Cotswolds Tours & Villages

Cotswolds tours around local villages give a distinct air of beauty to the eye of any visitor to the area. You will often find locals waving and saying hello in the summer as they sit and watch the world go by, children play out on village greens and walkers stride through lanes and fields admiring the breath-taking scenery and views. Cotswold villages are a wonderful place to live and there are many villages which have several historical sites, making them famous landmarks, enticing people to the area. Many of the villages in the Cotswolds are dotted along the picturesque countryside, nestled on the rolling hills between magnificent market towns. Cotswolds tours regularly take visitors through the picture- perfect villages, showing them a somewhat picturesque vision of typical Cotswold life. Many villages and towns are built from the beautiful Cotswold stone which could be described as a warm honey-coloured limestone, typical of the area.

Cotswold Villages – The Slaughters

Upper and are two awe-inspiring villages which offer visitors a perfect Cotswold scene of honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages that beautifully line the streets and lanes. Known as ‘The Slaughters’, the villages in are close to Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on- the-Water. They are twin villages where the River Eye divides them and runs through the centre of the villages and the word ‘Slaughter’ comes from the word ‘Slohtre’, an Anglo-Saxon phrase for ‘muddy place’. A street called Copse Hill Road in Lower Slaughter has been named by Google Maps as being the ‘most romantic street in ’. The 19th century corn mill in Lower Slaughter still operated until 1960 and has its original water wheel. Now open to visitors as The Old Mill Museum, the mill offers a craft shop and a relaxed café on site. Although a few cottages were renovated in 1906 by Sir Edwin Lutyens, no new houses have been built in since 1904.

Bibury Near

The beautiful village of sits in the Cotswold hills between Burford and and is situated next to the . The village is famous for a set of old buildings called Arlington Row, a cluster of Cotswold cottages that date as far back as the 16th century. The weaver’s cottages were developed in 1830 as a purpose-built monastic wool store where cloth was produced then transported to Arlington Mill to be hung out on timber frames. Arlington Row is famous in the region and flocks of people from all around the world regularly visit on Cotswolds tours to see this historical site. The row of cottages has now been preserved by the Royal College of Arts and throughout time has been a popular filming location for blockbuster movies such as Bridget Jones’s Diary. Bibury has a pretty village church called St Mary’s that was founded in the 8th century, boasting a beautiful mix of architecture with Medieval windows and Norman carvings. Bibury village was once announced as “the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds” by designer and artist .

Cotswolds Tours

Cotswolds tours are well worth booking for a special daytrip to the area. You can take in all the picturesque and stunning places of the area to get a true sense of English countryside at its best. The Cotswolds region has been named as the second largest ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’ in England, stretching across several counties and 800 square miles with a population of 139,000 people. The Secret Cottage Tour operates 7 days a week, giving a unique and personal tour of the Cotswolds. On our incredible 6-hour Cotswold tour you will be taken to all the best places in the area, showing you some beautiful country estates and stately homes, pretty market towns and some of the most picture-perfect countryside you will ever see. The tour picks our guests up from Moreton-in- Marsh train station which has a direct train from London taking only one hour and forty minutes. Relax in our 7-seater luxury minibus and let us take you to all the hidden gems, showing you magical countryside and the best places in the area. You can enjoy a hot drink and pastry at The Secret Cottage in the morning, then we return for a home cooked delicious buffet lunch, also treating our guests to a traditional tasty Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. Once the tour has finished, we return you to the train station so that you can be back in London in time for your evening meal. We advise guests to book soon as we get booked up very quickly!

Blenheim in Woodstock

The Cotswold market town of Woodstock is located between and , having thousands of visitors to the area every year. The town centre has thriving restaurants, magnificent hotels, many local gift shops and quintessential antique shops. Woodstock is a picturesque Cotswold market town with merging architecture of Tudor style and Cotswold stone buildings. The Museum in Woodstock is the focus of historical interest, showcasing masses of artefacts and history relating to the surrounding region. The Cotswolds are renowned for having many beautiful landmarks including stunning stately homes, magnificent , historical places and charming market towns and villages. One of the most famous places to visit for Cotswold tours is Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, a vision of majestic beauty in 2000 acres of land.

