Cotswolds Information & Tourism Guide

The Cotswolds are full of great things to see and do.  But when we think about the area the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it is mainly countryside.  It is great for walking and getting closer to nature – but is it ideal for taking the kids away for a long break?

The answer has to be a resounding yes!  No matter what age your kids are, you can find plenty of things for them to do in the area.  One great example is the Cotswold Farm Park.  This is located near Guiting Power in Cheltenham, which is just to the north west of Naunton.  So if you are staying in our holiday cottage called The Old Band Room, you won’t be too far away from this delightful day out.

The Cotswold Farm Park features plenty of animals both small and large, and the kids can also have a go at driving a miniature tractor if they are up to the challenge!

Be sure you check the opening times before you visit though, as the park isn’t open all year round.  You shouldn’t have any problems visiting during the summer months.

If you like the idea of showing the kids a variety of animals, you can give the Cotswold Wildlife Park a go as well.  This is situated near Burford, which is the location of several stunning properties we have for holiday lets.  Take the wonderful Swan Lane House for example, which is perfect for those with larger families!  It has a huge garden so there is plenty of room for the kids to exhaust themselves if their day trip to the wildlife park doesn’t wear them out.

They’ll have plenty of animals to see at the park, including big cats and tarantulas among others.  There are also some beautiful gardens and plenty of places to sit down for a break when the little ones’ legs start aching!

And you won’t want to miss the Old New Inn, the pub with the charming name at Bourton on the Water.  But it is not always the pub itself that attracts the attention.  Instead, it is the model village of Bourton on the Water that it has in its back garden.

Children love wandering around this miniature village, and adults will love spotting the bridges, the river and the many smaller scale buildings that can be found in the village itself.  If you are staying in our property The Chimneys, in Bourton on the Water, you won’t have far to go to show the kids the smaller village of the two!

So you can see there is plenty to see and do to keep even the most active children amused when you come to visit the Cotswolds.  And with a steam railway, falconry centre and much more besides, you might even run out of time to see everything during your stay.

But that just gives you another good reason to come back and see us again!

The Cotswolds are so beautiful and have so much on offer for you to do that it is quite possible for you to have a great holiday here even if the weather isn’t too good.

But as we all know it is so much better when we do get good weather here in the UK – and it seems as if we might be in for a wonderful summer.

Recent reports in the press seem to indicate that the Met Office believes we may finally get a really nice summer, instead of the bad weather that has dogged the last couple of years. While you can never be sure what it will be like on a week to week basis, this might just be the best time to actually book a holiday in the Cotswolds, instead of heading abroad to find good weather.

Since the Cotswolds is packed with stunning sights that are well worth seeing, you cannot fail to be impressed by the surroundings no matter what the weather might be doing. But there is no doubt that when the sun is out and everything looks so lush and green and bright during the summer months, the Cotswolds really comes into its own. You’ll be amazed by the colour and vitality that pours out of the many gardens in the area – both privately owned ones and those you can actually go and visit.

And of course the good weather does open up more possibilities for things to do. You can order a nice cool drink and sit outside at a local pub and watch the world go by, revelling in the quietness and relaxation that the Cotswolds is known for. Furthermore, what could be better than some al fresco dining? Whether you opt for a barbecue or a simple salad with fresh crusty bread, you really can appreciate the small things in life – or in this case the large expanse of the Cotswolds!

Another wonderful thing you will notice if you stay in one of our properties is that many of them come with a lot of outdoor space to enjoy. Take our Great Barn Cottage for example. This might sound as if it has a crisis of identity but it is in fact a fantastic barn conversion which makes just as much of the outdoor space as it does of the inside. The courtyard wraps around the property, giving you lots of space to stretch out in.

Jacob’s Cottage in Middle Barton is another prime spot to enjoy when the weather is good. It benefits from a nice sized garden out the back, and as you’ll see it is bathed in sunshine when we are blessed with good weather.

We’d love to say that the sun will shine no matter when you book your holiday, but of course we can’t quite go that far! But if the Met Office is right, we could well be on target for one of the nicest summers we have had in a while. And what better place to spend it than here?

Can You Have A Cheap Holiday In The Cotswolds?

With the recession in full swing, lots more people are reconsidering the idea of going abroad for their holidays this year.  The less than ideal exchange rates mean that it can actually be more beneficial to stay in the UK for your holiday.

And of course there are plenty of wonderful places you can visit when you stay in this country – including the Cotswolds.  But doesn’t this mean you still have to spend a lot of money on your UK holiday?

Actually no it doesn’t.  If you take the time to plan your holiday properly you might be surprised at how much money you can save.

Let’s start with accommodation for example.  If you take a look at our range of holiday cottages available all over the Cotswolds area, you will see that the prices range greatly between properties.  Prices depend on how many people the property can sleep, what time of year it is, and what the property itself is like generally.

For example, let’s take a look at two stunning properties in Ascott-under-Wychwood.  The first one is called Bailey’s Cottage, and the difference between staying in low season as compared to Christmas is over £300 per week.  This property sleeps six people at most.

