Cotswolds Information & Tourism Guide

The Wye Valley is packed with plenty of things to see and do at any time of the year.  But around Easter time you will find lots to look for in Caldicot Castle, which forms one of the jewels in the Wye Valley crown.  Even though Easter is imminent the events at Caldicot Castle continue right through April, so there is every chance to go hunting for Easter bunnies yourself if you wish!

The castle itself is at the southern end of the Wye Valley, and you will find plenty of Wye Valley accommodation along the length of the valley if you wish to stay nearby for a few days.  There is certainly a lot to explore here and one or two days simply isn’t enough to see it all.

So what does the Easter event have in store?

It is dedicated to the kids of course, but it provides plenty of fun for the whole family to enjoy.  You will see lots of opportunities to find Easter bunnies as they will be hidden all round the grounds and the towers of the castle itself.  What better way could there be to see what the castle has to offer and to start exploring its long history?

The event itself is a wonderful idea and a chance for the adults to wander around the castle while the children have something altogether different to look at and enjoy.  The castle itself goes back to Norman times, and while it used to be a stronghold it developed into a wonderful family home in Victorian times.  You can explore its long history as you wander around the acres of grounds and the country park which also surrounds it.

There is a gift shop and a tea room available too, so when you need to sit down and the kids have found all the Easter bunnies you can enjoy a refreshing break before exploring some more.

You can follow the A48 down from Lydney if you wish, or alternatively the M4 and M48 are close by as well.  Look for the B4245 and you will see signposts for Caldicot Castle from there.  And there is no need to be up really early either since the castle doesn’t open until 10am.  It is worth getting there on time though because it only stays open until 4pm each day.  You will need the full six hours if you want to find all the bunnies, enjoy a nice lunch (whether a picnic or something you buy in the tea rooms) and explore the grounds as well.

Caldicot Castle is also reputed to be haunted by several different people and figures.  So if you have the nerve perhaps you should keep one eye on those Easter bunnies and the other one over your shoulder – just in case you should come into contact with one of the castle’s older members!

The April long Easter event is well worth visiting Caldicot Castle for, so make plans to visit now.

There is arguably nothing better than hunting down Easter eggs to be enjoyed and eaten by the kids in the family – and probably the adults too if we are honest!

While it is nice to arrange an Easter egg hunt at home, it isn’t always ideal trying to do it in your own garden.  Unless you are lucky enough to have a large garden you might struggle to find hiding places for all those eggs.

Not to worry though – there are enough Easter egg hunts going on around the country for you to treat the family to a day out, particularly in the Cotswolds region.  And where better to go than Blenheim Palace?  You could even turn it into a UK weekend break and stay for a couple of nights in your choice of Cotswolds accommodation nearby if you wish.

This year will mark the eighth year in a row that Blenheim Palace has arranged an Easter egg hunt for everyone to take part in.  It certainly looks to be a popular event and the fun stretches right over the Easter weekend too.  It starts on Good Friday and finishes on Easter Monday, so whatever you have planned for this Easter, make sure you spare a day to visit Blenheim Palace to join in all the annual fun.

But you don’t just get an Easter egg hunt – not at Blenheim Palace.  The event itself is called The Hare Brained Easter Egg Hunt – nice name isn’t it?  And as you might expect from the name, it is themed around the tortoise and the hare.  The Pleasure Gardens at the Palace will be set up to appeal to all the egg hunters who will be attending.  There will be lots of clues and plenty of eggcitement to indulge in as well.

The great thing about this event is that it gives the adults a chance to relax and appreciate the stunning surroundings that Blenheim Palace offers.  This is a Palace filled with history and as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, arguably one of the most famous and revered Prime Ministers ever.  So there is plenty to enjoy here for everyone.

There is also an Easter display to look forward to, plus there will be face painting, egg decorating and plenty more besides.  You should certainly allocate the whole day to the event, whatever else you might be doing in the Cotswolds over the Easter break.

Blenheim itself is easy enough to find as well.  It can be found in Woodstock, just off the A44.  Other well known Cotswolds haunts including Chipping Norton, Bicester and Banbury are not far away, so you can see there is any number of English country cottages worth staying in nearby.

