Brimming with honey-coloured stone houses, and chocolate-box perfect villages, the Cotswolds is the perfect place for rest and relaxation.
Achingly romantic, picture perfect, and ideal for a getaway at any time of the year, the Cotswolds spans scenic rural settings and exquisite towns and villages, rolling hills to the River Thames across six counties. From Gloucestershire to Oxfordshire, Somerset to Warwickshire, there's a world of things to do in this beautiful part of the world. Here are a few favourites.
The Cotswolds have been attracting the rich and elegant since time immemorial, so it's perhaps little surprise that it's home to a number of spectacular properties to visit, including Blenheim Palace and Sudeley Castle. Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the home of the Duke of Marlborough - the ancestral seat of the Spencer-Churchill family since the early 18th century. It's renowned for its magnificent architecture as well as its spectacular grounds. Sudeley Castle meanwhile has a history spanning 1000 years, serving as a royal residence and a backdrop for the Wars of the Roses. Henry VIII's last wife, Katherine Parr, is even buried within the grounds.
The Cotswolds are a wonderland of picturesque villages - the kind that have both inspired, and featured in, books and movies. Bibury's historic stone cottages, Bourton-on-the-Water - aka the 'Venice of the Cotswolds', the medieval village of Castle Combe, and the historic market town of Stow-on-the-Wold are just a few of the places you have to explore.
It's not just kings and queens who have spent time in the Cotswolds, the Romans were fond of it as well, making Chedworth Roman Villa a popular destination. The National Trust property near Cheltenham is home to the remains of one of the grandest Roman villas in Britain. It was rediscovered by the Victorians over 150 years ago and features extensive mosaic floors, hypocaust systems and bath house rooms, as well as a small museum of artefacts. Naturally, there's a cafe for coffee and cake alongside the archaeological finds.
Spending time outside is one of the great joys of time in the Cotswolds, whatever the time of year. The Cotswold Way is the perfect way to do that - a scenic national trail spanning 102 miles (no one expects you to do the whole thing!), with stretches from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to Bath in Somerset. Other beautiful places to explore include Cotswold Lavender - 45 acres of fragrant purple blooms where they produce essential oils and other products; Hidcote Manor Garden; and Westonbirt, the National Arboretum - one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world.
For anyone who enjoyed last year's TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals, you might be aware that there's something of a horse tradition in the Cotswolds. From Cheltenham Racecourse (home to events such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Cheltenham Gold Cup), to polo at the prestigious Beaufort Polo Club or Cirencester Park Polo Club (frequented by the royals), it's an opportunity to see the sport at its finest.
Epitomising the beauty of the area, hotel spas in the Cotswolds embrace the warmth, hospitality, heritage, and natural beauty that the region is so well known for. Serving superb food and drink from the local larder, these are places for rest and relaxation whether you have a day, a weekend, or a week to get away.
Heythrop Park is an impressive Grade II* listed manor house dating back to 1710 and surrounded by 440 acres of parkland in the tranquil Cotswold countryside. A foodie destination, and complete with a state-of-the-art spa experience within the grounds, designed for pampering and wellness, it is perfect for romantic getaways or special occasions but also ideal for a getaway with your closest friend.
A welcoming family hotel in picturesque Cirencester, Stratton House Hotel and Spa is family owned and charmingly decorated. Located close to the town, it’s surrounded by pretty gardens, giving it a feeling of peace and tranquillity. The boutique hotel includes a purpose-built spa in the grounds. With floor-to-ceiling windows it lets in lots of natural light, creating a charming space for a day of rest and relaxation.
Hidden at the top of the hotel’s landscaped garden in a secluded spot, walking into this warm and welcoming spa is like discovering your own tranquil hideaway. Once inside, succumb to the luxury of the heated hydrotherapy pool, the aromatic steam room and the relaxation area where you can drift off if you want to. There are male and female therapies available, as well as a couples' treatment room for simultaneous treatments.
The picture-perfect Lygon Arms is nestled in the heart of the pretty town of Broadway and that sets the scene for a romantic and memorable occasion. Once you can tear yourself away from Broadway’s boutiques, the spa at this gorgeous coaching inn is the ideal antidote to shopping. This hidden oasis will take you away to a place of deep relaxation as you enjoy a selection of exquisite treatments, capped only by a swim in the indoor heated pool with retractable roof – perfect on a Cotswold summer day.
An enchanting country house hotel in the picturesque Cotswolds, Cricklade House Hotel and Fritillary and Spa sits in 30 acres of countryside complete with tranquil gardens and their own golf course. A combination of contemporary wellness and hospitality meets heritage elegance; the hotel is romantic, relaxing and luxurious. The Fritillary Spa is central to your stay, named after a local flower and offering a beautiful array of holistic therapies imbued with nourishing ingredients such as Moringa oil and Karitè butter.
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