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.

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If you look at the Yahoo weather forecast for Gloucester and Chester, you will find there is 2 and sometimes 3C difference in the temps. Both day and night. Favourite place the Cotswolds.. Bourton on the Water.

The Cotswolds is a beautiful region which falls into the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire among others. It was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1966 and contains idyllic honey-coloured towns and villages, rolling Cotswolds hills and true picturesque English countryside.

There are a range of things to explore in the region, from the bustling market towns to the endless walking routes across the Cotswolds countryside. There are also many historic houses and beautiful English gardens to visit.

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 the towns and is known as the ‘capital’ town of the Cotswolds. A couple of other towns to visit include:

Malmesbury

Malmesbury is reputed to be the oldest borough in England and its hilltop presence means that it is described as the ‘Queen of the hilltop towns’. The town is surrounded by two forks of the River Avon and sweeping steep slopes which together act as a natural defence. The great stone walls which were once used to fortify for the town can still be seen to this day, along with the weavers’ cottages which are dotted along the High Street, as like most Cotswolds towns, Malmesbury was a wealthy wool town. Today the town is still bustling and vibrant presenting a good selection of small, independent shops where the major chain stores are very rare among the town.

Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh is situated at the head of the Evenlode Valley on the Fosse Way which was a major Roman road which runs from the South coast to Lincoln. The town was granted market charter in 1227 and the weekly markets still takes place each Tuesday. Like Malmesbury, Moreton-in-Marsh was also heavily involved in wool and cloth making which was the source of income during the medieval years. At present, the town is lined with specialist stores, tea-rooms, galleries and the Wellington Aviation and Art Museum is a haven for World War II enthusiasts.

Attractions

The Cotswolds reflects history with its grand houses, abbeys and castles dotted throughout the region. Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It is set among 2100 acres of beautiful parkland, sweeping lawns and award-winning landscaped gardens.

The Cotswolds is also home to some of the finest gardens in England, from small cottage gardens to the more famous gardens such as Abbey House Gardens at Malmesbury which is filled with fabulous garden designs and powerful aromas.  Westonbirt Arboretum in Tetbury displays over 18,000 specimens and has one of the world’s finest collections of trees and shrubs.

Cotswolds Water Park is another place worth visiting and offers something for everyone. It is Britain’s largest water park and consists of 140 lakes covering 40 square miles. Activities range from sailing, fishing, swimming and cycling.

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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.

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There are a whole bunch of Youth Hostels in that region as well as all over England though you do need to be a member of the Youth Hostels Association to stay in them.

http://english.cotswoldcountryhotel.co.uk/index.php/2009/09/cotswolds-weekend-breaks/

A beautiful, family run, English Cotswold Hotel welcomes all the travelers.

Set in a charming rural setting in the heart of the Cotswold countryside in the Gloucestershire countryside, near to Cirencester in this most Royal of Counties.

The Crown of Crucis Cotswold country hotel is the perfect choice, whether it’s for a family holiday, a short break in the countryside away from the stresses and strains of the City, for your business stay. Pets welcome. – created at

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Dom Joly got to ride a tank round for a day!!

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If you are looking for a place in the UK to get away too then the Cotswolds could be a great choice. When it comes to accommodation in the area there is loads to choose from so you should be able to find something that suits your needs exactly.

There are lots of beautiful holiday cottages in the area. These come in a range of styles and sizes so if you shop around you’ll be able to find something that matches what you want. When you stay in a cottage you get the privacy you and your family need to enjoy a holiday together. Unlike staying in a hotel with a cottage you live to your own schedule. This means you can have breakfast or dinner when you want and come and go as you please.

You also get the whole cottage to yourselves, so you get much more room than you would staying a hotel room. For the time that you stay there it becomes your second home and you can do what you like to be comfortable.

A Cotswold holiday cottage will generally come with a garden too. This means that you and your family can get out and enjoy the fresh air, with all the comforts of home. This is especially great if you have a young family because you can put them down for an afternoon nap etc without disturbing the rest of your family’s fun.

These are just some of the reasons why Cotswolds holiday cottages are ideal if you are looking for a holiday in the UK. The great thing about holidaying in England is that everywhere is reasonable close to home, so you avoid long journeys and even get to miss out on jet leg.

There is plenty to do in the Cotswolds which means that the whole family can be kept entertained, no matter what the weather. Why not have a look online and get an idea of everything the Cotswolds has to offer. You’ll probably find that you are left pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount of things that are to do in the local area, so you can be sure everyone will have a great time.

www.feathers.co.uk – The Feathers Hotel Woodstock is the perfect stopping-post, friendly, informal, but reassuringly permanent. That’s why our guests return time and again — safe in the knowledge that there will be something new to sample on the menu, that each of the bedrooms has its own character, and there will be a quiet corner or a lively table, depending on your mood. Work up an appetite with a country walk. Browse the fascinating independent shops. Lose yourself in the sheer grandeur of Blenheim Palace and its 2000 acres of parkland, where you can enjoy everything from jousting tournaments to proms concerts.
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any any recommened what location in cotswolds is the most scenic and should we be staying at…
we would like to take short day trips around the area as well..
so if you could recommed three/four excellent places to visit that would be great.

