Culture & Heritage

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock

A masterpiece of baroque architecture, Blenheim Palace is a stunning and awe-inspiring place, one of the grandest houses in Britain. Built to commemorate the victory of the 1st Duke of Marlborough at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, the architecture is enormously ambitious, and the house is full of paintings, tapestries and furniture. Birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, there’s plenty to see, and the gardens and park are as dramatic and impressive as the house itself.

Broughton Castle, Broughton

A delightful moated and fortified manor house, built from the local Hornton ironstone, Broughton was one of only twenty houses to get five stars in England’s Thousand Best Houses. If you watched BBC2’s adaptation of Wolf Hall, you might recognise it as one of the locations. The core of the house dates to 1306, but most of what you see today dates from the 1550s. The Castle has remained in the same family since 1447.

Hidcote Garden, Hidcote Bartrim

A gorgeous Arts and Crafts garden, with colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ that are full of surprises, Hidcote has a maze of narrow paved pathways leading to secret gardens and magnificent vistas. If you need some inspiration for your own garden, it’s the perfect place.

Chedworth Roman Villa, Chedworth

During its heyday in the 4th century, Chedworth Roman Villa was home to some of the richest people in the country. It’s one of the largest Romano-British villas in the country, with fabulous mosaics, some only excavated very recently. The museum explains the discovery of the site by the Victorian gamekeeper who unearthed the first clues to what lay beneath an apparently ordinary field.

Bourton on the Water

Known as ‘the Venice of the Cotswolds’, Bourton is one of the most visited villages in the region, so it can be quite busy, but it really is lovely. The River Windrush runs through the village, with copious low bridges criss-crossing the water, and the place is full of impressive buildings.

Rollright Stones, Little Rollright

An unusual circle of 77 heavily weathered, closely-set slabs of local Neolithic limestone, known as the King’s Men, traditionally a monarch and his courtiers petrified by a witch. The Rollright Stones also include the Whispering Knights burial chamber, and single King Stone, which is on the other side of the road. They span nearly 2,000 years of Neolithic and Bronze Age development.

Chastleton House, Moreton-in-Marsh

A fine Jacobean mansion with a striking south front. The house was built by a local wool merchant in the early 17th century, who purchased the estate from Robert Catesby, one of the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605

Minster Lovell Hall, Minster Lovell

Shrouded in mystery and with a haunting, tangible air of the distant past, the romantic ruins of Minster Lovell Hall stand on the banks of the River Windrush only a stone’s throw from Swinbrook. The village of Minster Lovell captures the essence of sublime Cotswolds’ architecture.

Rousham Gardens, Rousham

With the pretty River Cherwell flowing through the grounds, Rousham is one of Oxfordshire’s loveliest mansions. Dating back to 1635, the house was remodelled over 100 years later and there is more than a hint of the Italianate about the garden with its cascades and ponds, groves, the Temple of Echo and the seven-arched portico known as Praeneste. A peaceful stroll along the tree-shaded Long Walk is a must.

Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott

This beautiful house, built from lovely mellow golden stone, was the Cotswold retreat of William Morris and his family, friends and colleagues. Kelmscott is home to fascinating and important collections of textiles, furniture and paintings, spanning more than 300 years and reflecting the ideas and creative legacy of those who lived and worked here.

Buscot & Coleshill Estates

Two very English villages and the mosaic of fields, water meadows, spinneys and parkland that surround them. Traditionally farmed and covering 7,000 acres, there are miles of circular walks and family trails. Buscot is a haven for wildlife, and there’s a real sense that time has stood still at Coleshill.

Faringdon Folly & Woodland

This unique tower is the last major folly to be built in England. It stands on Folly Hill in four acres of charming circular woodland, with spectacular views over five counties. The tower was built in the 1930s by the eccentric Lord Berners – ‘the great point of the tower is that it will be entirely useless’.

Burford

Burford is surely one of England's prettiest small medieval towns with some really beautiful buildings (the church is considered one of the best in the country) and is a busy and thriving community of about 1,000 people. The town merchants were granted a charter to hold their own markets over 900 years ago, and it’s still a great place for shopping, with loads of independent shops and galleries.

