Cotswolds

Famous for its rolling countryside and almost impossibly quaint villages, the Cotswolds offer a window onto the England of period dramas and romantic novels. This long line of limestone hills sprawls across the Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire countryside, bookended by Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon. With famous attractions on all sides, the Cotswolds are massively popular with tourists, but the countryside is undeniably green and pleasant, with tiny villages of thatched stone cottages and some of the most endearing place names in the country - Chipping Camden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Wotton under Edge, The Slaughters. For sheer postcard perfection, ...

Famous for its rolling countryside and almost impossibly quaint villages, the Cotswolds offer a window onto the England of period dramas and romantic novels. This long line of limestone hills sprawls across the Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire countryside, bookended by Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon. With famous attractions on all sides, the Cotswolds are massively popular with tourists, but the countryside is undeniably green and pleasant, with tiny villages of thatched stone cottages and some of the most endearing place names in the country - Chipping Camden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Wotton under Edge, The Slaughters. For sheer postcard perfection, you can't beat the villages of Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury. To experience the best of the Cotswolds, take advantage of the small B&Bs and guesthouses off the main roads, or walk or cycle the 100-mile Cotswold Way from Bath to Chipping Camden. In the middle of this country idyll, the Cotswold Water Park appeals to families with lakes, parks, nature reserves and lots of outdoor fun.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.