Bath Accommodation and Where to Visit

Bath has to be one of the best places to visit on a day trip, but if you are staying nearby for the week – in one of our holiday cottages perhaps – you will find plenty to do on a prolonged stay as well.

But let’s face it, the one thing everyone wants to do on their Bath self catering holiday is to relax.  So where can you go and what can you do in Bath that serves this purpose?  Let’s take a look.

Wander round the Roman Baths

You may not be able to dip a toe in the waters, but it is still very peaceful to sit beside them and imagine what must have been going on here hundreds of years ago.

Make the most of this World Heritage Site and explore where the water comes from as well as how it ends up in the baths themselves.   This is a great ‘real life history’ trip for kids to enjoy as well as adults!

Visit the Thermae Bath Spa

Everyone knows about the Roman Baths, but did you know you can actually try out a bath spa for real too?

You can enjoy two or four hours relaxing at the spa, and you can even spend it all in the mineral filled Minerva Bath if you wish.  Why not see the Roman Baths first and then visit the Thermae Bath Spa before returning to your holiday cottage in Bath to relax for the rest of the evening too?

Take a boat trip down the River Avon

Pulteney Weir is one of the most famous sights in Bath, and you can take your seat on a pleasure boat leaving from here and travelling along the River Avon.

It’s a great excuse to just sit back and relax while you take in your surroundings.  And don’t forget your camera – there are plenty of photo opportunities!

See Bath from the air

Fancy trying to spot your Bath accommodation from the air?  If you do, why not book a hot air balloon flight taking off from Bath?

There is no better way to see Bath than this – it’s all laid out below you, and you can see a lot more besides.

Explore Prior Park Landscape Garden

Not everyone knows about this wonderful place to go to escape from the hustle and bustle.  It’s just on the outskirts of Bath, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a packed lunch with your partner or family.  Don’t miss out on seeing the Palladian bridge!

There we have it – five top activities that shouldn’t wear you out too much.  After all, the whole point of a holiday is to enjoy yourself and relax.  And we’ve got plenty of English country cottages you can head back to in the evenings to do just that as well.

You can book Bath self catering accommodation nearby, so you won’t be too far from all the action – if indeed action is the right word to use!

Shakespeare’s properties in Stratford Upon Avon

Everyone knows the most famous person to have lived in Stratford upon Avon.  Today, the market town regularly attracts millions of people a year, as they flock to see where William Shakespeare lived.

If you have never been to the town yourself, there is no better time than right now!  Manor Cottages can make sure you have a wonderful stay in Stratford upon Avon accommodation – and we’ll even give you a head start on where to go!

There are several properties in the town which have distinct links with Shakespeare himself.  Lots of people make sure they visit all of them, so let’s take a look at them now.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

This is quite a big property for Shakespeare’s time, and it can be found on Henley Street.  There is no front garden, and it can be quite strange finding the building – ancient looking as it is, from the 16^th century – sitting in the same street as many modern shops!  Well worth a look, though.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Even if you are only in Stratford upon Avon for a weekend break, make doubly sure you visit this property.  It is quite stunning – a truly picture postcard affair.

This is where Anne Hathaway lived before she married Stratford upon Avon’s most famous playwright.  When you arrive you will get a guided tour to the property which truly is fascinating – they will reveal what life was really like back in the 16^th century.  You’ll be glad you have a modern day cottage to stay in during your own holiday here!

Hall’s Croft

The playwright’s eldest daughter lived here.  Since she married a doctor you’ll be able to find out more about medicine back in that time during your visit.  And when you have finished, pop along the road to Holy Trinity Church.  You will be able to see the grave of Shakespeare himself.

New Place

You will see this referred to as Nash’s House as well on occasion, but in fact the two are separate from each other.  New Place was where Shakespeare retired to, but unfortunately it is no longer there.  Only the foundations remain.

If you find Nash’s House however, you can gain access to what remains of New Place.  Both are well worth seeing.

Mary Arden’s House

This is the last of the Shakespeare properties you can see.  You might say that this is where it all began, because this is the house that Mary Arden originally lived in.  She was the mother of the boy who would grow up to become this country’s greatest playwright.

She then moved to Henley Street where she gave birth to him, and the rest really is history.

It is well worth making time to see all the properties if you can, but if you only have time to see a couple, make sure you visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s Birthplace.  These are extremely popular and make the ideal day out when you are spending a weekend break in the area

Getting active on a Cotswold Holiday

When you plan active holidays in the UK and you want to go somewhere like the Cotswolds, you can be sure that you will find plenty of things to do there.

