My husband I will be visiting England/Ireland. We have two days between London and catching the ferry at Hollyhead...I'd like to see the Cotswolds. I've read alot, so I'm looking for a recommendation on a nice place to stay. Your thoughts, please?

I assume that "Hollyhead" was a typo and you really meant "Holyhead." Probably not the answer you were looking for but personally, I wouldn't waste your two days in the Cotswolds. Since you are already going to Holyhead, spend the extra time you have in Northern Wales. It is absolutely beautiful there. The lush green mountains, hills and valleys make the Cotswolds look like a bunch of dried out old fields with a bunch of tourist trap towns in between. There are also many things to do in Northern Wales. They have some of the best old castles in the UK. Bodnant Gardens outside of Conwy are spectacular. A central spot to stay there is Betws-y-Coed. Whatever you choose, have a fun trip.

Hey!! Hold on a minute. Northern Wales is indeed a beautiful place and I concur with the recommendation to see Conway (the castle is great) But.. to say the Cotswolds are dried out and all the towns are touristy is dead wrong. We stayed at the Old Farm B&B in Morton-on-Marsh and loved it, traveled thru all the villages and the only one we found to be a bit too touristy was Broadway. By the way, we visited the Cotswolds AFTER driving thru all of Cornwall-areally fantastic area and up thru Wales to Conway. We stayed in B&Bs all the way and this was one of the best 18 day trips we have taken.

I think a 2 day break in your trip would be ideal for doing the cotswold, especially as you've been doing your reading and want to see it. save North wales for another trip, it really deserves more than 2 days, anyway. <BR> <BR>We have stayed several places , Lygon Arms, Broadway, Lords of the Manor , in the salughters, and the swan in Bibury. But for the next time we go we are planning on staying at a delightful little place we discovered the last trip. It's in winchcombe, right outside of stow-in-the-wold ( which has great antiquing, by the way) and is called Wesley House. It was recommended to us by an antique dealer there as a nice place for lunch, it was so good that we returned twice more for dinner , even though the hotel we were staying at had a Michelin starred restaurant, we found the food at wesley house more pleasing! In a conversation with a hotel guest there they said their room was charming and the hosts most accomodating. <BR> <BR>http://www.wesleyhouse.co.uk/

You will find there is a real vein of negativity on this board re the Cotswolds, with rubish like Robert's posted all the time. I dare say if you limit yourself to the touristy places like Bourton On the Water (lovely - just get in and out before the day trippers in buses start arriving at 10:30AM like clockwork), Bibury (being ruined by it's own beauty), Broadway, and a couple of others you may be disappointed. <BR> <BR>But the vast majority of places all over the Cotswolds are quiet, beautiful and full of history. <BR> <BR>This is not to denegrate Robert's opinion of Wales. Wales is fabulous also - just in a different way than Kent, or the Cotswolds, or any place else.

<BR>Burford is a bit touristy, but great for antiques and the Bay Tree Hotel there is one of the Cotswolds' gems. <BR> <BR>Try to get one of their rooms with a 4-poster bed.

I live near the Cotswolds and I'd recommend the area as an ideal stop-over on your way to Holyhead. Most of the main villages are quite close together so you'll see a lot in a short space of time. Burford and Stow on the Wold are great for antiques. Burford Church is fantastic- a little known gem. I'd also recommend Chipping Campden. Great cream teas at the little place next to the Cotswold House Hotel there and another beautiful church. Broadway is the only village that I find a little twee but it's near to Stanton and Stanway which are beautiful. Try to visit Snowshill (National Trust house)It's fascinating. Hope I've convinced you!

We go to the Cotswolds every trip to England which is about every two years. <BR>Painswick is a lovely little village, and I really enjoy the antique shops in Tetbury. There's great footpaths if you like walking. We once walked from one bed and breakfast to the next and had a lovely trip. E-mail me if you want more info.

