Cotswolds Information & Tourism Guide

If you are one of those people whose idea of heaven is strolling around a garden with the delicious scent of a thousand blossoms filling your senses, then the Cotswolds is the place to be.  It is not only those huge estates which are the cherry on the cake of many of Britain’s stately homes that are here to tempt you however.  Britain’s National Gardens Scheme is very much alive and well in the Cotswolds!

The gardens at Hidcote Manor near Chipping Campden in the north Cotswolds are some of the most beautiful in the whole of the country and are known all over the world.  Designed by Major Lawrence Johnston in the early part of the 20th century, this magnificent Arts and Crafts style garden began life more than 70 years ago and is divided up into individual ‘garden rooms’, each of which has its own unique character.  Densely planted areas with a profusion of colour link up with those which are more simply designed to create an atmosphere of calm and serenity.  Visit every season and you will get a completely different view of Major Johnston’s creation.

As you leave Hidcote Manor, you will find, just opposite, Kiftsgate Court Gardens which, although they date back to the 1920s, provide the visitor with a view of gardening throughout the 20th century.  From the rose garden, which has existed since the earlier days and is home to the 80 feet x 90 feet x 50 feet high Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’, claimed to be the largest rose in England, to the contemporary water garden, Kiftsgate offers something to suit all tastes.

The Painswick Rococo Garden, situated just outside the beautiful Cotswold town of the same name, is famed for its displays of snowdrops which can be seen during February.  Dating from the early 18th century, the garden is nestled in a hidden valley from where it affords magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.  Described as ‘sensual pleasure grounds for 18th century gentry’, the gardens contain a number of buildings and follies, such as the Pigeon House, the pretty pink-painted Eagle House and the Gothic Exedra.  The Red House on the estate is today used as a popular venue for civil wedding and partnership ceremonies.

The list of Cotswold gardens really could go on and on, so here are a few more that you might like to investigate:

• Barnsley House – Barnsley, near Bibury in Gloucestershire
• Sudeley Castle – between Broadway and Cheltenham
• Westbury Court – water gardens just 9 miles from Gloucester
• Miserdon Park – close to Cirencester, Cheltenham and Stroud
• Snowshill Manor – not far from Broadway

If you are not familiar with Britain’s National Gardens Scheme as mentioned earlier, this is a scheme whereby ordinary people open their private gardens to the public in an effort to raise money for charity.  As well as satisfying the ‘nosey parker’ element in all of us, the chance to visit these smaller gardens is a superb way to pick up ideas to take back home.  Whilst the grand estates make for a wonderful visit, it can sometimes be difficult to translate the ideas to a smaller scale.  Most of the gardens which take part in the scheme truly are exquisite, and being laid out around the beautiful Cotswolds cottages simply adds to their already enormous appeal.

Lying just to the east of the Cotswolds, Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is one of England’s two most famous university towns.  Only a short and extremely pleasant drive from your Cotswold cottage, it offers a superb day out for anybody with an interest in past times, and indeed attracts huge numbers of fascinated historians every year.

The buildings of Οxford University were, of course, made famous by the hugely successful television serial, Brideshead Revisited, which was based on the Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name.  Hertford, Wadham and Christ Church Colleges all featured in the making of the serial, although the university is in fact made up of 38 colleges in all.  University College, Balliol and Merton are the three oldest, all having been founded between 1263 and 1268, and represent magnificent examples of the architecture of the period.

It is possible to visit Oxford’s university colleges and, in some cases a small entrance fee will secure admission, whilst in others entrance is free of charge.  Hertford College is definitely worth finding the time to see, as it is here that the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ links the Old and New Quadrangles.  Hertford Bridge, to give it its true name, is popularly known as the Bridge of Sighs because of the resemblance that it supposedly bears to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, although it actually looks more like a miniature version of the Rialto Bridge.

As well as slipping back in time in the halls and corridors of the city’s seats of learning, visitors to Oxford can also take a tour of the wealth of museums and collections that the city has to offer.  Not only do these serve to entertain and educate visiting tourists, but they also act as an extremely valuable resource for students and scholars from all over the world.