No matter where in the Cotswolds you want to stay, you can get up and out nice and early and enjoy everything the countryside has to offer.  There are lots of cottages in the Cotswolds that put you right on the doorstep to activities you’ll love to get involved in.

And here is just a taster of some of the things you could be doing.

Go on a walk

This has to be the best way to explore some of the Cotswolds villages.  Start off from the village that your own Cotswolds holiday cottage is in, and use a map to get you to the next one.

You can buy lots of walking guides that will take you on circular routes, ensuring you see the best of the Cotswolds along the way.

Take a bike ride

If you want to cover more ground without having to carry too much on your back, saddle up and pack your lunch into a bike basket!

You can hire a bike or even take one with you if you have a bike rack, but you can cycle easily for miles from village to village.  Try pedalling from Bourton on the Water to Cold Aston for example, or North Cerney Downs to Bibury.  There are lots of alternatives depending on how fit you are, so why not give it a go?

Try llama trekking

Yes it’s possible – and it’s one of those things you might never do otherwise!  Walking and cycling generally uses roads and paths, but llama trekking gives you the opportunity to get off the beaten track and use bridleways to get from A to B.

Attempt fly fishing

Just imagine sitting by the side of a peaceful lake somewhere in the Cotswolds, waiting for something to snap at your line.  That’s the beauty of fly fishing, and there are plenty of spots to try your hand at it.  This is an ideal activity for a long weekend break in the area.

Explore the Cotswolds Water Park

This has so much to offer, you won’t get bored!  And since Manor Cottages has holiday properties in the park itself, you won’t have to venture far to get involved either.

The advantage of staying in the water park is that there are plenty of water sports you can try your hand at.  Canoeing, kayaking and sailing are just three of the many things you can attempt.  You’ll probably be glad to get back to your Cotswolds holiday accommodation at the end of a hard day’s exercise!

While the Cotswolds is known for being a relaxing and peaceful area, you don’t have to spend your whole UK holiday doing nothing.  In fact you can make it as active as you like – and with that in mind, why not try some of the suggestions above?

English Country cottages – The Forest Of Dean

The Forest of Dean is continually voted as one of the most attractive places in the whole of the UK.  It’s not surprising then that so many people decide to choose this as the place to go on holiday each year.

What’s more, Forest of Dean self catering accommodation gives you total freedom to go wherever you want to and return back to your accommodation whenever you like.  What better way to find the freedom to explore this stunning area?

There are lots of villages you should add to your list of places to see too, and here are five of them.

Parkend

You can find the Dean Forest Railway in Parkend, which is truly a sleepy little village in the area, just north of Lydney.  This is no ordinary railway though – it’s a steam railway that makes Parkend well worth a visit.

Enjoy steaming through the nearby countryside on your weekend break or holiday to the Forest of Dean!

St Briavels

If you opt for a weekend break somewhere near St Briavels, you might not want to leave this stunning village at all!

It is very picturesque and affords great views across the Wye Valley.  Don’t miss St Briavel’s Castle; it has enjoyed a multi-purpose history since it was built way back in 1131.

Clearwell

If your idea of a UK holiday is staying in or near a historic village, then Clearwell certainly fits the bill.

Clearwell has been around since Roman times, and you’ll find plenty to delight in just by wandering round and taking in your surroundings.  Perhaps the most notable sight in Clearwell is Clearwell Castle.  Even though it is used for weddings nowadays, you can still take a look from outside – it is a very majestic and imposing looking building.

English Bicknor

This somewhat unusually named village has roots going back to around 1066!  Look for the remains of a Norman castle not far from the church in English Bicknor – they provide something of an insight into centuries that have long since passed.  You won’t see the castle itself, but there are enough remnants to show you where it used to stand.

Kempley

If you want to fill your UK holiday in the Forest of Dean with countryside and get away from it all, make sure the village of Kempley is on your list.

It has a tiny population and you’ve got the peaceful Dymock wood nearby to wander in during the day.  Make sure you pay a visit to St Mary’s church as well; it’s been in Kempley for centuries.

As you can see, there are plenty of charming villages dotted all over the Forest of Dean.  And of course, Forest of Dean self catering accommodation is available in plenty of locations too.  Why not book with Manor Cottages now and make sure you see the best of this area during your stay?

If you like to relax and explore the countryside during your UK holiday, you can’t do much better than to visit this beautiful area of the country.