I have to confess - I'm in the pro-Cotswolds camp as well. If you stick to bus tours and hang out in Stow in the Wold, Broadway, and Bourton on the Water during the day, you'll be disappointed. But if you visit those areas in the early evening/early morning and spend the rest of your time in all the other great areas you'll have a wonderful time. My accommodation recommendation is Mrs. Dorothy Brook's B&B in Chipping Campden. It's called Tod Cot and you can reach her at 01386 41127 and see website: www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/ccacc.htm (other suggestions there as well.) <BR>She also has a self-catering cottage right next door which I adored (four poster bed!!) and you might be able to talk her into renting you that for two nights (more unlikely the busier the season - but I'm not sure when you are going). Some recommedations for things to see (you can rent a car in Moreton in Marsh which is where the train station is, or Stratford or Oxford): Sudeley Castle - the home of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. Lovely, lovely place, very romantic; Snowshill Manor, quirky, great gardens (make sure to have the home-made sausages at the Snowshill Arms just outside the gate - also check out the used book store); Great Tew - wander around village as sun is setting - very romantic and have dinner at the Falkland Arms, an ancient pub; further afield are Warwick Castle; the charity shops in Banbury; watch the barges going through the canal at Cropredy; wander through Hidcote Manor Gardens (even when they are crowded, you can find a spot for yourself); and for a great meal - pub: The Bear in Moreton in Marsh (not fancy, but great, great soup and a resident ghost!), and The Badger in Chipping Campden. Have fun. (And I agree that North Wales is wonderful, but you do need more than two days.)

I give the vote to North Wales since you will be going through it anyhow. However, I think you should make the choice based on your interests. Sudeley Castle was indeed a delight, as was a stroll through the various towns in the Cotswolds. But, once we accomplished that, I found little of interest to sustain a multiple day stay. This is only my opinion and obviously not shared by many others. However, I do not travel to shop and antique. If you enjoy that, I think you will enjoy the Cotswolds. If castles, manors and such are your preference, the Cotswolds may not be your best choice.

Pat <BR> <BR>FYI, Sudeley Castle is in Winchcombe, which would make Wesley House a good bet. <BR> <BR>Howell's suggestion took the words from my mouth. It used to have red knives and forks in Michelin, so it's on the fringes of special recognition from the red book. I have only eaten there (I live locally), but my observation is that the place is run by people with spirit and personality. Web site www.wesleyhouse.co.uk <BR> <BR>For peace and tranquillity at a shocking price, I would go for Buckland Manor, although Lords of the Manor has the better ratings right now. It really is a splendid property in a lovely location, down a dead end road little used by tourists. The prices are energy sapping, especially when compared to Wesley House, and luxury hotels can lack verve, but I've had some lovely meals there. It has recently lost its Michelin star. www.bucklandmanor.com <BR> <BR>As for the North Wales debate, I never stopped on my way to Holyhead. Mea culpa, or so it seems.

While the Cotswolds are certainly not as bad as Robert makes out (they are quite lovely), his opinion is not entirely "rubbish" as some others claim. I'm always been suspicious that many people's opinions are based on having taken one of the U.K. bus tours, which almost always include the Cotswolds as part of their itinerary, but miss many other lovely areas in the U.K., such as Northern Wales. In any event, as even the Cotswolds' admirers point out, during the tourist season the Cotswolds are full of tourists. The narrow, winding roads are full of tour buses and the cars following them make travel difficult. The many small towns are generally overrun with tourists. Most of the shops and pubs are tourist type places selling souvenirs, antiques and mediocre food. If you don't mind places like that, filled with tourists, the Cotswolds may be for you. If you really want to enjoy them, I would suggest that you visit them sometime other than the June - September tourist season. You would have a much more enjoyable time. If you must go during the height of the tourist season, find a nice B&B (there are many) and spend your time hiking and enjoying the countryside around it. As far as Wales is concerned, the countryside is different than the Cotswolds, the hills are also quite beautiful, but greener, and certainly less crowded than the Cotswolds. However, there are also many touristy type places in Wales such as the aforementioned castles, etc. As someone else said, it all depends on what you like.

MIKE_ Thanks for your comments, now I know we will definitely stay at wesley House on our next trip. We too found the hosts charming and full of spirit and bon hommie! And the olives they serve with your drinks would make the trip worthwhile. <BR> <BR>We were not terribly impressed with Lords of the Manor, but had a great price thru BA . <BR> <BR>

Jody- we stayed at Lord of the Manor this past May in a room with a brass 4 poster bed--the room was nothing to write home about considering the cost of the room--I would NEVER stay there again, but I WOULD go to the restaurant in Lord of the Manor--it is a 2 star Michelin and wonderful--and yes,we did stay in some gorgeous expensive manor houses,but Lord of the Manor was the least impressive,worst room (stained bedspread-small bath etc) of the lot. <BR>Our first vote for best Inn goes to Chester Grosvner in Chester,ENgland---truely first class--and the manor house in Grasmere was ideal-called Michael's Nook.

