Attractions

Top 5 Things to Do With Children in Half Term

It only seems like five minutes have gone by since the kids went back to school after Christmas. But here we are again, the children are going to be with us and as is often the case the question gets asked: ‘What can we do in the Cotswolds with our children?’ The team here in the office are being regularly asked the this question with half term closing in so here are a few suggestions and ideas of where to take the kids to keep them entertained for the break.

Clearly I am a little biased (can you blame me!) but luckily there are plenty of things you can do in and around the Cotswolds this coming half term. Check out the following list of five suggestions and maybe one or two of them will be worth exploring. If you haven’t yet booked a cottage, then we can help, a last minute break in a Cotswold cottage is something we can recommend…for the week or a long weekend – you decide. Please check out our Special Offers for some great deals.

The Model Village in Bourton on the Water

Bourton is a great place to visit anytime of the year, with or without kids. But if you do have the kids with you make sure you see the model village. It is an accurately built replica of Bourton itself, so if you see it first you’ll get to know where everything is!

Visit Birdland

Kids of all ages will love Birdland. You can see the penguins, go on a nature walk and even head into the Desert House to see birds that commonly live in desert areas. It’s a wonderful learning experience for the whole family.

Visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park

If you see the birds at Birdland and your kids get a taste for nature, take them to the Cotswold Wildlife Park too. Meerkats, penguins and rhinos are just three of the animals you can look forward to seeing here.

Explore the Prinknash Bird and Deer Park

Look for the town of Painswick in the Cotswolds and you won’t be far away from this charming place. Not only will the kids be able to pet the deer, they might also be lucky enough to see peacocks displaying their feathers.

The Toy and Collectors Museum

This one is for kids of all ages! If your kids think electronic toys and games are the only thing they could imagine playing with, take them back in time at this fascinating museum. You might just spot a few things you remember from your own childhood too.

Of course this provides just a snapshot of the many things you can do in the Cotswolds. There are countless other activities and destinations to look for in this area, regardless of whether you are staying for a few days in one of the Cotswolds cottages or not. There is plenty to do here for the day as well, and regardless of the age of your children you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to keeping them happy.

Given that the forecast is set to be a little chilly, it’s wise to wrap up, wherever you decide to go. But there are some nice spots to visit with indoor activities as well, so you can see just how easy it is to keep everyone happy this half term. The only problem you have is whittling down the decision making to pick just one ideal spot.

See you next week hopefully!

Visit Castle Combe to See the Locations Used in “War Horse”

On Friday 13^th January Steven Spielberg’s new movie, “War Horse”, debuted in British cinemas. But the story of its filming goes back way further, and it can be traced to Castle Combe, one of the dynamic locations you can visit if you come to see the Cotswolds.

This is not the first time that Castle Combe, located to the north west of Wiltshire, has been used in a film. It has also been the location chosen for the filming of “The Wolfman” and “Stardust”, although it looks as though the village will benefit from fresh interest in Mr Spielberg’s new movie.

The film is set around the time of World War I, so the village was transformed to allow for actors to dress appropriately for the times. The preparation for the filming took approximately one week, after which there was another week set aside for the filming itself. Residents had the exciting experience of watching the filming take place, sometimes right outside their front doors.

Ironically enough the section of the film that Castle Combe was chosen for showed a village in Devon. But even villages in that part of the country were not deemed to be good enough or appropriate enough to take on this important role. Instead Castle Combe was selected to be the place where part of the film was set.

“War Horse” is based on a children’s book, but you may also be aware that it was turned into a successful theatre production a few years ago. Now fans of the story and the film will be able to come to the Cotswolds to see where it was filmed. It is hoped that the village will benefit from this extra association with a newsworthy topic, so that it can bring in even more visitors over the coming weeks and months.

There are only a few hundred people living in this charming village, and it provides a superb choice for anyone looking to stay in an authentic Cotswolds cottage for a few days. The buildings along Main Street – where the filming took place – are quite stunning and if you head up this street you will be able to see the old market cross at the end. The cross itself can also be spotted in the movie, dressed with a call to arms to encourage locals to sign up and support the war effort.

It would be fair enough to expect the tourist industry in and around Castle Combe to receive a boost during 2012 and beyond, thanks to the appearance of the village in “War Horse”. So if you are keen to see the movie location for yourself, make sure you book a cottage in the Cotswolds now to get a prime spot to enjoy Castle Combe and the surrounding location. There has never been a better time to soak up centuries of history and attractive sights nearby. When will you make your booking to see it?

Cotswolds Information & Tourism Guide

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Top 5 Things to Do With Children in Half Term

Visit Castle Combe to See the Locations Used in “War Horse”

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