The Adventures of Debbie Dimples - The UK - England - The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a region renowned for its of picturesque villages, each with its own unique character and architectural splendour. The region lies across the boundaries of several English counties: mainly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and parts of Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. Some of the most famous towns and villages, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Castle Combe all use the honey-coloured stone buildings to captivate visitors and to create the quintessential English town and village experience. I visited Castle Combe in the Cotswolds briefly in 2017, on my way down to Bristol to visit a good friend. I then took a Christmas trip to the Cotswolds in December 2024. The Cotswolds are a wonderful area of the country to spend Christmas. In this post, I have advised what I have seen in the Cotswolds Region (and nearby surrounding area), plus what I've missed out on and would want to see if I were to take another trip in the future.

A map of the Cotswolds Region:

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is an English county that's home to the famous university city of Oxford, and is also one of the main counties within the Cotswolds region. The Oxfordshire Cotswolds are blessed with some of the most picturesque towns and villages in England. I stayed in the village of Hook Norton (located within the Oxfordshire Cotswolds) for 2 nights during my Christmas trip to the Cotswolds in December 2024.

Lower Nill Farm

On my trip to the Cotswolds, I stayed in a little hut at the Lower Nill Farm in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire for 2 nights. The village of Hook Norton is just a short drive away from the famous Gloucestershire Cotwolds villages of Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. My hut was exceptional, with the highlight for me being the wood-fired outdoor bath/hot tub.

What I missed out on.....

If I were to take another trip to Oxfordshire Cotswolds Region, I would like to stay at the Estelle Manor Hotel, see the town of Burford, visit Blenheim Palace and the picturesque city of Oxford.

Estelle Manor Hotel

Estelle Manor is a new, luxury hotel and country club in Oxfordshire. At the end of every summer, the hotel hosts an epic poolside party with the biggest dj's and dancers taking to the stage. I would like to stay at the Estelle Manor and attend the end of summer party.

Burford

Burford is located in Oxfordshire, around twenty miles north of Oxford. It is often referred to as the 'Gateway to the Cotswolds', and is famous for being one of the most picturesque villages in the region.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a grand country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. One of England's largest houses, it was built between 1705 and 1722, and was listed as designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Oxford

The historic city of Oxford is famous for being home of the prestigious Oxford University - one of the oldest universities in England. Together with the university, the city is also famous for its captivating architecture.

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire lies on the northern edge of the South-West of England, and it's famous for being the home to many of the most beautiful and well-known towns and villages in the Cotswolds, which include Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bibury, and Painswick. I managed to briefly visit Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh on my Christmas trip in December 2024.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is located in the Gloucestershire part of the Cotswolds, within the heart of England. With its small bridges which are built over the ford through the village, it's easy to see why Bourton-on-the-Water is known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most Christmassy towns, this status is reinforced by the large Christmas tree that sits in the water of the ford running along the main High Street. There is also the year-round Victorian Christmas Shop located in the centre.

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire is one of the most famous towns in the Cotswolds. It's known for its stone houses, boutiques, antique shops, and great selection of traditional pubs. One of the main attractions in Stow-on-the-Wold is the 300 year old door at St Edward's Church. Known as the most photographed door in the Cotswolds, the door at St Edward's Church is rumoured to have sparked J. R. R. Tolkien's inspiration for the 'Doors of Durin', which appear in the Lord of the Rings.

Otis & Belle

You can't visit a Cotswold town and not visit one of the tea rooms or cafes for a tea and cake. Otis & Belle is a artisan bakery and patisserie chain, dotted in and around the Cotswolds region. I visited the Otis & Belle at Stow-on-the-Wold for a delicious pear tart and cup of tea.

Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh is one of the main market towns in the northern Cotswolds. The town is famous for not only its antique shops, cafes and honey-coloured architecture, but also for its direct transport link to London.

What I missed out on.....

As with any trip, there are always time and financial constraints which mean I miss out of seeing everything I wanted to see. If I were to take another trip to the Gloucestershire Cotwolds Region, I would visit the villages of Bibury and Broadway (located in the neighbouring county of Worcestershire).

Bibury

Bibury is one of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds, famous for Arlington Row; a picture-perfect row of houses which are owned by The National Trust.

Broadway (neighbouring Worcestershire)

The village of Broadway, in Worcestershire, is often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds'. Broadway is famous for its scenic walks, boutiques, cafes and art galleries. Some of the most popular attractions in the area are the Broadway Tower, and the Cotswolds Lavender Field.

Wiltshire

To the historically minded visitor, Wiltshire is not so much a county, but a treasure trove. Its chalk downlands are home to world-famous prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge. Wiltshire is also home to the southern tip of the Cotswolds Region, and one of the most famous villages in the country - Castle Combe.

Castle Combe

Castle Combe is located in Wiltshire, and is situated on the southern-most edge of the Cotswolds. The village is known for being one of the prettiest villages in England. Castle Combe was made famous by being a key filming location for the Stephen Spielberg film 'War Horse'. I visited Castle Combe briefly in 2017 to photograph the village whilst I was passing through the area.

What I missed out on........

I didn't manage to see much of Wiltshire on my past trip, however, if I were to travel to this area in the future, I would like to visit Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the most famous attractions in the UK. An enigmatic, prehistoric monument, the stones date back to between 3000-2000 BC.

Warwickshire

Warwickshire, in the heart of England, is best known for being the county where William Shakespeare was born, lived and died. The county is also blessed with being the home to the mighty Warwick Castle, and is also the northern tip of the Cotswolds Region.

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068. The castle is located just outside of the Warwickshire Cotswolds Region, and is a wonderful place to visit. I visited Warwick Castle back in 2017.

What I missed out on....

I haven't seen much of the county of Warwickshire, however, if I were to take another trip to the area, I would like to see Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town in England’s West Midlands, and was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564. He wrote the world famous plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Twelfth Night.

These are just some of the places I have visited and recommend, or would like to visit on a future trip to the Cotswolds region.