The AshmoleanMuseum of Art and Archaeology, which houses over four thousand years’ worth of art and archaeological finds, is the oldest museum in the UK and was founded in 1683.  The University Museum of Natural History, meanwhile, is home to the largest number of specimens held by any but the national collections – 4.5 million in total.

Of the specialist collections, the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments is one of the most enthralling for anybody interested in music.  The collection is made up of more than 2,000 instruments from the renaissance up to modern times, more than a thousand of which are on display.

For the artists among you, the Christ Church Picture Gallery is a real treat.  With collections of no less than 300 paintings produced by the Grand Masters, and more than 2,000 drawings, it is one of the most important private collections in the country.  The works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Durer and Leonardo are all represented.

The Museum of the History of Science is a must for anyone with an interest in historic scientific instruments.  Whether your particular fascination lies in the sea or in space, this fine collection offers items from all around the world.

Whether you are crazy about carp, titillated by trout, rave about roach or have a passion for pike, the lakes and rivers of the Cotswolds are the places to indulge yourself in your greatest pleasure.  In the peace and tranquility of the glorious Cotswold countryside, you might even improve on your own personal record.

As any angler will know, the Thames and its tributaries offer some of the best trout and coarse fishing in the country.  From where the Thames rises, just north of the village of Kemble near Cirencester in the south of the Cotswolds, it begins its meandering journey southwards.  Although the stretches of water which run through central London might be better known generally, it is the quieter ones further north that are most beautiful, however, as well as being the ones which are the greatest draw for anglers from all over the country.

The River Coln, Bibury right at the heart of the Cotswolds is one of the best of the rivers which feeds the Thames, and offers superb fly fishing for both brown and rainbow trout, with grayling also being in abundance.  The River Churn is also an excellent location for fly fishing, whilst the Rivers Windrush and Cherwell are the places to go for coarse fishing.  The Windrush offers perch, roach, dace and chub, as well as trout and grayling, and the Cherwell is superb for pike, barbel, tench, bream and chub.

The rivers are not the only places to enjoy some great sport, however, and the Cotswolds is home to a good number of still water lakes stocked with carp, pike, roach, chub and many more varieties.  There are many commercial fisheries in the area, including those which have been developed from former gravel pits, such as those at the Cotswolds Water Park.

Carp anglers will be particularly interested in the four acre Whelford Pools, which are home to a large number of doubles and a good number of twenties, with the largest weighing in at around 29lbs.  The day ticket lake is actually made up of three stretches of water linked by two channels, and the two islands, gravel bars and reed beds, rushes and lily pads all add to the challenge of landing one of these beautiful specimens.  Whelford Pools is also a superb venue for coarse fishing, with pike up to the low twenties, tench up to 12lbs and bream up to 8lbs.

The syndicate lake, meanwhile, is stocked with around 120 carp weighing up to 34lbs.  If you are interested in joining, membership is only available for 25 anglers per year, so it might be worth getting your name on the waiting list.

Wildmoor Waters and Horseshoe Lake are two more great carp fishing venues, as is The Mill Pool, which is situated just outside the village of Painswick.  The Big Lake at Ivyhouse Lakes near Wootton Bassett is an ideal choice for match fishing and the Claydon Park Fishery near Lechlade offers pike and carp to over 30lbs, as well as some monster tench, bream roach and perch.

In terms of where to stay on your fishing trip, self-catering accommodation is usually a much more convenient option.  Apart from the issue of storing your tackle, staying in a holiday cottage means that you are free to come and go as you please and, of course, fish until late.  Hotels and Bed and Breakfast facilities also rarely offer the outdoor space needed for cleaning and preparing tackle.  With a variety of cottages and lodges to sleep between two and 12 people right within the Cotswolds Water Park itself, and some right on the shores of the lakes, Manor Cottages can make sure that your fishing holiday goes like a dream.

Stratford upon Avon, home of our beloved Shakespeare, is not just a town full of history.  It is vibrant little town with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty to see and do.  Whether you are simply looking for a weekend break and a change of scene, or are flying half way across the globe to visit the UK, you will not want to miss the opportunity to visit one of the country’s most famous towns.

