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Welcome ¨ Coln St Aldwyns to ¨ Walk to St Mary Tory Bibury walk Bradford on Avon has a winning Bibury is often considered to be one combination of river, canal and of the most beautiful villages in the fabulous architecture, and no building WALKING area and features the Arlington Row is more beautiful than the chapel of St cottages – the most photographed Mary Tory on the hill. Take a relaxing scene in the Cotswolds. This gentle walk up the hill to see the stunning walk from Coln St Aldwyns offers church and sublime views across the ¨ Painswick Rococo Garden ¨ Cleeve Hill a chance to soak up some stunning Wiltshire countryside. We can’t imagine being anywhere other Cotswold countryside. Even better, www.bradfordonavon.co.uk than the beautiful Cotswolds – it’s 790 Painswick Rococo Garden is the UK’s On a clear day, you can see for miles ¨ Five Valleys Walk it’s a great walk for dog owners. BA15 1NN (St Mary Tory) square miles of wow! Everyone knows only surviving complete rococo garden from Cleeve Hill – it’s the highest The Five Valleys – Chalford Valley, www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk it’s filled with stunning scenes and and a real hidden gem. Designed in the point on the Cotswold Hills. On the Nailsworth Valley, Ruscombe Valley, GL7 5AN ¨ Winchcombe Walking tantalising tea rooms, but there’s far 1740s as a flamboyant pleasure garden, outskirts of Cheltenham, the hill Slad Valley (of Cider with Rosie fame) you’ll find fanciful garden buildings boasts stunning views and is a great Festival more to the Cotswolds than meets the and Painswick Valley – all converge ¨ Bath Skyline walk eye. As an Area of Outstanding Natural and stunning views of the surrounding place to take those holiday selfies, on Stroud, one of the Cotswolds’ The little Gloucestershire town of Beauty, it stretches a lot further than countryside to while away the hours. but don’t forget to take your scarf quirkiest towns. Every September, The World Heritage City of Bath Winchcombe comes to life every you might realise – from Broadway in www.rococogarden.org.uk and your woolly jumper to fend off people get together to take part in the is beautiful, unique and historic. It May with the three-day Winchcombe the North Cotswolds to Burford in GL6 6TH the wind! 21-mile circular Five Valleys Walk to looks great from the ground, but what Walking Festival. There are a large Oxfordshire, and all the way down to www.cleevecommon.org.uk raise money for Meningitis Now. about viewing it from a completely selection of walks to choose from, Bath and the far reaches of Wiltshire. In ¨ Bourton to Lower GL52 3PW www.meningitisnow.org/ different angle? The picturesque including an early morning dawn fact, there are hundreds of hidden gems Slaughter walk support-us/featured-events/ Bath Skyline walk takes you through chorus walk and a gruelling 21-mile just waiting to be discovered. If long hikes aren’t your thing, the ¨ Broadway Tower five-valleys-walk-2017/ the countryside surrounding Bath, hike. Our favourite is the walk to the That’s why we’re excited to present the Bourton to Lower Slaughter walk The Cotswolds’ highest folly, GL5 1AJ (centre of Stroud) giving you magnificent views of the pub for lunch! definitive Cotswold Bucket List – the should be right up your street at a Broadway Tower was the brainchild city while burning up some serious www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers. top 100 things to see, do and experience leisurely 1.3 miles. The walk takes you of renowned landscape designer ¨ Coaley Peak Picnic Site energy! com/festival www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ GL54 5LJ in the Cotswolds. From the loveliest through beautiful countryside, across Capability Brown. As well as stunning Coaley Peak, on the outskirts of bath-skyline/trails/bath-skyline-walk views and top attractions to the region’s fields, alongside the river and into views, the tower has plenty for history Stroud, offers some of the best views best eateries and secret hideaways, BA2 6EP Lower Slaughter before you know buffs to enjoy, including an RAF in Gloucestershire. If you’re taking a we’ve got it covered. it. Once in Lower Slaughter, you will lookout tower and a nuclear bunker. walk along the Cotswold Way, grab Each entry in The Cotswold Bucket come across Copse Hill Road, named www.broadwaytower.co.uk your picnic basket, fill it with yummy List has been recommended by a local Britain’s most romantic street. WR12 7LB treats and stop off here for views resident, so you can be sure that every www.cotswolds.info/places/ from across the Five Valleys and the new stop on your Cotswold adventure bourton-on-the-water.shtml ¨ Korea Friendship Forest of Dean with some great selfie is well worth the effort. We’ll admit, GL54 2AP Trail opportunities. we’ve used a bit of artistic licence