Tours to the Cotswolds

Located in the South West of England, the Cotswolds covers a large area taking in five counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. Each county has it’s own personality but all retain the special features of the Cotswolds which are the rolling hills and golden stone buildings which make the Cotswolds unique. It has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty including some of the most lovely 'chocolate box' villages and countryside in England. Within each county the visitor can enjoy lively market towns, some of the finest palaces and grand houses in England, Regency towns , traditional pubs serving good food and good walking country. Amongst some of the go to sites in the Cotswolds are:

The city of Bath is another important place to visit. Originally built by the Romans who made use of its hot springs as a site for a temple, the Baths still operate today and are a source of leisure for locals and visitors alike. There has been an Abbey in Bath since the 7 the century. Today visitors are drawn to the city by its imposing 16th century Abbey. Bath’s Georgian architecture provides the visitor with several walks around the city which take in the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Jane Austin fans will enjoy visiting the Pump Rooms and assembly Rooms, which Jane Austen visited and provide the backdrops for scenes in her novels. The city also has a very lively shopping and entertainment scene with many individual shops, restaurants and bars. Offering great shopping and food days out.

Cheltenham is a large spa town with Regency architecture, including Lansdown Terrace, and several notable museums and galleries such as the Wilson and Holst Victorian House. The town is renowned for its racecourse and is home to the Cheltenham Festival - a 4 day event culminating in the Gold Cup.

Bourton-on-the-Water is a picturesque village on the river Windrush, containing many shops, cafes and attractions and is always popular with visitors. Within easy reach of Bourton are several renowned gardens including internationally renowned Hidcote Manor and the cottage gardens and lavender fields at Snowshill Manor.

Nature

The hills and countryside of the Cotswolds provide many opportunities for walking and site seeing. In addition to its natural beauty the area also contains many important gardens and parks. Amongst them are Painswick Rococo Garden. Laid out in the 1740’s it was restored in the 1980’s and is now the only complete Rococo garden in England. It was deigned for pleasure and romance and contains many hidden areas for clandestine meetings.

Hidcote is a very famous garden in the Cotswolds located in Stratford-upon-Avon. The garden contains both highly cultivated areas and also areas of wilderness, which provide a haven for the wildlife of the area. Visitors can also attend demonstrations and talks.