Three enticing tours in and around the Cotswolds

Broadway, Bourton and beyond 

Broadway has a history harking back more than 5,000 years, but it became especially prosperous in medieval times. Today, this large village with its epitomic limestone buildings is an excellent starting point for a day tour of the Cotswolds. Wander down Broadway’s tree-lined high street, stopping into some of the charming shops, cosy cafés and inviting pubs along the way. If you’ve time, be sure to visit Broadway Tower, an iconic folly set atop a hill that affords gorgeous views across the pastoral landscape. 

Continue to Bourton-on-the-Water, a chocolate-box village whose attractive high street is flanked by the River Windrush. This sleepy conurbation has become a must-see on the tourist trail, not least for its charming riverside tearooms, quaint Grade II-listed model village, Cotswold Motoring Museum and Kit Williams-designed Dragonfly Maze.

Finally, head north to Hidcote Manor Gardens. This National Trust estate is home to a prized Arts and Crafts-inspired garden: more than four hectares of manicured green space, divided by walls and hedges into ‘rooms’. Each of these spaces has its own curated character, and is filled with displays of perennials and unusual shrubbery. It’s undoubtedly one of England’s finest gardens.

Bath – the Roman spa city

On the fringes of the Cotswolds AONB lies one of the most attractive cities in the UK. Much of Bath is built from oolitic limestone, sourced from local mines and giving the city its characteristic honey hue. Once a Roman encampment, Bath had grown into a fashionable spa retreat by the 1700s, and is now one of the most visited cities in the UK. 

There is plenty to occupy you on a tour of the city. The historic Baths are a must; wonderfully preserved, they form one of Northern Europe’s most complete Roman sites and reflect over 2,000 years of history. Although you aren’t permitted to take a dip due to the quality of water, the nearby Thermae Bath Spa draws water from the same mineral-rich source, treats it, and uses it across its own soothing baths. 

Beside the Roman Baths lies Bath Abbey, a hallowed place of sanctuary in the heart of the city. Impressive fan vaulting, intricate stained-glass windows and characteristic Bath stone make quite an impression as you stop in for a service, tour or simply a few moments respite.

Bath was an important location in two novels by former resident, Jane Austen, and the Royal Crescent and famous Circus have starred in many adaptations. Their Palladian architecture typify England’s Georgian period, and are worth a visit in person.

Chipping Campden to Shakespeare’s Stratford

You may wish to begin your exploration of the Cotswolds in the north of the region, in which case, Chipping Campden is a superlative starting point. This small market town charms with its myriad medieval listed buildings and row upon row of honey-hued houses. Be sure to pop into the boutique shops along its wide high street. If you’ve time, Kiftsgate Court Gardens near the town deserve a visit; these landscapes gardens were established and developed by three generations of women gardeners, and brim with colourful, harmoniously arranged flowers. 

Continue north to Stratford-upon-Avon at the very edge of the Cotswolds. The market town is best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. During a visit, tour the half-timber house where it’s believed he was born in 1564, then head to Holy Trinity, known as ‘Shakespeare’s Church’ as it is where the Bard was baptised, married and buried. Finish at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in the nearby village of Shottery, the delightful timber-framed childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife and now serves as a public museum.