Cotswolds - UK
 

We have a quick question about the Cotswolds. We are flying into Heathrow from an overseas flights and renting a car.

Will there be a lot of windy roads?

We would be spending three nights somewhere. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Blunt maybe - but do NOT drive on your arrival day! Stay the first night in Windsor or central London car-less. Then collect a car the next morning and drive out to the Cotswolds.

Yes, there are some winding roads, but that isn't the main issue. Jet lag is a problem, micro sleeps can be fatal, and the initial part of the route (LHR through Oxford) are over very congested motorways. Just don't do it . . .

"We would be spending three nights somewhere. Any ideas?"

Other than not driving right off an overnight flight - are you asking for ideas where to stay once you do get to the Cotswolds? If so -- honestly your choices are limitless. There are scores of lovely towns and villages and hundreds of hotels and B&Bs. What are your plans while in the area -- which sites are on your agenda -- that will partly determine where to stay. Also your budget and type of accommodations yu like make a big difference.

Give us something to work with.

like when?
who are we?
why are we here?
what do we like to do?

Thank you both for your comments. We are trying to land a 10 day total vacation.

Cotswolds for 3 nights and 5 nights in London. We have been to London many times and love it. I have motion sickness so that is why I was asking. We have travelling throughout the UK except that area. We love it. We just like to enjoy the beauty of scenery and great food.

The other options is to fly into Paris CDG (which we have done a few times and love it too). Go see the Loire Valley for a few days and spend 4 nights in Paris and then 4 nights in London.

We love museums and history so that is where our focus would be.

Thank you both. We agree. We try not to travel after a long overseas flight.

Yes the roads can be seriously wiggly, narrow and sometimes busy. Worth looking at Google maps to see if you can access the villages from the M4. But I can't think of an easy ITIN without wiggles.

I have to disagree with bilbo a bit. I don't often get 'urpy' in a car -- plus when visiting in the Cotswolds I am almost always the driver so less likely to be affected. But I am a Californian who lived near the Cotswolds for nearly 5 years ages ago and having visited countless times since I've never had a passenger have car sickness. This is driving thousands of miles in the area over decades. (And I'm not generally light footed -- just look at my profile photo ;) )

The roads can be a bit twisty but not anything like areas in Yorkshire, or Wales or Cornwall or parts of Scotland or much of the California Coast or the Sierra Nevada foothills. They are pretty gentle actually. Plus no one is racing - speed limits are definitely enforced. I'd consider staying one night in Windsor, picking up a car the next morning - either back a LHR or in Windsor - easy drive out to the Cotswolds once you are rested, stay 3 nights someplace like Burford or Chipping Campden (or any number of other places), drive back to LHR, drop the car and take the Elizabeth Line in to London.

Janisj could well be right. Mrs Bilbo always drives us through the area as she cannot be driven. So I guess up to the OP.

Thank you everyone. We have decided not to go to the Cotswolds and that's ok. Now we will reconsider our trip next year. Thank you and all the best to each of you.

Hijacking this thread to say I'll be in Bourton on the Water this week. Looking at the weather forecast, it will be definitely very "watery" but that's part of traveling.... you just never know.
If anyone would like to meet up Wed - Friday, let me know!

I have a tendency to get car sick, seasick and airsick but had no troubles with my daughter driving us all around the Cotswolds. Agree with Janisj.