on a The Korea Friendship Trail is a www.gloucestershire.gov.uk few that are located just on the edge of ¨ Leckhampton Hill and circular walk that’s part of the GL10 3TP the region, but they’re so good that we Devil’s Chimney 102-mile-long Cotswold Way. Don’t couldn’t leave them out. All that’s left for On the outskirts of Cheltenham, worry, this one’s nice and easy! It ¨ Dursley Sculpture Trail you to do now is get out there and start Leckhampton Hill offers a gorgeous takes in breathtaking views at the top Sculpted by the local community, ticking things off your list! view of the Cotswolds. It’s also home of Stinchcombe Hill near Dursley, Dursley Sculpture and Play Trail in Charlotte Knowles to the intriguing Devil’s Chimney, and is often called ‘one of the most Twinberrow Woods was created a rock formation that juts out from beautiful meanderings’ on the main by people aged 6 to over 90! The General Manager, The Old Stocks Inn the hill. Legend says the devil lives trail. trail is always evolving, so you’ll find PS: We’d love to see your new-found deep inside the hill and it really is his www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ something new every time you visit. discoveries, so share them with us on chimney – tread carefully! cotswold-way www.valevision.org.uk/projects_ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by using www.leckhamptonhill.org.uk GL11 4JQ sculpture.htm the hashtag #cotswoldbucketlist GL53 9QQ Off the A4135, on the outskirts of Dursley

¨ The Rollright Stones The Rollright Stones is an ancient site on the Oxfordshire/ HISTORICAL Warwickshire border – a place of mysterious beauty and subtle energy. On the solstices, it plays host to local druids, who welcome everyone to ¨ Sudeley Castle come and celebrate the peace and Sudeley Castle & Gardens, situated beauty of the stones. in the town of Winchcombe, has ¨ Blenheim Palace ¨ Chastleton House www.rollrightstones.co.uk played an important role in English The breathtaking Blenheim Palace Chastleton House is like a Cotswolds OX7 5QB history for over 1,000 years. With is a World Heritage Site and the time capsule, remaining unchanged strong Tudor connections, it even birthplace of Winston Churchill. for 400 years. It’s also where croquet ¨ Tewkesbury Medieval boasts a queen buried in its grounds. Step back in time and discover was invented. During the summer, Festival The adventure playground is a must 300 years of history at the palace, a you can enjoy a game on the very Europe’s biggest and best free for little ones, but grown-ups might masterpiece of Baroque architecture. lawns where the rules were first medieval festival takes place in prefer the peace of the gardens. www.blenheimpalace.com established. Just be careful with the historic riverside town of www.sudeleycastle.co.uk OX20 1PP those mallets – they’re heavier than Tewkesbury every year. Stick around GL54 5JD you might think! for the big battle, or stroll around the Photo credit: Kim Gibbon ¨ St Mary’s Church, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chastleton- camp and sample authentic treats ¨ Kelmscott Manor Painswick house and beers made to the same recipes On the banks of the Thames in the ¨ Gloucester Cathedral ¨ Soldiers of In the heart of beautiful Painswick, GL56 0SU as they were in the 1400s. www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org picturesque village of Kelmscott A stunning example of medieval Gloucestershire Museum the spire of St Mary’s Church towers GL20 5RZ (Tewkesbury Abbey) is Kelmscott Manor, the Cotswold architecture, Gloucester Cathedral The Soldiers of Gloucestershire above the town. Take the time to ¨ Corsham Court retreat of William Morris, his family is the final resting place of King Museum on Gloucester Docks is count the perfectly trimmed yew Corsham Court in Wiltshire is a and fellow artists. The manor, its Edward II and often imparts a sense dedicated to the memory of all the trees in the churchyard and you’ll privately owned historic house with gardens, barns, dovecote, meadow of peace on its visitors. However, Gloucestershire soldiers who have find that there are 99 of them. one heck of an art collection. The and stream were a constant source of Harry Potter fans might leave the served their country. While you’re Legend says that a 100th tree will collection includes a painting by Sir inspiration to Morris, who was one cathedral with a touch of magic, as it there, you can try on army uniforms never grow, and if it did, the devil Anthony Van Dyck and a portrait of the leading lights of the Victorian was transformed into Hogwarts for and a rifleman’s backpack, and would pull it out! of Queen Elizabeth I, making it a arts and crafts movement. the films. Don’t forget your wands! discover first-hand what it was like to www.stmaryspainswick.org.uk necessary pilgrimage for both expert