A tour for multi-explorers: The Cotswolds are often referred to as the “heart of England” – a hilly landscape with very nice little towns and villages, which runs from southwest to northeast through six counties.
The journey is quite short in terms of mileage, but longer in terms of impressions. There are no coastal towns, but all the nicer places inland. From London (usually Heathrow Airport) you can quickly reach the famous university city of Oxford. It’s worth visiting at least one of the colleges! The surrounding area is also stunning. There is also one of the many small canals that once crossed the whole country. Today, the adorable narrow boats are popular houseboats.
A short detour should be made to Woodstock, adjacent to Blenheim Palace, the family seat of Winston Churchill. Another magnificent mansion is Kelmscott Manor.
A particularly nice place in the Cotswolds is Broadway with its houses of light stone and its huge chestnut trees which have wonderfull blooms of white and red, especially in the spring.
Different, but not less attractive is nearby Chipping Camden.
At the far edge of the Cotswolds we find the city of Gloucester, which once had an important inland port and whose old warehouses are partly beautifully preserved, some of them are very run down.
To the south, again in the hillier area of the Cotswolds is the small town of Stroud, which as a special feature has its Farmers’ Market once a week in the streets and the market area.
In Tetbury, the Woolsack Race is held once a year – a spectacle in which the whole town is joined by athletes carrying a large woolsack up the steep road.
Not far away is Malmesbury, which is on the one hand is a nice place with an abbey ruin and on the other hand houses the “Abbey House Garden“. It’s worth a visit just for this on its own!
Somewhat secluded, very quiet and wonderfully peacefully in the countryside is then Newark Park, which is a small, old mansion with a beautiful garden and great views. We are already far south in the Cotswolds. Here we will find Castle Combe, a particularly delightful village, which is also a big tourist hotspot. Be sure to come at off peak times and then feel like you have been transported back centuries!
With a short stop at Lacock, the setting for many historical films, we arrive at Bath with its wonderful Roman baths. From here it is only a stone’s throw into the valley of the River Avon and Bradford-on-Avon. At least the Avoncliff Aquaeduct, a bridge for the canal over the river, should definitely be on the agenda before returning to London and the airport.
For this trip you should calculate at least 8 days.
Here are some places en route:
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London Heathrow Airport
London from above
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Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Oxford – View of the city from the church tower
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Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England
Woodstock, a lovely little town in Oxfordshire
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Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire, England
Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire
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Chipping Camden, Gloucestershire, England
Chipping Camden, Gloucestershire, England
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Broadway, Worcestershire, England
Broadway, Worcestershire, England
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Gloucester with its cathedral, Gloucestershire, England
Gloucester Cathedral
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Stroud with Farmers’ Market, Gloucestershire, England
Stroud with Farmers’ Market, Gloucestershire, England
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Tetbury on Woolrace Day, Gloucestershire, England
Tetbury on Woolrace Day, Gloucestershire, England
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Newark Park, Gloucestershire, England
Newark Park House (Gloucestershire)
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Malmesbury with his Abbey and Garden,
Wiltshire, England
Malmesbury with his Abbey and Garden, Wiltshire, England
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Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England
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Lacock, Wiltshire, England
Lacock, Witshire, England
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City of Bath with its Roman baths and abbey, Somerset, England
Roman Baths in Bath (Somerset)
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Avoncliff Aqueduct, Wiltshire, England
The Avoncliff Aqueduct in Wilthire
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Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
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Devizes with its ship’s staircase over Caen Hill, Wiltshire, England
Caen Hill in Devizes (Wiltshire)
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London Heathrow Airport
