Cotswolds Tourist Information & Travel Guide England UK

The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

.....where time has stood still for 300 years

Cotswolds visitor information tour & travel guide for one of the most 'quintessentially English' and unspoiled regions of England, UK.

This site is the World's largest Internet resource for the whole of the Cotswold region formed by the associated six English counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Bath & North East Somerset.

The unique region officially covers an area of 790 square miles in the upper part of the southwest region of England and is the country's largest officially designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' (see our Fact Sheet).

Popular with both the English themselves and international visitors from all over the world, the area is well known for gentle hillsides (‘wolds’), outstanding countryside with river valleys, water meadows and beech woods, sleepy ancient limestone villages, historic market towns and for being so ‘typically English’ where time has stood still for over 300 years.

Tour Guide to The Cotswolds

Throughout the Cotswolds stone features in buildings and stone walls act as a common thread in seamlessly blending the historic towns & villages with their surrounding landscape.

This detailed and comprehensive tour directory is the perfect visitor guide to the region's history, beautiful villages, places to visit, finding accommodation and places to eat including where to shop, and what glorious gardens to see.

It also includes outdoor activity pursuits including Walking, Cycling, Fishing, Golfing, Garden Visits, Horse Riding, Camping and Caravanning.

The Events Calendar lets you know about Events taking place throughout the year and Maps are provided for the whole region. Find holiday and vacation accommodation and lodgings.

The Cotswolds - "the most English and the least spoiled
of all our countrysides" - J.B. Priestley

SPRING IN THE COTSWOLDS

Spring Daffodils in the Cotswolds

2012 OLYMPICS - Route of Olympic Torch through the Cotswolds

See an American Artist Cotswold Sketches - Richard Grassi

See a Cotswold Artist Watercolours - Leslie Holmes

Upper Court B&B near Chipping Norton now advertising with Cotswolds.Info
The Kingham Plough at Kingham now advertising with Cotswolds.Info
Upper Hill Farm B&B at Cheltenham now advertising with Cotswolds.Info
Lowerfield Farm B&B near Broadway now advertising with Cotswolds.Info

Selection of 2012 Events:-

Randwick Cheese Rolling

(1st Sunday in May) Randwick Cheese Rolling.
At St John's Church, Randwick. At 11.15, preceded by a service at 10.30. 01453 750280 .

For Places to Stay see - Tetbury accommodation

6 May 2012 St Briavels - Bread and Cheese Dole
Whit Sunday St Briavels

At St Mary's Parish Church after the evening service crowds wait outside to receive the 'dole' Small pieces of bread and cheese are thrown into the air from large baskets and are caught by parishioners.
In past times each person who claimed the 'dole' had to pay a penny which then entitled him to cut and take wood from Hudnalls or the Free Woods.
The event is said to date from the time of Milo, Earl of Hereford, in the twelfth century but was first recorded in 1799.
More information see - Bread and Cheese Dole.

12 May 2012 Randwick Wap

(Saturday following 1st Sunday in May) Randwick Wap.
Starts at 12.45. The Procession assembles at the War Memorial, at the top of the village about half a mile above St John's Church.
For more info tel. 01453 750280 Website - www.randwick.org.uk/.
A village fete with a difference. There is a musical procession in costume that dates back hundred of years and more cheese rolling. This year there will be morris dancers, a dog display team, maypole dancing, inflatable fun, food , drink and many stalls. In the evening there is live music.

For Places to Stay see - Stroud accommodation

Thursday 10 May 2012 - Gypsy Horse Fair, Stow-on-the-Wold

The first of the bi-annual gypsy horse fairs at Stow-on-the-Wold.
Two fairs, on the nearest Thursdays to 12th May and 24th October. The fairs were chartered in 1476 by King Edward IV, are held in fields between Stow and Maugersbury. Gypsies arrive from the Monday onwards, and there are stalls of crafts with the sales on the Thursday after which everyone packs up and moves on. The May fair is the larger of the two.

Contact - Tourist Information Centre GO-STOW www.go-stow.co.uk Email: info@go-stow.co.uk Phone: 01451 870 150.

About - Gypsy Horse Fair

For Places to Stay see - Stow-on-the-Wold accommodation

Cotswolds Tourist Information & Travel Guide England UK

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The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Tour Guide to The Cotswolds

NEWS BOARD

Selection of 2012 Events:-