www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk be in a World War I trench. GL6 6QB and novice art lovers alike. GL7 3HJ GL1 2LX www.soldiersofglos.com www.corsham-court.co.uk Photo credit: National Trust Images / Mark Bolton GL1 2HE ¨ Swindon & Cricklade SN13 0BZ Railway ¨ Lacock ¨ Highnam Court Gardens Whether you’re 2 or 102, few people ¨ Oxford Bus Museum Lacock village in Wiltshire is owned It’s easy to lose yourself in Highnam can resist a heritage railway, and All aboard for a journey through almost in its entirety by the National Court Gardens – they’re some of the Swindon & Cricklade is one of the public transport history! The Oxford Trust and is very popular with visitors most beautiful in the UK. Planted best. Step back in time and enjoy Bus Museum tells the story of bus due to its unspoiled appearance. by owner and accomplished artist vintage steam and diesel-hauled and coach travel around Oxfordshire While your kids might recognise it as Thomas Gambier Parry in the 1870s, trains, lovingly restored and run on over the last 130 years. And it the hometown of YouTuber Zoella, they were neglected for a century but a railway built by volunteers. Trains wouldn’t be Oxford without bikes, you’ll more likely remember seeing have been restored to their former run on Saturdays and Sundays on a so the museum has a collection of 40 flashes of it in numerous period glory in recent years. four-mile round trip, taking in three vintage and rare ones! dramas and movies. www.highnamcourt.co.uk restored stations. www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock- GL2 8DP www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org OX29 8LA abbey-fox-talbot-museum-and-village SN25 2DA SN15 2LG

¨ Cotswold Balloon Safaris While you’re visiting the Cotswolds, why not take the opportunity to view it from an entirely different angle? Soar high above the hills in a hot air balloon! Our top tip – wrap up warm and try an early dawn flight. www.cotswoldballoonsafaris.co.uk GL52 3NJ ¨ Wychwood Wild Garden ¨ Punting on the river Wychwood Wild Garden is a in Oxford ¨ Inspector Morse and beautiful community-managed For visitors to Oxford, punting is a Lewis Tour hidden woodland and garden. A must-do, and there are numerous Oxford might be a famous university hundred lime trees, some over 250 hire places along the River Cherwell town to most, but for fans of Inspector years old, take you into this magical for you to give it a go. Will you glide Morse, it’s the murder capital of the place. Its pond, waterfalls, canals and effortlessly or take an unexpected world. If you love Morse’s Oxford, thousands of trees are usually only dip? With room for five people on a then a two-hour walking tour might known to locals, but this Cotswold punt, it’s a lovely way to see the city. well be for you, taking in locations paradise was too good to miss off If you’re not brave enough to do the from the Inspector Morse books and the list. work yourself, some hire places also TV series. www.wychwoodwildgarden.org.uk offer a chauffeur service. www.britmovietours.com/bookings/ OX7 6DG www.dailyinfo.co.uk/guide/punting inspector-morse-tour OX2 6ST OX1 3AS ¨ Gloucester Rugby Looking for world-class sport in the Cotswolds? You need to head for Gloucester Rugby. Join the hardcore ADVENTURE fans on the terraces and soak up the Gloucester atmosphere while enjoying an Aviva Premiership game. C’mon, you Cherry and Whites! ¨ Cotswold Lavender ¨ Castle Combe ¨ Far Peak Climbing Centre www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk Is there anything more beautiful to Known as the ‘prettiest village in Home to Gloucestershire’s highest GL1 3AX photograph than fields of lavender England’, visitors have been enjoying artificial climbing tower, Far Peak is as far as the eye can see? On the the charm of Castle Combe in tons of fun for both kids and adults. ¨ Bampton outskirts of Broadway, 35 varieties Wiltshire for more than a century. If 15 metres of climbing wall is a bit Love Downton Abbey? Then you will of lavender are grown to produce The houses are hundreds of years too high for you, there are plenty of probably recognise the Oxfordshire the highest quality English lavender old, constructed in typical Cotswold smaller indoor walls for you to have a village of Bampton, immortalised essential oils. Walk among the style, with thick walls and natural go on, or you can sit back and watch as the fictional Downton village on 250,000 lavender plants and enjoy stone roofs. Make sure you visit while enjoying a cake and a coffee at the show, supposedly somewhere a cream tea or light lunch in the the ‘honesty box’ cake kiosk – a the centre’s rooftop café. in Yorkshire! Close to the edge of tea room – the lavender scones are pay-what-you-want community www.wildrockclimbing.co.uk the Cotswolds, Bampton is one of divine! endeavour filled with decadent GL54 3AP the oldest and prettiest villages in www.cotswoldlavender.co.uk treats. the area. WR12 7JY www.castle-combe.com www.bamptonoxon-parishcouncil.gov.uk SN14 7HS OX18 2HA

