Also, there are several guidebooks which outline walks. I have one called "50 Walks in the Cotswolds" but there are others. I'm using it, along with recommendations from this site, to decide what town we will stay in.

There also is a driving tour of the "Romantic Road". Check out this link:

http://www.the-cotswolds.org/

I have just ordered some maps and guidebooks from them.

LCBoniti-what a great site! I can not believe that I have not discovered it earlier. They have a informative Romantic Road guide that is a free internet download.

Astein12-sounds like you had fun, I am looking for a walk guide now.

I live in the south Cotswolds, I don't have a particular favourite town, though I often go to Cirencester and am happy there. Winchcombe is nice to go out to for lunch, especially if there is something on at Sudeley Castle. Tetbury is terrific is you want antique shops, more antique shops and even more antique shops. I tend to stay away from the more touristy north Cotswold towns of Stow, Bourton, Moreton, the Chippings and Slaughters. Though I do quite like Burford.

Incidentally Cheltenham is NOT a city, it is a town. Gloucester is the city, though not actually IN the Cotswolds as it is off the edge of the escarpment down in the Severn vale.

Now when it comes to Cotswold villages, there are so many lovely ones it would be hard to choose just one. Bibury is possibly the most visited and is indeed picturesque. I spent a pleasant day fishing there last summer and pottering about. Painswick is attractive too. But these are resaonably big as villages go, especially Painswick. There are a myriad of small and tiny villages which are utterly charming and delightful, all over the entire Cotswold region.

Once you decide your Cotswold itinerary, or more or less where you are going to go, if you find yourself down in the southern part of the area I can maybe tell you some of our gorgeous best kept secrets!

And if you want to meet up for a drink or supper, let me know!

re walks, this site may be of interest and help...

http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/in...articleid=1196

julia-t, you must be very happy living in such a special area.

If I have 3 nights in the Bath/Cotswolds area do you think I should just stay in Bath?

It would be easier than moving to a central Cotswold hotel for just one of those three nights.

Thank you for your thoughtful invitation. Lets see what is happening in September 08.

With 3 nights in Bath, that only really gives you 2 days in Bath as you are seeing Stonehenge on day 1.

You will need a full day to see Bath, and Wells is worth a visit too - the cathedral is used in the new Cate Blanchett film of Queen Elizabeth, as well as Part of the north Somerset coast for the Tilbury scene. So that takes you up to night 2.

From Bath you would drive up the A46, branch off to Tetbury and Cirencester and from there continue up the Fosseway (old Roman Road) to Bourton, Stow, and in fact there is a nice drive you could do in a loop back to Cirencester which would include Burford and Bibury. It would be a long day but achievable. And then you have your 3rd night in Bath, before driving off to Blenheim.

The thing is, although the Cotswolds look tiny on a map they actually cover quite a large area, and the roads are usually small and slow.

It seems to me you might be better off spending 2 nights in Bath, the first after Stonehenge and the 2nd after your day in Bath/Wells. Then set off for the Cotswolds, stay somewhere there for the 3rd night before heading off to Blenheim on your way back to London. This would save you backtracking as well.

On two separate trips to England we stayed at The Malt House in Chipping Campden. We loved it!

Great! Thanks to all and especially julia for your many suggestions.