Beautiful Cotswold Attractions

Blenheim Palace is an astounding place to visit and has been a popular Cotswolds attraction for visitors to the area for years. The palace offers tours that take you around the Churchill Exhibition and the famous . You can also enjoy formal garden walking and driving buggy tours with many seasonal events such as the Christmas Craft Fair, Battle Proms and the Blenheim Palace Flower Show in late June. The Blenheim Palace Food Festival at the end of May every year invites guest to watch demonstrations from local producers, having a vast range of food and drink. You will see craft brewers, artisan bakers, international cuisine and plenty of sweet flavoured popular foods. There are driving tours in the spring that take you to the lambing fields in Blenheim Palace Estate where the farm often has around 3000 lambs each season.

Sir

Blenheim Palace is perhaps most famously known as the birthplace and home of Sir Winston Churchill. The estate first belonged to the Churchill family when the 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, was given the home as a reward by . After his victory over France in the War of The Spanish Succession, Queen Anne gave John Churchill offering for it to be his family home. At the time, the estate was dilapidated, so Anne also gave him £240,000 to pay for the rebuild of the estate. Sir Winston Churchill was later born at the palace in 1874 and he also proposed to his wife to be, Clementine Hozier at the beautiful Temple of Diana in the palace grounds. Churchill died in 1955 and was buried with his family at a church in a nearby village called . Blenheim Palace is set in 2000 acres of stunning land. The estate was originally known as Blenheim Park and now has magnificent gardens with a beautiful lake that is overlooked by the palace. Blenheim Palace remained in the Churchill family for decades and is now owned by the 11th Duke of Marlborough, the late John -Churchill who died in 1999.

North Cotswold Tours

The beautiful market towns in the North of the Cotswolds include Moreton-in-Marsh, Woodstock, , Chipping Norton and Burford. They are all typically beautiful of the area and the famous market wool towns that make up the landscapes of the Cotswolds. There are many attractions in the region, giving visitors many places to see and things to do on Cotswold tours. If you’re travelling to England and staying in or near London, there is an easy train journey directly to Moreton-in-Marsh, taking only 1 hour and 40 minutes. Visit one of the most beautiful places in England, where the countryside is typically unspoilt and green rolling hills, with peaceful villages and charming market towns. Discover the hidden gems and many beautiful attractions, absorbing the Cotswold countryside. Book your Cotswolds tour with the Secret Cottage Tour, giving you a unique and personal experience of a day in the Cotswolds. We can pick you up from the nearby train station in Moreton-in-Marsh in our 7-seater luxury minibus, taking you off to explore the picture-perfect attractions of the area. We show you stunning stately homes, pretty Cotswold villages, beautiful market towns and bring you back to our home The Secret Cottage for a delicious buffet lunch, an afternoon traditional Cotswold cream tea, also a hot drink and pastry in the morning. We love to keep our guests well fed during our 6-hour Cotswold tours, while you relax and hear all about life in the Cotswolds. We advise our guest to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Days Out & Cotswold Tours

The Cotswolds region has a current population of around 139,000 people living in stunning cities, charming market towns and quaint villages that are hidden amongst the rolling Cotswold hills. If you’re thinking of visiting England and may be staying in London, then the Cotswolds is only 1hr 40 minutes on the train that runs directly to all the train stations in the area. If you have never seen the natural beauty of the Cotswolds, then is certainly worth taking the time to visit. The area is situated in the south-west of England, stretching across several counties including , Oxfordshire, and north-east . The approximate size of the Cotswolds is 800 square miles. A day out in the Cotswolds is easy to do from London.

Picturesque Villages

In springtime, banks of daffodils fill the countryside and bluebells can be found within dense woodland. Whether you visit the Cotswolds in spring, summer, winter or autumn, you will discover a beautiful area typical of English life in the countryside. The views in the Cotswolds are a vision of quintessential heritage and possibly one of the most beautiful places you will see in England. The gentle rolling hills blend beautifully with pretty market towns and tiny villages. Herds of cows, sheep and horses bring nature to our doorstep and is a different scene from before the Industrial Revolution, when the area was a major sheep-farming region. The Cotswolds sheep are known as the ‘Cotswold Lions’, renowned for their golden long shaggy fleece that is unique to the area. The rivers throughout the Cotswolds include the River Eye, , the River Coln and the . Villages have tributaries where children splash and paddle and larger towns have wider and deeper rivers overhung by beautiful willow trees. Towns in The Cotswolds

All of the Cotswold market towns are centred around a market square where wool markets once appeared every week largely when the Cotswolds was one of the main suppliers of wool to the European market. Major cities and towns in the area include , Cheltenham, , Oxford, and the City of Bath. Charming Cotswold market towns include Burford, Witney, Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh, , Stow-on-the-Wold and Woodstock. Towns, villages and cities in the area are built from Cotswold stone, a pretty honey- coloured limestone that is unique to the region. The blend of the Cotswold rolling hills and stone buildings brings a beautifully typical vision of stunning Cotswold countryside, making it one of the most inspiring places to visit. Cheltenham is also influenced by Edwardian and Victorian architecture, bringing an interesting balance of different styles, complementing each other in the process.

