Please sign in to post.

Cotswolds

My husband and I plan to spend a week in the Cotswolds in late August. Is it better to have a central hotel/b&b to return to each evening or to choose a few towns and venture forth? It's been 30 years since we were there so looking for fresh thoughts. Also, we are seniors and wondering if the husband should drive or hire a driver. Please give specifics regarding recommendations for overnights get stays.
Thanks so much.

Posted by
136 posts

One way or the other you are going to need a car. Public transportation in the Cotswolds is bus service that never seems to go where you want to go :). Also, given the relatively short distances strongly recommend you avoid moving. It just wastes time and energy. Pick a convenient home base.

Here is our experience and recommendations - We spent a week there in 2014. I was 72 at the time. We rented a car and used my Garmin GPS with fresh maps loaded. Today I would probably use google maps on my phone. We rented a cottage in Mickelton off of Homeaway.com and were able to do our own breakfasts and also light suppers when we had a big lunch. There was also a pub right across the street where we became "locals" after our first visit. Having our own breakfast at our own time permitted us to get out early and beat the crowds - this was especially nice given the hot weather and the many lovely gardens to visit. We often had a late lunch and then drove home for maybe a beer or a glass of wine and a nap or a pub meal or a light meal in the garden of our cottage.

Driving concerns - you have to decide for yourself but I had no trouble. GPS worked well with only once getting us onto a nonesistant road through a farmers field. All part of the adventure. The roads are narrow and wander around a bit. Traffic was not heavy. Parking in towns could be a minor challenge sometimes (mostly on the street) but the major tourist sites (gardens, museums, etc) had lots and since we generally got there early there was plenty of available parking.

Bottom line recommendations - don't obsess about driving. It's not that hard. Do strongly consider renting a cottage or apartment. We found it extremely convenient and pleasant. If you go that route read the descriptions and reviews very carefully. Feel free to call or email the owner if you have questions. The English seem to be exceptionally eager that guests have a good experience. Do not overplan your days. You will discover more things to see as you start talking to people.

Enjoy your trip, Robbie
P.S. The RS guidebook is very good but there are many things to see and do that are not in his book.

Posted by
443 posts

Whether to rent a car or hire a driver: being a "senior" covers a wide age range. If your husband is, say, late 60s and feels comfortable driving in England, then I'd recommend renting a car. On the other hand, if he's age 80+, he may not able to rent a car in England anyway.

I spent time in the Cotswolds in May 2017 and am returning in a few weeks. I have found The Rough Guide to The Cotswolds to be very helpful in my planning.

Posted by
7238 posts

I always drive. Most of the towns are fairly close (within 30-40 minutes) of each other, so one base would probably suffice, two at most. Possibly pick one the south side, like Cirencester and one on the north, like Stratford Upon Avon. If using one base, then Bourton on Water, Stow on Wold, or Upper Slaughter are somewhat in the center of all the towns. My last couple time there I was on business and stayed in Cheltenham, but on my last personal trip, my wife and I stayed in Chipping Campden, but the owners of that B&B retired, so it isn’t open any longer.

Edited: As Robin Z pointed out, many are within 15 min. of each other. I was referring more like going from Bibury or Cheltenham to Stratford and not Chipping Campden to Broadway, or Bourton on Water to Stow on Wold. I should have been clearer.

Posted by
2806 posts

There are lots of small villages that are only 10-15 minutes apart. I highly recommend renting a car.
Beautiful small thatched village is two miles from Chipping Campden, it’s Ebrington and it has a very nice pub The Ebrington Arms, which also has rooms to rent, we stayed at Home Farm B&B, the owner is so lovely and breakfast was fantastic. Broadway the Crown and Trumpet B&B is great. Painswick a not to miss village has Troy House B&B. In Dursley there is a fabulous B&B...Underhill Bed and Breakfast it’s right next to a nice pub. In Winchcombe we stayed at Blair House B&B it was very lovely. These are a few places where we stayed when we walked the Cotswold Way.