¨ Thyme Cookery School ¨ Gloucestershire Rally ¨ Smokey Joe’s ¨ Bath Escape ¨ Cirencester Park ¨ Cotswold Dry Stone The Cotswolds is full of fresh School Smokey Joe’s is the coolest café Trapped in a locked room with family Polo Club Walling Course produce, and if you’re a keen chef or When you think of the Cotswolds, in town, just off the beaten track and friends, how would you escape? For the quintessential British polo You’re never far from a dry stone wall in a born foodie, there’s nowhere better you probably think of cream teas, in Cheltenham town centre. Work together, tackle the clues using experience, it would be hard to beat the Cotswolds, but how on earth do they to cook up a storm than at Thyme pretty buildings and relaxing walks. Serving great waffles and American logic and imagination, and make Cirencester Park Polo Club – the keep standing? Now you can have a go at Cookery School. There are courses Well, believe it or not, you can get sandwiches one minute and hosting your escape from this exciting visitor oldest polo club in the country. With building one with a course at Cotswolds for all kinds of tastes – learn how behind the wheel of a rally car here, swing and jazz nights the next, family- attraction in Bath. If locked rooms over 380 games played during the Rural Skills. You’re not just building a to bake the perfect cake, discover too. The Gloucestershire Rally run Smokey Joe’s brings the best of School’s authentic gravel track offers 1950s Americana to the Cotswolds. aren’t for you, grab your deerstalker summer, you can always catch a few wall to take it down again, you’re building flavours from across the world and and try a detective tour on Bath’s chukkas. A polo game is best enjoyed uncover the best local ingredients a memorable driving experience for www.smokeyjoescheltenham.co.uk a wall that will be a part of the landscape beautiful streets. with a picnic, so be sure to pack your with a seasonal foraging class. everyone – drive as hard as you dare! GL50 4ED for the next 100 years or more! www.bathescape.co.uk favourite treats. www.thyme.co.uk/the-cookery-school www.glosrallyschool.co.uk www.cotswoldsruralskills.org.uk BA1 1HL www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk GL7 3NX GL7 5QF ¨ Highgrove Gardens GL7 6JT ¨ Hands On Bushcraft We all know that Prince Charles ¨ Sherborne Cinema ¨ THE Severn Bore loves his organic gardening, but did If you fancy yourself as the next Bear We love a good restoration story, as ¨ Café René A big wave on a river might not you know you could take a tour of his you may well know, and Gloucester’s A lively bar and restaurant in the Grylls, you’ll need to know how to sound like the most exciting thing private gardens? The organic gardens Sherborne Cinema was brought centre of Gloucester, Café René is survive in the wild. The Cotswolds ever, but believe us, the annual tidal at Highgrove reflect the Prince’s back to its stunning art-deco style renowned for the eclectic mix of seems nice and gentle, but lurking surge on the River Severn is a sight commitment to sustainability and in 2014. Forget your multiplexes and bands that grace its Cellar Bar. So in its forests, you’ll find Hands On to behold! Surfing the bore is a big are a haven for a rich variety of flora embrace the golden age of cinema whether you like jazz, pop, rock, Bushcraft. Their range of courses competitive sport, with the record and fauna. while catching up on all the latest dance or folk, there’s always a good teaches practical wilderness survival distance covered standing at 9.25 www.highgrovegardens.com blockbusters. night to be had at René. techniques in a fun way, right in the miles! Brave enough to give it a try? Highgrove is too posh for postcodes, so www.sherbornecinema.co.uk www.caferene.co.uk heart of the Cotswold countryside. www.severn-bore.co.uk follow directions for Doughton. GL1 3BY GL1 1TP www.handsonbushcraft.co.uk GL2 8JX

¨ Favourite Beers Are you a beer connoisseur? So are we, and we love Favourite Beers in Cheltenham. The only specialist beer and cider shop in Gloucestershire, they stock over 400 UK bottled ales. They also put on some fantastic tasting evenings – anyone for a swift ¨ Horse and Groom ¨ Made by Bob ¨ Three Daggers FOOD half? The Horse and Groom in Bourton- With an ever-changing menu that’s like Once a humble wool barn at the www.favouritebeers.com on-the-Hill is a cut above your nothing else in the area, Made by Bob is foot of Salisbury Plain, the Three GL52 6BB usual pub. In fact, it’s The Good Pub like a cool slice of London in the heart Daggers in Edington is now a village Guide’s Pub of the Year 2016! The of Cirencester. Open from 7.30am for destination for locals and visitors and ¨ Sandford Park Alehouse