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 . 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 Battle of Blenheim 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, Worcestershire, 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 Tewkesbury, 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, Bristol and Birmingham, 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 Chastleton, Churchill, Bledington, Kingham, 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 Cotswold Way 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 Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe, 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, Dursley, Tetbury, Yate, 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 hamlets 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 Great Tew

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 Little Tew

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 Kew Gardens. 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! Special Cotswold Tour

The Cotswolds has plenty of special attractions that are worth seeing. There are many landmarks to visit and places to go that not only will you experience real British countryside at its best, but you will be charmed by the unspoilt beauty of this quintessential region. The Cotswolds is a place where locals say hello and where every village has a strong community to protect the interests of the area.

Taking a tour around the Cotswolds is likely to take a good few days. The region is in the south-west of England, stretching across several counties and 800 square miles. The Cotswolds region covers from the edge of Warwickshire, to Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and parts of north- east Somerset. The countryside is well-known for its lush rolling hills, charming, chocolate box villages, magnificent stately homes and pretty market towns. If you want to see breath-taking English countryside, then it truly is one of the most beautiful places to visit in England. Peaceful Villages & Charming Market Towns

The Cotswolds was once one of the biggest contributors for wool in England, but since the cloth trade moved to the north of England, the area remained unspoilt and idyllic. The Cotswolds has many pretty market towns, all of which were once the centre focal point for sheep farmers when the Cotswolds were a thriving area for the wool trade. The market towns feature impressive market squares were sheep were traded every week as the most well attended markets in the region. Market towns in the Cotswolds include Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on- the-Water, Chipping Norton, Witney, Woodstock and Burford. Villages in the Cotswolds are usually quiet with a friendly village pub and a bustling atmosphere in the summer months. Winters boast the smell of wood-burning stoves filling the air and thatched cottages are dimly lit through the trees. The misty chill gives the villages a somewhat romantic feel too. Many villages in the Cotswolds are famous for their beautiful buildings next to meandering streams and trickling rivers. Lower Slaughter village has had a street named as the ‘most romantic street in England’. Cotswold Castles

The Cotswolds is famous for its many castles that through the years have been the centre of many tourist attractions. Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe has many royal connections and is well-known for being the only private castle to have a royal queen buried within the castle grounds. The Queens Garden was named after four queens who once lived or visited there – Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Katherine Parr and Lady Jane Grey. Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire is one of Elizabethan’s perfect examples of castles in England with an enormous Medieval fortress that has had many connections with Medieval monarchs. It is also famous for telling the royal love story of The Earl of Leicester Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth I. Berkeley Castle is the finest example of English heritage and has hosted many royals throughout the centuries including Edward II, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and the late Queen Mother. It is also well-known for being the place where Edward II was supposedly murdered and also where the last court jester in England died, when he fell from the minstrel’s gallery in the Great Hall.

Cotswolds Secret Cottage Tour

The Secret Cottage Tour offers unique tours of the Cotswolds on a 6-hour daytrip around the area. If you’re staying in London and would like to see the Cotswolds in a day, then you can get an easy train from London Paddington to Moreton-in- Marsh. Our Secret Cottage Tour takes you around the beautiful sights of the Cotswolds, showing you magnificent stately homes, Cotswold attractions, pretty market towns and charming Cotswold villages. We take you to our home The Secret Cottage in the morning for a hot drink and pastry, then return for a tasty homemade buffet lunch. If you would like to experience a Cotswolds tour with a difference, then we also offer a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. After the 6- hour tour, we take you back to the train station in time to get your train back to London for the evening.

Cotswold Landmarks

Castles in The Cotswolds are not rare, in fact the region has some of the most beautiful castles in England and many are top tourist attractions in the area. Although Blenheim is not a castle, it is still an incredibly beautiful landmark which attracts thousands of visitors every year. The Cotswolds have some of England’s most well-known castles, many that have royal connections and fascinating historical stories. The Cotswolds stretches across the Cotswold hills and is in the South-West of England, just a short trip taking 1 hour and 40 minutes on a train from London. The region is steeped in history and was once the largest supplier of English wool during the Medieval times. The Cotswold hills are magical with breath-taking views across to faraway places such as the Welsh mountains.

Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is still owned by the Berkeley family and remains a stunning example of English heritage in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. Berkeley Castle was built in 1153 and has welcomed many royals over the centuries including Henry VIII, Edward II, Elizabeth I and the late Queen Mother. There are some incredible and historical stories about the castle, including where the murder of Edward II took place and apparently, Midsummers Night’s Dream by Shakespeare, was written for a Berkeley family wedding within the castle. It is also believed that the last court jester known in England died at Berkeley Castle when he fell from the minstrel’s gallery in the Great Hall. Berkeley Castle is a fine example of typical architecture and English stately culture and is a charming aspect to the beauty of The Cotswolds.

Sudeley Castle

Sudeley Castle is set in 1,200 acres of land and has 10 beautiful award-winning gardens with the most unique being the Queens Garden. The castle has had many royal influences over the years is the only private castle in England to have a royal queen buried within the grounds. Katherine Parr was the last wife of Henry VIII and is the only queen to have lived and died in the castle. The Queens Garden was named after 4 queens who once walked the castle – Katherine Parr, Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. The Pheasantry at Sudeley Castle is very popular with tourists, offering an incredible collection of 16 rare and endangered species of birds from all over the world.

