A tour of the North Cotswolds has many wonderful sights to see, including the beautiful honey-coloured limestone buildings that the area is so famous for.
Take a look at some of my top highlights from the area for a taste of what to expect. I’m always happy to accommodate bespoke requests, so if there’s somewhere you’ve got in mind that you’d like to visit, just let me know.
Upper and Lower Slaughter may sound macabre but their name actually comes from “slough”, which means “wet land”.
The two villages are connected by the River Eye, which flows into Lower Slaughter’s 19th-century water mill and waterwheel. With its red-brick chimney, this building stands out against the traditional Cotswold limestone of the rest of the village and is now home to a museum and riverside tearoom. Upper Slaughter also has its fair share of interesting architecture, including Upper Slaughter Manor and Eyford House.
The towns have been inhabited for around a thousand years, and tourists are attracted by their old, quaint buildings and picturesque tearooms.
These two villages are situated on the Cotswold Way, which is a 102-mile National Trail running along the Cotswold Edge escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, offering beautiful views of the area.
Stanway is a great place to wander to take in the beautiful buildings and scenery that the Cotswolds has to offer. The hamlet is dominated by the Jacobean Stanway House, which is home to an ornate gatehouse and the tallest gravity fountain in the world.
Described as “one of the prettiest and idyllic unspoilt villages of the Cotswolds”, Stanton is almost completely built from local limestone with distinguished architecture and several thatched-roof cottages.
Often referred to as the Jewel of the Cotswolds, Broadway is full of wonderful antique shops, tearooms and museums, housed in listed buildings made from local limestone.
The village is overlooked by Broadway Hill, which is the highest point in the North Cotswolds and is very popular with those who love a good hike.
Broadway Hill is also home to the stunning Broadway Tower, which was the brainchild of 18th-century landscape architect Capability Brown. It was built for Lady Coventry, who wondered whether a beacon on the hill could be seen from her home in Worcester 22 miles away, and it can!
One of the highlights of Chipping Campden is its terraced High Street, which was built between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Once a haven for wealthy wool merchants, this historic market town is a popular destination for tourists keen to explore its beautiful architecture and quaint shops. The town became known in the early 20th century as the centre of the Cotswold Arts and Crafts movement and, as such, is home to many artisanal shops selling jewellery, metalwork and furniture.
Notable architectural sights include the arched Market House, and the two Jacobean banqueting houses that are the only remnants of the imposing Campden House estate, which was lost to fire in the English Civil War.
Stow-on-the-Wold is a wonderful market town situated at the junction of several of the Cotswolds’ major roads. It was founded by Norman lords looking to take advantage of trade on the converging roads.
The town has a long history of holding fairs and markets, commonly selling wool, livestock and horses. Military history buffs will have plenty to keep them occupied in Stow-on-the-Wold, as a number of fights in the English Civil War took place around the area.
You can also marvel at the ancient yew trees that stand at the north porch of St. Edward’s Church, and enjoy a little shopping in the quaint Market Square.
The duration of this day tour is around 7-8 hours.
I am happy to customise the itinerary to suit your interests and requirements, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to discuss a custom tour.
Price on application please
If you truly want to experience the Cotswolds hire Jon Moorhouse, the Cotswolds Chauffer. He lives in the area and knows it like the back of his hand. He is charming, knowledgeable and on time. His luxury sedan is impeccably maintained and he drives safely at all times. We told him we wanted to see stately homes and gardens; local pubs and picturesque villages and Jon had a curated list of excellent ideas for us that made our trip memorable.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Jon again and as a travel writer I recommend him to everyone who wants to visit the Cotswolds. He also took us to and from the airports as well as two day long tours of Bath and the countryside. In short, the Cotswold Chauffeur is the number one driver and guide in the area.
R. Couri Hay