Places to Visit in The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds offers so many things to do if you’re visiting the area. Cotswold tours take you to magical places that you may not necessarily find on your own. There are beautiful famous landmarks such as Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford, Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh and the Cotswold Farm Park in . The well-known is popular with visitors and tourists, being the birthplace for Cheltenham Gold Cup. The majestic City of Bath is famous for the stunning Roman Baths and has a wealth of interesting and historical places to see. Secret Cottage Cotswold Tours

If you are planning a trip to the Cotswolds, then you can experience a unique tour with the Secret Cottage Tour. Our tours have the personal touch with a visit to our pretty cottage in depths of a Cotswolds village. We make sure you see the most beautiful places in the Cotswolds on our 6-hour tour, taking in magnificent views, stunning stately homes, quiet villages and some of the best attractions in the area. Cotswold tours give you a true vision of life in the English countryside and Secret Cottage Tours add a family charm, showing you a typical 500-year old Cotswold cottage that boasts splendour. If you’re coming from London, you can catch a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh train station where we will pick you up in our luxury minibus. We bring our guests to our home for a morning drink and pastry, then return for a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also treat our guests to a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon – so you won’t go hungry! You will be taken back to the train station to get your train back to London in time for the evening.

Cotswolds Tour & Historical Places

If you’re thinking of coming to the Cotswolds from London, there is a direct train from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh, taking only 1hr 40 minutes, so the beautiful region of the Cotswolds is within distance for an exciting daytrip. The Cotswolds is a vast area stretching across several counties and covering an incredible 800 square miles. It is a beautiful region in England and has been noted as an area of outstanding natural beauty. If you are visiting England and thinking of coming to the Cotswolds, you will be taken back by how beautiful the area is.

Prinknash Abbey in

The new Prinknash Abbey dominates the land but there are also several buildings on the site that include pottery, the farm, houses, a wonderful bird park, a centre for recreation, a café and workshops. Prinknash Abbey is nestled on a hillside between Painswick and Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. Seventeen monks live on the premises and there is also a complex range of buildings, spread evenly throughout the estate of 300 acres that overlook the valley. The original Abbey of Saint Peter’s Grange is now a popular Retreat and Conference Centre and the venue has over 100,000 visitors each year. It is a happy association of Monks and Laity who work in partnership to form a friendly, living community for the benefit of all around them. Prinknash Abbey is approached through a lovely drive and a tunnel of trees, and is perhaps one of the most isolated and stunning tourist places around the Cotswolds.

Blenheim Palace in Woodstock

Blenheim Palace in Woodstock was built in the 18th Century by John Churchill in celebration of victory over France in the War of the Spanish Succession. It was a gift to John, the 1st Duke of Marlborough who was the military commander, and is now designated as a World Heritage site. Churchill led the Allied forces during the and he received the news of the surrender from the leader of the French forces. Queen Anne awarded Churchill’s family the beautiful Royal Manor and park in Woodstock which was sadly dilapidated and in need of desperate restoration. Queen Anne also gave Churchill £240,000 to rebuild the house to mark this special occasion. Sir Winston Churchill was born at the palace in 1874, where he also proposed to his wife Clementine Hozier. Blenheim Palace is one of the best places to visit in The Cotswolds due to its breath-taking creation that sits in grandeur amongst 2000 acres of stunning land. The majestic palace overlooks lakes and woodland, and on a beautiful summers day, it’s the perfect place for a picnic.

Malmesbury Abbey

Malmesbury Abbey is in the market town of Malmesbury and was founded in the 7th Century as a Benedictine by Aldhelm. The Abbey was once a beautiful major European centre of scholarship and learning. The building is now around a third of the original size because it was consecrated in 1180 AD. At the Dissolution of the by King Henry VIII, the abbey was sold to William Stumpe for £1500. More recently, the Abbey is the Parish Church and has been dedicated to St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Adhelm and to St. Mary. The Abbey was a key place for pilgrimage because it is the sacred burial place of St. Aldhelm and King Athelstan. The abbey house gardens are stunning and believed to be one of the most beautiful gardens in England.