Kenilworth Castle

The carcass of Kenilworth Castle stands in majestic ruins overlooking the stunning Elizabethan garden that has a colourful array of wildflowers in all their glory. It is very popular with visitors coming to the Cotswolds because it is a perfect haven of tranquillity. Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire is believed to be one of Elizabethan’s finest examples of stunning castles in England. The beautiful historic estate is a magnificent Medieval fortress and one of the largest within the country. It has many connections with famous Medieval monarchs, associated with King Henry VIII and perhaps more famously tells the royal love story of The Earl of Leicester Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth I. Secret Cottage Tour from London

The Secret Cottage Tour takes you on a wonderful 6-hour tour around the Cotswolds, showing you some of the most beautiful parts of the countryside, stately homes, castles, stunning Cotswold attractions, pretty market towns and magical chocolate box villages. If you’re coming to England and staying in London, then a daytrip to The Cotswolds is easy. You can catch a train from London to Moreton-in-Marsh taking just 1 hour and 40 minutes. The Secret Cottage Tour takes our guests around the area in a comfortable, luxurious Mercedes 7- seater minibus so you can relax in comfort while you take in the breath-taking views. We take you to the Secret Cottage which is our home, stopping for a morning drink and pastry, then return later for a delicious buffet lunch. We even treat you to a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon! A visit to the Cotswolds brings you some of the most beautiful sights of stunning countryside and magnificent buildings. Take a break from the city and escape to The Cotswolds for a relaxing and inspiring day out! We would like to advise guests that we do get booked up quickly, so if you don’t want to miss out – book with us soon!

Best Private Cotswolds Tour

The Cotswolds is famous for its sheep farming and the sheep were once nicknamed the ‘Cotswold Lions’ because of their shaggy golden wool. The area was once one of the largest contributors to the English wool trade before the industrial revolution. After the cloth trade moved to the north of England, the Cotswolds area was left unspoilt and tranquil, avoiding any major industrial development apart from the remains of the magnificent wool mills. Several of the remaining wool mills have now been converted to residences or offices throughout the Cotswolds, retaining the beautiful structures and making them a magnificent landmark in the rolling hills of the countryside.

If you’re thinking of coming to the Cotswolds for a few days or planning a daytrip, then you won’t be disappointed with the stunning sights and the beauty of the area. The Cotswolds has been named as an area of outstanding natural beauty and is known to be the second largest noted area in England. The area covers 800 square miles and stretches across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and north-east Somerset, having a population of around 139,000 people. Cotswold market towns are famous for being constructed around the town’s focal point – a pretty market square. The market squares still regularly have weekly markets but were once famous for regular sheep markets where sheep would be traded amongst farmers. The towns were purposefully built around the market square to ensure the flocks of sheep coming to market could be counted through the small alleyways and lanes that led to the market. The Cotswold market towns include Moreton- in-Marsh, Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Woodstock and Cirencester.

Chipping Norton Market Town

Chipping Norton is famous for Bliss Mill and was one of the largest wool towns in the Cotswolds region. During the 15th Century, the Cotswold area was famous for being one of the biggest contributors for wool in Europe. When the cloth trade moved to the north of England, the town remained untouched in all its beauty, perhaps a distant memory to what was once such a busy location. Bliss Mill has now been renovated and converted into residences but still stands magnificently on the hill on the edge of the town. This stunning market town in north Oxfordshire is the highest known town in the area and was originally built on the site of a Norman castle.

Woodstock & Blenheim Palace

Local boutiques and pretty gift shops make up the picture- perfect market town of Woodstock in the Cotswolds. In the town centre is Oxfordshire Museum, an informative and interesting place where you can learn about the local history. The Textiles Trail in Woodstock exhibits the Blenheim Palace Tapestries, the beautiful Woodstock Wallhangings in the Town Hall and the fascinating Stonesfield Embroidery at The Oxfordshire Museum. Woodstock is the famous landmark for the beautiful home of Blenheim Palace. Blenheim was the residence to the Churchill family and famously known as Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The remarkable palace is set in 2000 acres of land and is still home to the late Duke of Marlborough. Woodstock is popular with many tourists because of the famous palace, the museums and the pretty, antique shops in the town. Stow-on-the-Wold Sheep Market

In recent years, Stow-on-the-Wold has become a beautiful market town where shops overlook the large market square that includes cafés, the town hall, antique shops and stunning art galleries. Stow-on-the-Wold was built on the old Roman road called The Fosse Way and was a regular meeting place as six roads leading from various locations joined in the town. It is known as the highest town in the Cotswolds at 800 feet above sea level and visitors used to flock from everywhere to attend the sheep markets. The town was originally called Edwardstow and was founded in the 11th Century. Markets have taken place in the towns market square since 1107 when a charter was granted by King Henry II, but since the sheep markets faded out, regular gypsy fairs have replaced them and Stow Fair is still held twice a year in a nearby field on the edge of town. Secret Cottage Cotswolds Tour

If you’re staying in London or visiting England and would like to see more of the English countryside, then the Cotswolds is only one hour and 40 minutes from London Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh train station. Experience an amazing Cotswolds tour with Secret Cottage to soak up the true atmosphere of the region. We will pick you up directly from the train station in our 7-seater luxury minibus and take you on a stunning 6-hour tour of the Cotswolds. A Cotswolds tour will take you to chocolate box villages, stunning stately homes, show you pretty Cotswold hamlets and quaint Cotswold market towns. There’s no need to bring a picnic as we take you to our home The Secret Cottage for a hot drink and pastry in the morning, then back for a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also treat you to a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon! After the Secret Cottage Tour, you will be returned to the train station so you can get your train back to London in time for the evening. Don’t miss out on a truly memorable experience – book your Secret Cottage Tour today!