Itinerary – The Cotswolds Experience

A European Experiences week has an ideal balance of structure and flexibility, activities with the group and time on your own. We may adjust our plans based on weather, the interests of the group members, and unexpected opportunities. If there’s a special festival in a nearby village during your week, we’ll likely rearrange things to be there.

We’ll describe a “typical” week in the Cotswolds, but be aware that every Cotswolds Experience week is somewhat unique! Your week might be organized differently, and experiences may be added or not included. And this sample itinerary doesn’t include some special stops we’d like to surprise you with when we’re together.

Day One

We’ll meet the group at the train station in the market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, on the direct line from London’s Paddington Station (a 90 minute trip). It’s a 15 minute drive to Chipping Campden and the friendly inn on the High Street that will be our home for the week.

Chipping Campden’s market hall, built in 1627

You’ll have time at the hotel to unpack and settle in, and then we’ll take a stroll around the town. Later that evening we’ll meet for drinks at the inn’s pub. Over a wonderful dinner of locally-produced food, served in a private dining room, we’ll get to know each other and discuss our plans for the week.

Day Two

We want you to be especially familiar with our home-base town of Chipping Campden. We’ll begin our day with a historical walking tour, led by a local Cotswolds warden and town resident. We’ll learn the history of this well-preserved town, which dates back to the 12th century and was a prosperous wool market town. As part of our tour, we’ll visit the 13th century village church, St. James.

We’ll then head to the countryside, first for lunch at a family-owned cafe where our groups always have a very warm welcome.

Our next stop is one of the most unique properties in the Cotswolds: Snowshill Manor, in a lovely spot adjacent to the small village of Snowshill. A sixteenth-century country house, Snowshill Manor is best known for its twentieth-century eccentric owner, Charles Wade. Heir to a family fortune, he restored the house to display his enormous collection of very diverse objects: suits of Japanese samurai armor, bicycles, toys, musical instruments and much more. When he left the property to the National Trust, there were over 22,000 objects, only some of which can be displayed. (Meanwhile Wade lived in a small cottage behind the house!)

We’ll also have time to explore the attractive garden behind the house, laid out in a series of rooms and incorporating an ancient dovecote and other farm buildings.

The countryside and garden at Snowshill Manor

Dinner tonight is usually at an excellent Italian restaurant down the High Street from our hotel.

Day Three

Our morning begins at Dover’s Hill, one of the highest points in the Cotswolds, with sheep grazing nearby and sweeping views of the countryside… on a clear day, as far as Wales.

We’ll next travel through lush, green countryside to the ancient town of Winchcombe. Our destination is Sudeley Castle, a stately home built in the 15th century. The castle is best known as the home of Katherine Parr, the surviving sixth wife of King Henry VIII. The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens and includes extensive museum exhibits.

We’ll enjoy lunch outside Winchcombe at a tea room at an apple farm, enjoying their famous apple juice and fresh berries from the farm.

On our drive back to Chipping Campden, we’ll detour through the beautiful countryside, passing the impressive entrance gate of Stanway House. We’ll make a short stop in the peaceful village of Stanton to visit the 12th century church and explore the cottages along the quiet main street.

Dinner tonight is at one of our favorite Campden restaurants, featuring Mediterranean cuisine.  (You will definitely eat well on this trip!)

Day Four

We’ll begin our day in the beautiful and historic town of Broadway. Its wide High Street is lined with chestnut trees with a mix of period houses and cottages made of the honey-colored Cotswolds stone, many of which now house independent shops, art galleries, and tea rooms. This is the best shopping opportunity of the week, though there’s plenty for non-shoppers to enjoy.

After our time in Broadway, we’ll travel to Kiftsgate Court, a family home and extensive garden. The garden has been developed by three generations of women, beginning in the 1920’s. The garden is best known for the famous Kiftsgate rose, the largest in England, which normally blooms from early to mid July. (See Kathy’s article on Kiftsgate to learn more about this beautiful garden.)

We’ll have a simple lunch at the tea room and then visit the garden.

A few minutes from Kiftsgate is another famous garden, Hidcote Manor, developed by Major Lawrence Johnston in the early 1900’s. This garden is known for its series of distinct rooms, separated by hedges, each with a different theme. There is an excellent National Trust gift shop. You can also wander down the lane to explore the tiny hamlet of Hidcote Bartrim with its thatched cottages.

Dinner tonight is on your own in Chipping Campden.

Day Five

Moreton-in-Marsh was founded as a market town in the 13th century. Today the town hosts a busy outdoor market on Tuesday mornings with about 200 sellers. Our group will visit the market and explore the village High Street, lined with 17th and 18th century houses.

We’ll then drive just outside Moreton where you can choose between two possible activities. You can enjoy the Cotswolds Falconry Centre, including a unique demonstration involving owls, falcons and other birds of prey. Or you can visit the nearby Bourton House garden, featuring luxuriant terraces and wide herbaceous borders with stunning plant, texture and color combinations.

Lunch today is at the pub in the beautiful village of Snowshill. And after lunch we’ll enjoy one of the highlights of the week: a visit to the nearby Cotswold lavender farm. This is a 75-acre commercial lavender farm, with several acres set aside for visitors to wander and enjoy. There are also several large areas of colorful wildflowers.

At the Cotswold Lavender farm

We’ll return to Chipping Campden mid-afternoon.  Kathy will lead an optional walk through the fields to the neighboring village of Broad Campden. Or you can enjoy free time in Chipping Campden… plenty there to explore!

We have a special evening tonight at a historic pub in the nearby village of Bretforton in the Vale of Evesham. The inn dates back six centuries. The manager Nigel will share the pub’s history and talk about its present day activities. We’ll enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the cozy pub dining rooms. And we may have some special entertainment!

Day Six

Our main destination today is Blenheim Palace, located near Woodstock, about 40 minutes from Chipping Campden. On our way to Woodstock we’ll take a small detour to see the Rollright Stones, an isolated complex of three ancient monuments dating from the 4th to 2nd century BC. The site includes the “King’s Men,” a circle of 77 low-standing stones.

Blenheim Palace, built of Cotswold stone

Blenheim Palace is one of England’s largest and most important stately homes, built between 1705 and 1724 and now home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough. Our day at Blenheim Palace includes a self-guided tour of the public rooms, one of which was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, whose uncle was the 8th duke. You’ll then be able to visit several museums located on the site (including a special Churchill museum), as well as the extensive gardens and grounds. Lunch today is on your own at one of the palace cafes.

Dinner tonight is on your own in Chipping Campden.

Day Seven

We enjoy a very special experience this morning: a private visit to Broughton Castle, a medieval fortified manor house dating back to 1306 and home to the Fiennes family for over 500 years. We’ll tour many rooms of the castle, eventually climbing up onto the rooftop for impressive views of the gardens and countryside. After visiting the beautiful gardens, we’ll adjourn to the tea room for a special afternoon tea.

Broughton Castle

In the afternoon we’ll journey to the quiet village of Upper Slaughter and enjoy an easy one-mile walk along the little River Eye to the next village of Lower Slaughter.

One last round of drinks at the pub… then our farewell dinner at our hotel. This will be another wonderful meal served by long-time staff members who will now be your friends.

Day Eight

We’ll have our last breakfast together and then make the short drive back to the station in Moreton-in-Marsh. We know you’ll take with you memories of a wonderful week!