Driving Distance from Bruern’s Luxury Holiday Cottages: The Best Villages to Visit in the Cotswolds
We at Bruern are so proud to be located in one of the most beautiful and historically rich areas in the United Kingdom. There is so much to see and do in this illustrious area that it’s hard to contain in just one article. Being surrounded by so many interesting towns and villages, it was hard choosing just five to focus on, but these towns and cities have so much to offer for the whole family that it’s hard to miss out on any of them on your visit to our luxury holiday Cotswolds.
Chipping Camden
A small market town in Gloucestershire, Chipping Camden served primarily as a wool trading center in the Middle Ages. On Sheep Street, you can still find a number of artisans’ shops for jewellery, stoneware, and pottery. If you’re looking for shopping, high Street is your ideal destination, with plenty of shops to keep you busy for hours.
If you enjoy architecture, the high point in Chipping Camden would have to be St. James Church. While the original church was built in AD 1180, and while most of the main structure was built over the next 250 years, the church has gone through many renovations since them. However, it remains one of the cornerstone buildings in Chipping Camden.
Lastly, there is a yearly event that take place in Chipping Camden that is certainly not worth missing: Robert Dover’s Cotswold Olimpick Games. In what could be described as one of the most eclectic collection of games and events, Robert Dover organized these games almost two centuries before the modern Olympic games-sometime between 1601 and 1612. The games have contained a variety of traditional and non-traditional events, including tug-of-war, shin-kicking, judo, and Morris dancing. The games are held every year on the Friday after Spring Bank Holiday, and go from early in the day until dusk. Attend this event, and you’ll leave with great stories to tell about an amazing distinct experience.
Cirencester
Cirencester is the largest city in the Cotswold District. It is a great mixture of old and new, with relics and statues dating back to Roman times and arts centres opened as recently as the 1970’s or later. The city is also home to the Royal Agricultural University, the oldest English-language agricultural university in the world, open since 1840.
In addition, Cirencester was a major centre for the Arts and Crafts movement in the United Kingdom. While architecture used to be the primary focus, there are now many shops for newer artists to display their talent, such as the Brewery Arts Centre, which offers classes in all styles of art, along with many artists’ shops throughout the city.
During the summer, check out the events put on by the Cirencester Park Polo Club for daily events. In addition to watching events, there are academy days where you can learn how to play, either in groups or as an individual. It’s the perfect outing for a summer day in the Cotswolds.
Bourton-on-the-Water
This large village has been considered the “Venice of the Cotswolds” given that the River Windrush runs through the middle of town. This picturesque setting is home to a great number of museums for people with all interests and of all ages, such as Birdland, the Cotswold Motor Museum, Cotswold Perfurmery, and the Dragonfly Maze, among many others.
For fun, a great but of summer entertainment is when a game of Medieval football is set up in the River Windrush. It’s a challenge not to only to score goals, but to get both the crowds and players as wet as possible.
Bourton-on-the-Water manages to maintain that classic village appearance while still offering this wide array of experiences, and it’s a great place to go for a day away from Bruern’s luxury holiday cottages.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Located at the intersection of seven major roads, it is no surprise that Stow-on-the-Wold was founded as a planned market place given its ideal location. It was also the site of the last battle of the first part of the English Civil War in 1646.
In history, the village was most well-known for its role on the wool industry. The primary market item here was sheep, and as many as 20,000 sheep could be sold at one meeting.
While you’re here, don’t miss the Cricket Museum, the antique shops, and St. Edward’s Church.
Bath
The city of Bath appropriately got its name from the Roman baths that were built there around AD 60. These days, Bath is not only a centre of industry, but a major tourist hub, rich with museums, sports teams, and cultural events.
Some of the most famous residents of Bath have contributors to the great literary history of the United Kingdom. Jane Austen set two of her books there, and due to the amazing architecture, a number of films have used Bath as their backdrop for the scenery.
With Bath being such a large city, you might need to go back a couple times to see everything.
Bruern’s Luxury Holiday Cottages as the Perfect Cotswold Respite
When you visit these majestic yet quaint cities and villages in the Cotswolds, you will see that Bruern’s luxury holiday cottages are the perfect central setting for your holiday to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is always something new to discover, and with the depths of history reaching all the way back to Roman times and beyond, the exploration will never cease.
When you need a break, though, Bruern’s luxury holiday cottages will be waiting for you, with everything you need to relax and enjoy the remainder of the holiday, whether you see want to more of the Cotswolds or just take some time for yourself.