The English Cotswolds The landscape and countryside is picture-perfect and the villages and towns are built from the beautiful natural yellow limestone famous to the area called Cotswold stone. The Cotswolds is a region that covers numerous counties in the South West of England, with an approximate population of around 139,000 people. It has been noted as an area of outstanding natural beauty with unspoilt and picturesque countryside that spreads around the rolling Cotswold hills. Plenty of Cotswold Attractions There are so many things to do and places to see in The Cotswolds that no matter what time of year, you won’t be disappointed if you’re visiting. Well-known attractions include the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford where you will find a beautiful zoo set amongst manor grounds. There’s also the majestic Blenheim Palace in Woodstock that is set in 2000 acres of land and is still home to the late Duke of Marlborough. You will find TV celebrity Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power and the amazing Birdland Park and The Model Village in Bourton-on-Water. The Cotswold Water Park is located not far away in South Cerney and the stunning Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh. This is just a few of the stunning places to visit in The Cotswolds and there are plenty more… Pretty Cotswold Villages Often nestled between the crevices or near woodland in the Cotswold hills, are pretty villages with meandering streams and perfect thatched cottages. Villages in The Cotswolds are the picturesque and in the Spring, pink and white blossom thickens the trees, wildflowers dot the banks and bluebells cover the nearby woods. The Cotswolds is genuinely a beautiful picture postcard for true English heritage. The villages of Bourton-on-Water, Broadway, Charlbury, The Tews, Chastleton and The Slaughters are just some of the most unspoilt examples of pretty Cotswold villages. In the summer, many of the villages hold beer festivals, fairs and summer fetes often to raise money for local good causes and schools. There are coffee mornings in the winter, community bonfire nights and Christmas fairs that keep the village in the social scene. You will often find strong communities in Cotswold villages, where several family generations have lived on through the decades. Wherever you go, locals will say hello and farmers give a nod as they pass by on their tractor. Towns in The English Cotswolds The Cotswolds are made up of several major towns and cities such as Cheltenham, the City of Bath, Oxford, Stroud and Cirencester. Many of them are near to the River Thames or the River Windrush and market towns of The Cotswolds are often built on gently sloping hills around a charming market square with a town hall made from the typical Cotswold stone. The streets are lined by chestnut or beech trees, brightly coloured hanging baskets and the honey-coloured stone is distinctive to the typical pretty Cotswold towns. Cotswold towns and cities give visitors and tourists some of the most beautiful places to go with a wealth of attractions, amongst a stunning and real example of English countryside. Since the cloth trade moved to the North England, most of the towns have changed very little over the centuries, keeping the unspoilt area idyllic and charming. Day Tour of The Cotswolds The perfect way to explore The English Cotswolds is by a special guided tour that shows you all the hidden gems and the beautiful countryside that surrounds the area. The Secret Cottage Tour is the best daytrip, especially if you are visiting England. If you’re staying in London, then a quick train from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh only takes 1hr 40 minutes. Our luxury Mercedes minibus will pick you up straight from the station and take you off on the tour for the day, around all the best attractions in The Cotswolds. Although the tour takes 6 hours, we make sure you are well fed by bringing you to our home The Secret Cottage for some delicious homemade food. We offer tea, coffee and a pastry in the morning, then return for a tasty buffet meal at lunchtimes. We also provide a traditional Cotswold cream team in the afternoon as an extra special treat! All our guests are given a true taste of The Cotswolds with our wonderful tour and a visit to our Cotswold thatched cottage. We will take you through pretty villages, show you some of the most stunning views of the countryside and discover the hidden gems in the surrounding area. You are dropped back at the train station for your journey home, making certain that you will back in London for the evening. If you’re interested in our Cottage Tour, we advise you to book soon!.