Secret Cottage Tour

A Cotswolds tour is a stunning contrast from any city in England and a magical place to visit if you’re coming to the UK. If you’re visiting the area for a Cotswolds tour, then you can see this stunning region on a journey with the Secret Cottage Tour. If you’re travelling from London, then you can take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh from London Paddington. Our Cotswolds tour will pick our guests up from the train station in our 7-seater luxury Mercedes minibus and take you to see some of the most stunning stately homes, charming villages and some of the best Cotswold attractions around. We take you to our home The Secret Cottage for a delicious homemade buffet lunch, also a hot drink and pastry in the morning. We also treat our guests to a traditional Cotswold cream teat in the afternoon! Book your daytrip with the Secret Cottage Tour today!

London Daytrip to The Cotswolds

It’s no surprise to anyone that the Cotswolds have been noted as one of the largest areas of outstanding natural beauty in England. With the rolling Cotswold hills and the stunning countryside, the wild woodland and the pretty River Windrush, the Cotswolds is an English gem that should be discovered. The area of the Cotswolds covers nearly 800 miles and is located in the South-West of England. The area stretches across several counties including Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, , Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. The local stone is called Cotswold stone, and is a typical limestone of the area used in construction with most of the buildings, the homes and the stately houses in the Cotswold town market squares.

Are You Visiting the Cotswolds?

If you’re passing through the region, then it’s well worth stopping in the Cotswolds to see the beautiful countryside and the historical sites. If you are coming to the Cotswolds for a weekend away or you’re visiting England and staying in London, then it’s an easy area to visit. There are many tourist attractions around such as Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power and the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford. Blenheim Palace in Woodstock is also one of the most famous landmarks in the area, located in Oxfordshire where a grand stately home sits amongst 2000 acres of land in Woodstock. Blenheim palace is still owned by the late Duke of Marlborough and it is most famous because Sir Winston Churchill was born and lived there. Most of the Churchill family are buried in a nearby church in the village of Bladon. The Cotswolds are renowned for being one of the largest suppliers of the wool trade in Europe but when the cloth trade moved to the North of England, the area remained unspoilt and idyllic in comparison to many industrialised areas in England. Tourist Attractions

The stunning Cotswolds hills make up much of the countryside in the Cotswolds and are famous for their breath-taking landscapes and green lush grass where Cotswold sheep reside. There are hundreds of tourist attractions across the region including beautiful palaces and castles, grand stately homes and exciting tourist attractions. Cotswold market towns have a friendly buzz and are busy with tourists all year around. Local villages have charming thatched cottages and perfect village greens where children gather and cricket is played on a Sunday. Some of the larger market towns like , Cirencester, Cheltenham and Oxford are home to many affluent residents. Music festivals, antique shops, summer festivals and boutique gift shops make up a creative and welcoming vibe throughout the towns and cities. Cotswold villages are famous for their historical landmarks such as Bibury, with the famous weavers’ cottages of Arlington Row, Lower Slaughter for Copse Hill Road which has been named as one of the most romantic streets in England. Daytrip from London

The Cotswolds are a short train journey away from London. If you’re planning on staying in the south-west of England, then a tour of the area is very easy. Catch the train from London Paddington directly to Moreton-in-Marsh and you will be in the heart of the Cotswolds in just one hour and 40 minutes. The nearest airports are London, and , all within only an hour or two distance from the Cotswolds. If you’re staying in London and have a free day, then book a daytrip on a Cotswold tour. A day out in the Cotswolds will leave you feeling revived as you soak up the wonderful fresh air and the relaxing and friendly atmosphere of the countryside.

The Secret Cottage Tour

You can book a London daytrip or a small group tour with The Secret Cottage Tour. You will be taken by us to all the wonderful sites in The Cotswolds, showing you the most beautiful views of English countryside and giving you a true sense of Cotswold life. You will see charming Cotswold villages, pretty market towns, magnificent stately homes, wildflower meadows, trickling streams or full-flowing rivers that run through village gardens or towns. The Secret Cottage Tour pick guests up from Moreton-in-Marsh train station in a luxury 7-seater Mercedes minibus and you will be returned after the six-hour tour to be back to London for your evening meal. We bring you to The Secret Cottage for a tasty homemade buffet lunch and a hot drink and pastry in the morning. Then treat our guests to a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon at the cottage. Book your Secret Cottage Tour today – don’t miss out!

