please let me know the very best areas.
don’t all rush to answer..!

Do some research to get an idea of popularity.

Try looking on holiday cottage rental sites to see which villages have the most property to let, what occupancy rates do they have?

Contact an holiday letting agency that specifies in the Cotswolds, they will know which areas are the most popular.

Contact English tourism.

One of the most popular activities in the whole of the Cotswolds is walking. With all that scenery on offer the best way to see it is undoubtedly on foot. Driving may allow you to cover more ground, but what good is it when you can’t make the most of the journey and look at everything on the way?

Short walks are also ideal if there are younger members of the family. Rambling is ideal for adults but the kids would struggle with longer distances. So if you are planning on coming to stay in a cottage in the Cotswolds soon, have a read through this article first. It might inspire you to build walking into your holiday itinerary.

You can spend just half a day exploring the countryside and do something else in the afternoon

Short walks could be anything from a mile up to about four or five, depending on how fit you are. While many adults would take up the challenge to walk all day – perhaps trying the Cotswold Way or at least part of it from Chipping Campden on – it can be too much to ask of smaller children.

So why not plan a short route during the morning that will end in a nice lunch somewhere? Carrying a picnic is ideal. You can also make the walk more interesting by giving the kids challenges to try en route. For example, research the route first (perhaps before you leave home) and find markers they can spot along the way. You could give out a small prize for each successful find, perhaps?

A short circular route will bring you back to where you started

Circular routes are wonderful because they enable you to drive somewhere and return to your car easily afterwards.

You could also plan one or two short walks that start from your Cotswolds holiday accommodation. Exploring the area on your doorstep is one way of getting a lot more out of your Cotswolds holiday.

You can plan your walks close to attractions and venues in the area that are worth visiting

We all have places we would like to visit on a trip to the Cotswolds. So plan a route that is somewhere close to one such venue. For example you might want to see the Model Village in Bourton on the Water. If you do, plan a walk that takes in the nearby Upper and Lower Slaughter villages as well. These are as close to the romantic view we all have of what a proper English village should look like!

The other advantage of packing some short walks into your Cotswolds holiday is that they will tire you out enough to ensure a good night’s sleep. That means you will awake refreshed and ready to tackle the next day of your Cotswolds break.

One final tip – use the evenings to rest your feet and plan a short walk for the next day. It means you can get going early in the morning if you wish!

Technorati Tags: Benefits, Cotswolds, Doing, Short, Walks

The location of the Cotswolds is a fantastic one for many reasons. It is probably best known for its rolling countryside, which offers different views around every corner.

But the Cotswolds is about far more than just the countryside. When you visit on a UK holiday or weekend break you will find there are surprises awaiting you around every corner. And among those surprises there are some majestic castles standing firm on the landscape.

Here are just three of the ones you could visit while you are staying in weekend hotels or holiday cottages.
Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is to the south west of Cheltenham, so it is really on the outskirts of the main part of the Cotswolds. However don’t let this put you off paying a visit. It is well worth the journey, no matter where in the Cotswolds you might be staying.

This castle is huge and it is over nine hundred years old, so it has seen a lot of changes and visitors over the centuries. It is a Norman fortress and if you see a picture of it from the air you will get a better idea of just how big it is.

It sits in an estate of six thousand acres, so it has impressive grounds as well. Any visit should really have a day dedicated to it, so make sure you do just that.
Broughton Castle

This castle is in Banbury, which is a short distance to the north east of Chipping Norton, another famous location in the Cotswolds.

Broughton Castle is arguably one of the most attractive castles in England. It has the benefit of a huge moat as well, which was formed from three separate streams. This was in fact why the site was originally selected for Broughton Castle way back in 1300.

You can visit many areas of the castle, including the attractive gardens, the chapel and the Great Hall. Be sure to allocate enough time to enjoy everything that Broughton Castle has to offer.
Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Sudeley Castle is located to the north east of Cheltenham, so you aren’t too far from it, no matter where your Cotswold cottage is situated. It should form part of every UK holiday to the area, as it has links which stretch back hundreds of years into history.

If you love hearing about Henry VIII and his wives, then you will certainly want to pay a visit. The last of his six wives, Catherine Parr, is actually buried here. But Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII himself also visited the castle centuries ago, so you can see there is a lot of Royal history tied up here.

These are perhaps the three most important and most stunning of the castles you can visit in this general area. The Cotswolds has definite and distinct roots way back into history – and these castles are the ideal way of finding out how far back those roots go.

Technorati Tags: Area, Castles, Cotswolds, Stunning, visit

I am planning a vacation in the UK. The plan is to drive from London to the Derbyshire area (Chatsworth House), then down to the Cotswolds, spend the night, then drive to Bath. I saw that there are a lot of little villages in the Cotswolds area. Can you recommend good villages to visit/stay?

http://www.cotswolds.info/

http://www.woodlands-guest-house.co.uk/ Cotswolds Bed and Breakfast. Bed and breakfast in the Cotswolds. Taste the excellent food being served only in the Cotswolds Bed and Breakfast and feel life’s blessing while staying in the Cotswolds outdoor.

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Tour the English Cotswolds with Rob Little, Photographer Guide from “Lets Tour England” – 100 miles west of London, an oasis of beauty and peace. Check www.letstourengland.com for details!

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The Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty situated in the heard of England. It mainly covers the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire but also extends through to parts of Wilshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

Situated just 5 miles from the Roman town of Cirencester in Gloucestershire lies the Lower Mill Estate which offers the perfect base to explore the surrounding beautiful English countryside that the Cotswolds has to offer.

Lower Mill Estate

Lower Mill Estate is easily accessible. The nearby town of Cirencester is located at the hub of the significant road network linking to Cheltenham, Warwick, Oxford, Swindon, Bristol and Bath. Nearest airports are Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham which are all approximately an hour’s drive.

