Comments or questions? Post on our Slow Europe Facebook Page.
Resources - Tourist Offices and Other Websites
The Cotswolds is not an official county in England, but is an area of English countryside circled by the cities of Bath in the south, Oxford in the east, Stratford-on-Avon in the north, and Cheltenham in the west.
There is lots of information on the web about the Cotswolds, but when you are there drop into the local Tourist Office. In the smaller towns these are usually run by volunteers who have in-depth local knowledge and are happy to talk to you. They will have a lot of tourist brochures: most are excellent, many are free, some specialty ones are for sale.
General Information about the Cotswolds
Cotswolder Google Map: Pauline's detailed Google Map of the Cotwolds.
Wikitravel Cotswolds Travel Guide
Visit Britain - The Cotswolds: Main Tourist Office website for all of Britain with some Cotswolds information.
Enjoy England: Official website for breaks and days out in England.
Britain Express - Cotswolds Travel Guide: This is not an official tourist office site, but contains detailed travel information for the Cotswolds (and all of Britain).
Cotswolds, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: In 1966 the Cotswolds was designated by the British government as an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONB), giving it extra protection with building and farming restrictions. The Cotswolds is the second largest AONB; the Lake District is the largest.
Regional Tourist Offices
Most of the Cotswolds is in the county of Gloucestershire, but parts are in neighboring counties (South Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire - Cotswolds AONB map shows the county boundaries). Since the Cotswolds spreads over more than one county, it is represented by different Tourist Offices, but Gloucestershire Tourism and Oxfordshire Tourism run most of the official Cotswolds websites. Most Tourist Office sites have travel information for the region, activities, accommodation listings, restaurants. They are good resources.
The Cotswolds: Gloucestershire Tourism (and Visit Britain).
The Cotswolds: Glouchestershire Tourism. Detailed database for accommodations and restaurants, pubs and tea rooms. Searching is a bit difficult, but they offer a "Cotswolds eGuide" feature where you can collect a list of information for your trip.
The Cotswolds Stroud District: Southern Cotswolds near Stroud (including Painswick, Minchinhampton, Berkeley).
Romantic Cotswolds and Historic Severn Vale: Tewkesbury and Winchcombe areas (western Cotswolds).
Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Tourism for the Cotswolds, Royal Forest of Dean, Severn Vale.
Gloucestershire County Council: Tourist information, including a list of all walking brochures for the Cotswolds.
Oxfordshire Cotswolds: Oxfordshire Tourism for the eastern part of the Cotswolds.
Other Cotswold Web Sites
Cotswolder: Cotswold information from a dedicated Cotswolder (this website :) ).
Oxtowns: Guide to towns in the Oxfordshire part of the Cotswolds.
Visit Gloucestershire: Portal for Gloucestershire for tourists and people living there. Also a blog.
Wild in the Cotswolds: Guide to the Cotswolds by the Lower Mill Estate, private residences near Cirencester.
Historic Sites
English Heritage: Historic sites throughout England.
Historic Church Trails in Glouchestershire
National Trust: Historic homes and gardens throughout England.
Great British Gardens: Gardens in the United Kingdom.
Roman Sites
Wikipedia, Roman Roads in Britain
Archaeological Handbook of Gloucestershire: Bill Thayer reproduces the British and Roman Roads chapter of an 1882 book with descriptions of the Roman Roads through England. Several pass through the Cotswolds.
Local Events
Corelli Concerts: Corelli Orchestra and Corelli Ensemble, local group based in Cheltenham who perform in various places in and near the Cotswolds throughout the year.
Three Choirs Festival: An international classical music festival presented in August each year by rotation in the cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. Choral and orchestral music in a quintessentially English setting.
Local News
Cotswolds Journal: Local news and information.
Stroud News & Journal: Weekly local newspaper (published on Wednesday).
Cotswold Life: Monthly magazine with great local articles.
Maps of the Cotswolds
Cotswolder Google Map of the Cotswolds: Detailed google map showing towns and villages.
Cotswold District Map: Overview map from Cotswold District Council Online.
Cotswold Town Maps: Links to maps of Cotswold towns (Cotswold District Council Online).
Cotswold Cycle Maps: Detailed descriptions and maps for cycle routes (Cotswold District Council Online).
Cotswold Parking Maps: Addresses and size of car parks for Cirencester, Tetbury, Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold, Moreton in Marsh. Car park prices.
Guide to parking legally: Highway code information on parking regulations (double yellow, single yellow).
Writers from the Area
Katie Fford writes novels, many of which are set in the Cotswolds.
Sue Limb currently writes books for teenagers but has written novels, a column for the Guardian, and more.
Joanna Trollope writes novels, many of which are set in the Cotswolds.
Fiona Walker writes "romance" novels set in the Cotswolds.
Jilly Cooper writes best selling novels and lives in Bisley, north of Stroud.