Whatever else you do this Easter, make a trip to Blenheim Palace the highlight of your weekend.  With chocolate, eggs, bunnies, painting and plenty of fun for the whole family, you can see that it is the best way to keep everyone amused – especially the kids.

Generally finding an ideal place to visit for a short holiday can be very difficult if you do not know what is out there. Stratford Upon Avon is well known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, filled with culture and literalism that will numb your senses with pleasure. But simply knowing this is not enough, there are quite a number of beautiful treats that await you if you consider this as one of your holiday destinations.

This country is set in the backdrop of a rural countryside of Warwickshire and on the banks of the river Avon, hence the name Stratford Upon Avon. So romantic is this town that it has become ideal for weddings, reunions as well as the peculiar and absurd celebration of the Shakespearean heritage which is filled with a literary tide that could even sweep Hercules off his feet with a single breath.

There are a number of attractions you can behold the moment you step into its streets. To start with there is Falstaff Experience. Falstaff is a museum that takes you through the history of the town, Shakespeares works as well as the greater British heritage as it has been passed down through the ages. It offers an educational experience like no other, and it is fun at the same time.

The Holy Trinity Church grounds are the resting places for both William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. As unbelievable as it might seem this is very true and if you are an ardent reader of Shakespeares works this will provide a rich introspection into the life of the literary man himself. The courtyard is splendid with an outdoor experience that is fitting to be a detachment that fell from Heaven.

The river Avon is perhaps one of the best treats of all. During the brief summer months this river and its waterside is livened up in a frenzy of activity. Races are held during this time during which canoes and boats of different shapes and sizes speed down its trail. In addition to this you can also enjoy a leisurely ride down the river in speed boats, canoes, crafts and dinner cruises.

After you are done exploring the many delights of this small town you can then relax to a meal in one of many eating out places. There are quite a number of restaurants, coffee shops and pubs to satisfy your building urge to eat. There is the Riverside Hotel set just close to the river Avon, The College Arms, Bernadettes that specializes in fish. Bensons Restaurant and The Bantam are coffee shops and The Golden Cross is a pub of great fascination.

Accommodation is not an issue at all. We have a beautiful range of Stratford upon Avon Cottages for you to enjoy your break away.

Transport links are well developed with rail, road and air transport servicing this incredible town. I mean, what more can you ask for from such a small town.

Now that the dreadful winter seems to be completely behind us, there has never been a better time to visit Bath.  The daffodils and crocuses are finally making an appearance, and with Easter not far away everyone is itching to get out and about to enjoy the better weather.  March seems to be a good month that has plenty going on too.  This is ideal for anyone wanting to take a short UK weekend break or UK holiday in the area.

The Theatre Royal in Bath can always be relied upon to provide some wonderful entertainment for anyone wanting to see a show while they are staying nearby.  With lots of Bath accommodation available you can stay in the city and not have too far to go once the show is over.

This month sees a superb show based around the life of Spike Milligan too.  Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler – My Part in his Downfall is taking to the stage on Monday 22^nd March and playing all week.  It closes on Saturday 27^th March and if you want to see the genius that Spike was always known for, you should be quick to book tickets for the show.  It is expected to be extremely popular as Spike always was himself, and it has managed to achieve the amazing feat of pleasing and delighting both the audience and the critics.  That is the power Spike still has even though he is no longer with us.

You can book tickets for the show online, and the sooner you do so the more chance you have of securing them.  The Theatre Royal Bath has its own website so you will easily be able to find it and make your booking.  Why not book some Bath accommodation while you are at it?  There is nothing better than turning a night out at the theatre into something even better.  A weekend away in Bath is a popular choice among people up and down the country.

The seats are available at various prices depending on what day you go, so bear this in mind when deciding which show to see.  As is typical in the theatre you will also have the option of watching a matinee afternoon performance on Wednesday and Saturday.  Consider what else you want to do in Bath and then try and book the best seats for the best performance for you.

The show starts at half past seven from Monday through to Wednesday, with a slightly later start of 8pm on the remaining days.  The matinee is at the usual time of 2.30pm.  The theatre itself is only a few minutes walk from the famous Pulteney Bridge and the Roman Baths, so as you can see it is right in the thick of the best that Bath has to offer.

