Local Places

Burford if it's your first time to the Cotswolds then Burford must be your first stop, the gateway to the Cotswolds, known for its connection to the wool trade in wealthy times, with its Medieval Bridge over the Windrush River and 17th and 18th Cotswold stone houses align the main high street. Burford priory was first a hospital built in 1183, for centuries it has been a private home, then a Priory of our Lady since 1941 and only recently has been again bought as a private house.

Swinbrook and Asthall are down river from Burford the village was the home of the Mitford girls, Nancy Mitford is buried in Swinbrook church, which also has a fine Fettiplace tomb and memorials to the Fettiplace family, who have lived here for over 300 years.

Minster Lovell manor house has been there since at least the 12th century, but the major part of the ruins seen today are those of a large new house built by William, Baron of Lovell and Holland, in the 1430s after his return from the French wars.

Rollright stones there is no doubting that the Rollright Stone Circle, in common with many other ancient sites, is a place of mysterious beauty and subtle energies. It seems highly likely that Neolithic men and women not only shared these experiences, but had an understanding of how to find such places.

Stow on the Wold was also a wealthy town known for its wool trade, the Cross and the Stocks in the centre of the village have been there since the 15th century. Every year on a Thursday around the middle of May and the October the Romany horse fair comes to town.

Bourton on the Water the most visited place in the Cotswolds, our little Venice.

Morton in the Marsh is famous for its Curfew Tower, its bell was rung nightly until 1806 to remind people of the risk of fire at night, it is the principal market town of the Cotswolds.

Broadway known as the jewel of the Cotswolds, which is lined with red chestnut trees and honey-colored Cotswold limestone buildings, many dating from the 16th century.

Chipping Campden The best place in the Cotswolds to visit, unspoilt by today's visitors. The Market Hall, in the centre of the High Street, was constructed in 1627 by Sir Baptist Hicks to give shelter to the market traders. This is now owned by The National Trust.

Bibury must be one of the most visited of the Cotswold villages. On a warm summers day Bibury is filled with tourists appreciating the historic buildings like Arlington Row these were built as a monastic sheep house or wool store dating from around 1380. They were converted into dwellings in the 1600 for the weavers who supplied cloth to the Arlington Mill. The picturesque backdrop of the River Colon flows gently alongside the main street.

Stratford-upon-Avon a market town that thrives on tourism because of its status as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is refurbished and open to the public.

Woodstock is a thriving town just to the north of Oxford which grew up as a coach stop on the road north, then around the Royal Hunting Lodge which became the site of the magnificent BLENHEIM PALACE, home of the Dukes of Marlborough since the early 1700s. The famed birthplace in 1874 of Sir Winston Churchill, surrounded by its 2,000 acres gardens, lakes and landscaped parks produced by Capability Brown.

Oxford Visit Oxford and see one of the most interesting cities full of history and heritage; it will surprise and enchant you with its impressive architecture and many colleges.