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The Cotswolds
cover a fairly large area of land in what can only be described as the Heart of
England with its undulating hills and pretty villages, a pastoral scene from
bygone days. Covering counties of Gloucestershire,
Herefordshire, Worcestershire and
Oxfordshire.
The main
tourist towns that occupy this essentially British spot of land are names that
most will recognise such as
Bath with its crescents and spas, remains from Roman
invaders; Malmesbury with its
skyline dominated by the Norman Abbey. Malmesbury became 'the' weaving centre
from the 15th century known for its fine silk and lace. Enjoy the narrow
medieval streets and river walk; Stroud a busy market town that has retained its
character;
Gloucester, a mix of old and new from Romans to now, especially so where they
meet at Gloucester Cathedral as a setting for a Harry Potter movie; Cheltenham, another spa town with its Regency
architecture; Chipping Campden, another typically
Cotswold town with its wonderful buildings so well preserved as a market town; Moreton in Marsh, a thriving market town. Lovely 17th century buildings though
the town dates back to Saxon times. Tuesday is the day for the open-air street
market; Tewkesbury, a medieval town oozing history, the 12th century Abbey
dominating the town; Stratford on Avon is a market
town and is best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare and hosts Royal
Shakespeare Company with its theatres; Stow on the
Wold, the highest of the Cotswold towns and set on the Roman Fosse Way.
Doll-like villages with their pretty honey-coloured stone buildings such as
Bibury, the archetypal British village with the 14th century Arlington Row
providing the focal point;
Bourton on the Water
often referred to as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' because of the River Windrush
meandering through the centre of the village to be crossed by enticing low
bridges; Burford feels like stepping back in time
as you wander past 17th century buildings in the High Street; Castle Combe again very pretty and full of atmosphere with
most of the buildings dating back hundreds of years (nearest station is
Chippenham); pretty Broadway with its ancient buildings in local stone adding
colour to the already beautiful village.
Things to see and do in the
Cotswolds:
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.
The Trail is 102 miles (164 km) long, and runs for most of its length on the
Cotswold escarpment. It passes through many picturesque villages and close to a
significant number of historic sites, for example the Roman heritage at Bath,
the Neolithic burial chamber at Belas Knap, Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe,
Hailes Abbey and many beautiful churches and historic houses.
The Cotswold Way has existed as a promoted long distance walk for over 30 years.
Following many years of lobbying by the Ramblers Association and others, its
special qualities have been recognised and in 1998 the government approved its
development as a National Trail. The Cotswold Way was formally launched as a
National Trail in May 2007. This designation is a very special one and there are
only a few other Trails in England with this special grading...
Roman villas at Chedworth
Set in a wooded Cotswold combe, the site was excavated in 1864 and retains a
Victorian atmosphere. Over a mile of walls survives and there are several fine
mosaics, two bathhouses, hypocausts, a water shrine and latrine. The museum
houses objects from the villa, and a 15-minute audio-visual presentation gives
visitors an insight into the history of this fascinating place...
Roman road of
Fosse Way.
Runs from Exeter to Lincoln. The word fossa means ditch and is appropriate
for this road as for a long time, the western boundary of Roman controlled
Britain was protected by a defensive ditch running between Exeter and Lincoln.
Whether the ditch was filled in and the road built later, or whether the road
was built to follow the ditch is a subject of much conjecture. What is certain
is that the road got its name from the ditch...
 Farnborough
Hall, Farnborough, nr Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 1DU Nat Trust
Telephone: 01295 690002 (Infoline)
Honey-coloured stone house with exquisite plasterwork and fine landscaped garden
Farnborough Hall is occupied and administered by the Holbech family
Photo: The North Front and Circular Lawn at Farnborough Hall in Warwickshire.
The stone built house, the home of the Holbech family for over 300
years,contains fine 18th interior decoration.
©NTPL/Matthew Antrobus
Avon Valley Railway
More than just a train ride, offering a whole new experience for some or a
nostalgic memory for others..
Gloucester
Cathedral - used in filming of Harry Potter and J K Rowling was born at
Chipping Sodbury
Model village near Bourton on
Water being a replica of the village itself.
Gloucester Docks &
Sharpness Canal - site highlighting the main features of Gloucester Docks &
the canal
Cheltenham Racecourse
Shakespeare birthplace
Henley Street, Stratford upon Avon. Tel: +44(0)1789 201822 Discover where
Shakespeare was born and grew up. Visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Experience the
Elizabethan way of life at Mary Arden's House.
