The Cotswolds spreads across 800 square miles and includes the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and north-east Somerset. With a population of 139,000 people throughout all the quaint villages and pretty market towns, there’s also enormous areas of unspoilt countryside, a picturesque vision of English heritage countryside at its best. The hills in the Cotswolds are famous for their gentle slopes where sheep and cows graze far from country roads that offer breath-taking views across the countryside.
Private Cotswold tours are the perfect way to experience the Cotswolds in a day trip. If you’re planning a visit to England or you’re travelling around the south-west of the country, then join a professional tour to see the Cotswolds on a special day out. The Cotswolds region is in the south-west of England, near to London, the Midlands and the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall borders. The area is easily accessible from London, Birmingham and Bristol airports and can be reached easily if you’re travelling by train or coach. The Cotswolds is only one hour and 40 minutes by train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh train station and is a direct route.
Exciting Attractions in the Cotswolds
There’s many fantastic attractions in the Cotswolds, most of which have years of history attached and are noted under popular English history. The Cotswolds have been named as the second largest area of outstanding natural beauty in England and Wales and it’s no wonder when flocks of people travel here every year to explore the area, visit the attractions, visit local market towns and drive through quaint villages that boast picturesque views. The Cotswolds is a beautiful place to explore if you’re looking for a day out from the busy city or want to escape for a romantic weekend away. Blenheim Palace is in Woodstock is a magnificent stately home set in 2,000 acres of beautiful grounds and is the famous birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is located in manor grounds near to Burford, an exciting zoo which is home to many fascinating wild animals including rhino, lions, giraffes, monkeys and wolves. Chastleton House is close to Moreton-in-Marsh, a stunning 400-year old Jacobean house that was once home to Robert Catesby, one of the main characters in the gunpowder plot to blow up parliament. Snowshill Manor is close to Stow-on-the-Wold, a majestic manor that once belonged to Charles Paget Wade, an aristocrat who collected artefacts and antiques throughout his life.
Exploring the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is perhaps most well-known for being one of the largest suppliers of wool to the European cloth trade in the past, but since the cloth trade moved to the north after the industrial revolution, sheep farming and wool production has vastly reduced. The Cotswolds is not only the perfect place to explore if you’re coming to England, but it’s near to London and many larger cities and airports, making it the perfect escape from a city and a breath of fresh air that will leave you feeling relaxed, revived and in admiration of this beautiful area. Cotswold market towns were once a busy hub of sheep farmers attending weekly sheep markets and the area was wealthy with cloth and tweed mills, providing solid employment for the locals. Discover charming, hidden villages down long country lanes and you will see that the Cotswolds is an area that offers masses of beautiful places and incredible landmarks to explore, making it one of the most popular tourist regions in England.
Secret Cottage Cotswold Guided Tours
If you want to experience a unique, exclusive Cotswold tour, then book a wonderful 6-hour tour with the Secret Cottage Tour. We pick our guests up from Moreton-in-Marsh train station and take them on an exciting 6-hour tour around the Cotswolds in a luxury 7-seater Mercedes minibus. You will see breath-taking views, stunning landscapes, beautiful stately homes, charming villages, historical places and pretty market towns. We provide a delicious homecooked lunch in our 400-year old cottage accompanied with a tour around our home. We also give guests a tasty Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. Once the tour has finished, our driver will return you to the train station so you’re back in London for the evening. What more could you want than a fantastic private Cotswold tour, with some delicious home-cooked food in an ancient village cottage? Book now to avoid disappointment!