mouth-watering menu is constantly breakfast and coffee, Made by Bob’s alike. Its most exciting feature is On the edge of the beautiful evolving, the pub garden offers best feature is the huge open kitchen, the microbrewery – new beers are Sandford Park is Sandford Park stunning views, and the woodburner so you can watch the chefs at work. brewed several times a week. Alehouse, a little slice of heaven for throws out welcome warmth in www.foodmadebybob.com www.threedaggers.co.uk DRINk beer drinkers. It was CAMRA Pub winter. They’re big fans of local GL7 2NY BA13 4PG of the Year 2015, and is a stylish old- booze, too, sourcing the best drinks meets-new pub with a large garden from Cotswold breweries and and comfy furniture. distilleries. ¨ Smiths of Bourton ¨ Winstones Ice Cream www.spalehouse.co.uk www.horseandgroom.info You can’t go to the Cotswolds Is there anything better than ice GL50 1DZ GL56 9AQ without popping into a tea room, cream? We think it’s ice cream with a and Smiths of Bourton is one of the breathtaking view thrown in for good ¨ The Tavern ¨ Hook Norton Brewery very best. In the popular town of measure! On the edge of the rolling A town centre pub offering With a fantastic range of award- Bourton-on-the-Water, slightly set hills of Rodborough Common, you’ll tasty seasonal and local food, winning beers, Hook Norton is the back from the river, you’ll find friendly find Winstones Ice Cream parlour Cheltenham’s Tavern is less formal finest example of a Victorian tower staff, quirky décor and cakes to die – featured in The Daily Telegraph’s than some eating places, but no brewery in the UK. The brewery for. If you can’t decide which cake 10 best ice cream parlours. Pick up less delicious. The beer is craft runs tours, where you can see the you’d like, go for the antipasti and get a cone and enjoy one of the most throughout and constantly changing, original steam engine that was used three small(ish) slices of different memorable vistas of the Cotswolds. so there’s always something new to to drive the machinery, learn about cakes! Smiths opens seasonally from 1 www.winstonesicecream.co.uk try. With a Michelin Bib Gourmand the company’s history and, of course, February to 31 October. GL5 5BX award, it’s worth checking out for a have a taste of delicious Hook www.facebook.com/Smiths-Of- low-key vibe for all the family. Norton beer. Bourton www.thetaverncheltenham.com www.hooky.co.uk GL54 2BT GL50 3DN OX15 5NY

¨ The White Spoon ¨ Chadlington Beer ¨ TANK ¨ South Cotswold Beer and The White Spoon offers an Festival On Gloucester’s historic docks, Music Festival alternative to traditional fine dining, This annual beer festival takes you’ll find TANK – a craft alehouse With a selection of over 100 beers, with expertly cooked and exquisitely place every June in Chadlington, with a modern twist. Putting the ciders, perries and wines, there really presented dishes, thanks to the Oxfordshire. Beer connoisseurs can drinking experience over margin and is something for drinkers of all tastes vision of Chris White, who has look forward to smooth local ales, profit, quality over brand loyalty, and at the South Cotswold Beer and worked with the likes of Heston including Coachman’s Tipple, and beer knowledge over fads and trends, Music Festival. With great food and Blumenthal. With a focus on local beers like Death or Glory, which are TANK offers a range of local and bands playing an array of different produce, the seasonal menu is sure to bound to knock your socks off. Even craft beers on tap. With live music, styles of music, a fantastic weekend tantalise your taste buds. better, there’s plenty for the kids to quiz nights and pub grub that’s a cut is guaranteed! www.thewhitespoon.co.uk do too. above the rest, TANK gives a true www.mysodbury.co.uk sodbury/e/16721/ GL50 3JX www.chadlingtonbeerfestival.com British pub experience – but with south-cotswold-beer-and-music OX7 3LX better beer. BS37 6GA www.tankgloucester.com GL1 2EH ¨ The Feathers ¨ Three Choirs VineyardS The terrace bar and romantic ¨ The Swan Inn Think it’s not possible to grow restaurant at The Feathers in Owned by the estate of the Dowager grapes in the UK? Set in 30 hectares Woodstock are pretty cool, but Duchess of Devonshire, The Swan is in the Forest of Dean, Three Choirs it’s really all about the gin. The bar an idyllic Cotswold pub on the banks Vineyards’ unique Cotswold features over 400 gins from around ¨ The Pudding Club of the River Windrush. Sit back, relax microclimate is perfect for growing the world – so many, in fact, that The Praise the pud! We love puddings and sample some of the best local a range of grapes. Enjoy wine tasting Feathers made it into the Guinness of all sorts, and if you do too, you beers and lagers from The Cotswold and a tour to find out more about the World Records for offering the largest need to head to The Three Ways Brewing