The nearby Hedera Cottage only sleeps four, but there is still over £150 difference between staying at Christmas and staying at the low point of the year.  The thing to remember here is to consider whether you can move your holiday to take advantage of a better price.  There is always plenty to do in the Cotswolds no matter what time of year it is, so you will always enjoy a great break!

Of course it isn’t just your accommodation you can save money on.  There’s the food aspect as well.  If your budget is tight you don’t need to eat out every single night for example.  And when you are staying in one of our superb properties you will have everything you need to be able to cook wonderful meals to enjoy right there.  Why not buy some local produce to experiment with?

Another aspect worth thinking about is what type of holiday you want to go on.  For example, if a walking holiday appeals to you then you won’t need to worry about paying to visit lots of different locations.  Walking is always free, so you will have miles and miles of glorious countryside at your disposal.

Many people are surprised at just how much money they can save on a Cotswolds holiday if they are careful.  The key point is preparation; many people on a self catering holiday bring some supplies with them for example, so they don’t need to worry about shopping as soon as they arrive.  This can save money because you won’t be tempted to spend lots of money on that first holiday shopping trip!

So if you need a break but you want to keep it as cheap as possible, don’t discount the Cotswolds.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Cotswolds Holiday? Is it the rolling countryside, the pubs or the little villages just waiting to welcome you?

You probably think of all these things and many more besides. But there is a city nearby that is absolutely unmissable when you head out to the Cotswolds for a holiday – and that city is Bath.

Bath is a fairly compact town that is ideal for devoting a day or two to exploring. And since everything is pretty close together, you can get around quite happily on foot. It is situated on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, so it does make the ideal day trip to divide up all the time you will spend exploring the countryside!

As you would expect, there are several spots that you should definitely make sure you see while you are in the city. The first of these is the Royal Crescent. This was built over two hundred years ago, and features a sweeping curve of houses that are laid out in a semi circle. Apart from the road which runs around the front of the houses, there is a great expanse of lawn beyond that, which provides a wonderful spot to take some photos.

Of course the Roman Baths are perhaps the most famous and often visited location in the city. It is difficult not to walk around the baths without imagining how they must have been when the ancient Romans used them! Even though it isn’t possible to use the baths yourself, you can sit by the side of them and drink in the atmosphere.

There is also a range of statues and an impressive array of artefacts dating from the period when the Romans used the baths. It almost feels as if you are stepping back into history when you pay a visit here. Be sure to take your camera as you can get plenty of outstanding shots, especially of the main bath area.

Another activity you mustn’t miss out on is a river boat trip along the River Avon. These trips depart close to Pulteney Bridge, which is itself a superb subject for taking pictures of. Somewhat unusually, the bridge is actually a listed building, and quite rightly so as it is a stunning design when viewed from the south.

The weir is situated just in front of the south side of the bridge, and if you do take a boat trip you will start from here and go under the bridge itself. It’s a beautiful way to spend a lazy day on the river! And when you get to the other end you’ll see some great photo opportunities there as well.

As you can see, Bath really is a fantastic place to while away a day or two. And our Grosvenor Place apartment makes the perfect base for a short holiday if you want to stay a bit longer and explore the Cotswolds from a city base too.

Most people have a map in their car somewhere, but it certainly pays to make sure you have one that is up to date when you come to visit the Cotswolds.

But don’t discount the idea of using a map before you get here as well.  For starters you will be thinking about whereabouts you want to stay when you get here.  You’ll no doubt have noticed that our website gives you easy access to a Google map for every cottage and property we offer you.

Simply take a look at the details for the property you are interested in staying in.  Let’s take the beautiful Cotstone Cottage, for example.  Do you see the link a little way down the page which says ‘view map’?  If you click on that you will be taken directly into Google maps, where you will be able to see exactly where the property is situated.

In this case you can see that it isn’t too far from such delights as Bourton on the Water and Chipping Norton.  And it is virtually right on the doorstep of Shipton under Wychwood too, giving you plenty of easy to reach locations for your holiday.

But even though you can start with an online map, nothing beats having a real one.  And if you wait until you get here you will be able to buy local maps with more information about local sights and sounds on them.  Don’t forget that the local Tourist Information Offices are invaluable for finding out all about the location you are staying in, as well as the surrounding areas.

Another type of map you might want to invest in is the type that tells you where all the best walks are!  An Ordnance Survey map is essential if you are going to take any kind of walk on or off the beaten track, but you will often find that guidebooks also give you what you need.  Various walks are usually mapped out for you, along with pertinent information and all the details you need regarding essential stop offs and refreshment places along the way.

You might think that a regular map would be enough.  But it won’t show you where all the best places to visit are.  It can also pay dividends to buy a map designed and presented by local people – or at least those who have walked frequently in the area and have an idea of where all the best walks are.

The other type of map you will usually find is one that focuses just on a particular town or village.  You will generally find these on the back of leaflets and booklets to be found in the relevant places.  They will show you where all the local attractions are, not to mention how to get to them and what distances are involved.

So you see the map is really your best friend when you come to visit us here in the Cotswolds.  No matter where you are headed, you can expect to get there more easily when you are properly armed!