Goeff: By rubbish I meant Robert's direct quote "I wouldn't waste your two days in the Cotswolds. . . .The lush green mountains, hills and valleys make the Cotswolds look like a bunch of dried out old fields with a bunch of tourist trap towns in between." That is definitely my idea of Rubbish. <BR> <BR>Wales is truly wonderful - but so are the Cotswolds. Sitting on the bank of the River Windrush among the ethereal ruins of Minster Lovell hall, Hailes Abbey, Hidcote Manor on a spring morning or autumn afternoon, Sudeley Castle, any of the wool churches (Burford, Fairford, Northleach and many others), Berkeley Castle - on and on - there are hundreds of things to see and enjoy in the area. Unfortunately most American tourists hit Stow, Bourton and dash through Lower Slaughter or drive past the Swan in Bibury and think they've see the cotswolds.

Janis <BR>I didn't say that the Cotswolds did not have many beautiful locations. I've been there many times over the past 15 years (I have friends who live there) and have always had a wonderful time. In fact, with the exception of Hidcote Manor, I would agree with you that all of the sites you listed are well worth seeing for someone who has the time to take a leisurely tour of the area. However, the original poster said they were unfamiliar with the area, were on their way to Holyhead, and only had two days to tour during what I assumed to be the summer tourist season. Its just my opinion that with those limitations they would be better off driving around and touring Northern Wales on their way to Holyhead than spending their limited time fighting the crowds of summer tourists in the Cotswolds.

Hi Andy, <BR>I'm glad I'm not the only one who was not impressed with the rooms at Lords of the Manor, we even had our room upgraded and I still wasn't impressed. i agree the food was wonderful, however I just thought it was more creative at Wesley House. We stayed at Michael's Nook several years ago and I agree it was delightful. This past year we stayed in Windermere, at Miller Howe, a beautiful Art Noveau late 19th cen house with outstanding cooking. You might want to try it if you go that way again. The most breathtaking view fro the dining room!

Just returned from Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds -- it was DELIGHTFUL! We stayed at the Cotswold House (you can find info about it on the internet) and I would highly recommend it to anybody. Room was first class/beautiful -- restaurant was fabulous -- setting was peaceful and charming -- garden was to die for!

Goeff: I wasn't blasting what you said. Read it again. I was knocking Robert who said one shouldn't waste 2 days in the Cotswolds and they are dried up old fields. <BR> <BR>As for steering pat to Northern Wales - fine, that might even be my 1st choice - EXCEPT, pat asked specifically about the Cotswolds. She has heard a lot and wants to see them. So help her with that instead of confusing her with "no you should go to Wales instead". <BR> <BR>If you are honest, you will have to admit pat would enjoy either place - both are fabulous. <BR> <BR>(by the way - I lived 5 years about 15 miles east of the Cotswolds and spent part of each summer in north Wales so I know a LOT about both.)

I have read with interest the various responses to Pat's message concerning a possible visit to the Cotswolds. <BR>I happen to own Windrush House, a B&B, in Broadway, known as the Jewel of the Cotswolds. <BR>The Cotswolds is a most unique area in the heart of England where time has stood still since the 16th and 17th centuries due to the advent of cotton verses the use of wool in the world market. The region is officially designated an area of outstanding beauty and you will not see small market towns or villages as you find in the Cotswolds anywhere else in the UK. <BR> <BR>My main point is that all the delightful places and ancient villages that exist in the Cotswolds have their own individual character, personality, and uniqueness. Some you will love more than others and that is the attraction of touring this area - to discover around the next corner the most beautiful 'chocolate box' village of your dreams. <BR>All tourists vacate the most popular villages at 5.00pm and they return, once again, to the ownership of the local residents and those staying in accommodation. <BR>Bourton on the Water is the most commercial of the villages so try to visit before 11.00am or after 5.00pm. <BR>Broadway is an excellent base from which to discover the more picturesque northern part of the Cotswolds and is 12 minutes away from Winchcombe (previously mentioned by another writer), 25 minutes from Stratford upon Avon, 40 minutes from Warwick Castle, and 40 minutes from Blenheim Palace. <BR>If you want more information see website www.broadway-windrush.co.uk <BR>