I'm looking for recommendations of places to stay in Cotswolds. I'd prefer a small inn that is walking distance to restaurants, shops, gardens, etc. I've had some suggestions but am needing a place Aug. 8 and 9 and the inns are full this late notice. Any suggestions? Also still trying to decide if it would be easier to hire a car or take the train... I only have one weekend to visit.

Check out following website:

www.oldenglish.co.uk

Car is better than train out of cities

I asked this same question a few weeks ago and received many wonderful suggestions....I decided on Stanton Court Cottages...I am traveling out of London to Oxford and then renting a car. Check out http://www.stantoncourt.co.uk/
Good Luck.

Jenson: The main problem w/ pcheesy's suggestion is that Stanton Court cottages are self-catering and only rent for full weeks in the summer. So they would not work for a 2-day August trip.

At this late date any specific B&B recommended by fodorites would likely be booked up. It would take a LOT of searching.

I would use one of the regular booking sites (smoothound, AA, vistibritain, etc) and let them find you a place.

Try Wesley House

http://www.wesleyhouse.co.uk/

very centrally located ,but popular so it may be filled at this time. In the Cotswold I think a car is an absolute nescessity!

We stayed at Crestow House Stowe-on-the Wold in 2001 and loved it. Fabulous hosts, great breakfast, terrific ambience, and it couldn't be more conveniently located. Probably not available at this late date, but if you want to try: http://www.crestow.co.uk/index.htm

Hire a car and go to the small village of Bibury. Stay at the Bibury Court Hotel (www.biburycourt.com) in six acres of beautiful grounds. Good walking country. Trout fishing. Great pub 10 minute walk The Catherine Wheel excellent food at reasonable prices. In fact I preferred to eat there when I stayed at the hotel.

I liked the Honeysuckle Cottage in Stow on the Wold. It is a small B&B right off the town center. Easy walking to all the antique shops, pubs and restaurants. I found it and booked on smoothhound.com. Owners were very nice and had a good breakfast. It is an old stone cottage with a small garden. Happy travels.

Try Burford -- the Burford House, Bay Tree or Lamb are all quite upscale small inns, but there is also the Angel (wonderful little Gastro-pub with rooms), Old Bull (another pub with rooms), and the Golden Pheasant (inn with excellent restaurant). All are near the town center.

We stayed at the Bull Hotel in Burford. It was very old, very atmospheric and has a couple of ghosts. We liked it bigly, however the room was quite small and breakfast was expensive (not included on our deal) when we could have got it much cheaper just over the road in a lovely cafe. We got the good price on this hotel from laterooms.com. The hotel website is http://www.oldenglish.co.uk.