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 Painswick 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 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 Monastery 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 Monasteries 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.