Broadway is famous for being one of the most charming villages in The Cotswolds. It has thousands of visitors every year that enjoy its picture-perfect high street and striking Cotswold stone houses. The yellow limestone, a honey-coloured stone is characteristic of the area, giving off a quintessential vibe radiating complete natural beauty all through the Cotswolds. The village is often called the âJewel of The Cotswoldsâ and sits at the foot of Fish Hill on the western Cotswold escarpment. The village is in the county of Worcestershire, close to the border of Gloucestershire.
The Cotswolds is a stunning area in the South West of England, just 1hr 40mins from London on the train. Itâs no surprise that the area has been noted as the second largest area of outstanding natural beauty with its unspoilt and beautiful countryside, the attractive market towns, rolling Cotswold hills and pretty villages. The Cotswolds was famous for being one of the largest areas for the output of wool but since the cloth trade moved North, it has remained untouched and picture-perfect.
The Broadway Tower
Just outside Broadway village, the Broadway Tower stands magnificently on a beacon hill. It is known to be one of Englandâs top viewpoints, giving visitors a crystal-clear view of the village and the Vales of Evesham and Gloucester. The Tower is a great example of an 18th Century Gothic folly and is believed to be the second highest point along the hills of the Cotswold Ridge. It was built in 1799 for Lady Coventry and designed by James Wyatt. The beacon hills had lit beacons along them and Lady Coventry wanted to know if she could see a beacon light near Broadway from her house. She paid for the build and once it was done, she claimed to gladly see Broadway Tower from her house. On a clear day and at 1024 feet above sea level, there are far-reaching views where visitors can see as far as the Welsh mountains.
Broadway Village
The village lies on the walking trail called âThe Cotswold Wayâ which begins at the market town of Chipping Campden and finishes in the City of Bath. The charming village of Broadway has a typically picturesque Cotswold high street, lined with pretty cottages, magnificent Cotswold houses and large horse chestnut trees. The unusually wide main street was once an ancient ridgeway and was the main track between London and Worcester. There are many well-known artists who come from Broadway including; William Morris, Francis D Millet, Mary Anderson, John Singer Sargent and J.M Barrie. Gordon Russell, a famous furniture designer, also grew up in the village of Broadway having a workshop in the area. Broadway has a fantastic collection of shops, cafes and galleries and some of the main attractions include the Broadway Museum & Art Gallery, Broadway Tower and ultramodern Childrenâs Activity Park. There is a famous Cotswold hotel called âThe Lygon Armsâ where itâs believed Oliver Cromwell spent the night before the Battle of Worcester. King Charles also stayed at the inn to meet with his royalist supporters. Numerous celebrities are regular guests to the stunning hotel, making it one of the most popular places to stay in The Cotswolds.
The Norman Conquest
Broadway is a very historic village dating back to after the Norman Conquest when six new Cotswold market towns were established. These included; Broadway, Chipping Campden, Burford, Stow-on-the-World, Moreton-in-Marsh and Northleach. Supposedly, more than half of the area was owned by monasteries at once point and when the monasteries closed, aristocratic families moved in. The idea of land ownership grew much stronger as the open common land was abolished by Acts of Parliament. Farmland grew more spread out and corn became the most profitable and successful crop, while sheep farmers in the area became the minority.
Tour of The Cotswolds
Broadway is one of the most stunning and charming villages in The Cotswolds. Many pretty Cotswold villages are steeped in history and ooze character, with perfect thatched roofs, rambling roses in the summer and beautiful secret gardens. If youâre on holiday in England and would like a daytrip to the Cotswolds, you can catch a train from London taking 1hr 40mins to our local station Moreton-in-Marsh. You can book a Secret Cottage Tour where youâre picked up from the station in our 7-seater luxury minibus and taken on a fantastic 6-hour tour around the Cotswolds. We will show you chocolate box villages that are typical of The Cotswolds, stunning Cotswold stately homes, charming market towns and some of the most beautiful attractions in The Cotswolds. You donât need to bring a picnic as we cater for our guests at our home â The Secret Cottage. We provide morning coffee or tea and a pastry, then bring you back for a tasty homemade buffet lunch. We even give you a traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon! When the tour is finished, we take you back to the station so you can get the train back to London. You will be back at your hotel in time for the evening!