Situated to the north of the Cotswolds and just off the M40 motorway which connects London and Birmingham, Stratford upon Avon is not only easily accessible by car, but by bus and train as well.  Staying in one of the holiday cottages right in the heart of the old town, or in neighbouring Weston upon Avon, will give you the chance to explore a huge number of world-famous sights, as well as taking in some of the local culture.

Henley Street, right in the centre of Stratford upon Avon, is where you will find the birthplace of writer and poet, William Shakespeare, but this is not the only building in and around the town which holds strong connections to the ‘Bard of Avon’.  Hall’s Croft, the 17th century home of Shakespeare’s eldest daughter and her husband, Dr John Hall, and Nash’s House, named after the first husband of Shakespeare’s granddaughter, are also located in the town itself, the latter being situated right next door to New Place, the site of William Shakespeare’s own former home.

A short drive away, in the village of Wilmcote, is where you will find the Tudor farm which was occupied by the Bard’s grandparents and his mother, Mary Arden.  Nearby Shottery, meanwhile, is the location of the beautiful thatched farmhouse which was the childhood home of his wife, Anne Hathaway.

For theatre lovers, an evening spent at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or the Swan Theatre provides the opportunity to watch some of the world’s greatest actors in action.  The Swan Theatre is built inside part of the ruins of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre which originally opened in 1879 but was largely destroyed by fire in 1926.

In between visits to these historical venues, you may like to visit Stratford’s Butterfly farm.  No matter what the weather is doing outside, you can stroll through this lush, tropical environment, which is home to hundreds of species of the world’s most magnificent and colourful butterflies.

Hatton Country World, in the nearby village of Hatton, incorporates a Farm Village and a Shopping Village and also makes for a wonderful day out.  Here you will find craft shops selling jewellery, hand-made toys and candles, and a wonderful traditional sweet shop where you can buy all your old favourites.  The Farm Village is ideal for children and adults alike and provides a real ‘hands-on’ experience.  Alongside all the normal breeds of farm animal, you can also see many rare breeds, as well as watching falconry displays and visiting the fabulous Guinea Pig Village.  There are so many activities, displays and events designed for the children that they could not possibly get bored.  If you go at the right time of year, you can even take on the challenge of the Maize Maze!

Whether strolling around antique shops or lazing around in boats is your kind of thing, you certainly will not be short of things to do during your stay in Stratford upon Avon.  Self-catering is an ideal option as it allows you the freedom to explore at your leisure, and with some superb town and country holiday cottages to choose from, you will instantly feel right at home.

Now hang on a minute – surely we have got our geography completely wrong there, haven’t we?

Actually we are perfectly correct.  The Thames might well run right through the middle of London, cutting the city into north and south, but it originates up here in the Cotswolds.  As such it is well worth planning a trip to see how the river starts life in this part of the country.

The best area to visit is a town called Cricklade.  This is right up at the start of the Thames, and it has plenty to offer to the visiting tourist in search of a different look at part of the Cotswolds.  There is also a place called South Cerney that is just north of Cricklade, and we have some wonderful properties in that area you could choose to stay in.

Orchard Cottage is a nice example that provides plenty of room for four people to stay in comfortably.  If you would prefer to stay in the nearby Cotswold Water Park, then we can offer more than one property in that region too.  And again you are nice and close to the beginnings of the Thames.  Try our lodges that are available very close to the lakes, at either The Reeds or The Moorings for example.

If you would rather stay nearby in a smaller property, you can also visit Little Atkyns in South Cerney.  This sleeps two very comfortably, and is the quintessential Cotswolds cottage!

Wherever you choose to stay in South Cerney, you aren’t far from the origins of the Thames.  And you will be pleased to hear that there are plenty of boat trips available to indulge in, that are rather different from the kind you would normally get in the middle of London!

The best place to go for boat hire is the Trout Inn.  This is located at Lechlade on Thames, which is the next town along on the river.  The cheapest option is to hire a rowing boat to explore the local part of the river.  But if you haven’t got the energy for rowing too far, they have small electric boats which do the job just as well.

And of course when you return it is good to know that there is a pub nearby – the famous Trout Inn itself – that can slake the thirst you will have built up from all that rowing!

It might seem strange to be able to go home and tell people you have seen the Thames in the Cotswolds.  Not everyone realises that this is where the river originates from.  But it certainly makes for a nice story, and there is nothing quite like a spot of boating on the river up here.  It is definitely far quieter than it would be if you went boating on the Thames down south!