Lower Mill derives from the historic water mill which lies at the entrance of the estate, a mill which is still working to this day from the help of the River Thames which meanders through the area. The estate covers 500 acres of stunning countryside where much of it is given over to natural habitat and therefore there are various sites which are of particular interest to scientists.

There are a number of luxury Cotswolds cottages in the Lower Mill Estate which offer a perfect self-catering option. Alternatively, there are a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts in and around the Cirencester area.

Cirencester

Cirencester is just a short drive from the Lower Mill Estate. It is a popular history-rich Cotswolds market town which lies on the lower dip-slops of the Cotswold Hills. The Corinium Museum is definitely worth a visit which even holds archaeology sessions in July which involve a series of talks, workshops and activities.

Other attractions within this ancient Roman town include Cirencester Park which is home to the Bathurst family and offers a quiet space away from the bustling market town. Additionally Abbey Grounds can be found behind the church and the market place. The grounds contain the site of St Mary’s Abbey which was consecrated in 1176 in the presence of Henry II. In the grounds you will find a lake, impressive trees and a section of ancient Roman Wall. It is also home to a bandstand where bands perform during the summer months.

Attractions

Other than accommodation providers there are also a number of attractions available to suit all ages. Here are just a few to keep you occupied during your visit:

Cotswolds Country Park: The Cotswolds Country Park offers fun for all the family. It has two large scenic lakes and an array of walks will the chance of spotting wildlife that inhabits the grounds. There is also a toddler’s beach and children’s area, pedal boat and bike hire and a gift shop and restaurant.

Butts Farm: Butt Farm offers the chance to pet and stroke all the animals you would expect to see in a farm. Also visit the award-winning farm shop and butcher.

Cotswolds Wildlife Park and Gardens: This park is set in 160 acres of parkland and gardens, all surrounding a listed Victorian Manor House. It is home to a large collection of mammals, birds and reptiles from all over the world – you’ll be surprised!

Technorati Tags: Cotswolds, Estate, Lower, Mill

It feels as if the summer is nearly over already. But is it too late to book a UK holiday in the Cotswolds?

In reality it is never too late to book. But you need to think practically and remember that due to the recession, more people than ever are staying in this country. There is no doubt that the Cotswolds is one of the most popular UK holiday destinations that people head for each year. It is full to the brim with gorgeous scenery, history waiting to be discovered, and shops, pubs and walks galore to dip into.

That’s why many of our cottages get booked up very early each year, as people are looking for the ideal spot to spend a week or two away from home for their UK holidays.

But if you haven’t booked yet, don’t worry. There are some great advantages to doing so, as you are about to find out:

1. Be prepared to look for something a bit different from what you would have booked in the first place. So for example, you might find that your ideal village – the ever popular Bourton on the Water for example – is fully booked up. Not to worry though, because none of the villages in the Cotswolds are that far from each other. Have a look at an online map of the area and find a cottage or property that is close by if you can.

2. Another point to consider is the time you book your cottage. It tends to be easier to find a property that is available once all the kids have gone back to school at the beginning of September. We know a lot of people who leave their summer holidays until the end of that month! And for the past few years the weather has been surprisingly good at that time of year as well. The more flexible you can be with your preferred dates for holidaying in the Cotswolds, the better.

3. Late holidays provide you with cheaper prices too. Booking during school holidays will always be more expensive, so you can save a lot of money by coming to the Cotswolds at different times.

4. The Cotswolds are always very popular among UK travellers. But you will find that coming to the Cotswolds later in the year provides you with a much quieter holiday. The important thing to remember is that the Cotswolds has plenty to offer no matter what time of year you visit us. It’s wise to check the opening times of any specific locations or venues you want to visit when you are here, to make sure everywhere will be open when you visit. Quite often winter opening times are shorter than summer ones, so you can still go to most places; you just have to adjust your arrival and departure times.

So you see it’s never too late to book a Cotswolds holiday in UK. Provided you are ready to compromise a little, a great holiday will still await you.

Technorati Tags: Advantages, Booking, Cotswolds, Holiday, Late

any ideas to see the best areas of the cotswolds and places to stay for 2 days would be much appreciated!

Hi why not trying looking at Enjoy England website. At the moment the Cotswolds is their destination of the month. This means there is loads of information on the attractions in the Cotswolds and the best places to stay.

The link is: http://www.enjoyengland.com/destinations/destination-of-the-month/the-cotswolds.aspx

Good luck with your search!!

The Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and offers the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and retreat to the countryside to enjoy an idyllic Cotswold holiday.

This unique countryside is a picturesque place for the keenest of walkers and cyclists, along with those who are just looking to relax and unwind. There is a variety of accommodation in some stunning settings from hotels, guesthouses, self-catering cottages to camping in the outdoors.

Walking in The Cotswolds

There are many ways to walk the Cotswolds countryside, whether it’s by a published route guide, your own map or by 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 and the city of Bath in the South. It passes through picturesque villages close to a number of historic sites, churches and lakes.

Cotswolds Water Park

The Cotswolds Water Park is Britain’s largest water park and consists of over 140 lakes covering 40 square miles. Within the area there is Keynes Park which provides a range of outdoor facilities all year round including a lakeside cafe, nature reserves, water sports, safe bathing, walking and cycling trails, adventure park and angling. Neighbridge Park is on the other hand, more undeveloped and offers an idyllic setting for people who want to get away.

The Cotswold countryside offers something for everyone, come rain or shine. This unique combination of countryside and culture makes the perfect Cotswolds break for families, couples or groups of friends.

Technorati Tags: Cotswolds, Countryside, Exploring, Holidays