Summertime in The Cotswolds

Summertime in the Cotswolds is an experience that puts you in touch with nature, making you feel at one with this beautiful area which is a picture-perfect stunning part of English countryside. The Cotswolds are simply beautiful and no matter what time of year you visit, the summer has an inspiring atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Summer in the Cotswolds is a breath-taking picture where wildflower grass carpets the landscape.

There are many Cotswolds tour companies that offer tours through the Cotswolds, but to experience this beautiful area in the summer to your full advantage, it is advised to book a private tour with the Secret Cottage Tour. If you’ve come to England and are staying in London, then you can experience the Cotswolds in daytrip. There are direct trains from London Paddington to train stations in the area, taking only1 hour 40 minutes from door to door. The Secret Cottage Tour pick up guests from Moreton-in-Marsh train station and take you on a luxury 6-hour tour to the most beautiful places in the Cotswolds. We show you stunning stately homes, pretty villages and charming market towns throughout the Cotswolds. If you want to discover the hidden gems of the region and visit some unusual places, then a daytrip with the Secret Cottage Tour is recommended.

Charming Cotswold Villages

There are many idyllic villages in the Cotswolds, including places like , Churchill, Bledington, , Lower Slaughter and Bourton-on-the-Water. Villages in the Cotswolds are magical and a picture-perfect vision. A drive through a Cotswold village would show you views of majestic manor houses, perfect village greens, quintessential village schools, youngsters playing in trickling streams and people sipping on chilled drinks outside the local village pub. There are strong village communities and locals are committed to hosting important events throughout the summer like local festivals, fetes, fairs and other fundraising events to raise money for local schools, church or groups. Every Cotswold village has buildings hundreds of years old and showcase the famous Cotswold stone which is a beautiful honey-coloured limestone local to the area.

Bustling Market Towns

When the cloth trade moved to the north of England, the famous trading of wool from the Cotswolds hugely reduced, leaving the area unspoilt. Cotswold market towns have a fantastic lively buzz with busy cafes and pubs being attractive sociable places for locals and visitors. Beautiful market towns in the area include Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford and Woodstock. Market towns date back to Medieval times, once famous for sheep markets when the Cotswolds were one of the biggest suppliers to English wool before the industrial revolution. There were weekly sheep markets in every town and many have narrow streets leading to the market squares for farmers to count their sheep going in and out of market. Market squares are overlooked by magnificent town halls majestically built in the beautiful Cotswold limestone. Cotswold Tours & Events

The Cotswolds hold many events throughout the region in the summer, including village fetes, street parties, local dog shows, vintage rallies, country shows, music festivals, beer festivals, art exhibitions and open gardens at stately homes. Weekends in the Cotswolds would give you time to see the area, but if you want to experience the stunning Cotswolds on a daytrip or on a tour, then book your seats with the Secret Cottage Tour. We take our guests on a delightful six-hour Cotswolds tour, taking you to magnificent places and showing you some of the most beautiful areas in England. The Secret Cottage Tour pick guests up from Moreton-in-Marsh train station in a luxury 7-seater Mercedes minibus and you will be returned after the six-hour tour to be back to London for your evening meal. We bring you to our Secret Cottage for a delicious homemade lunch and a hot drink and pastry in the morning. We also treat our guests to a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon at the cottage. Once the Secret Cottage Cotswolds tour is over, we will take you back to the train station so you can be back in London in time for the evening. We advise our guests to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Cotswold Walks

Cotswold views boast picture-perfect English countryside with rolling hills, yellow fields in the spring, wildflower meadows and dense woodland. If you are visiting England and would like to see English countryside at its best, then the Cotswolds is the perfect area to discover. There are many attractive areas to walk in, with beautiful bluebell woods and charming village pubs to eat in, you really will be spoilt for choice. The Cotswolds is in the south-west of England and covers 800 square miles. It covers Gloucestershire, Warwickshire Oxfordshire and parts of Wiltshire and north-east Somerset. Walking in the Cotswolds in a wonderful experience and one that will be memorable for life.

