Nearby

Your Cotswolds Experience

Wellacres House, Hill House, Meadowbank House and Oak House are all set in the beautiful North Cotswolds, an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.  At any of the houses you're just a short drive from Chipping Campden - hailed as the most beautiful village in England and the jewel in the Cotswold's crown. And it's a short country walk or drive to some of the best gastro-pubs in the UK. 

Look below for more on what's on offer nearby: Pubs and Restaurants; Days out  with Children; Countryside, Walks and Gardens; Local Villages and Towns; and Culture.

There are breathtakingly beautiful scenes to be enjoyed and explored. Villages of honey-coloured cottages crafted from Cotswold stone, rolling hills are a stunning backdrop to the villages, with their duck ponds and their quaint rural customs and community life.

Welcoming local pubs and restaurants abound, many of which enjoy an excellent gastronomic reputation. Stratford-upon-Avon with its fascinating history and culture is only 15 miles away and a little further afield, the bright lights and spas of Cheltenham and Oxford are waiting to be explored.  For shopping savour fresh food from the many local farmers' markets and farm shops.

Children will love days out at Warwick Castle, with its spectacular displays, and at other local attractions like the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Cotswold Farm Park, Stratford Butterfly Farm, Birdland and Blenheim Palace.

Pubs and Restaurants

The North Cotswolds is increasingly a destination for food-lovers looking for first-rate food at great prices at quaint and traditional Inns and cutting-edge restaurants throughout the region. 

Within walking distance of Wellacres House is The Churchill Arms at Paxford, this is a local where locals still go, yet it attracts foodies in search of imaginative dishes using top, seasonal ingredients. The restaurant offers organically farmed fish, tasty steaks and excellent local lamb. High points are the thin, crispy, golden chips and a wonderfully gooey sticky toffee pudding. Locally brewed ales are also refreshing. Top tip: Get there either on the dot of lunch and dinner opening times to avoid waiting for a table. No bookings taken.

The Howard Arms at Ilmington is particularly worth a visit and was awarded UK Dining Pub of the Year 2005 by The Good Pub Guide. The 400-year-old pub enjoys an idyllic location on the village green in Ilmington, just south of Stratford-upon-Avon. Mellow Cotswold stone, traditional architecture and such a peaceful setting make the non-smoking Howard Arms the perfect place to enjoy a quiet pint or delicious food. Menus are interesting, varied and are changed weekly, making full use of seasonal produce.

Russells of Broadway offers contemporary chic in the heart of the Cotswolds. A unique blend of style and comfort has been injected into the former headquarters of the world-famous furniture designer, Gordon Russell, to give you Russells. Head Chef, Jonathan Rix, is keen to make the most of the Cotswolds’ rural farming tradition, and he sources much of the produce locally to reflect the restaurant’s emphasis on modern English flavours and Mediterranean influences.  Although new, Russels is already collecting food awards.

Don't miss out on a visit to nearby Chipping Campden brimming over with pubs,restaurants and tea rooms serving everything from fine, local Cotswold fayre to Thai, Italian and Modern British food.  Well worth a visit is the luxurious Independent Hotel of the Year, The Cotswolds House Hotel, with Hicks Brasserie - ideal for coffe,cake, lunch or dinner. Or visit Juliana's, offering a sophisticated, contemporary environment, surrounded by artwork and design. The à la carte menu features the freshest fish, and Cotswold game, meats and seasonal produce from the lush Vale of Evesham.  The Kings at Chipping Campden serves fresh local food and just across the road the Noel Arms offers Thai food.

Run by the same family as the Howard Arms is The Horse and Groom at Bourton-on-the-Hill, near Moreton-in-Marsh. A grade II listed Georgian building with fabulous period features, The Horse and Groom bar opens daily at 11am (noon on Sunday) and boasts a selection of four cask ales. An interesting menu offering food from fresh, locally sourced produce, is served at lunch and supper, except for Sunday evening and Monday lunchtime. The pub is non-smoking throughout.

The famous Lygon Arms in Broadway is a 16th-century country hotel with a renowned restaurant in the quintessential Cotswolds village of Broadway. Luxuriously furnished, the inn is filled with fresh flowers, antiques, country furnishings and roaring log fires.

Days out with Children

You will be spoilt for choice when choosing days out with your children.  To name just a few you may like to brandish you swords at Warwick Castle, roam the parkland and ride on the train at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, feed the lambs and stroke the chicks at the Cotswolds Farm Park, chat to the parrot at Birdland before visiting the Miniature Village nearby, have butterflies land on you at the Butterfly Farm or clamber over the adventure playground at Blenheim Palace.

