Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Cotswolds countryside, the Cotswolds Distillery was born from a dream to produce ‘outstanding natural spirits’ in one of the most beautiful regions in the world. The distillery opened its doors in 2014 and is the first full-scale distillery within the Cotswolds – a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Visitor Centre is in Shipston-on-Stour and they have 2 additional shops in Broadway and Cheltenham.

The Hawkstone Brewery, formerly known as the Cotswold Brew Co is a 10 minute walk from Bourton on the Water and a must visit destination when you’re on holiday in the Cotswolds. The Hawkstone brand is synonymous with great quality lager and you may have seen a lot of it on Jeremy Clarkson’s or Diddly Squat’s Instagram feed being drunk by such people as Joan Collins, Piers Morgan and of course Jeremy’s old Top Gear team.

Lynwood & Co is an independent group of cafes in the Cotswolds that serve amazing coffee in a relaxed friendly environment. The whole team is passionate about coffee and great food made with locally sourced ingredients. What’s more, they create everything themselves at their huge kitchen unit in Carterton.  They have cafés in: Cirencester, Carterton, Lechlade, Burford, Fairford, Bampton and Northleach. We’d recommend a visit to any of them.

Tucked away in Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold Baguettes has a delicious range of sandwiches, soups, salads, and cakes made fresh every day – making it the perfect pitstop for a picnic lunch before exploring all Stow has to offer! Run by a lovely local couple with over 25 years of experience in catering, it’s no surprise that Cotswold Baguettes has a 5-star Trip Advisor rating and is a Stay Cotswold team favorite. You name your favorite filling and they will have it- they have such a wide choice!

The Angel at Burford is a family and dog-friendly award-winning gastro pub, located in the medieval town of Burford in the Cotswolds. Situated just off the High Street, it is bursting with Cotswold charm and has been run by the King family since 2011. The interior is warm and welcoming, with a wood burner, with Cotswold stone walls and wooden beams adding to the cosy atmosphere.

With its views of a glorious Evenlode Valley with an expanse of sky rising over the distant treeline, it’s a beautiful and inspiring place. The Amphitheatre has been sculpted in harmony with the surrounding landscape, offering 500 grassed seats and sweeping views.  The stage itself is similarly impressive, with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment ensuring that performances are crisp, clear, and immersive.

The Cotswold Cider Company has a passion for apples and their calling is to bring you quirky craft cider with bags of character and spirited personality. Only ever fermented from 100% apple juice, they champion the full flavour of real cider. Keep a lookout for their distinctive products in local pubs and shops. Or why not get some delivered for your stay to aid that much needed relaxation!

Dineindulge offer a private chef service that is unique and truly special. A personal chef service is provided along with restaurant quality cuisine that is affordable, accessible, and easy to book. Dineindulge make hiring a private chef quick, easy, and accessible to everyone and they provide a genuine alternative to eating out during your Cotswold holiday.

Off the back of the success of their Michelin-listed restaurant Farmyard, a ‘fine frozen’ range called FARMYARD was launched in 2020, led by their Chef Patron Andrew Jones. The range is handcrafted at the restaurant, using the best locally sourced produce, cooked by high–end restaurant chefs who have worked in Michelin-starred kitchens and cook under pressure to the highest level every day, so the techniques they use are second to none and there are no added ‘nasties’ in any of the dishes.

Visitors looking for a unique Cotswold product – be it for a personal treat or a gift for a loved one – should pop in to ANI Skincare off bustling Black Jack Street. ANI (As Nature Intended) Skincare, is made and sold in Cirencester by founder Joanna Walker. Tired of the usual skincare products available Joanna wanted to create a skincare range using only ingredients that offer something essential to the skin. Visitors looking for a unique Cotswold product – be it for a personal treat or a gift for a loved one – should pop in to ANI Skincare off bustling Black Jack Street.

For over half a century the Guiting Music Festival has been a delightful niche festival to enliven the Cotswolds’ summer calendar, bringing an exciting variety of highly talented performances of Classical, Jazz and Blues music by artists from around the world. In that time it has built up a strong band of very loyal supporters. The festival is held in July in the beautiful and unspoilt Cotswold setting of Guiting Power, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire’s Cotswold Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

So, you’re coming to the Cotswolds and are starting to think about what you will do while here. Perhaps you are coming for a romantic break, a family holiday or a getaway with a group of friends?  Larkswold Creative Workshops is a local business run by two best friends Melinda & Emma who have created a destination to suit all of those groups and is a little different to other Cotswold tourist attractions. With a genuine warm & relaxing environment, dog-friendly Larkswold runs creative workshops throughout the year (suitable from age 10 to 110!) in its picturesque countryside setting near Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh.