Company. vineyard’s great English wine. selection of gins on the planet! House hotel in Mickleton on a Friday www.theswanswinbrook.co.uk www.three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk www.feathers.co.uk evening to savour the joys of The OX18 4DY GL18 1LS OX20 1SX Pudding Club. Enjoy a light main course before getting down to the serious business of eating puddings – all seven of them! www.threewayshousehotel.com GL55 6SB ¨ Simpsons Fish and Chips Fancy restaurants are all well and good, but sometimes we all just feel like fish and chips. So why not sample the best? Simpsons in Cheltenham was awarded the UK’s number one fish and chip takeaway at The National Fish & Chip Awards 2016, and with good reason. They believe fish and chips should be all about good quality fish, potatoes and batter – and nothing else! www.simpsonsfishandchips.co.uk GL52 5AL

¨ Crocodiles of the World Crocodiles in the Cotswolds, who would have believed it? You’ll find FAMILY the UK’s only crocodile zoo at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Opened in 2011, Crocodiles of the World is home to more than 100 individual ACTIVITY crocodiles, alligators and caiman. Take plenty of snaps! www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk OX18 3NX ¨ Cotswold Wildlife Park Set in over 160 acres of beautiful parkland, the Cotswold Wildlife Park has an amazingly diverse collection of species, many of which are endangered in the wild. Watch the rhinos grazing on the Manor House lawns, get eye-level with a giraffe on the fabulous Giraffe Walkway, and stroll among the lemurs in the brilliant Madagascan Walkthrough exhibit. ¨ Cotswold Farm Park ¨ Jet Age Museum www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Home to BBC Countryfile’s Adam Did you know that Britain’s first jet OX18 4JP Henson, the Cotswold Farm Park plane came from Gloucestershire? was opened in 1971 to protect rare The Gloster E28/39 first left the ¨ Westonbirt Arboretum native breeds of farm animals and is ground on 8 April 1941 at the Gloster With 15,000 tree specimens from now a firm family favourite. There factory airfield between Cheltenham around the world, Westonbirt are seasonal farming demonstrations and Gloucester. The Jet Age Arboretum is a stunning sight all year all year round and plenty of chances Museum, located between the towns, round. What you might not know to get up close and personal with is home to a number of Gloster-built about Westonbirt is that plenty of the animals, including rabbits and aircraft, ongoing restoration projects chart-topping bands stop by there newborn chicks. Aww! and an archive of factory drawings too! In recent years, the arboretum www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk and photographs. ¨ The Cotswold Show has provided a perfect stage for GL54 5UG www.jetagemuseum.org Two days, 100 acres, hundreds of McBusted, Plan B, Kaiser Chiefs and GL2 9QL attractions and tens of thousands of Tom Jones. ¨ Thirsty Meeples Board ¨ Cirencester Open Air ¨ Cotswold Water Park visitors – that’s The Cotswold Show. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt Game Café Swimming Pool With more than 150 lakes across ¨ The Bird & Deer Park Since the first event in 1989, the GL8 8QS Rainy day getting you down? If you’re Fancy a bracing swim? Take a step 40 square miles of Wiltshire, Prinknash ethos of ‘where town meets county’ in Oxford, you can shelter from the back to a bygone age with a dip in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire High in the Cotswold Hills, on the has stayed the same, so you can enjoy showers at Thirsty Meeples Board Cirencester Open Air Swimming countryside, the Cotswold Water road to Painswick, is The Bird & Deer a taste of country life with falconry, a Game Café. With over 2,000 games Pool. Built in 1869, this unique pool Park offers a huge range of activities. Park at Prinknash. Here, you can dog show, farm animals, good food, to choose from, you’re spoilt for offers the chance to swim in natural The park is also home to the UK’s get up close and personal with deer clay shooting, archery and rural choice, and they’ve got plenty of spring water. Even better, there’s no largest inland beach – who’s bringing (who will often eat from your hand!), skills. The Cotswold Show usually snacks and drinks to keep you going need to worry about the cold – it’s the bucket and spade then? peacocks, miniature donkeys and takes place on the first weekend as you play! heated to around 27C. www.waterpark.org some seriously quirky poultry. of July. www.thirstymeeples.co.uk www.cirenopenair.co.uk GL7 6DF www.thebirdpark.com www.cotswoldshow.co.uk OX1 2DF GL7 2EF GL4 8EX GL7 1XB