Warwick Castle
Hidcote Manor Garden
near Chipping Campden. One of England's great gardens, Hidcote was designed
and created in the Arts & Crafts style by the horticulturist Major Lawrence
Johnston. It is arranged as a series of outdoor rooms, each with a different
character and separated by walls and hedges of many different species. The
garden is famous for its rare shrubs and trees, outstanding herbaceous borders
and unusual plant species from all over the world. The varied styles of the
outdoor rooms peak at different times of year, making for an interesting visit
at any time. ... National Trust
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Snowshill Manor
near Broadway. Snowshill Manor contains Charles Paget Wade's extraordinary
collection of craftsmanship and design, including musical instruments, clocks,
toys, bicycles, weavers' and spinners' tools and Japanese armour. Run on organic
principles, the intimate garden is laid out as a series of outdoor rooms, with
terraces and ponds, and wonderful views across the Cotswold countryside...
National Trust
Lodge Park & Sherborne Estate. Situated on the picturesque Sherborne
Estate in the Cotswolds, Lodge Park was created in 1634 by John 'Crump' Dutton.
Inspired by his passion for gambling and banqueting, it is a unique survival of
what would have been called a grandstand, with its deer course and park. It was
the home of Charles Dutton, 7th Lord Sherborne, until 1983 when he bequeathed
his family's estate to the National Trust. The interior of the grandstand has
been reconstructed to its original form, and was the first project undertaken by
the Trust that relied totally on archaeological evidence. The park behind was
designed by Charles Bridgeman in 1725. The Sherborne Estate is 1,650 hectares
(4,000 acres) of rolling countryside with views down to the River Windrush. Much
of the village of Sherborne is owned by the Trust, including the post office and
shop, school and social club. There are walks for all ages around the estate,
which includes the restored and working water meadows.... National Trust
Upton House & Gardens near Banbury. Outstanding collection of English and
Continental Old Master paintings. Important collections of English and French
18th-century porcelain. Fascinating exhibition of Shell advertising posters from
1920s and 30s. Dramatic Art Deco bathroom.
Distant views, terraced flower borders, herbaceous borders, tranquil water
gardens and the National Collection of asters. Also .. Events: Family
activity events, fine arts study tours, 1920s days, jazz concerts, classic car
days, Civil War re-enactments, conservation displays, workshops and lecture
lunches.. National Trust
Westonbirt Arboretum
near Tetbury.The National Arboretum is one of
the most spectacular tree gardens in the world. An historical collection of over
3,000 different trees and shrub species many of which are rare or endangered in
their native lands. Covering six hundred acres, the arboretum is an inspiring
place to relax, get back to nature and indulge your senses...
Abbey House Gardens Nr
Malmesbury With over 10,000 different plants this is a ‘must see’
garden for ideas, yet a visit is calming and soothing...
Jack Russell Gallery
in Chipping Sodbury
Cotswold
Motoring Museum & Toy Collection at Bourton on the Water
Cheltenham Art Gallery &
Museum We have an outstanding
permanent collection including fine art, ceramics, jewellery, furniture, local
history...
Bibury Trout Farm
situated in the centre of the village of Bibury,
next to Arlington Mill. Tel: +44
(0)1285 740215
Blenheim
Palace - just 8 miles from Oxford. Created a World
Heritage site in 1987. Blenheim Palace, home to 11th
Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, offers a
memorable day out.
Set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, the
exquisite Baroque Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the
magnificent Lake.
Inside, the scale of the Palace is beautifully balanced by the intricate detail
and delicacy of the carvings, the hand painted ceilings...
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Slimbridge run by the Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust (WWT). Founded in 1946 by the naturalist and artist, Sir Peter
Scott. The WWT are committed to the protection of wetlands and all that depend
on them for survival.
With an astounding array of
wildlife from Water Voles to waders, hares to dragonflies, Slimbridge is home to
the world's largest collection of swans, geese, and ducks. It is also the only
place in the world where you can see all six species of Flamingo.
A year round programme of walks, arts, events, workshops, talks and spectacular
wildlife encounters are a fantastic way for everyone to connect to their natural
surroundings.
The award winner visitor centre, is the perfect place to relax and enjoy
Slimbridge. Here you can take a trip to the top of the Sloane Tower for a
magnificent 360 degree view of Slimbridge and the Severn Estuary, explore the
Hanson Discovery Centre and enjoy wildlife inspired films in the cinema and art
in the gallery.
Take time to relax in the Water's Edge Restaurant overlooking the Caribbean
Flamingos and find the perfect gift in the WWT shop. A Fantastic day out.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is conveniently
located near to the M5 between Gloucester and Bristol. Exit at either junctions
13 or 14 and follow our brown duck signs. We have a large free car park. Coaches
are also very welcome, with parking available close to to the Visitor Centre and
toilets.