Peach and Pudding was created in October 2021 by chef Joe Limbrick, and artist/creative Camille Smith. Joe has been a chef in fine dining kitchens for over 18 years and has worked in various Cotswold establishments including the Bathurst Arms in North Cerney, Barnsley House Hotel and Spa, and Giffords Circus. Joe is available to come and cook a wonderful meal for you in the comfort of your own holiday home.

Every type of walking tour imaginable, whether you want to see university colleges, Harry Potter locations, ghosts, Tolkien inspirations, or Inspector Morse locations there are loads to choose from. Oxford’s main attractions are easily accessible from each other as it is a small city. So, taking a walking or cycling tour is, therefore, a great way of seeing everything.

For a private guided tour around the Cotswolds, private transport for sporting events, wedding shuttles or a transfer from and to London airports or railway stations, give Rural Rides a call in advance and prebook one of their vehicles. No matter where you’re travelling in the Cotswolds and beyond, they can get you there on time. Their premium vehicles can accommodate up to 8 passengers in comfort. From Airport shuttles, Wedding transport, corporate pick up’s, Cotswold tours and Sporting events.

Smiths of Bourton is a perfectly placed boutique burger joint with cocktails. We recently went to meet Sebastian and Theo Smith, the owners, to hear more about their fascinating story of how and why they’re in picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water providing ‘next level burgers matched with classic cocktails’. They are two brothers with a ‘passion for patties’ using locally sourced fresh ingredients and they have over 500 reviews on Trip Advisor with an average score of 4.5. Theo, the younger of the two brothers, is a trained chef and the cocktails are produced by a mixologist with over 10 years of experience of creating high quality cocktails.

The Tea Set began life in Chipping Norton after owner, Vicky, received a request from her daughter to host a vintage afternoon tea party for her 18th birthday, in January, in a marquee! Without a moment’s hesitation, with the help of friends and family, Vicky gathered together an assortment of china from charity shops and Ebay before setting to work on the afternoon tea catering herself! The rest, as they say, is history!

The Cotswold Outpost is a fabulous spot nestled on the outskirts of Burford – the Gateway to the Cotswolds. Located at 1 Windrush Heights, OX18 4BF, it is the perfect place to eat, drink, and shop, visitors will find fine local produce and handmade goods for sale in the shop. Whilst there you can enjoy locally sourced food in the onsite café – get there early though as their breakfasts are something of a local legend! We particularly love their Sunday roasts!

Nestled in the sleepy village of Nether Westcote, a short drive from Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford and Stow on the Wold, the Feathered Nest is a charming 15th century inn that’s truly a hidden gem for food and wine lovers. Originally an old Malthouse, the thoughtfully refurbished ‘Nest’ offers stylish interiors paired with a cosy, warm atmosphere. Sitting in a glorious position overlooking the Evenlode Valley, the far-reaching views can be enjoyed throughout the Inn, particularly from the glass fronted Garden Room restaurant, the spacious covered outdoor terrace or the garden.

The Fox at Barrington is a beautiful Cotswold pub, located right on the banks of the River Windrush in the picturesque village of Great Barrington, just 2 miles from the town of Burford. The King family took over the location in early 2022 and have lovingly renovated it throughout, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all who visit. The Fox prides itself on offering outstanding food, drink, and service, as well as a second-to-none location in one of the most stunning and picture-perfect areas in the UK.

Now in it’s 11th year and firmly established as the country’s main hub for mechanical art, this one-of-a-kind museum features a huge range of moving, interactive art and automata that are both fascinating and mesmerising. MAD is located in the heart of Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The museum is easily accessible and is just a short walk from the town’s train station.

ZONDA Is a Cotswold based pizza business, born from the marriage of Italy’s two greatest exports, food and automobiles. Their passion for food and cars is the inspiration for all that they do. They serve authentic Neapolitan style pizza, using the finest ingredients either sourced within a few miles of our Stow-on-the-Wold home or imported from all regions of Italy. Authentic Italian pizza pop up based at Stow-on-the-Wold Rugby Club. Open Wednesday to Friday – 5 -9.30pm and Saturdays 12-10pm

Make your stay in the Cotswolds more luxurious with a private wine tasting from Chris Glassock of The Cheltenham Local Wine School. Chris is a certified WSET Wine Educator and takes incredible pride in sharing his passion for wine with his guests. He has experience in hosting a full range of events, including birthday celebrations, hen parties, and fine wine masterclasses. Why not have Chris come along to your holiday cottage and provide your very own personal wine tasting!

Led by Cotswolds Chef of the Year 2019 winner Dan Richards whose expertise and enthusiasm radiates in his delicious classic cuisine, ‘The Rectory Tiered Luncheon’ takes the conventional afternoon tea to the next level. The Daily Menu with in-house smoked produce along with traditional dishes created from local ingredients has something for everyone.