¨ The Old Stocks Inn Well, we couldn’t pull together a Cotswold bucket list without including ourselves, could we? The Old Stocks provides the perfect base to explore all The Bucket List has to offer. After a busy day of adventuring, we’ll have a dreamy bed waiting for you in a stylish room, as well as lovingly prepared food and a great selection of drinks. www.oldstocksinn.com GL54 1AF ¨ Daylesford One of the most sustainable organic ¨ Thermae Bath Spa farms in the UK, Daylesford offers Enjoy Britain’s only natural thermal a treat for the taste buds. The farm waters, in the World Heritage City produces and sells all kinds of great of Bath, just as the Celts and Romans food, starting with healthy soil and did over 2,000 years ago. Look out finishing with healthy animals and over the city as you relax in the people. It’s popular with local celebs, warmth of the rooftop pool, or head too, so take a seat in The Old Spot RELAX indoors to breathe in the soothing restaurant or stop by the spa and tell vapours of the steam rooms. us who you see. www.thermaebathspa.com www.daylesford.com AND BA1 1SJ GL56 0YG UNWIND

¨ Gloucester Services ¨ Lucknam Park It might seem a bit weird to afternoon tea recommend a service station, There are few things more British but Gloucester Services, situated than afternoon tea, and where better between junctions 11a and 12 of the to enjoy it than an 18th century M5, is a true delight. They’ve thrown Palladian mansion, surrounded by away the service station rule book 500 acres of beautiful gardens and and offer a farm shop selling produce unspoiled parkland? Lucknam Park from more than 130 local suppliers, Hotel offers one of the best teas with meat from Gloucestershire, around, whether it’s for a special locally pressed juices, local cheeses occasion or an indulgent treat. and artisan bread. www.lucknampark.co.uk www.gloucesterservices.com SN14 8AZ GL4 0DN

¨ Giffords Circus Like no circus you’ve ever seen before, Giffords is a magical village green circus that tours England throughout the summer. Acrobats, horses, jugglers and Tweedy the clown take you back to a golden age. Giffords spends much of the season in and around the Cotswolds, so catch it if you can, and don’t forget to try their unique dining experience. www.giffordscircus.com ¨ Prescott Speed Hill Climb ¨ Cheltenham Literature ¨ THE Cornbury Music ¨ Lechlade Music Festival Photo credit: Andrew Rees Prescott is home to one of the UK’s Festival Festival Lechlade Music Festival is an annual most famous hill climb courses. For 10 days every autumn, A country fair with a rock ‘n’ roll three-day family-friendly festival The challenging 1,127-yard course Cheltenham becomes the centre twist, a farmers’ market with a dance in the Cotswold town of Lechlade. includes steep hills and a serious of the literary world. Every year, floor, The Cornbury Music Festival, Taking place at the end of May, the hairpin to test the nerve of the most the festival welcomes 600 writers, held over three days in July, is a very festival promises ‘three days, three experienced driver. It’s not just for actors, politicians and poets for a English open-air party for the whole nights and three stages’. The line-up motorsport fans either – if you’ve huge range of interviews, debates family. With four stages of music, has something for everyone, including ever wanted to get up close to some and workshops, taking place within a magical children’s area, gourmet rock, pop, soul, folk and jazz, from up- of the world’s most beautiful classic the charming Montpellier Gardens food and beautiful campsites, there and-coming local artists to headline cars, Prescott’s for you. and surrounding venues. really is something for everyone. acts like The Proclaimers. Photo credit: Rebecca Reid Photo credit: Gem Hall www.prescott-hillclimb.com www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ www.cornburyfestival.com www.lechladefestival.co.uk GL52 9RD literature OX7 4AF GL7 3AG ¨ Cotswold Olimpicks GL50 1UW The Cotswold Olimpicks, or Robert ¨ Cooper’s Hill Cheese ¨ Bampton Shirt Race ¨ Tetbury Woolsack Races Dover’s Games, is an annual event Rolling ¨ Football in the River Nowhere does zany events quite like In the 16th century, Tetbury had one that has been running on and off for The best-known of Gloucestershire’s The peace of genteel Bourton-on- the Cotswolds, and the Bampton of the best-known wool markets in over 400 years. If you’ve ever fancied madcap sporting events, cheese the-Water is well and truly shattered Shirt Race, held on the Saturday the country. In celebration of this watching men stuff their socks with rolling attracts people from all over every August Bank Holiday Monday, of the Spring Bank Holiday, is no heritage, the town plays host to the straw, then try to kick each other as the world, who are willing to risk when two teams from Bourton exception. Teams of two, dressed in annual Woolsack Race. Competitors hard as possible on the shins, this is life and limb in pursuit of a giant Rovers Football Club take to the nightshirts, use prams, wheelbarrows carrying