The Cotswold Trail

The Cotswold Trail, also known as the is an amazing 102-mile-long footpath that creeps along the Cotswold escarpment from the magnificent City of Bath in Somerset to the English Cotswolds. The Cotswold Way has been around for over 30 years following many years of lobbying by the Ramblers Association and its amazing views were finally recognised and in 1998 the government approved its development as a National Trail. It was formally launched as a National Trail known as the Cotswold Way in May 2007. The route starts at the stunning old wool town of Chipping Camden and follows 102 miles to the city of Bath. This popular walking path takes walkers through beautiful countryside along a ridge where you can find picturesque villages, pretty churches, majestic stately homes and some of the most memorable views in the English countryside. You can also see near , a burial chamber at Belas Knap, and the Roman Spa and Abbey in Bath. The Cotswold Way starts in Chipping Camden, continues past Broadway, via Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Brockworth, Stroud, , , , Bristol and finishes in Bath Spa. It is considered a walker’s paradise, giving you a true taste of English countryside with incredible views of pretty villages and stunning market towns. On your way, you will come across beautiful villages overlooking to rivers, Cotswold churches, ivy covered cottages, well-kept cricket pavilions and beautiful Cotswold barns. The rolling landscape, the majestic trees and the lush green countryside makes up the stunning views of the Cotswolds.

Cotswolds Views

If you are planning on walking or touring the Cotswolds, you will find it a very memorable experience. There are narrow hedge-lined lanes to leading to villages, lush green village greens, meandering streams and beautiful rivers, fields of gold from the commonly seen Oilseed Rape and many ancient woodlands. The countryside is simply breath-taking and the towns and villages are also a delight to wander around. There are many pretty villages with delightful local pubs, pretty market towns, magnificent stately homes and many historical attractions throughout the area. Villages are timeless with solid communities and the Cotswold market towns have an extraordinary selection of shops, gift shops, cafes and restaurants. Walking through the Cotswolds is a heart-warming experience as you feel completely at one with nature.

Unique Cotswold Tours

The Cotswolds region is only 1 hour and 40 minutes on the train from London Paddington, so a daytrip to the area is easy. Cotswold tours take you on special tours of the beautiful countryside, showing you historical places, charming villages and beautiful market towns. Cotswold tours are the best way to see the area and to learn all about the history of this beautiful region. The Secret Cottage Tour is a unique and personal experience because we invite our guests into our home alongside giving them a tour of the area. We promise an exciting 6-hour tour which takes you around the best places of the Cotswolds. We pick our guests up from Moreton-in-Marsh train station in our luxury 7-seater Mercedes minibus and take you to see Cotswold attractions, showing you all the most breath-taking views of the area along the way. We stop at our home The Secret Cottage for tea or coffee and a pastry in the morning and then at lunchtime, we bring you back for a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also give you a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. After our Cotswold tours, we return you to the train station so that you can get your train back to London in time for your evening meal. We take you to the hidden places around the Cotswolds to see stunning homes, beautiful villages and some of the most ancient places in the area. We advise our guests to book as soon as possible, as we are often booked up quickly!

The Charming Cotswolds

Cotswold tours are popular with visitors to England as it is so close to London, in fact only one hour and 40 minutes on the train from London Paddington to train stations within the Cotswolds. The region is well known for being famous for celebrities where residents in the region include Alex James from Blur, supermodel Kate Moss, Amanda Holden, Jeremy Clarkson and journalist Rebecca Brooks. The Cotswolds also has members of the royal family living in the region including Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Zara Phillips. The Cotswolds was once famous for being one of the largest suppliers to the English wool market and once the Cotswold Hills were crowded with Cotswold sheep (known as ‘the Cotswold lions’) but the region has remained unspoilt and peaceful since the cloth trade moved to the north of England after the industrial revolution.

A tour of the Cotswolds will take you through pretty villages that nestle between the Cotswold Hills and close to small that have only five or six houses. Cotswold villages have the most charming thatched cottages with pretty, walled gardens and impressive stately homes overlooking countryside that is a vision of miles of green grass and rolling hills. In the Cotswold countryside, you will see pretty wildflower meadows, woodland, charming Cotswold houses and magnificent views across the hills. Cotswold market towns have well- preserved market squares where narrow streets lead to the centre of town, purposely built so farmers could count the sheep going in and out of market

Attractions in The Cotswolds

A day trip to the Cotswolds will show you stunning views and there are several major attractions throughout the Cotswold region for families and tourists to visit. The Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford has hundreds of rare and wild animals, the Cotswold Farm Park owned by TV celebrity Adam Henson near Guiting Power also has many extraordinary rare breeds of sheep, cows and pigs. Blenheim Palace in Woodstock is still owned by the late Duke of Marlborough and was once home and birthplace to Sir Winston Churchill and his family. The village of Bourton-on-the-Water is known as ‘Little Venice’ and has several local family attractions, the Model Village is a stone built village, waist height and the exact same layout of Bourton Village. Birdland has hundreds of rare birds including penguins, flamingos and Eagles and there is also the British Motor Museum which showcases many rare cars that were built in England throughout time. The village is centred around the beautiful River Windrush and on a summers day, you can sit by the river beneath the weeping willow tree and watch the world go by.

