The Cotswolds is located in South Central England and spans 800 glorious square miles across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The region’s most iconic landmark is of course the rolling Cotswolds Hills, but it’s also famed for its picturesque villages, river valleys, beech woods and lush green meadows.

Beautiful villages full of honey-coloured stone; you will find a mix of lively market towns and palaces, castles, National Trust country houses and some of the best arboretums in the UK. You can even make a splash in our lake-land area with its own inland beach at the Waterpark!

The main towns like Cheltenham, Cirencester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Witney all have a different buzz but are very different. Working alongside Cotswold Tourism they have put together a wealth of ideas for Things To Do in the region from adrenaline-filled activities to relaxing spa breaks. 

You may choose to wander around Cotswolds historic houses and gardens like Berkeley Castle, Blenheim Palace or Sudeley Castle, or down a glorious avenue of trees at Batsford or Westonbirt Arboretum. The Cotswolds countryside is never too far away from wherever you are, so you can enjoy the variety of outdoor leisure pursuits, as well as just rambling or cycling along at your own pace.

If you are looking to keep the kids entertained, then you will be excited to know that there is a lot of choice. There are fantastic animal attractions like Cotswold Farm Park, where your kids can hold and play with the animals, or Cotswold Wildlife Park where you can see Giraffe's, Rhino's, Tigers and many other animals from around the world.

The Cotswolds has many historical stories to tell, with Cotswolds country houses, castles, churches and amazing heritage tales at the Cotswolds museums and visitor centres. There is also a Cotswold stone model village in Bourton on the Water and it's definitely worth a trip on the Cotswolds heritage steam railway, which departs from Toddington to Cheltenham.

Looking for something more adventurous?  How about trying surfing on the Severn Bore inland wave, enjoying many different watersports at Cotswold Water Park, experiencing the exhilaration of riding or boarding at Stroud’s Rush Skate park or enjoying a bird’s eye view of the countryside from a hot air balloon.

Or for an altogether more relaxing experience, why not hire a classic car and enjoy a memorable experience winding your way through our beautiful towns and villages. Whatever you choose you will have a great day out and make some fantastic memories.