Warwick Castle
Put simply, Warwick Castle is one of the top ten most visited places in the country. A bank holiday can see 6,000 people going through the gates of this magnificent castle, with wonderful displays for the family, including jousting, falconry and jesters.  Prepare for a full day out to make the most of everything on offer. 

The castle has many attractions include museum-style displays, high towers and ruins, 'living history' smelly and realistic scenes, dark dungeons, beautiful stately rooms, an atmospheric ghost tower, industrial heritage displays and much, much more.

In addition, the castle is set in beautiful grounds that straddle the river Avon, so enjoying a picnic, strolling and chasing geese can all complete your day.

Cotswold Wildlife Park
Another full day out, the Cotswold Wildlife Park spreads out over 160 acres of parkland and gardens around a listed Victorian manor house.  It is home to a fascinating and varied collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates from all over the world. There’s a children’s farmyard, an insect house, and an animal adoption scheme and you can also visit the playground and take a ride on the steam train through the grounds.

Cotswold Farm Park
Take the children to meet and cuddle a variety of rare breed farm animals at Britain’s first farm park and Farm Park of the Year 2003 (Good Britain Guide). They can learn to drive a miniature tractor, bottle-feed pet lambs and snuffling piglets or take a ride on the Farm Safari. There are also lambing, shearing and milk demonstrations. The Farm Park is regularly featured on television and the owner of the park, Adam Henson, is a presenter on BBC Countryfile programme.

Batsford Falconry Centre
Having hugged the lambs, the kids may be a little wary of birds of prey that like to eat them, but their fascination will override their fear at the Batsford Falconry Centre. See the trained falcons fly, and learn to balance an eagle or a snowy owl on your forearm -  this is as exciting for adults as it is for the kids. Batsford Arboretum next door is beautiful all year round and has lovely walks.

More Days Out
Other attractions for all the family include the National Motor Museum, the splendid 15th Century Sudeley Castle and Birdland, a natural setting inhabited by over 500 birds, including flamingos, pelicans and penguins. The nearby Bourton-on-the-Water Motor Museum is home to children’s TV favourite, Brum. Stratford-upon-Avon, too, is well worth a visit. The birthplace of William Shakespeare is steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK.

Countryside, Walks and Gardens

The Cotswolds is the home of quintessential English countryside, with rolling hills, babbling streams and delightful villages, complete with honey-coloured cottages and duck ponds.

Great walks are available locally, to Blockley Brook, in to Paxford and along the Cotswold Way, a national trail between Chipping Campden and Bath.

Those seeking beautiful gardens need travel no further than just a few miles to some of the UK's best gardens: Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate, Bourton House, Sezincote or Batsford Arboretum.

We can also arrange country lanes cycling days out, horse-riding, falconry at Batsford Falconry Centre or boating on the Avon. Just say the word.

Local Villages and Towns on Your Doorstep

Chipping Campden
There are many beautiful Cotswolds villages and towns, but none more so than Chipping Campden. It is described as the 'Flower of the villages of all England' on the Grevel family brass inscription found in the 15th Century St James Church. The church tower can be seen for miles around and makes an impressive landmark as you drive down the hill towards the town.
With its market hall built in 1627 and splendid High Street boasting wonderful architecture and delightful shops, this beautiful Cotswold town is really unspoilt. It boasts a superb variety of restaurants, pubs and hotels and some delightful walks around the town. Its many footpaths lead to other villages, while The Cotswold Way is a 100-mile-long walk starting in Chipping Campden and ending in Bath.

Paxford
A peaceful village, half a mile from Wellacres House and just 1½ miles from Chipping Campden. The cottages and houses are a pleasant mix of locally produced Cotswold stone and mellow red brick. Many public footpaths lead from the village through pretty meadows, woodland and along narrow country lanes to other villages, or simply follow a circular tour around the village itself. At the centre of the village, The Churchill Arms is a very traditional village pub offering award-winning menus and a welcoming atmosphere.

Blockley
Blockley is a pretty village well off the beaten track and hidden in a valley between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden. Once known for its silk mills, it’s now a peaceful, charming village with its mill stream winding its way through the bottom of the valley.  The timeless playground on the edge of the village has wonderful views up to the surrounding hills.

With many enjoyable walks leading from the village, and surrounded by beautiful countryside, Blockley has much to offer. Its attractive village green overlooks the popular Bowling Green and beautiful Norman Church and is a pleasant place to enjoy a picnic on sunny days. The quaint High Street winds its way past traditional Cotswold stone cottages and houses built into the hillside and ends in a wood where you can enjoy a stroll (you may see deer if you are quiet).

