The Cotswolds and Shakespeare Country
Things to see and do
There are many things you can see and do in this beautiful part of the world. We have compiled this list of nearby attractions. Please note that we are not responsible for the content of external websites.
Elder Cottage is a great base for walking, and a local 1:25000 walkers map centred on the cottage is provided. There are lots of walks from the door (including Hidcote and Kiftsgate) and many more within a short distance.
Houses and gardens
Hidcote Manor Garden (National Trust) – Celebrated 20th-century garden designed by Major Lawrence Johnston
Snowshill Manor (National Trust) – Cotswold Manor House with Arts & Crafts style garden
Charlecote Park (National Trust) – Tudor house and deer park where Shakespeare is alleged to have been caught poaching
Chastleton House (National Trust) – Jacobean house, occupied by the same family for over 400 years
Chedworth Roman Villa (National Trust) – remains of one of the largest Romano-British villas in the country
Kiftsgate Court Gardens – Interconnecting gardens, the work of three generations of women gardeners
Bourton House – Beautiful gardens in the grounds of a stately home
Compton Verney – An award winning art gallery set in a Robert Adam mansion located in 120 acres of spectacular parkland
Sezincote House and Garden – A unique and extraordinary Indian house set amidst the Cotswold Hills
Blenheim Palace – Home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill
Stoneleigh Abbey – Abbey dating from 1154, with many famous connections
Castles
Sudeley Castle – Beautiful castle with 1,000 years of royal connections
Warwick Castle – The finest mediaeval castle in England, dating from 914 AD
Kenilworth Castle – One of the largest castle ruins in England, dating from about 1116
Goodrich Castle – Majestic fortress at Symonds Yat, dating from the 11th century
Broughton Castle – More of a house than a castle, the home of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele dates from 1300 and has appeared in many TV shows and films
Towns and villages
Chipping Campden – Reputedly has the most beautiful High Street in England
Broadway – The ‘Show village of England’
Stow-on-the-Wold – Cotswolds market town with many antique shops and much more
Bourton-on-the-Water – The ‘Little Venice’ of the Cotswolds
Stratford-upon-Avon – Historic market town, birthplace of William Shakespeare
Culture and heritage
Royal Shakespeare Company – With three theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon, there is something for all tastes
Fleece Inn (National Trust) – Mediaeval building, still in use as a village inn
Whichford Pottery – A family-run pottery established in 1976. All the pots are made entirely by hand
National Trust sites in Wessex
National Trust sites in the West Midlands
Places to eat
The Pudding Club at The Three Ways House Hotel, Mickleton
Cotswold House Hotel, Chipping Campden
The Kings Hotel, Chipping Campden
The Eight Bells, Chipping Campden
Lapstone Shop and Cafe, near Chipping Campden
Other links