Discover the Timeless Charm of the Cotswolds: Top Villages and Historic Sites
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Whether you visit this part of the country by car or on foot, you’ll experience the essence of rural England. Once the center of the wool trade during the Middle Ages, the Cotswolds benefited greatly from this industry. Nearly every town features a Sheep Street and an impressive church or cathedral, built on the wealth of wool. The villages, constructed from local honey-colored limestone, retain a rare aesthetic unity and have preserved their character, making the Cotswolds a region well worth exploring.
The charming Chipping Campden has a picture-perfect main street and the famous 5-hectare Hidcote Gardens. Here the concept of a garden as a series of 'rooms' was first pioneered. The Victorian founder of the Arts-and-Crafts movement, William Morris, called Bibury the most beautiful village in England. Antique enthusiasts head straight to the picturesque Stow-on-the-Wold to enjoy its pastoral beauty and delightful shopping.
Cheltenham has its Promenade, and Burford with its atmospheric 15th-century inn (now a bar), The Lamb. This place has long showcased its charm on - where else? - Sheep Street. The nearby Windrush River is fantastic for afternoon walks. Broadway is super popular, with an architectural highlight in High Street, full of interesting antique shops.
Broadway is also home to one of England's oldest hotels, the famous Lygon Arms - an Iconic Luxury Hotel. Here, travelers have been welcomed since 1532, and though it is now a tourist attraction, after the last bus leaves, it remains a cozy and welcoming place. King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell once stayed here, after which they almost kept the picturesque town to themselves.
Buckland Manor Hotel picture by booking.com
Not far from the busyness of Broadway, but distinctly different, is the Buckland Manor Hotel, an Elizabethan-style house, developed around a medieval church and completed in the 19th century. Built from locally sourced golden stone, the house is beautifully furnished with fine antiques and fresh flowers. Buckland is informal and offers a glimpse into a bygone rural lifestyle, living in an oasis of 5 hectares of beautiful gardens.
Part of the property includes a 13th-century church, whose bell can occasionally be heard. Grazing Scottish Highland cattle and Jacob sheep can be seen from the large windows of the upper-floor rooms. Here, elegant dinners are served by candlelight, with silver cloches. From here, it’s just 5 km to the Broadway Tower, the highest point in the area, with an incredibly beautiful view.
Best time to visit the Costwolds
May to October is a good time to visit with numerous markets. The Cheltenham Gold Cup Horseracing Festival is always in March.