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Steeped in history, rich in heritage and awash with natural beauty, the Cotswolds are a charming blend of bustling market towns, breathtaking natural scenery and over 6000 years of history.
There are many wonderful and varied attractions in and around the Cotswolds and the Severn Vale. Typically of the Cotswolds, there are many wonderful manor houses and gardens here such as Sudeley Castle with its 1,000 years of Royal History.
Oxford, City of dreaming spires, lies just a few miles east, perfect for a touch of cosmopolitan city culture! To the west, down the Roman Fosse Way, are Gloucestershire's golden stone villages, the market towns of Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold and the larger Spa towns of Cheltenham and Bath.
Venture a few miles north to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and medieval Warwick and to the south, the winding River Thames as it meanders from its source in nearby Lechlade, onwards to London. Cheltenham is vibrant and stylish and the most complete Regency town in England. An excellent base from which to explore the historic sights of Gloucestershire and the delights of the Cotswold countryside, this spa town has a first class range of accommodation, restaurants, theatres and shops.
The World Heritage Site of Bath is one of England's most beautiful places to visit. Its hot springs, Roman Baths , splendid Abbey and Georgian stone crescents have attracted visitors for centuries.
This is English Countryside at its best, an area full of variety; beautiful landscapes, picturesque villages, historic manor houses and glorious gardens.
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Includes |
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- 7 days' hire seater rental vehicle |
- 6 nights' accommodation sharing twin or double rooms |
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Not including |
- Entrance fees for sightseeing and guided tours |
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Itinerary |
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Day 1 |
arrival London, Birmingham or Bristol airport. Transfer to Cotswolds Hotel |
Day 2 |
visit Blenheim Palace. Stanway House & Fountain & Broadway |
Day 3 |
visit Tewkesbury Abbey & Eastnor Castle, returning via Gloucester Docks |
Day 4 |
visit Stratford on Avon & Bourton on the Water |
Day 5 |
visit Sudeley Castle & Chipping Camden |
Day 6 |
visit Bath & Lacock Abbey |
Day 7 |
check out of hotel. Return rental car to airport. Departure |
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Price per person from £510 |
Based on a group of four, sharing twin/double rooms |
| Tours with driver/guide can be arranged on request |
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HOTELS |
Macdonald Bear Hotel, Woodstock |
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One of England's original 13th Century Coaching Inns located in the historic, picturesque town of Woodstock. The town is home to Blenheim Palace as well as many fine boutiques, furniture and antique shops, and art galleries. Woodstock is also at the gateway to the Cotswolds, close to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. With its ivy clad facade oak beams, stonewalls and open fire, the Bear exudes warmth and cosiness, perfect for a retreat. The award winning restaurant offers modern British cuisine and each of the 54 bedrooms are well appointed, many of which are feature rooms, four posters and suites.
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The Royalist Hotel, Stow-on-the-Wold |
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Located in the beautiful Cotswold town of Stow on the Wold (Stow-on-the-Wold), The Royalist Hotel dates back to 947AD and was built by a Cornish Saxon Duke named Aethelmar, as a refuge on the Fosse Way. A Grade II listed building, which ranks it amongst the top 4% of protected buildings in the country, and with timbers of over a thousand years old, The Royalist Hotel now offers luxury hotel accommodation across 14 individually styled rooms. Over this thousand year history, the inn has seen many alterations and modernisations to create the luxury hotel accommodation available today, but still it retains many of its original features. Now privately owned by local hoteliers Mark and Janine Vance, in its modern incarnation The Royalist is an intimate and luxurious hotel, one of the finest hotels in the Cotswolds. The hotel has 14 bedrooms, an award winning restaurant, and, in the Eagle and Child, one of the town's most popular pubs. |
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Beaumont House Hotel, Cheltenham |
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Find out why Beaumont House is rated the top hotel in Cheltenham at 6th March 2007. All bedrooms have been refurbished to a high standard within the previous 24 months. The AA awarded Beaumont House 4 red diamonds for 2005 / 2006 placing it in the top 10% of 4 diamond establishments. They anticipate being regraded to 5 star guest accommodation during 2007. Set in a beautiful garden; within walking distance of the town centre and only 5 minutes walk to local shops and restaurants; with ample off street parking. Their rooms are all non-smoking. New luxurious Studio Rooms are now available for booking. All Standard Double Rooms have been substantially improved [new Hypnos beds & soft furnishings to give a light and fresh feel. For something different, stay in their stunning Out of Africa or Out of Asia rooms. Very luxurious complete with whirlpool baths, power showers and large flat screen televisions.
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SIGHTSEEING |
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Bath |
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The world heritage site of Bath and the stunning countryside that surrounds it, is one of England’s most beautiful places to visit. Bath is a unique city, with its Roman baths, hot springs, Abbey and Georgian stone crescents that have been attracting visitors for centuries.
http://www.cityofbath.co.uk/
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Cheltenham |
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Much of the town lies within a conservation area. Regency town houses, characterised by intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades, line the historic Promenade, squares and terraces. With award-winning gardens, impressive range of stylish shops and restaurants, and festivals of horse racing, music and literature, Cheltenham has an ambience to beguile the most jaded spirit.
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Berkeley Castle |
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Completed in 1153 by Lord Maurice de Berkeley at the command of King Henry II, Berkeley Castle is one of the finest Norman castles in existence.
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Winston Churchill's birthplace, 2100 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, Guided tours of the Palace State Rooms with their priceless portraits and tapestries, pleasure gardens with miniature train and maze.
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Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water has more than its share of Cotswold houses and cottages, many of them three hundred years old, some dating back to Elizabethan times four hundred years ago.
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Broadway is often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ because of its sheer beauty and charm. The ‘broad way’ leads from the foot of the Western Cotswolds with a wide grass-fringed street, lined with red chestnut trees and ancient honey-coloured limestone buildings dating back to the 16th century.
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This charming old wool merchants town has so much to offer, varied architecture and the enviable reputation as the most beautiful High Street in England.
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Internationally renowed, this memorable garden is in reality a series of smaller gardens. Each has its own special atmosphere and leads on to the next surprise.
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Lacock is a beautiful little village with twisted streets, gabled roofs and timber buildings. The houses span the centuries, dating from medieval times to the 18th century.
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Britain's highest fountain and the world's highest gravity fountain. Stanway House, called by Fodor's Guide, 'as perfect and pretty a Cotswold manor house as anyone is likely to see'.
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Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past.
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