Cogges Manor Farm, Witney

Cogges Manor consists of a 13th-century house and 17th-century farm buildings. These days it’s a popular heritage centre with a strong emphasis on horticulture, rural crafts and family-friendly entertainment. It’s also just the place to help understand the origins of early rural life and put the past into perspective.

Bibury

William Morris described Bibury as 'the most beautiful village in England'. Its most famous feature is a much-photographed group of 17th-century weavers' houses. Cloth was fulled at Arlington Mill, now a rural and crafts museum, and nearby is a part Saxon church.

Snowshill

Picture-postcard village with attractive stone cottages, a fine church and a handsome manor house owned by the National Trust. It's packed with the extraordinary treasures collected by Charles Wade, including Samurai armour, musical instruments and clocks. He had a passion for colour, design and craftsmanship, and there are thousands of things to discover in this very atmospheric house.

Broadway Tower

Built in 1799, Broadway Tower is a Gothic folly with one of England’s outstanding viewpoints; at 1024 feet above sea level, on a clear day you can see thirteen counties. William Morris used it as a country retreat and the wonderful Morris room is furnished with his designs.

Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe

Sudeley Castle was home to Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's last wife. She's buried here, as well, so this is the only private castle that's the final resting place of a queen. It's played an important role in England's often turbulent history and has royal connections stretching back over 1,000 years. Inside you'll find an interesting collection of furniture, paintings and unique artefacts, and the gloriously restored gardens are absolutely beautiful.

Oxford

Just like London, Oxford can hold your attention for days. There really is that much to see and do. A walk through the ancient streets of Matthew Arnold's 'city of dreaming spires' is surely the best and most effective way to see this world-famous seat of learning. As well as the 12th-century Carfax Tower, with its memorable views, and the Botanic Garden - a quiet backwater in the heart of Oxford - there's the chance to visit many of the University's 38 colleges and even explore the familiar haunts of Colin Dexter's legendary detective, Inspector Morse.

North Leigh Roman Villa, Witney

This English Heritage site at North Leigh consists of a large, well-constructed Roman courtyard villa with a historically important, near complete mosaic floor, which can be seen through a viewing window.

Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins

Not exactly a museum, and not exactly a shop, Cotswold Woollen Weavers is a bit of both. The wealth of the Cotswolds came from wool, and you can learn about that here, and the processes that change wool to cloth. They proudly say they make 'useful and desirable things', and you can browse a selection of unusual items, from clothing to furniture.

Buscot Park, Faringdon

One of the best-known landmarks on the upper reaches of the Thames, this late 18th-century neo-classical mansion containing fine paintings and furniture of the Faringdon Collection Trust. Within the grounds are an Italianate water garden and a large walled garden. The church at Buscot has some fine examples of stained glass from Morris & Co, founded by Arts & Crafts man William Morris in 1861.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Dating back to the 1740s, this beautiful garden with intriguing buildings offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Visit in spring and you'll find wooded areas blanketed with snowdrops.

Cirencester

The most historic of the Cotswold market towns comes with an outstanding church and town houses dating from the 15th century onwards. From the extensive park on the west side of the town, there is a classic view of church and town from Broad Ride. Visit the Corinium Museum, the Brewery Arts Centre for a unique arts and crafts shopping experience, and explore Cirencester Park on foot.

Cheltenham

Transformed into an elegant Regency resort following the discovery of medicinal springs, a visit to this thriving town is well worth it - the elegant Promenade is one of the region’s most stylish shopping boulevards and home to some of the country’s leading fashion houses, shoe shops and booksellers. Of interest are the town's Art Gallery & Museum, the Holst Museum and Pittville Pump Room in Pitville Park. Famous too for its International Music Festival and Cheltenham Races.

Great Tew Village

Mellow stone cottage with roofs of thatch and stone slate nestle in a serene setting beside the green - Great Tew is a picture-postcard estate village with a classic, unspoilt pub, the Falkland Arms. Many of the cottages were built in the 17th century by Lord Falkland and an ornate arch frames the 14th-century church at the top of the village. Cool little cafe too - Quince & Clover.

Burford Garden Company, Burford

Upmarket shopping emporium selling a range of products for the home and garden, as well as toys, clothes, luxury products, artisan foods, and pet accessories. If it’s woven country dog baskets you’re after, look no further. Good cafe too.

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Last updated: 12.02.21