The Cotswolds, England

Rico’s parents visited England’s Cotswolds, only a couple of hours’ drive from London, when they visited in the fall, and their positive reviews inspired us to escape the city this spring. We stayed in a cute hut on a farm and hung out with the resident dogs, cats, chickens and horses.

Our first stop took us to Bibury, famous for Arlington Row, a picturesque row of old homes that claims the dubious title of the most photographed street in Britain. We walked along the houses and looped around to Bibury Trout Farm, a delightful experience for kids and adults alike!

Touristy Bourton-on-the-Water was packed to the brim with people, but we tried to enjoy a stroll along the river nevertheless. A stop at the model village was a novelty, especially when we realized the model included a model which in turn included a model, ad infinitum.

Lower Slaughter was a nice break from the crowds at Bourton-on-the-Water. We walked along the river and visited the old mill. This town fits best into our idea of what the Cotswolds would be.

After an evening of watching an intense thunderstorm roll by through the countryside, we returned briefly to Lower Slaughter before continuing to Bredon Hill. We parked at Deer Park Hall & Business Centre and walked up the path to Bredon Tower where we enjoyed views in every direction.

Stanton was another classic English village. We strolled the main street and grabbed lunch at The Mount Inn (burger, chicken club) on top of the hill.

On our way back to London we stopped at Stow-on-the-Wold, an attractive market town, and Daylesford farm shop, where we browsed home décor and grabbed a bit of ice cream.

Our time in the Cotswolds was a welcome break from the city and a shining example of the beautiful countryside within a reasonable drive from London.