a 60lb sack of wool (for the event for you! Taking place on cheese rolling down a hill. Only in River Windrush for a football match. or anything else with wheels. One men) or 35lb (for women) compete the Friday after Spring Bank Holiday, the Cotswolds! It takes place every Hundreds line the banks to watch the team member pushes the other, they over a 240-yard course up a one-in- events also include tug-o’-war, Spring Bank Holiday on Cooper’s 100-year-old tradition. If you fancy stop at a pub and down a beer, and four hill every Spring Bank Holiday Champion of the Hill and a five-mile Hill, near Brockworth. getting close to the action, we highly then swap jobs! Monday in May. run. www.cheese-rolling.co.uk recommend waterproofs! www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/whats- www.tetburywoolsack.co.uk www.olimpickgames.com GL3 4SB www.bourtonroversfc.com on/bampton-shirt-race-p1172951 GL8 8DD GL55 6UW GL54 2AQ OX18 2JL

¨ Wilderness Festival Wilderness Festival takes place over four days at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire every August. Wilderness combines the usual music and excitement of a festival with relaxation in a nature reserve. So wake up early for some wild swimming or learn to forage, butcher and cook wild ingredients! www.wildernessfestival.com OX7 3DG ¨ Old Woodstock Mock Mayor The Old Woodstock Mock Mayor procession dates back to the time when New Woodstock acquired a mayor and the residents of Old Woodstock thought the new place was getting a bit above itself, so they appointed a mock mayor and threw ¨ The NAF Five Star ¨ Pig Face Day ¨ Hunter Chase at him in the river! These days, a more International On Pig Face Day in Avening, Cheltenham Races civilised barbecue and live music World-class horse trials come to villagers feast in the village hall after Cheltenham is one of the UK’s most ensues. the Cotswolds for five days every attending evensong at the church. famous racecourses, and home to www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/whats-on/ August in the stunning surroundings Legend has it that Queen Matilda, some of the most incredible scenes old-woodstock-mock-mayor-p1231171 of Hartpury College. A sort of wife of William the Conqueror, in horse racing. The Hunter Chase OX20 1XJ equestrian triathlon, horses and commissioned the church to ease is the only evening fixture on the riders compete in three phases – the her guilt over having her unrequited calendar, so you can make a great day ¨ Stroud Fringe elegance of dressage, the bravery of love thrown into prison. When the of exploring even better. Relax with Stroud has a reputation that draws cross country and the precision of church was finished, Queen Matilda family, friends and colleagues while an eclectic mix of creatives, and show jumping. gave a feast of a pig’s head to the enjoying seven highly competitive every August Bank Holiday weekend, www.hartpuryhorsetrials.co.uk builders. races against the stunning backdrop hundreds of musicians, comedians ¨ Aunt Sally World ¨ Cheltenham Cricket GL19 3BE www.cotswolds.info/strange-things/ of the Cotswold Hills. and artists descend upon the town Championship Festival pig-face-day-avening.shtml www.cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk for a festival on the streets. Best of all, Aunt Sally is a traditional pub The Cheltenham Cricket Festival ¨ Newent Onion Fayre GL8 8NF GL50 4SH everything is free! and fairground game, played in started in 1872 and is played in the Gloucestershire’s largest one-day www.stroudfringe.co.uk pubs around Gloucestershire and stunning grounds of Cheltenham free festival, the Newent Onion Fayre ¨ Witcombe Cider Festival GL5 1BL Oxfordshire, in which players throw College. No other cricket festival has celebrates the magnificent onion! Over two days and two nights of sticks at a model of a woman’s head. been played on the same ground for The fayre offers prizes for the best the August Bank Holiday weekend, Great fun! Either find a pub to have so long, and no other festival in the onion, an onion eating competition, ciders for all tastes meet live music a go at it all year round, or enter world lasts for 12 days or more! live music, entertainment, food at the Witcombe Cider Festival. Get yourself in the Aunt Sally World www.gloscricket.co.uk and drink, fairground rides, animal a round of Gloucestershire’s finest Championship, which takes place at GL53 7AB displays, and over 150 stalls. ciders in and enjoy some of the best the Charlbury Beer Festival on the www.newentonionfayre.org chart-topping bands from now and last weekend in June. GL18 1BZ then. www.charlburybeerfestival.org www.witcombeciderfestival.co.uk OX7 3DQ GL3 4RP

20 THE COTSWOLD BUCKET LIST www.OLDSTOCKSINN.COM www.cotswoldbucketlist.com THE COTSWOLD BUCKET LIST 21 www.cotswoldbucketlist.com

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