Forest of Dean Forestry Commission. Lies between the rivers Wye and Severn.
The Forest of Dean covers 35 square miles and was formerly a royal hunting
forest. For centuries it was valued for its resources of iron, coal, stone and
timber. Today it is a place of few crowds and much peace, with the largest area
of old oak trees in Britain. It came to the Forestry Commission in 1924. To
Dennis Potter, the playwright, who was born and grew up in the forest, it was
more than just a heart-shaped area on a map; for him the beauty and magic of the
landscape also captured his heart - as it will yours too!
How to Get There:
Easily accessible from M4/48, M5, A40 and A49. Mainline trains via Newport or
Gloucester...
The New Forest.
The New Forest National Park is a unique landscape of ancient woodland,
heather-covered heath, wide lawns, boggy mires, gentle farmland, coastal saltmarsh and mudflats and picturesque villages.
It is one of the last places in the south-east of England to offer a sense of
wildness and tranquillity. As the largest remaining area of lowland heath in
Europe, it gives the flavour of a landscape that was once much more extensive.
Like other National Parks, it is one of 'Britain's breathing spaces'.
William the Conqueror set aside the Forest for hunting more than 900 years ago
and centuries of grazing by deer, ponies and cattle have shaped the landscape.
William would probably still recognise much of the Forest as the same place he
hunted the 'beasts of the chase': wild deer and boar.
Today it is a wonderful area to explore by walking, cycling and on horseback. It
is especially rich in wildlife and visitors can enjoy a host of sights that make
a trip special, including ancient oaks, wild flowers, fungi, deer, reptiles,
birds of prey and dragonflies...
Tourist information offices
in the Cotswolds:
TIC Cirencester at the Corn
Hall, Market Place, Cirencester. +44(0)1285 654180
TIC, Victoria St, Bourton on the Water GL54 2BU
+44(0)1451 820211. Nearest rail at Kingham or Moreton in the Marsh.
Burford TIC. The Brewery,
Sheep St, Burford. OX18 4LP +44(9)1993 823558. Nearest station is Shipton
TIC, 1 Cotswold Court, Broadway. WR12 7AA +44(0)1386
852937, Nearest station Moreton in March
TIC Town Hall, Market Lane,
Malmesbury. SN16 9BZ +44 ())1666 823748 Nearest station Chippenham
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Travel in the Cotswolds:
If you are staying in London
then the Cotswolds
aren't so far from London that you could not do the trip in one day, however,
you would get so much more out of it by staying at least one night in a hotel or guest house-
you'd see more and be better able to imbibe the atmosphere of the glorious
Cotswold highways and byways. If you choose not to stay in a village hotel
but
prefer to enjoy an hotel in a city such as
Bath,
Cheltenham,
Gloucester, or
Stratford on
Avon
they are on the doorstep of the Cotswolds and have much to offer. Booking
ahead also ensures that you are assured of accommodation of your liking. Hotels
in the Cotswold area which inches into our
West Country,
Heart of England
or
mid South England
areas.
By car: If you don't
have your own car and if you want to free-wheel then
car hire is possibly best achieved through an outlying Cotswold town like Bath
in that you don't have to navigate London traffic! Having said that roads are
well marked from the main airports. If
driving from London then the M4 & M40 should get you there in about 2 hours. The
M6 if coming from the north and M5 from the south. The north east entry would be
best on the M1 & M42 See our
Travel page for car hire.
Air: The closest
airport to the Cotswolds is
Bristol or
Birmingham. The Cotswolds are not far awa from
London Heathrow and
Gatwick airports. If you book in good time then
EasyJet do good deals from
Gatwick to Bristol and Birmingham.
By train from
London you will depart from Paddington Station. If you are going by train then
you will be well advised to book your accommodation in advance since the
Cotswolds are popular.
For hotels in the
Cotswolds see our links below.
For train schedules see our
Travel page. Trains do not service the villages of the
Cotswolds but will go to towns such as Bath, Stratford, Gloucester, Cheltenham,
Oxford, Kingham, Moreton in Marsh, Oxford, Kemble, Evesham, Warwick, Banbury,
Stroud.
Coach travel to the Cotswolds
from London will start at Victoria Coach Station. See our
Travel page for National Express travel times. If travelling by coach you
will probably need to spend a night in the Cotswolds (check coach times).
See our hotels links below for hotel details and booking.
Hotels in the Cotswolds:
Not all towns on map are clickable. For more towns in the Cotswolds and the
heart of England click here
Towns such as Bath, Castle
Combe are off this map - please see either our
West Country page or
South England page
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland
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