In the heart of England is a rural idyll of peaceful rolling hills where life is unhurried and traditions abound. Historic villages contain stone cottages so perfect they're called "chocolate boxes". Footpaths cross scenic fields and valleys leading to rivers, canals, woods, and civilized pubs. This is the Cotswolds, an area of limestone hills in the English countryside west of London, between Bath and Stratford-on-Avon.
The area has been known as the Cotswolds since at least Shakespeare's time (he mentioned it in Richard II). Its designating name is well-recognized though it is not an official county. Its boundaries are clearly demarked and spill over six counties, though the majority of the Cotswolds lie in Gloucestershire.
This website is your personal travel guide to the Cotswolds.
Events in the Cotswolds
Congratulations to our favorite tea shop, The Kitchen in Minchinhampton, for winning the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Award for Local Tea Shop of the Year!!
There are local fetes on most weekends. Many Cotswolds gardens are open to the public in the National Gardens Scheme (NGS).
Three Choirs Festival is an international classical music festival presented in August each year by rotation in the cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. This year the festival is in Gloucester. Choral and orchestral music in a quintessentially English setting.
Pauline's Weather Report: Sunny and warm weather through May and June - a few days were too warm (temps in the 80s) but most were perfect. July had some days of rain, some overcast days, but many good sunny days.
New on Cotswolder
Car Services for the Cotswolds: New car service companies listed.
Driving Tours: Hire a car and driver for a custom tour of the Cotswolds.
Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter: A weekend at this historic hotel.
About the Cotswolds
An introduction to this beautiful part of the English countryside. History, geography, weather, maps of the Cotswolds, practical tips. Read more
Towns and Villages
The market towns of the Cotswolds - what to see, food and drink, shops, nearby villages and sites. Read more
Plan Your Trip
Get started planning your trip to the Cotswolds: car rental, car services, driving tours, London airports, weather, our favorite books and maps, web resources. Read more
Accommodations
Find vacation rentals in the Cotswolds, price comparisons, reviews, hotels and B&Bs, staying near the airports. Read more
Cotswolds Photo Gallery
Photos of the Cotswolds: towns & villages, gardens, food & drink, trip photo essays, Bath, Wiltshire. Look at photos
Views From the Slow Lane
We write about the Cotswolds and other European travel on the Slow Europe blog "Views from the Slow Lane".
My Daily Life from a Different Angle
Going to the Loire Valley and Normandy
Subscribe to the Slow Europe Mailing List
Two Churches on the River Windrush
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Sants – Montjuïc District in Barcelona
About Cotswolder
We are Pauline Kenny and Steve Cohen and we are "Cotswolders"! We hope you will come to love this countryside area of England as much as we do. About Cotswolder
