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| Witney, Oxfordshire | @stephen_whitelock |
| The Village People |
| Which of the Cotswolds' stunning chocolate-box villages will you visit? The answer depends on where you decide to stay. Set a home base in one of the towns and explore from there. Each little town has its own personality, but favorites include the Slaughters (Upper and Lower), Castle Combe, and the darling Arlington Row in Bibury. But hopping in the car and driving the winding country roads will yield hidden small town delights. Whether it’s a bustling pub, dreamy country walk, or quaint craft store, you’ll find something to love in each small hamlet you pass through. |
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| Broadway Tower, Worcestershire | @point_and_perceive |
| Exceedingly English |
| Whether you dream of Downton Abbey, Jane Austen or Harry Potter, you might recognize many of the historic sites throughout Cotswolds. Lacock Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral both served as backgrounds for the Harry Potter films, and St. Edward’s Church is home to a door said to be an inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. A visit to the English countryside wouldn’t be complete without a castle or two, and the stunning Sudeley Castle is up to the task. Add Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and Broadway Tower to your list to round out your fairytale fantasies. And if you can’t get enough of British Royalty, tour Highgrove Gardens, the private residence of Prince Charles. |
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| Snowshill Lavender Field | @lensereflection |
| Flower Power |
| Few things rival a good English garden, and in the Cotswolds you’ll find some of the best. If the bright flowers along the road aren’t enough for you, head to Batsford Arboretum, a 56-acre garden with ponds and towering trees, or Painswick, the country’s sole surviving rococo garden. For a unique experience, drive to the Cotswolds Lavender Farm, outside Snowshill. When the season is right, stroll through the purple fields that smell like the stuff of dreams, and bring home something soothing. If you like some wildlife with your vegetation, get friendly with the giraffes and rhinos of Cotswold Wildlife Park. |
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| North Nibley, Gloucestershire | @werewolfhunter777 |
| Fancy Something Robust? |
| If all this sightseeing and small-town wandering elicit a yawn, let’s get active. Getting outdoors for a brisk walk in the moor is decidedly English, and the mile-long stroll between the Upper and Lower Slaughter villages might be just the ticket. If you want something a little more strenuous, check out the Cotswolds Way National Trail, which includes 102 miles of trails through the entire sprawling countryside. Kick up the thrills with the 417 Project, a private mountain bike facility with tracks for all levels. A round of golf at Chipping Sodbury or the horse races at the Cheltenham Racecourse will also give you a dose of English energy. |
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| @sab_wanderlust_photos |
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| "I like nothing more than exploring some of the handsomest villages with their stunning architecture. Admiring the honey coloured houses there and then diving into a Pub for a pint or two or tucking into fine Cotswold cuisine in a local eatery or one of the really good traditional restaurants or more modern Gastropubs. And what can be more quintessentially English than to unwind with a traditional cream tea in most of the historic market towns and villages in the area." |
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