There are lots of different places to explore in the Cotswolds when you are following the river, so be sure you don’t miss them.

As anyone who is a fan of steam railways will tell you, there is nothing quite like chugging along in a carriage pulled by an authentic steam engine.

Of course the days of steam engines are largely all but gone.  But here and there you can still enjoy a taste of the old days, and we’ve got that very experience available for anyone visiting the Cotswolds.

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has been going for twenty five years, and it makes a grand day out if you are coming to stay in the Cotswolds for a weekend or more.  The Festival of Steam takes place over the second May Bank Holiday weekend, and it is traditionally a great day out regardless of whether you are an ardent steam fan or not!

It certainly provides you with a different way to see part of the countryside that the Cotswolds is famous for.  There are just three stations that the trains visit, so you are better off going to one of the ends of the line and taking a return trip to the other end.  Toddington is at the north end of the line, and it travels through Winchcombe before finishing up at Cheltenham.

Of course we have plenty of holiday cottages dotted around these areas.  So wherever you decide to stay you shouldn’t be too far away from either of the terminuses.  And it is quite easy to park there too, so you can drive there without worrying about where you can leave the car while you are enjoying your steam journey!

This year has also been rather a special year for the railway.  This is because the Festival of Steam has a very special guest for the duration of the Festival itself.  If you have seen the Harry Potter films then you will know that the train which takes all the pupils to Hogwarts is a steam train.  And it is that very steam engine which is part of the Festival this year.  It may not take its passengers to the same places that it takes Harry and his friends, but there is no doubt it is still the highlight of the event.

It may be too late to visit in time for the 2009 Festival of Steam, but there is no reason why you can’t plan ahead and be here in time for next year’s event.  And even though you will miss the Hogwart’s Express itself, you can still enjoy a ride on the steam trains during much of the rest of the year.

The trains don’t run every single day, and they don’t operate at all during January or February.  The only exception is on New Year’s Day.  The times of operation can also vary depending on the month and day that you are visiting.  Your best bet is to check in advance of travelling to see when they are up and running.

There is no doubt that you will enjoy a ride on one of their steam trains though, so don’t miss out.

Most people are aware that the Cotswolds is filled with history.  Some of the cottages here date back several centuries, and if you are staying in one for your holiday you will certainly be able to enjoy how properties were made then.

But you might be interested to know that some of the area’s locations are somewhat older than others.  The best example of this is surely the Roman Villa in Chedworth.  As Roman villas go, this is said to be the biggest one that Britain has got, and it is definitely worth a visit.

Chedworth itself is nicely situated to the south east of Cheltenham.  If you are staying in one of our Cotswold Water Park properties in South Cerney, you will be directly south of the villa itself.  Bourton on the Water is also ideally situated, as is Stow on the Wold.  Both of these are a short distance to the north east of the villa.  Why not stay in the charmingly named Chilli Cottage in Bourton on the Water for example?  This would be perfect for a great holiday, as well as offering just a short distance to travel to see the Roman villa itself.

So what can you expect from this villa?  Well, in short you can get an idea of how people lived in centuries gone by.  It is uncertain as to how long ago the villa was first built, but it is generally agreed that by the year AD150 the villa was in everyday use.  That means you will be seeing a ‘property’ that the Romans used some eighteen hundred years ago!  It gives you some pause for thought, doesn’t it?

Of course what you will see when you visit are the remains of the villa, rather than the entire building as it was then.  But we should be grateful that there is anything to visit in Chedworth at all.  You see, the remains were only found by sheer chance back in 1864.  Apparently someone was trying to find a ferret and got more than they bargained for!

If you’re lucky you might see a recreation of what life would have been like back then in the villa.  But even if you wander round and take in the surroundings on your own, you will find that your mind tries to recreate what would have been happening.  Just imagine all the Roman feet that would have walked the same ground many years before you.

Some of the details are worth noting too.  For example, the mosaics that were carefully created and put together by the Romans are still there to be seen today.  They are protected to make sure they aren’t harmed or damaged by bad weather, but you can still get a good look at the Roman’s handiwork.

