If you’ve ever read ‘Cider with Rosie’ Laurie Lee’s childhood rhapsody about the Cotswold countryside, you will understand its lure. The 'tangled woods and sprawling fields' of the Cotswolds, and the honey-coloured stone houses are an imagining of a nostalgic, pastoral England.
Set in the West Country, it’s the country’s largest area of national beauty. A good reason why you might think of coming and settling in the Cotswolds.
If you’ve never visited, spend a few days touring the countryside by car, by mountain bike or hiking. The market town of Chipping Camden; tranquil, medieval Burford; Bourton-on-the Water in its beautiful river valley.
As well as old-world charm pubs there’s an amazing array of gastro-pub restaurants dotted around the villages of the region. There are exquisite tea rooms and antique shops to browse. If winding around a market appeals try the Roman town of Cirencester. The Charter Market is one of the oldest in the country, held in the picturesque Market Place on Monday and Friday each week. There is a Farmer’s Market on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.
For culture, there’s the Chipping Norton Theatre, a lively community theatre inside a Victorian hall squeezed in among the townhouses. There’s the magical and eccentric Giffords Circus, which performs across the region in spring and summer. And set in a converted cowshed, the wonderful Longborough Opera at Longborough near Moreton-in-Marsh, stages summer productions.
If art galleries are your thing, there’s The Wilson in Cheltenham with its Arts and Crafts Movement exhibition and fine art collections.
For the kids, there’s the zoo at The Cotswold Wildlife Park and rare breeds of farm animal protected at Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park. And for outside activities there’s the truly amazing Cotswold Water Park. Activities include fishing, paddle boarding, canoeing and sailing. There are nature reserve trails too and a stunning beach on the lakes in summer.
In the pristine Forest of Dean, Go Ape offers the Tree Top Adventure, a dizzying zip-wire experience through the tree canopy.
And for the wilder times, there’s The Big Festival, a three day family-friendly event staged by Alex James' farm in Chipping Norton, combining food with a top drawer selection of live music acts.
And not far away if you want a break from the countryside and looking for the attractions of the city are Cheltenham, Bath and Bristol.
When you decide to stay, let us welcome you and settle you into your new home. Call us, we’re an established friendly and professional Cotswold removals company.