I've been reading the forum postings while planning my return trip to London in early April and noticed the many questions regarding the Cotswolds. I came across this guide while planning my trip. The guide has a list of the towns/villages with a brief description of each. There's also a detailed map showing rail lines if you're trying to explore the area without a car. It looks like a useful guide for those who need help deciding how or what to do/see.

http://www.cotswolds.com/Portals/4/p...lagesGuide.pdf


BTW...thanks to the regular posters here. I've found some recommendations for things to do that I haven't done before.

Thank you for posting this.

Lee Ann

Here's another guide to the Cotswolds I came across...I'd love to visit Hidcote Manor gardens!

http://www.visitbritain.com/en/Desti...-Cotswolds.htm

We’ll be going to the Cotswolds this autumn. This is great information. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

I just returned from my trip and thought I'd post some addition info I found while planning a bike tour through the Cotswolds.


Walks
http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk...otswolds_AONB/



Walks and Bicycle Hire
http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/nqcontent...01&tt=cotswold

http://www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk/

We are planning a daytrip from London to the Cotswolds at the end of May. In terms of crowds, would it be better to plan our outing on a Fri or Sat?

End of May..? The weekend of 25-27 May is a Bank Holiday in England. Especially if the weather is good, much of the Cotswolds will be packed with day trippers from the English cities. If you have a choice, avoid that weekend.

How about May 31 or June 1, anything special going on then that might increse the crowds?

Saturdays (and Sundays, and Bank holiday Mondays) are always a great deal busier in Cotswold towns than Fridays.

If avoiding crowds matters (on footpaths there aren't any, ever, and even during the busiest spring/summer weekends the only real problem they cause is difficulty going on impossibility parking and slow service in pubs and restaurants) definitely Friday.

There are no significant crowd-attracting events during the week.