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The Cotswolds is one of the most popular regions of the UK in which to enjoy a luxury self-catering holiday. As a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s a perfect place for a romantic getaway, with bags of charm and plenty of beautiful scenery the with green fields and rolling hills that typify the landscape of the Cotswolds.
Long walks through the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is a fantastic place to visit if you’re fond of walking. Numerous planned walks lead you through breathtakingly picturesque countryside. One great short walk is through the charming high street of Broadway and up the historic tracks to the fantastic Broadway Tower, which boasts spectacular views into Wales across the Severn Valley.
Charming towns and villages
The Cotswolds area is characterised by its numerous quaintly attractive small towns and villages, with handsome churches and beautiful Cotswold stone buildings. A self-catering luxury break around the Cotswolds is great if you love exploring interesting villages and finding treasures in antique shops, independent boutiques and local gift shops. The lovely market town of Chipping Campden is famous for its links with the arts, known as being the centre of the Arts and Crafts Movement led by the legendary textile designer and artist William Morris.
Bourton on the Water is a large village with a famously picturesque high street and known for its low, arched stone bridges which cross the River Windrush, lending the village the name “Venice of the Cotswolds.” One of the most interesting things to do in Bourton on the Water is to visit the model village, 1:9 replica which even includes a replica of the model village itself. Children will adore the Birdland Park and Gardens, which has a huge collection of birds, including penguins.
Beautiful Bath
Bath is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities and an ideal place to take a luxurious UK city break. Bath is characterised by its quirky charm and interesting independent shops, bars and restaurants as well as its world famous Roman Baths, which were built around Britain’s only hot springs and still flow with natural hot water. The city is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and has a plethora of fine architectural sights like the Royal Crescent. The Jane Austen Centre offers a fascinating look at life during Regency times and the way the city influenced the writings of its most famous resident.
Our top recommended attractions in the Cotswolds:
• The Rollright Stones near Long Compton are three interesting megalithic monuments
• Sherbourne Estate is a National Trust gem in Gloucestershire, the centre of which being the beautiful Lodge Park, the only surviving 17th Century grandstand in the country. The sculpture trail down to the pleasure grounds is a particular highlight and the whole estate is a great day out, either for romantic walks for 2 or a fun day out with the kids exploring the gardens and meadows and their rich array of wildlife.
• Before your visit to the Cotswolds, be sure to check the dates of any of the fantastic farmers markets. Stroud Farmers Market is particularly special, but many of the towns and villages hold excellent markets with plenty of delicious local produce.
• The Romantic Road route is the best way to find the best spots for museums, places to eat and some fantastic antiques shopping.
If you do decide to take a luxury getaway in the Cotswolds, you can expect to stay in luxuriously spacious barn conversions, unusual self-catering options such as Yurts or larger properties such as huge Georgian cottages and manor houses.