Broadway
Broadway is one of the most beautiful villages in England. Its wide High Street lined with horse-chestnut trees contains a mixture of period houses and picturesque honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages that have lured visitors for centuries. Broadway is internationally known for its beautiful long main street, with small honey-coloured shops, attractive houses and its traditional village green.

Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh was a popular coaching stop in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Four Shires Stone on the outskirts of the town marks the old county boundaries of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Moreton-in-Marsh is an excellent shopping centre, with many hotels, pubs and restaurants.  At the end of the High Street the newly-revamped playground is popular with visitors and locals alike.

Longborough
Longborough, home of the open-air Longborough Opera Festival and 2001 Best-Kept Village winner, is a delightful small Cotswold village overlooking the Evenlode Valley and surrounded by lovely countryside. There is a village shop, two pubs and a 12th-century Norman church that is a focal point for several miles. Try the Longborough Farm Shop on the Stow road  great for prepared meals and fresh farm vegetables. Walkers will enjoy the footpaths leading from the village and its fabulous and far-reaching views across the valley.  If you wish to go to the Opera just give us a call and we can arrange tickets and a superb picnic hamper for you to enjoy on the lawn.

Snowshill
Snowshill is set at the head of a small valley, with the Cotswolds rising to 900 ft on three sides of the village. The village is a conservation area and is renowned for its unspoilt cottages and for the panoramic views across the Severn Valley to the west. Visit Snowshill Manor, a beautiful Cotswold house set in lovely gardens.

Stow-on-the-Wold
One of the most popular of the Cotswold towns. Standing at almost 800 feet, it is the highest settlement in the Cotswolds. Glorious and far reaching views are available just a few minutes' walk from the mainly 17th and 18th Century market square. Stow is famous for its many antique and art shops and boasts an array of delightful gift, craft and household shops, as well as a wonderful variety of restaurants, pubs and hotels.

Ilmington
lmington is a pretty village built mainly from honey-coloured Cotswold stone, around 3½ miles from Chipping Campden. Situated on the lower slopes and foot of the Cotswold Escarpment, magnificent panoramic views may be seen from several points on the winding roads that lead down to the village. There are footpaths winding through and from the village, and walkers will be impressed by the fabulous scenery stretching for miles as they stroll along Ilmington Downs.

The Oxfordshire Cotswolds
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds have a charm all of their own and feature many attractive villages and interesting places to visit, including historic Burford, with its hilly main street and medieval buildings. This delightful village is lined with charming shops, restaurants, and art and antique shops. Close by is The Cotswold Wildlife Park, a splendid day out for the whole family with its beautifully kept gardens, picnic areas, a train to ride around the park and adventure play area. Nearby Minster Lovell has 15th-century manor house ruins and wonderful walks along the Windrush Valley.
Kelmscot Manor near Burford, open during the summer months, is the home of William Morris  famous for his wonderful textile and furniture designs. South of Burford is Filkins. Here, you’ll find a traditional working woollen mill  learn how Cotswold wool has shaped the region, and buy woollen articles from the shop.

A day out to the county capital of Oxford is a must. This splendid city (of dreaming spires) offers many attractions to visitors: guided walks around many of the magnificent colleges (the Harry Potter story was filmed partly in Christchurch College refectory); the Bodleian Library; two excellent theatres; the magnificent Ashmolean Museum; Museum of History of Science; botanical gardens; wonderful shopping; ice skating; trips on the river on a punt, if you’re brave, and delightful walks along the river.
Adults and children alike will enjoy a visit to The Oxford Story - a 25-minute indoor ‘dark’ ride takes you through 900 years of University history, complete with sights, sounds and even smells.

Between Oxford and Chipping Norton is Woodstock, the home of Blenheim Palace. The park opens all year; the palace from approx February to early December. Here, there is a vast park for you to explore, with a lake where you can take a boat ride, a train ride, large walled-in garden with giant draughts to play, a maze and, of course, the palace itself. Excellent guided tours around the palace.

Culture

Your visit to the Cotswolds would not be complete without a trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace. Stratford-upon-Avon is steeped in culture and history and set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside on the banks of the river Avon. As well as all manner of Shakespeare-related activities, a trip to the Royal Skakespeare Company is an unforgettable experience.

Longborough Festival Opera is a fully-fledged opera house seating 480, complete with 65-player orchestra pit, built in the grounds of a country house. The opera festival is held annually through June and July.

Compton Verney offers a unique experience, in which you can view art in the remarkable setting of a conserved and extended mansion, located in 120 acres of parkland, landscaped by 'Capability' Brown.

Cheltenham is well-known for its stylish shopping, colourful parks, floral displays, horseracing, festivals and special events.