There are plenty of modern day sights to see in the Cotswolds.  But this one has to rank as one of the oldest ones of all.  Don’t miss it – it really is one of the major highlights of any holiday here.

It has been said that we could be in for a heat wave this coming summer.  That would certainly be good news if you are coming to the Cotswolds for your summer holiday here.

But do make sure you are ready for the temperatures if you do get lucky with the weather.  We all know what it’s like when you go on holiday.  You are so excited to get out and about and start exploring that it’s easy to forget to take some essential items with you.

As you will probably be aware there are lots of nice walks to take in and around the Cotswolds.  If you are planning a day out exploring a village or two, like Barton on the Heath or Bourton on the Water for example, it will be easy enough to stop for a bite to eat or a drink whenever you need one.  But if you are planning on going off the beaten track, you must be sure you have everything you need for your walk.

The most important thing you can take with you is a rucksack that is comfortable to wear.  Pick one that has padded shoulder straps; you will be glad of it if you are heading off on a hike for several miles!

But inside that rucksack you should make room for several items – not least of which should be a mobile phone.  You may not be able to get a signal in all parts of the route you are planning on taking, but it should still be an essential item.

Think about adding some plasters and spare socks in there as well.  You should always wear the best possible footwear you can for walking – don’t choose your long walk as the first time to break in a new pair of shoes, for example!  Spare socks will be nice if you happen to get your feet wet or you simply want to freshen up.  And as anyone who has had a blister or two will testify, those plasters can make all the difference between enjoying the walk back… or not.

If you are planning a picnic at the halfway point, make sure you take food that will keep easily and provide you with plenty of energy.  It sometimes happens that people are so overwhelmed with the lovely scenery that they want to take a much longer walk than they have ever attempted before.  If this sounds like something you might do, try and save it for the end of the week and build up to it by starting with shorter walks beforehand.

The Cotswolds are packed with rolling hills and stunning scenery wherever you look.  But those hills can be challenging, so start with a nice flat walk if you can.  Make sure you take plenty of fresh water and mark any points on the map you will take that you could visit for fresh supplies if needed.

All that is left then is to enjoy a walk that you know you are prepared for!

A Tranquil Setting To The West Of The Cotswolds

One of the great things about going on any holiday is that it gives you time to relax and just watch the world go by.  The Cotswolds are a fantastic place to do just that.  Whether you are sitting in a pub, enjoying a lazy afternoon with a picnic in some secluded spot or anything else, you’ll watch the world go by at a slower pace while you are staying here!

But of course there are plenty of other tranquil places and settings you can enjoy too.  One classic example is Gloucester Cathedral.  It is a wonderful place to go for a few hours during your stay, and as it is situated to the west of Cheltenham it isn’t that far to get there either.

Movie goers will certainly want to pay a visit since it is actually the real life version of Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the well known Harry Potter films.  As soon as you start wandering around the Cathedral you will no doubt recognise portions of it from the films.  But there is nothing quite as humbling as seeing this majestic and magnificent Cathedral in the flesh, so to speak – regardless of whether you are religious or not.

Needless to say the building has a long history – even longer than many other similar buildings.  Worship began here as far back as the year 678.  So as of 2009, one thousand three hundred and thirty one years have gone by since people first started using it!  That is an incredible length of time that really makes you think about the building in an entirely different way once you set foot inside it.  It is rare that you ever walk through a building that has so much history and so many events already witnessed within its walls.

Former king Edward II is buried here, and his tomb has recently been repaired.  It is also thought that the presence of Edward II’s tomb is what steered the infamous Henry VIII away from meddling with the Cathedral back in the 1500′s.  That should give you a further idea of the history and people who have been involved with this building throughout its long life.  And it is still standing to welcome in many new people every single year in our modern times.

The best thing about visiting is that everyone is welcome.  It doesn’t matter if you want to drop by to marvel at the stained glass, or you would like to experience one of the many services that happen here.  You will be welcomed just the same and it can turn out to be one of the nicest, most tranquil and insightful visits of your entire holiday in the Cotswolds.

And of course the local area is lovely for you to visit too!  Make sure you make a whole day of it, no matter where in the Cotswolds you might actually be staying.  You will be glad you did.