It’s always nice to explore the modern side of the Cotswolds.  But at the same time the curious side of us wants to know what the villages and towns were like in time gone by.

Luckily there are plenty of museums in the Cotswolds that help to give us a picture of how things used to be.  As such, why not make some time on your Cotswolds holiday to visit a museum or two?  We’ve listed five of the best below, so you’ve got a good head start before you even go!

Chipping Norton Museum

As the name would suggest, this gives you an insight into the past of this particular town.  There are plenty of exhibits and it reveals information and knowledge going back as far as the Saxon times.

Not the biggest museum you will have visited, but it is still a great way to while away an hour or two.

Cotswold Motoring Museum

It seems as if most people visiting the Cotswolds want to visit Bourton on the Water, as it is one of the prettiest villages in the region.  It is also the home of the Cotswolds Motoring Museum, which has a fantastic range of cars and caravans that will take you back a few years!  It’s a great time for all the family.

The kids will enjoy it too, because it has an extensive range of toys from yesteryear on display as well.  They might find it a shock to see how much things have changed!

Cricklade Museum

Not far from South Cerney, this museum is small but well packed with local history.  Some centuries are better represented than others but nonetheless there are thousands of artefacts to browse through here.

Winchcombe Railway Museum and Gardens

You may have heard of the steam railway that runs between Cheltenham and Toddington.  But you can get off the train at Winchcombe if you wish and explore the museum.

This is chock full of ticket machines, signs and maps from times gone by, and it is a real cornucopia of items for anyone who loves railways.  The gardens are also well worth a look, and they provide a nice contrast to the museum itself.

Corinium Museum

Finally this gem of a museum will give you an insight into the Cotswolds as a whole.  Located in Cirencester, you will find plenty of items that have been found in the area and hark back many years – indeed, many centuries.

But the Cotswolds as a whole are also explored, and you will find that a few hours here will give you a better idea of how the Cotswolds has developed over the years.

Of course, there are other museums you can visit in the Cotswolds, depending on where your Cotswolds holiday accommodation is situated.  Museums can sometimes have a bad reputation, but you can learn a lot about the place you are staying in by spending an hour or two exploring one.  Why not add it to your list of things to do when you visit the Cotswolds this year?

We all love to take home a souvenir or two from our holidays, and Cotswolds holidays are no different.  Whether your preference is for paintings, pottery or pieces of antique furniture, your base in one of Manor Cottages’ delightful Cotswolds cottages could not provide you with better access to some of the region’s finest examples.

With names such as William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, linked to the Cotswolds, and an Arts and Crafts heritage which goes back to the late 19th century, it is small wonder that there are so many fine examples of local arts and crafts to be had in the local villages and towns. Stroud, for example, has built up a reputation for being the ‘in’ place for writers, poets, artists and craftsmen and women.

The 1880s, the time when the American illustrator and painter Francis Millet first visited and fell in love with the village of Broadway, saw the ‘founding’ of the Broadway Colony, a group of American artists who settled and worked in the town.  Known as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ and a favourite retreat of William Morris himself, this idyllic town is where you will now find some of the finest art galleries in the country, but be warned, if you are thinking of choosing a piece to take home, take your cheque book.  The works that you will see on display are not churned out for the tourists, but are high quality paintings which fetch a lot of money.

Such is the standing of Broadway, that it is soon to be showcased as a top destination for the arts, when the first of a series of biennial arts festivals begins in June 2010.  The first festival is to be dedicated to the work of artist John Singer Sargent and his famous painting Carnations, Lily, Lily Rose.

To this day, painters, artists and sculptors are drawn to this part of the world.  Leading Cotswolds water colourist, Peter Hodges, for example, whose work concentrates on Cotswolds landscapes, is based in Evesham, whilst sculptor, Tom Harvey, whose work can be seen in parks in the region, lives in Tewkesbury.  Whilst these particular examples of his work might be a little large to take home, they are certainly worth a visit.

If it is antiques that you are looking for, then Stow-on-the-Wold is the place to go, particularly for antique furniture.  Antique shops dominate this lovely little market town and indeed the choice available could easily rival many antiques centres in the country.  Of course, Stow is not the only Cotswold town or village to sell antiques, and most will provide you with at least a few to choose from.  The historic, and rather upper class town of Tetbury, for example, has an excellent range of shops.

As you travel around the area, you will come across many craft shops, studios and markets where you can watch the craftsmen and women at work, or simply browse for a souvenir or that special gift for somebody back home.