wrenwood

anna_roz

We are staying at Maiden's Row self catering in early July. Lauren, the owner, has been extremely helpful. If you go to her website you'll see she also has a stunning looking B&B in Broadway.

http://www.vacationcotswolds.co.uk/easthouse/index.html

Good reviews on TA

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...e_England.html

I know nothing about Broadway, but it looks as charming as other Cotswolds Villages

http://www.broadway-cotswolds.co.uk/

anna_roz

wrenwood, the B&B is drop-dead gorgeous! But, I was not thinking in terms of Broadway, not that I know what it is all about other then Flanner opining that Broadway is a village.. I was thinking in terms of Burford and Burford House, which is pretty gorgeous itself. I need to haul out a map and situate ourselves.

janisj

Broadway iS certainly OK but Burford (or Chipping Campden or a few other places) would be better IMO.

You really can't go wrong staying just about <i>anywhere</i>, but Burford is in a very convenient location to get anywhere in the Cotswolds and has a lot going for it.

anna_roz

janisj -thank you! Your and others' input is certainly very helpfull and much appreciated. So, here is what I am thinking and subject to re-thinking based upon further research and comments: a total of 14 nights on the ground. We will fly into Heathrow and immediately take a train to Oxford. We could also rent a car and drive to Oxford but I worry about husband driving on that pesky side of the road following a Transatlantic flight.. We would spend one night in Oxford, hang out, walk around, sleep well. Rent a car in the morning, if we did not already have one, and on to the Cotswolds for five-six nights. We could continue then to North Wales and spend three-four nights there. Then return to London and spend the rest of the vacation in London, which would be something like five nights. What say thee?

flanneruk

Fly into LHR and immediately get the bus to Oxford: quicker and more frequent than the train.

Have fun there, then hire the car the following morning - most effortlessly, from Hertz in Kidlington, which is sort of on the road to Burford (take the A44/B4022/B4437 - pausing only to avert your eyes from the pretentious excrescence that's Blenheim - and you might even see the Flannerpooch getting his reward for standing in so well).

Dump the car at Heathrow on the way back, or at Kidlington if LHR carries a surcharge. A car in London or Oxford is generally a burden for most visitors.

And thanks for having the foresight to intuit what a seriously stupid idea driving after an overnight flight is.

basingstoke2

We stayed in Bourton-on-the-Water and very much enjoyed it - it meets all of your criteria. We also found a very nice and surprisingly inexpensive B&B about a 5-10 minute walk to the center of town. At the end of September you are not likely to meet up with the tour buses there and it is a good location to jump off to see other Cotswold villages.

From London, we took a train to Salisbury, overnighted there and picked up a car in the morning. We chose Salisbury to see the city and cathedral and because it is a good starting point to visit Stonehenge, Avebury and Bath on our way to the Cotswolds.

Scootoir

Bookmarking . . .

anna_roz

Pretty excited here!! Booked flights this morning to/from London, from September 27th to October 13th, 15 nights on land.

Taking flanneruk’s advice, will grab a bus to Oxford for an overnight and will hire a car next morning. Then on to the Cotswolds [several booking inquiries already sent to hotels in Burford] via Blenheim [tea with flannerpooch there ].

I am setting aside five nights for the Cotswolds, one already spent in Oxford and five on the tail end in London. That leaves four nights for other, wonderful adventures! So, we definitely need to visit Bath, either on a day trip or an overnight, and I am still thinking Wales.

Would appreciate your thoughts and advice.

francophiletasmania

You might like to have a look at
http://www.cotswolds.com/
also ...

April

Thank you, Saraho. I hope you don't mind me butting in on your post, Anna_roz. I am becoming sold on Burford after reading these responses. Flanner, you mention Burford, Stow on the Wold and Chipping Campden. If you were going to base yourself in three different towns in the Cotswolds, spending 4 to 7 days in each, would you choose those three, or is there another place you would prefer for variety, either for the town or the surrounding area?

After visiting Oxford, I hadn't wanted to tie myself down to an exact number of days in each place but now am becoming worried that everywhere may be booked up in May.

Also, I'm still debating the pros and cons of renting a car for the Cotswolds. Trying to get from place to place by bus/train/taxi could be awkward. (Where I live some bus drivers get picky about luggage.) Accommodations would have to be within walking distance of an eating establishment. On the other hand, a car could be sitting idle for days while I explore on foot. But perhaps driving around the countryside would be enjoyable and a car would enable me to get to more places to do circular walks.

Interesting that you mention Wales, Anna_roz. I keep hearing good things and am considering it too.

flanneruk

There's really only one circumstance I can think of in which it makes any sense at all to stay in more than one Cotswold town: if you're walking from one to another - and then, in my indolent opinion, only if someone else carries the luggage for you. Under some circs, it might make sense too if you're cycling.

