sol.

The epitome of Britishness is said to be in the Cotswolds. This tourist haven is still a delicately peaceful and quaint area of the country with its gently rolling hills and limestone villages. The idyllic vision of sheep on the hillside, dry stone walls and ambling ramblers is the actual vision that greets visitors to this area. As a native Britton, it can be difficult to imagine what is so good about the quintessentially English way of things. The best way to rectify this is by booking into a Boutique hotel in one of the beautiful Cotswold towns, allowing yourself to relax. Here are my top tips for relaxation the rural way.

The Cotswold town of Bath is famed for the traditional spas built during the Roman times. Bath was built around the famous hot water spring that provides a healing and relaxing mineral rich soak. The stone pillars and pathways built by the Romans are still there today and add to the authentic atmosphere of the area.

Nearby Cheltenham is also a spa town, but is generally better known for being the home of Cheltenham Races, one of the most famous horse racing days in the calendar. Be warned however, that taking a break at this time of year requires booking many months in advance and is not the right time to go to the area if you are after a bit of peace and quiet.

The Romantic Road is a little known way of getting to know the Cotswold area. It weaves through some of the most beautiful towns and villages, past churches to deliver a truly romantic experience that has inspired poets, musicians, writers and artists for centuries. This journey offers the opportunity to take a break in traditional English pubs along the way, where you can sample ales, enjoy the fresh air and warm yourself by the fire.

If you like a bit of horticulture, then it is worth knowing that the Cotswolds are just as famed for its manicured gardens and arboretums as it is for the wild countryside. Walking into cottage garden inspired public gardens is a truly romantic experience, and like walking into a novel by Virginia Wolfe. With a setting like this, it is the perfect place to make a proposal and then head back to a romantic hideaway in a Boutique hotel.

Nestled in the gently rolling hills, a romantic hideaway is the perfect place to end a busy day of sitting in a spa, drinking ale at a pub and taking a leisurely stroll through the countryside. With views so stunning, they attract visitors the world over, make the most of what is on your doorstep. Why fly to Benidorm to get burned when you can bathe in the baths of Bath and retreat to a Boutique bed for two right here in Britain?

Technorati Tags: Booking, Boutique, Break, Cotswolds, Country, From, Hotels, Leaving, Take

I’m traveling to London, England in September and I’d like to know what is better, Hyde Park Towers Hotel London or Imperial Hotel? I have two "packaged options" to chose from. The Hyde Park Towers package comes with 2 tours, Bath, Stonehenge, Salisbury & Magna Carta, AND Best Of The Cotswolds Tour. It costs about $1,400 for my stay and I would not have to share a room. The other option, at Imperial Hotel, comes out to about $1,600 with Contiki tours, but I’d have to share a room for my trip. Which has a better location? Is the extra for Contiki worth it if I have to share a room?

Have a look on www.tripadvisor.com for reviews of the hotels. Personally, I wouldn’t want to share a room.

For beauty. I’m looking for a short quiet luxury break in Cotswolds, somewhere where they have good fireworks on Nov 5th if poss, and no idea where to even start! In your opinion where’s the best place to go?

Hi !
Actually I run tours of the Cotswolds and am visiting travel agents in the UK at the moment. There are plenty of places I can suggest although the issue of fireworks I am less certain about. If you care to email me on my hotmail address (roblittle_uk@hotmail.com) I’d be glad to reply there or call you if you wish….and don’t worry I’m not about to do a sales job on you unless you particularly want to be acompanied !
ROb