With over 6000 fans on Facebook and a Twitter following of 22,000 we were thrilled to be featured in the Oxford Mail last week.
The piece was a more personal article about the creation of the Secret Cottage Tour. I hope it will provide inspiration to others who are thinking of setting up their own business.
Yes of course it’s hard work (around 100 hours a week at the moment!) but it’s worth it when we see our tourists faces light up and hear their feedback throughout the day. In fact Trip Advisor have put us at number one for things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh and we’re number two for things to do in the Cotswolds!
The idea for the tour came from something none of us can deny – our human fascination with other people…
I bet it’s not just me who is intrigued by what goes on behind closed doors.
We all want to know how other people live, what the inside of their house is like, what sort of art and design they enjoy. I think it’s especially intriguing when someone is from another country; which is why our Secret Cottage Tour is popular with tourists from around the world such as Japan and America.
However, the locals love our tour too! Most people are enchanted by picturesque country cottages that hold history and stories in their walls and they want to know what they are like inside.
Are the ceilings so low you have to duck your head? Are the cottages dark and dingy inside because of the small windows? Are they cold and draughty because they’re old?
These questions pass through everyone’s mind and it was this that inspired me to set up Secret Cottage Tour.
Not only do visitors get to see how a typical English family live; including sampling some fantastic local food and scones baked in my AGA, but they get to enjoy outstanding hidden villages that are inaccessible by public transport.
The article in the Oxford Mail was beautifully written and highlighted some of the great local foods that are available to us such as hand-made fresh cakes from Cacao Bean in Moreton in Marsh and locally made pork pies from Simple Suppers in Todenham. It was our desire to serve delicious food that enticed Indian Chef, Saransh Goila to visit us recently.
We love supporting local businesses wherever possible and doing all we can to keep this beautiful area of England special. If you’re wondering about some of the best things to do in the Cotswolds, why not book your Secret Cottage tour now?