And even if Spike doesn’t quite appeal to you or you are too late for tickets, you can still look and see what else this stunning theatre has on offer while you are in town.

If you were looking for an excuse to visit Bath in the near future, you will probably have one now it has won two awards in the Google Street View Awards.

Most people are aware of how delightful Bath is, and there are plenty of Bath accommodations and places to stay in for a UK weekend break, no matter what time of year you go.  But these awards have confirmed our love of the city, so let’s find out why it was voted among the most popular spots in the UK.

Britain’s Best Fashion Street turned out to be Milsom Street in Bath.  The street runs parallel to Broad Street and St Michael’s Church, and it leads off George Street at its northern end as well.  You will find it just five minutes away from Pulteney Bridge, via Northgate Street and New Bond Street.

Milsom Street has won for its unique mix of shops and the fact that it offers a superb shopping experience for everyone who goes there.  There are large familiar shops here as well as smaller ones that cater for a different kind of customer.  You’ll love every minute of it on your UK weekend break to Bath, no matter what else you might do while you are here.

Britain’s Most Picturesque Street was one of the other awards being fought out in the Google Street View Awards recently.  And Bath did well here too.  It gained second place, losing out only to the famous Shambles in York.

But which Bath landmark came second?  It was the Royal Crescent, which people all over the UK love and think of as one of the prettiest locations in the country.  There are thirty houses here in all, and it is the design of them and the semi circular layout which really catches the eye.  There is no doubt it has rightfully earned its second place in the awards.

This gives you two great reasons to visit Bath in the near future.  And unlike many of the events we feature in this section of our site, you can visit whenever you like to see the two winning streets in Bath on this occasion.  The Royal Crescent has been around since the late 1700s and it isn’t going anywhere in the near future.  Milsom Street is also always open for business, so if you fancy a UK shopping weekend in Bath, you know you are heading for an award winning street.

Check out the various Bath accommodation nearby and book into a hotel or self catering venue that suits your budget.  Self catering offers the most freedom and the ability to do whatever you want, when you want to do it.  So you can enjoy a stroll round the Royal Crescent before you head for the shopping experience in Milsom Street.  Then you can return your shopping bags to your room before exploring the rest of Bath in all its award winning glory.

If you happen to be anywhere near the Forest of Dean on the big day when it arrives on the 14^th March, you might want to consider visiting Abbey Mill.

The Mill is famous in the area and beyond for its delightful and mouth watering carvery meal.  And on the 14^th March you can treat your mum to this three course meal for just £12.99 per head.  They will also include a gift for your mum on the day, so you can see that this really is stunning value.

And of course you will also have the chance to enjoy everything else that Abbey Mill has to offer while you are there.  A short weekend break in the area if you have the time could be just what you need to escape for a couple of days.

The old mill itself is now home to five separate shops, all offering a very different browsing experience for those who are visiting.  The Cider Barn Coffee House and Restaurant are both well worth visiting, and of course you will enjoy your Mother’s Day meal there if you book in advance and get a table.  But you might also be tempted to taste the Mill Wheel teacake, which is one of their specialities.  So whatever you eat for your three course meal, save some room to take some of their teacakes home with you if you can.

Abbey Mill can be found in the village of Tintern, just over the border into Wales.  It is located just off the A466 and is also very close to the Old Rectory.  You will find Tintern Abbey on the other side of the River Wye.  The abbey is now a ruin but you can still visit it as a lot of it does remain standing.  It makes an awe inspiring and stunning addition to anything else you find to do on Mother’s Day.

This wonderful location means you have plenty more to look forward to than simply a visit to a stunning Welsh village for the day.  You can also spend your weekend break exploring the many other local attractions, and simply soaking up the relaxing atmosphere.

You might also want to go back home as the proud owner of a love spoon once you have visited Abbey Mill itself.  This is a Welsh tradition and one of the shops at the Mill has a wide range of them available for sale.

This is also a good place to visit if you have the taste for various arts and crafts.  Local people are able to sell the various things they make in the Angiddy Room at the Mill, so you can browse their wares here and perhaps think about buying something to take back home with you.

No matter where you might be on the 14^th March, if you are within striking distance of the Abbey Mill it is well worth a visit even if you don’t book the Mother’s Day lunch.  But there is no doubt this is the highlight of the day.