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Welcome to the Cotswolds
It’s one of those places that stays with you, no matter how long—or how short—a time you spend here. You could spend a lifetime exploring its charm. Stretching across nearly 800 square miles and five counties—Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire—it’s big, beautiful, and brimming with character.
There's the defining Cotswold features: honey-coloured limestone, villages that look like they belong in a storybook, and rolling hills, the ‘wolds’. The deeper into the countryside you go, the quainter and more picturesque the villages become—each one like a little hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
But there’s more to this place than just its beauty. It’s packed with history, too. The wool trade once made this area incredibly wealthy, and you can still see the evidence today in the magnificent old churches (known as ‘wool churches') and water mills that give us a glimpse into this region's thriving past. The Cotswolds feels like it's frozen in time; untouched by modern architecture or the hustle of big cities. It's quintessential English countryside.
And let’s not forget the quirks. The Cotswolds is full of odd traditions and eccentric locals that add to its charm. This is the kind of place where you can stumble upon something unexpected; a cheese rolling competition, woolsack racing, or a streetname that makes you stop and smile. It has a personality all of its own and it wears it proudly.
Today will give you a little flavour of the region, led by your friendly driver-guide who will be on hand to support and inspire you. Our day of exploration will see us stop at four stunning towns and villages, Burford (The Gateway to the Cotswolds), Bibury (The Prettiest Village in England), Bourton-on-the-Water (The Venice of the Cotswolds) and Stow-on-the-Wold (An Ancient Market Town). Every little detail: from the stops, time spent in each, and the backroads explored, has been carefully considered for you to get the most of your day.
Appreciate the beauty around you, look for stories hidden in plain sight, and embrace the moments of magic that come your way.
Here's some of our favourite places for food & drink:
Burford
Lynwood Cafe (tea, coffee & breakfast)
Bibury
The Swan Hotel (old coaching inn, hotel & bar)
Trout Farm Cafe (tea & coffee)
Bourton-on-the-Water (lunch)
We'll be having lunch at our third stop today.
Take a stroll along the river, browse the independent shops and have a traditional countryside lunch in a cosy pub or cafe.
Our top tip on a pleasant day is to get a takeaway so that you have more time to explore:
1) The Den (baguettes and jacket potatoes)
2) The Chip Shed (fish & chips)
If you'd prefer to eat inside:
3) The Dial House (traditional Sunday roast)
4) The Duke of Wellington (pub food)
5) Smiths (burgers)
We recommend eating first and checking how long the food wait is. Please be prepared to not have as much time after your meal to explore the village if you eat inside.
Stow-on-the-Wold
1) Lucy's tearoom (cream tea)
2) The Porch House (oldest pub in England)
Return to London
We'll aim to return to South Kensington, London between 5.30pm and 6.00pm.
You'll be dropped near South Kensington London Underground Station (100m away from where you were picked up this morning). There's also a taxi rank in the middle of the road.
Looking for food & drink to end your day? Check out our map below:
Have a great day
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