Classic Cotswolds Holiday
A TAILOR-MADE ITINERARY FOR A LUXURIOUS CULINARY GETAWAY IN THE COTSWOLDS
Set in a vast area between Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds are England’s top beauty spot. A great place to visit all year around. An area of outstanding natural beauty dotted with picturesque villages built from honey coloured stone and endless rolling hills. Be fascinated by ancient walking trails, fairy-tale villages, and luxurious hospitality on a Classic Cotswolds Holiday.
Discover the Cotswolds on this tour at your own pace and enjoy wide ranging views over smoothly rolling green hills. Treat yourself to culinary delights made from artisan producers using the finest local, seasonal produce. This tour in the Cotswolds is special and you deserve it.
Day 1: Broadway – Broadway Tower
Broadway
Arrive in Broadway and settle in the stylish elegant The Lygon Arms Hotel | Luxury Coaching Inn in The Cotswolds. Dating back to the 13th century this beautiful hotel is the ideal base for your tours in the Cotswolds. It perfectly combines elegance, luxury, and is full of quintessentially English countryside charm.
Broadway Tower
Then it is time for your first Cotswolds walking tour. Take the short walk (1.5m) to the Broadway Tower. A small castle and one of highest spots in the Cotswolds which gives you amazing views over the breath-taking landscape.
Head back and relax before your first dining experience set in the traditional dining rooms of the Lygon Arms. Treat your taste buds to some excellent locally produced food and end the day full of anticipation what the next days of Cotswolds holidays will bring.
Overnight at The Lygon Arms Hotel
Day 2: Burton on Water / Upper + Lower Slaughter / Northleach / Sudeley Castle
Burton on Water
Start your day with a short drive to one of the highlights of any tours in the Cotswolds. Burton on Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds, tops the charts of the “Prettiest Village in England” year in and out. Follow the smoothly flowing River Windrush through this picturesque English village. Visit the quirky Home – Cotswold Motoring and Toy Museum (cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk) and see their collections of classic cars and memorabilia.
Upper and Lower Slaughter
Follow the sweet smell of roasted sugar and malt coming from the Cotswolds Brewery and soon after you reach the sister villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. Don’t worry there aren’t any dead bodies or blood lustre locals around. Their names derive from old English and mean “muddy or wetland”. Walk along the slowly flowing shallow River Eye between the two villages first mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1096. And fully soak in the atmosphere of the beautiful peaceful English countryside.
Northleach
Then head to the hamlet of Northleach for a late lunch on one of Britain’s finest gastropubs. The historical The Wheatsheaf Inn – Restaurant & Inn, The Cotswolds (cotswoldswheatsheaf.com). The atmosphere is rustic with roaring fireplaces in the winter and a blooming garden in the summer. The food is delicious, seasonal, and locally sourced from the best suppliers.
Sudeley Castle
After lunch take the short drive to Sudeley Castle & Gardens | The hidden gem of the Cotswolds. A real hidden gem for your Cotswolds sightseeing tour. Private residence partly open to the public is one of the quaintest castles in Britain. Imagine walking their beautiful blooming gardens on a warm summer’s day. A step back in time yet only minutes away from modern life.
Overnight at The Lygon Arms Hotel
Day 3: Broadway – Stanton – Chipping Campden
Broadway
The Cotswold are great to explore on a walking tour. Head off from Broadway to Toddington (7.7m) and walk-through glorious country landscapes where wild roses grow and take deep breaths. Pass the idyllic Cotswold Lavender – English Lavender Essential Oil Growers – Lavender Fields, Lavender Gifts, Lavender Soaps, Lavender Toiletries and Body products. The farm is a magical place near Snowshill.
Stanton
Soak up the eye watering sight of seemingly endless rows of purple marvels. Stopover in the unspoilt village of Stanton for a coffee break before you take on rest of your Cotswold walking tour. Arrive in Toddington and board the iconic Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Travel at snail speed through the gorgeous landscape back to Broadway. Afterwards treat yourself to a world class spa experience back at the Lygon Arms Hotel.
Chipping Campden
Afterwards explore the delightfully pretty market town of Chipping Campden. Dinner is served at the award winning nearby The Ebrington Arms – Cotswold Pub & Inn. One of the best country pubs in 2 Rosettes it is a real culinary treat and should not be missed on any tour in the Cotswolds. Their finely executed pub classics are locally sourced with organic produce. Round up the perfect day and let impressions become memories.
Overnight at The Lygon Arms Hotel
Day 4: Painswick – Slad Valley- Bibury – Burford – Kingham
Painswick
By now you think you are in paradise and today you will be quite literally. Take the short drive to the southern tip of the Cotswolds, Painswick. There, start the day with another fascinating walking tour through ancient, tangled woodland and open farmland. Soon you reach the Hamlet of Paradise. From where you walk along the Wysis Way along the peacefully flowing Painswick stream through the gorgeous Slad Valley (roundtrip 5m).
Bibury
Afterwards cross the Cotswolds and head for Bibury. One of the crown jewels of all Cotswolds villages which the Japanese emperor describes as his spiritual home. An absolute gem and home of many recent film productions such as the “Diary of Bridget Jones”. Walking through Bibury gives you a sigh feeling caused by utter beauty.
Burford
Next up is nearby Burford, a medieval market town where time seems to have stopped. Wander their lanes full of old stones house and Georgian cottages. Bibury’s beautiful high street is full of independent shops and antiques dealers. And the quaint The Priory Burford | Cafe, Tea Room and B&B in Burford (prioryrestaurantburford.co.uk) is a great spot for some much-deserved rest.
Kingham
End your trip with something even more special and visit the culinary hotspot Kingham. The three Michelin starred restaurants, Welcome to The Kingham Plough a delightful Cotswold village pub, Home – The Wild Rabbit Inn | A Modern British Pub with Rooms and The Chequers | Country Creatures offer you fine dining in a rustic atmosphere. Understated luxury and world class gastronomy make your final evening of your tour in the Cotswolds extra special.
Overnight at The Lygon Arms Hotel
Day 5: Broadway
Time to check out and say goodbye to a marvellous destination which makes you want to come back over and over again. There are literally hundreds of picture postcard prefect small villages and hamlets which you can explore on your Cotswolds holidays. We have chosen this itinerary to show you some of the highlights of the Cotswolds. But why not explore more or follow the seasons? Talk to us for more information.
For more inspiration how to combine your tour to the Cotswolds with a trip to iconic Bath, stunning Cornwall or metropolitan London, take a look at our Where To Go blog.
See you in the Cotswolds!
Brief Itinerary and Tour Highlights
Broadway – Burton on Water – Sudeley Castle – Chipping Campden – Slad Valley – Kingham
- 4 nights at the Lygon Arms Hotel breakfast incl.
- Detailed itinerary and walking maps incl.
- Bookable all year around
- Guided tours optional
- Lunch and Dinner bookings optional
- Insider Tips and & Tricks
- Chauffeur Service available on request