No-one round here gets picky about luggage on buses (what on earth is the point of a bus you can't take bags onto?). Or about prepaying, or about that ridiculous system they have in mismanaged countries of insisting on the right money, so everyone has to hang around while people ferret through their purses for the missing two cents. But booking in and out of a hotel, and then bussing yourself and bags a few miles down the road is usually a lot more of a nuisance than staying there and travelling out.

I'd suggest you plan what you want to do, then see how feasible it is by bus/train/walking (current timetables downloadable from http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?pag...rtpublications. The www.cotswolds.com website, BTW, is limited and deceptive. It's run by just one local authority in the area, and pretends nothing else exists outside the territory it's responsible for. It flatout denies the existence of Burford, for example, so anyone recommending it clearly hasn't used it)

Then decide on your strategy.

wrenwood

Assuming you have your car and are still thinking about northern Wales, several years ago we went from the Cotswolds up to Derbyshire to see Chatsworth House and Eyam (the plague village) We stayed at this lovely B&B for one night

http://www.underleighhouse.co.uk/index.html

before heading off to Conwy for several nights. It made a good base for northern Wales, lots of Castles, easy drives to Snowdonia, Beddgelert, Bodnant Gardens. Awesome area.

janisj

April: I agree w/ flanner that staying in one town or village makes more sense than moving about. An exception might be that you are renting a cottage and it isn't available for your entire visit. But maybe one in the next town is available for the 2nd half of your time.

Otherwise I'd pick one place and plant myself

I'd probably also rent a car. Even if you are mainly walking, having a car (as long as it fits in the budget) is a huge convenience. You may not use it every day but for some journeys a car is the only practical option.

If you don't want to rent a car - you can still have a great stay in the Cotswolds, I just personally think having a car is better.

April

Thank you both. Staying in one town would certainly simplify things. My only concern about Burford is Flanner's mention of well-heeled visitors, which won't be me. I am hoping to do several of the circular walks listed on the Cotswold Way National Trail site - Chipping Campden, the Leckhampton Loop, Cleeve Hill Common ring, etc.
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Cotsw....asp?PageId=54

I am also interested in gardens and would go miles out of my way to see a bluebell meadow. Is there anywhere in particular that stands out for May Day festivities?

Wrenwood - 'Friendliest Landlady of the Year' finalist - I like the sound of that.

wrenwood

Actually one of the reasons I chose that Underleigh House was for their breakfast awards, my husband LOVES breakfast (and he doesn't get it much at home!) Their breakfast was awesome. And yes, the owners are wonderful.

I wouldn't worry about "well heeled visitors" you will see every type of dress imaginable, and many walkers. (it is England after all!) We will be in England in early July, and we will take walking sandals and walking shoes, nothing very dressy in shoes or clothes.

When will you be there? I'm jealous that you may see Bluebell meadows. We saw the foliage emerging when we were there one year in late March. Someday I will see the Bluebells, but that time of year is my busy time for work.

We've been to quite a few gardens in England and thought Bodnant exceptional. Beautiful gardens, and also a great place to walk if you like trees.

I would definitely rent a car for the Cotswolds area. It is so beautiful. I've driven over there 4 times now and I just always tell myself when I'm making a turn that it's basically the same as in the US ~ the driver sits closest to the middle of the road. (remember not only are you driving on the other side, the driver sits on the other side of the car) I always insist however on an automatic. I can't brush my teeth with my left hand, so I don't want to worry about shifting with my left hand. Make sure you have a GPS.

HG001London

I would choose Stow on Wold. We stayed here, visited lots of other places but both concluded that in our opinion we picked the best base. There are several restaurants and pubs/cute cafes and we felt it was less touristy than Bourton on Water for example. Stow was very nice and we liked coming back to in the evening. Also, we didn't have a car and were fine although would probably take a car next time. We did some walks from here too which were nice, through the slaughter villages.

I would also just have one base

Hope you have a lovely trip

patandhank

Bookmarking

April

Wrenwoodon: I should be there in early May. I don't intend to look like a hobo - it's just that I won't be able to stay in high-end hotels. Thank you for the recommendations including Bodnant Gardens. I do like trees.

Thanks, HG001London. I will check out Stow-on-the-Wold as well.

wrenwood

Depending on how cold or warm the winter weather is, you might see Bluebells in early May.

Click on the link below and opposite the picture of the woman and child there's a link in blue "favourite bluebell woods" Click on that and put in the postal code for the village/town you are staying in and they will mail you a list of nearby bluebell woods.

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/o...x#.TxwjThzU9gs

You'll see lots of gardens and flowers, even if you don't go to a particular garden. Hidcote Manor is only about 10 minutes from Chipping Campden.

April

Thanks, Wrenwood! I hope I won't be too late for the bluebells.