48 hours in...
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds Rural England at its finest Top 5 must see places
Woodstock & Blenheim Palace The Oxfordshire Cotswolds is the ideal place for a short break: a Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston beautifully unspoilt corner of England, rich in history and tradition. Churchill, is a World Heritage site. Thriving market towns and quaint villages of honey coloured stone Neighbouring it is the charming and historic are set against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty. town of Woodstock.
There is a wonderful mix of attractions - household names like Burford Blenheim Palace and Cotswold Wildlife Park and less familiar, One of the most picturesque towns in England more intimate places like Kelmscott Manor, Rousham and with its famous High Street and impressive medieval wool church. Just outside Burford is Chastleton House - and all nestling in the rolling hills and secluded one of England’s finest wildlife attractions, wooded valleys of the Cotswolds and the upper reaches of the Cotswold Wildlife Park. Thames. Witney A vibrant market town, the largest in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, much of Witney’s architecture reflects the past prosperity of its famous wool trade. Getting here The Theatre Chipping Norton By Car Housed in an historic and atmospheric building, Served by excellent links to the A34 and M40, the Oxfordshire the theatre offers a varied programme of live Cotswolds has easy access to London, Birmingham and the rest theatre, music, dance & comedy, culminating in of the national motorway network. There is free car parking its famous annual pantomime. throughout the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. The Gardens of Rousham House By Rail One of the few early 18th century gardens that Charlbury, right in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, is remains almost unaltered, Rousham is totally only an hour and a half from London Paddington on the scenic unspoilt: there is no shop and no tearoom, just Cotswolds railway line that runs via Oxford to Worcester. wonderful gardens to enjoy.
Information on the Oxfordshire Cotswolds www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org For other 48 hour destinations: www.timeforus.co.uk 48 hours in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Day one Day two There can be no better place to start your visit to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds than Burford, ‘Gateway to the No visit to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds would be Cotswolds’. From the River Windrush the High Street rises complete without seeing the splendours of slowly uphill flanked on either side by fine medieval Blenheim Palace, one of Britain’s grandest houses. buildings of unforgettable charm housing a selection of wonderful independent shops and a superb variety of places Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston to eat and drink. Churchill, is really a day’s visit in its own right: the Palace itself, 2,000 acres of landscaped Spend the afternoon exploring some of the nearby villages: parkland, ornamental lakes, 100 acres of formal the enchanting village of Filkins, home to Cotswold gardens, as well as a maze and Butterfly House. Woollen Weavers with traditionally woven cloth inspired by the landscape; Bampton, familiar as ‘Downton Village’ Next door to Blenheim Palace is the picturesque to fans of Downton Abbey; at nearby Aston Pottery all the Georgian town of Woodstock. This compact and ceramics are made and painted on site using traditional delightful old town has some wonderfully methods; and Kelmscott Manor was the country home of individual and unusual shops, as well as excellent William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement. tearooms and restaurants.
In the evening, why not visit Chipping Norton, home to Just a few miles from Woodstock are the gardens The Theatre Chipping Norton and to some excellent places of Rousham House. Many of the features that to eat including Wild Thyme. Not only do they serve delighted 18th century visitors can still be seen, as mouth watering dishes that use the finest locally sourced the landscaped gardens are virtually unchanged ingredients, but there’s no need to travel afterwards as they since their design by William Kent - don’t miss the have three stylish bedrooms upstairs! walled garden and its splendid herbaceous borders.
Where to eat & stay The Blenheim Buttery The Bay Tree Hotel Old Swan & Minster Mill Wild Thyme 17th century building housing a Award winning 16th century The Old Swan captures the Restaurant with rooms serving restaurant and six ensuite rooms wisteria-clad hotel with exposed charm of bygone years - heavily excellent modern British food www.theblenheimbuttery.co.uk beams and candelit restaurant beamed, log fires and flagstone www.wildthymerestaurant.co.uk 01865 811950 www.cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/ floors with creative cooking using 01608 645060 baytree fresh local ingredients Macdonald Bear Hotel 01993 822791 www.oldswanandminstermill.com Crowne Plaza Heythrop One of England’s oldest hotels: 01993 774441 Modern 200 room hotel and spa open fireplaces, oak beams and The Bull at Burford set in 440 acres of countryside stone walls Historic coaching inn serving The Swan Inn www.cpheythroppark.co.uk www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk/bear excellent locally sourced dishes Classic Cotswold riverside pub 01608 673333 01993 811124 www.bullatburford.co.uk with six individually designed 01993 822220 bedrooms housed in a stone The Feathered Nest Inn Oxford Witney Four Pillars barn. The menu features seasonal A country pub, restaurant and Modern hotel built in traditional Wheelgate House/Biztro dishes using local produce inn with marvellous views over style with restaurant, bar, lounge Delightful 18th century B&B www.theswanswinbrook.co.uk the Evenlode Valley and leisure club with informal bistro 01993 823339 www.thefeatherednestinn.co.uk www.four-pillars.co.uk/witney www.wheelgatehouse.co.uk 01993 833030 01993 779777 01993 851151
Information on the Oxfordshire Cotswolds www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org For other 48 hour destinations: www.timeforus.co.uk