Summer

Avoid the queues at Dover and Heathrow this summer and book yourself a staycation in The Cotswolds. Whether you choose a couples’ getaway in a shepherd’s hut, a family holiday in a cottage, or a get-together with friends in a luxury farmhouse, you won’t need to hunt for your passport or worry about your carry-on luggage. Chuck your bags in the car and head to the South West of England.

Who needs the Algarve when there’s The Cotswold Country Park and Beach? Home to the UK’s largest inland beach, relax lakeside while the kids build sandcastles, or try one of the many water-sports on offer. Alternatively, take the plunge at one of the region’s outdoor swimming pools, like the 50-metre lido in Cheltenham’s Sandford Park.

Sandford Park

The Alfresco Film Company and Luna Cinema are staging outdoor screenings at some of the areas most glorious venues, from Top Gun: Maverick at Cowley Manor to Jaws at The Cotswold Country Park and Beach. With so much on offer, you’re gonna need a bigger schedule.

And summer provides the ideal opportunity to appreciate the academic splendour of Oxford while the students are away.

Autumn

As the evenings start to draw in and the foliage takes on a russet hue, the best way to appreciate the Cotswold autumn colours is to pay a visit to the arboretums at Westonbirt and Batsford.

Nature lovers will want to head to Lodge Park to catch October’s annual deer rut.

Deer Rutting

And as we head towards Halloween, how about picking your own pumpkin at one of the region’s PYO pumpkin patches? 

Enjoy bonfire night safely by taking in an organised fireworks display at one of the many venues laying on such entertainment. 

And this time of year offers the perfect opportunity to step into history, as many significant properties open their doors for Heritage Open Days. Take in the traditional harvest festival at Daylesford Organic Farm, sample the best of viniculture at the Cheltenham Wine Festival, or just enjoy the mulch of leaves beneath your boots on a good old fashioned walk.

Winter 

And talking of walking, the crisp days of winter are ideal for exploring The Cotswolds on foot. With hundreds of trails to discover, from the 2-mile Arden Way and River Arrow route, through the more challenging 7-mile Painswick to Slad Circular Walk, right through to the region’s most well-known trail: The Cotswold Way. This 102-mile path runs from Chipping Campden to Bath along the Cotswold Escarpment, with winter offering one of the best times to enjoy the stunning views of the Malvern Hills. And don’t feel obliged to do the entire route: there are some wonderful shorter trails to enjoy at different stages along the Cotswold Way.Winter Walk

Retire to your cottage with rosy cheeks, cosy up by the wood-burner and enjoy afternoon tea brought to your door. 

Fireplace

Spring

The vernal freshness of The Cotswolds sees a plethora of emerging flora and fauna across the region. Head over to Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park for lambing season – a wonderful experience where you can witness lambs being born, or watch newborn chicks hatching at Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water. And there’s no shortage of Easter Egg hunts for the kiddywinks. For more inspiration, check out our article on family days out in the Cotswolds.

Visit woodlands carpeted with bluebells and enjoy the spectrum of colour on show across the many public gardens as plants and trees come into bloom.

Bluebells

When to visit The Cotswolds? Its verdant undulating landscape and golden limestone villages provide the perfect backdrop to the changing seasons, making it the ideal year-round destination. You can find out more about what to do in the Cotswolds throughout our website and plan your perfect stay in one of our fabulous Cotswold holiday homes!