Bourton-on-the-Water wasn’t filled with old people any more than any other kind of people when we were there and it was wonderful. You can also do a day walk to Upper and Lower Slaughters from there which is great. We also enjoyed Broadway and Winchcombe (Sudeley Castle was very interesting). The countryside is beautiful, everyone was so nice to us and we found plenty to see and do and nice places for meals, etc. Have fun- wish WE could just take off for a weekend there whenever we liked. but we live in Nashville,TN and won’t be going back til May ’09! boo hoo!

Regency Cheltenham lies in the heart of the world famous Cotswolds. With beautiful surrounding countryside and traditional English villages, such as Stow-on the-Wold,  Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Campden nearby, Cheltenham is a magnet for tourists from all over the world, making it one of the most visited areas in England. Cirencester and the Stroud valley are also very nearby.

There are a wealth of events and permanent attractions throughout the year. Cheltenham has a range of world renowned festivals from April to October each year. The season starts with the Cheltenham Jazz festival at the end of April. This is followed by the highly acclaimed Times Cheltenham Science festival in June. In July it’s the Cheltenham music festival followed by possibly the most famous of all: the Times Cheltenham Literature festival. Along with the Jazz festival comes the Jazz Fringe festival with the vast majority of artists coming from within a 50 mile radius of Cheltenham. This gives a fantastic diverse line-up with music in over 20 venues. In 2009 the music festival which now incorporates seventy events celebrated its sixty fifth year. The Cheltenham Literature festival was attended by numerous celebrities including Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry the actor.

One of the key attractions is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.  In the  2010 gold cup festival over 7 million pounds was placed in bets in one day alone.  The race is the most prestigious National Hunt races.  It is a race  every jockey and trainer dreams of winning. Running over a distance of 3 miles and 2.5 furlongs (5,331 metres) , the race which takes place in March each year on the new course at Cheltenham and is open to horses aged five years or over. It is an immensily  important event for Cheltenham hotels, b&bs, bars and restaurants in Cheltenham, helping to boost the local economy of Regency Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Year round attractions include the Pittville pump room which dates back to when Cheltenham was famous as a spa town; and visitors came to take the water, believing in its healing and medicinal properties. Also the historic Cheltenham Everyman theatre, the Playhouse theatre and Bacon theatre provides year round entertainment from concerts to comedy.

Many people know of Cheltenham for the world famous Cheltenham Ladies College which is an independent school founded in 1853 and has an international reputation for excellent education. It is also a vibrant student town with over 2000 students based at the University of Gloucestershire campuses in Cheltenham.

Regency Cheltenham is a prime shopping town for the Cotswolds. Shops range from high quality privately owned shops to national and  international chain stores. A short walk from the centre of Cheltenham is Montepellier with its high quality individual clothes shops and bars. These include specialist cooking shops, babywear and hairdressers. There are also pavement cafes and bars which are extremely popular in the summer sunshine. As well as finding antique shops in Montpellier there is a monthly Antiques and Collectors fair at Cheltenham racecourse.

Cheltenham farmers market is held on the second and last Friday of each month held on the Promenade near the Cheltenham Tourist information office. With over thirty stalls there is a wide selection of high quality produce including meat, cheese and vegetables. There is also a Farmers market in nearby Stroud held every Saturday morning with a real feeling of Charm and culture.

Cheltenham Spa offers a fantastic range of eating out experiences to suit every taste and every budget. Cheltenham has a long tradition of high quality restaurants which in recent years has grown to suit everyone from residents to local students to visitors.

One of the most stylish Cheltenham restaurants is Brassiere Blanc owned by the renowned Raymond Blanc. The atmosphere is relaxed with high quality food and attentive service. It is an excellent place to relax and enjoy French cuisine without formality. The Curry Corner is also one of Cheltenham’s favourite restaurants. It is a multi award winning restaurant with awards including Taste of the West Gold 2009.

Nearby to Cheltenham there are historic places to visit for great days out such as Sudley Castle, near Winchcombe, which makes an excellent wedding venue with its historic backdrop. Snowshill Manor near Broadway is also another visitor favourite with Hidcote Manor near Chipping Campden.

The Cotswold Water Parks near Cirencester offer an unusual area of over 140 lakes where there is lakes for water skiing, sailing, cycling, Keynes country park for leisure activities, luxury hotel and Spa and an area ideal for relaxing county walks.

If you’re looking for property in Cheltenham there are around 40 estate agents in Cheltenham dealing with a wide and diverse range of properties fom manor houses to cottages and eco houses.

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor to Cheltenham and the Cotswolds the area offers great scenery in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

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