Secret Cottage Tours

If you are visiting England or staying near the Cotswolds, then book a day trip with the Secret Cottage. Our Cotswold tours pick you up from the nearest train station in Moreton- in-Marsh which is only one hour 40 minutes from London Paddington. We take our guests on a carefully planned mystery tour in our luxury seven-seater Mercedes minibus, visiting beautiful places and wonderful attractions throughout the region on our Cotswold tours. The unique part of this special tour is that we take you to our home The Secret Cottage, giving you a hot drink and pastry in the morning, then a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also provide our guests with a tasty traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. The tour lasts six-hours, taking our guests past stunning stately homes, attractive Cotswold villages and charming market towns. On our Cotswold tours, we make sure we take you to some of the best hidden places in the Cotswolds that you would never normally find if you are touring the region. We enjoy showing our guests the beautiful area where we live and telling out all about our passion for Cotswold history! We advise our guests to book their places as soon as possible as we can get booked up throughout the year. We look forward to you joining us on an exciting venture, showing you a region of England that you will never forget.

The Village of

The village of Great Tew is popular with Cotswolds tour, as it has so much interesting history but more importantly, it is the perfect vision of Cotswold life and one of the prettiest villages around. The village is situated in the Cotswold hills close Chipping Norton and Banbury in Oxfordshire. The village is often spoken about as a ‘picture book’ village because of its pretty thatched cottages with gabled roofs and unique, mature cottage gardens. The village is small but independent with a good local school, a popular pub, a pretty church and a village shop. There have been several celebrities who have lived in the area of Great Tew, including Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, and David Beckham and Victoria Beckham recently showed an interest in buying a home nearby.

The Village History

The village belongs to the Great Tew Estate which has been well-restored over the last 50 years, from what was once derelict to now a stunning vision of Cotswold perfection. Great Tew is a well-known village for visitors and Cotswolds tour, as it gives a picture-perfect vision of life in a pretty Cotswold village. The cottages are made from the famous Cotswold stone presenting a honey-coloured vision of charming buildings overlook the village centre. In the spring and the summer, the village is covered in daffodils and wildflowers and boasts perfectly kept gardens with attractive hanging baskets and potted flowers. The local Church of St. Michael and All Angels is on the edge of the village and was originally in Norman times, but was rebuilt and extended between the 13th and 14th centuries, and refurbished again in the 19th century. Many ancient wall paintings have been uncovered in the church from the 14th century and it is reported that there are still many more to discover.

The Village of

Great Tew and Little Tew villages are located around 5 miles from Cotswold market towns, nestled on the gentle Cotswold slopes and overlooking the Worton Valley. The village of Little Tew is nearby to Great Tew and has stunning country cottages made from the beautiful Cotswold stone. The village did not have a local church until 1845 when a Baptist chapel was finally built, then in 1853 the Parish Church of St. John the Baptist was built in a 14th century design. The villages were already a considerable settlement during the Domesday Book with pronounced roles during the industrial revolution and the civil war. In recent years, many of the 17th century cottages have been refurbished and Great Tew village has an reputable school, a great village pub called The Falkland Arms and a well-stocked village shop.

The Great Tew Estate

The manor house at Great Tew Estate was built before the 16th century and has had many owners including Viscount Cary who lived at the house in the 17th century. The current residents are the Johnstone family who have made several stylish renovations throughout the years to the manor and buildings in the surrounding village. The manor grounds are now shared with Soho Farmhouse which has been built as a partnership between the Johnstone family and Soho House. Soho Farmhouse is a beautiful converted farmhouse with farm buildings, set in a 100-acres of stunning Cotswold land. The farmhouse is popular with the rich and famous as a complete getaway and the venue will only allow paying members on site. The place even demands that no photography is allowed on site, so that celebrities can have complete privacy during their stay. There is an five star restaurant serving delicious food, a stylish and friendly bar, a superb cinema, a day spa and beautifully constructed wooden cabins that overlook the lake. Cotswolds Secret Cottage Tour

