Cotswolds with Kids

Summer of 2023 we stayed in Stow-on-the-Wold for a couple of nights with our kids and grandkids, 9 and 6 at the time. We hiked down to Bourton-on-the-Water, thru the horse and cow pastures and took the bus back. Kids loved it. This was at the end of July and Bourton on the Water was extremely crowded, though. Not so with Stow on the Wold.

End of July is in the English schools’ summer holidays. Most schools also have a week’s holiday at the end of May but “mid May” should be ok. The main tourist spots will be quieter then.

skadodi welcome to the Forums.

I saw kids in the Cotswolds, and had an idea, and then I see that your daughter loves animals and I now know I'm on to a winner. Then you mention Bourton on the Water and I'm there.

There is a television series here in England called Countryfile - about all things country and farming. Always relaxing and beautiful, no matter the weather, one of my favourite shows. One of the presenters is a very likeable farmer from the Cotswolds, Adam Henson (currently stepping away from Countryfile to another project) who has the Cotswold Farm Park along with running the arable and sheep and rare breeds farm.

Cotswold Farm Park is just north of Guiting Power, a small village off the beaten track with 2 pubs and a village Cricket team who I watch from time to time, and just one giant step from Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold. https://cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk/

In addition to getting up close with the animals and everything else included at the Farm Park, you can actually stay there in a Shepherd Hut or other accommodation, and they have an award winning restaurant.

If your daughter is as mad about sheep as I am she will love it. Mid May will be a bit late for lambing season but all the lambs will be bopping about and she will likely love it. By the way, is she the older or younger one? Good advice, make sure she has wellies.

That whole area is a bit special to me because I grew up there and know the villages and hills like the back of my hand.

Some folks diss the Cotswolds saying that there are other beautiful, perhaps less busy, corners of the country, and they may be right, including even where I live in Northamptonshire, but the Cotswolds is a very special place. Especially if you have an animal mad daughter.

What does the boy like?

If I can be of any help please ask.

You mention your son loves castles. The Cotswolds aren’t the most castley area, but if you have a car there are two very different but worthwhile castles a short distance away in Warwickshire.

Warwick Castle is big, well-preserved. Often derided as Disney-ish as it’s expense and has lots of activities (jousting etc) but your son would probably love it. Nearby Kenilworth Castle is a purist’s favourite but very atmospheric and lots of fun too. It’s managed by English Heritage.

Both are also close to Stratford-upon-Avon.

There are the remains of a castle in Oxford which was a prison until a few years ago. It’s pretty much in the centre of town.

https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/