Nearby

Your Cotswolds Experience

Wellacres House, Hill House, Meadowbank House and Oak House are set in the North Cotswolds, an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty. At each of the houses you're just a few minutes 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 information on what's on offer nearby: Pubs and Restaurants; Shopping; Nights Out; Cycling, Walks and Gardens; Culture and Local Villages and Towns on Your Doorstep.

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. - or check out the designer brands at Bicester Village.

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. The places listed below are either down the road or just a short drive away. 

Wander down the country lane to the 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.

Pop into Chipping Campden -just five minutes from Oak House and hailed as the most beautiful village in England and the jewel in the Cotswold's crown. This stunning village is 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 coffee, cake, lunch or dinner. Or visit the hotel's Juliana's, offering a sophisticated, contemporary environment, surrounded by artwork and design and then take a walk around their beautiful gardens. Fresh fish, and Cotswold game and meat are on the menu.

Pop into The Kings at Chipping Campden for a glass of wine or fresh local food or cross over the road for a Thai experience at the Noel Arms.

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 drink with friends and 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, makes 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, Russells is already collecting food awards.

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.

Shopping

If you've chosen to avoid the hustle and bustle then the local village shops make for a relaxing trip out. If it's shopping you want, head out to Stratford-upon-Avon, take a limousine to designer outlet shopping at Bicester Village or take a lesiurely look at the shops and parades of Cheltenham and Oxford.

Stratford-upon-Avon is under half a hour away and is well worth a visit. The birthplace of William Shakespeare, it's steeped in culture and history and full of shops, pubs, clubs and restaurants. Set in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, team your shopping with a boating trip or spell at the races for a fabulous day out.

Cheltenham has very stylish shops and the shopping and horse-racing combination is an option here too.

Nights Out

If you'd like a night out to top off your your relaxing day in the country you are spolit for choice.

Either head off for dinner at one of the huge choice of restaurants and pubs, or if you enjoy theatre then choose from Chipping Norton, the RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon or the Everyman at Cheltenham.  If you'd like to go out to a bar or clubbing then choose from Stratford-upon-Avon or Cheltenham with their wide choice of top nightspots. 

Cycling, 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.

Enjoy the clean, fresh air - hire cycles and explore the country lanes and beautiful countryside straight from your doorstep.

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 horse-riding, falconry at Batsford Falconry Centre or boating on the Avon. Just say the word.

Other attractions include Warwick castle, the splendid 15th Century Sudeley Castle and Batsford Falconry Centre - see the trained falcons fly, and learn to balance an eagle or a snowy owl on your forearm. Next door to the falconry Centre is Batsford Arboretum, beautiful all year round and full of lovely walks.

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.

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 Oak House and Brook 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.

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.

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.

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 Hig Street the newly-revamped playground is popular with visitors and locals alike.

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).

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.

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. .

The county capital of Oxford is a splendid city (of dreaming spires) and 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.

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.