Romantic days out in the Cotswolds

BEFORE YOU GO:
After a day spent exploring the boutiques, refuel at one of our many restaurants and food pop-ups before hopping in the car and setting off on your romantic rendezvous.

Bourton-on-the-Water offers a leisurely stroll along the River Windrush, and the canal path takes you past babbling brooks and overhanging trees, punctuated by quaint pubs and cafés – the perfect place to stop and enjoy a quiet moment together.

STYLE TIP:
There are also plenty of off-road hikes to break in your new walking gear from Timberland. We recommend the scenery in Stow-on-the-Wold or the circular walk along the Fosse Way - one of the oldest routes in Britain.

Alternatively, Snowshill Manor celebrates architect, craftsmen and poet, Charles Wade’s intriguing and eccentric life. It’s packed with his collection of quirky and extraordinary treasures, from mechanical doorbells to suits of armour and costumes.

DON'T MISS:
If you’ve time, Chavenage House in Tetbury boasts an impressive and much more orderly collection of antiquities that have been carefully preserved by the same family for over four hundred years.

Pubs are plentiful and ideal for sampling an artisan cider or traditional English ale. Making a reservation for two? Stop for dinner in a gastro pub, or if you prefer more refined, reserve a table at one of the area’s fine dining options.

DID YOU KNOW?:
The Cotswolds is home to a whole feast of delicious specialities, including the award-winning ‘Gloucester Old Spot pork’ and creamy Gloucester cheese – best accompanied by Tewkesbury mustard, Stinking Bishop cheese and Hobbs House bread.

Shake up your usual date activity with a visit to the recently refurbished Wilson Art Gallery in Cheltenham. Take a leisurely afternoon exploring its exhibitions together, before finishing your day at Cheltenham’s iconic Everyman Theatre, which dates back to 1891 and is considered to be the best preserved architectural example from renowned designer Frank Matcham.

INSIDER SECRET:
If you’re after a quirkier date, time your visit to take in a Giffords Circus show. The troupe tours the area during the summer months, where you can sit back and enjoy a unique celebration of local arts and culture.

TOP TIP:
If you’ve always fancied a hot air balloon ride, the Cotswolds is the perfect place to do it. There’s something magical about drifting over the patchwork of green fields and rural villages, literally in a world of your own.

STYLE TIP:
You’ll want to impress with your swimwear as you take advantage of the hot tub, steam room and sauna, and this style from Vilebrequin is a certified winner.

The tiny village of Minster Lovell not only has a delightful name, its location next to River Windrush provides a lovely walking path which leads to the remains of thirteenth century Minster Lovell Hall. Similarly, Snowshill has appeared countless times on TV for its charm and unspoilt beauty. Surrounded on three sides by rolling hills, the remaining view is a panorama of the stunning Severn Vale. Don’t forget your camera!

DID YOU KNOW:
Blockley is another popular visit – not just for its uninterrupted beauty, but as its church was frequently featured in TV’s ‘Father Brown’.