If you’re staying in London or visiting England, then the Cotswolds are only 1 hour 40-minutes train journey. The Secret Cottage Tour will pick you up from Moreton-in-Marsh train station in our luxurious 7-seater Mercedes minibus and take you around some of the most stunning places in The Cotswolds. This is the perfect way to see the Cotswolds on a tour from London, where you will see charming market towns, the rolling countryside of the Cotswold hills, perfect river and woodland views, magnificent stately homes and charming Cotswold villages like Great Tew. The special addition to our tour is that we take you to our home The Secret Cottage, providing a hot drink and pastry in the morning, then a tasty homemade buffet lunch. We also give our guests a delicious traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. The Secret Cottage Tour gets booked up very quickly, so make sure you don’t miss out – book your seat today! The Secret Cottage Experience

If you’re visiting England and considering coming to the Cotswolds, you won’t be disappointed with the magnificent views of the countryside. Getting to the Cotswolds is easy as there’s a direct train from London Paddington to Moreton-in- Marsh taking only 1 hour and 40 minutes, so it is worth planning to explore the region on a daytrip. The Cotswolds is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty that covers 800 square miles and includes several counties in the south-west of England.

Cotswold Farm Park

Cotswold Farm Park was awarded the Farm Attraction of The Year at the National Farm Attractions Network in 2014 and is owned by TV celebrity Adam Henson from ITV’s Countryfile. The farm was passed down to Adam from his father Joe Henson whose passion for farming had been around since the 1940s. The farm park is known for its rare breeds that include cattle, goats, pigs, horses and ponies and sheep. The older breeds are being reduced at the park because there are now in low numbers and sadly some breeds have been lost forever. The farm park is very popular throughout summer and during the lambing season where schools and children visit to experience the birthing of the lambs. There are also many friendly petting areas where you can hold and stroke the animals in the park. The farm park also offers experiences including Bush craft courses, learning how to forage, shelter building workshops, game preparation, fire lighting sessions, whittling and natural navigation with the compass. Batsford Arboretum

At Batsford Arboretum you will find stunning Japanese maples, beautiful bamboo, aromatic Magnolia and stunning mountain ash and whitebeam Sorbus trees. Batsford Arboretum has a huge range of plants from all around the world but has an emphasis on the Far East. With over 2850 specimens including around 1300 different trees, bamboo and shrubs, the arboretum is a popular place to visit. It has a huge range of Japanese flowering trees that have a lifespan of only around 50 years. Batsford takes part in the International Conifer Conservation Project which is run by the World Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. It also has red data plant material for many other gardens in England, including Bedgebury, Westonbirt and . The arboretum is a stunning place to visit at any time of year. In spring, there are thousands of flowering bulbs, snowdrops, aconite’s, daffodils and narcissi alongside beautiful blossoms of magnolia flower and cherries. Carpets of bluebells arrive here later in May and in the summer and you can sit by the pools and streams soaking up the sunshine. You will be surrounded by beautiful Wildflower areas that include buttercups, orchids, forget-me-nots and foxgloves. In the autumn, Batsford Arboretum is an incredibly beautiful place where you will see an abundance of berries, crimson colours, orange, red and yellow leaves as the trees glorify the colour in the countryside.

The Cotswold Falconry Centre

The Cotswold Falconry Centre near Moreton-in-Marsh has an enormous range of rare birds including Vultures, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Owls, Falcons, Harriers and Secretary birds. The centre runs special experiences for visitors and people who are interested in different species of birds including an Own evening and an Eagle day that encourages you to get up and close with Eagles, teaching you all there is to know as you watch them sour over the Cotswold Hills. They are incredible flying displays with over 130 birds with 60 different that take place every day in a close environment. You can learn about the birds, find out about the different species and learn how they hunt and catch their prey. There are also native birds from the Cotswolds that include Sparrowhawks, Common Buzzards, Peregrine Falcons, Red Kites, Common Kestrels and wild Barn Owls that rest and breed at the centre every year. Secret Cottage Tour

If you’re visiting the Cotswolds for a tour or a daytrip, then you can see all the best areas and attractions with the Secret Cottage Tour. Visitors travelling from London can take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh from Paddington where you are picked up in our 7-seater luxury Mercedes minibus. We will make sure you see some beautiful Cotswold stately homes, the best Cotswold attractions, the prettiest villages and charming market towns of the area. We stop for a drink and pastry at the Secret Cottage (our home) in the morning then return for a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also treat our guests to a tasty traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. A Cotswold tour is a magical experience, so make sure you book soon!