2 nights in the Cotswolds

[Peeping Turtle]

I live in the US and am coming home to visit my parents in June who live in Norfolk.

Im returning with my 2 year old son and my Kazak wife and so I thought it would be nice for them to see outside of Norfolk for a couple of nights on each trip we take (We both love Norfolk, but id like to sow her more of the UK if I can)

With my best friend living on Milton Keynes, when we come back to the UK we always plan to spend our last night in the UK there, as a bonus an easy drive to Heathrow.

So with that in mind I thought the Cotswolds would be a good start to exploring the UK outside of Norfolk!

We won't have long, leave Norfolk on Thursday morning and need to get to Milton Keynes by sat early afternoon.

Only 1 place on the list my wife knows and wants to visit and that's Dalesfort Farm, so any suggestions for a route to drive? Obviously want the nice b roads and not the sat nav suggested fastest routes.
Where to stay (2 nights same place ?) the must sees and must eat places all taking into account we have a 2 year old (so nothing posh especially at night, we don't like to disturb people in a nice quite romantic restaurants, during the day we are more inclined to think its fair play though, in some cases

Any help appreciated

[MarkJS]

I’d have a look at staying somewhere like Lower Slaughter at the country inn. Very close to where you want to be and a lovely place in general.

[miniman]

Depends which part of the Cotswolds you’re keen on, it’s a (relatively) large area. You could do a few of the towns on the Fosseway - Bourton on the Water (excellent car museum), Stow, Moreton or over to Broadway. Bit further south you can do Castle Combe and a day in Bath.

If you fancy Bath area I can give you lots of recommendations.

What’s your budget?

[NDA]

Burford is a lovely town for a couple of nights - worth having a Google/Street View to see what you think. A good range of restaurants too. Quite a small town but very pretty.

Cirencester is bigger, but just as pretty.

[adrianhannen]

Fuzzy Duck at Armscote does great food and has rooms. It’s a small village so probably only a one night stay.

For a picturesque village, Bourton-on-the-Water is nice but a big tourist attraction and can get busy. We have stayed at The Dial House which is in the middle of the village.

[DB4DM]

Lygon Arms in Broadway is another idea

[miniman]

We have a couple of nights booked here in June - very close to Broadway.

https://thefishhotel.co.uk/

[Bonefish Blues]

NDA said:

Burford is a lovely town for a couple of nights - worth having a Google/Street View to see what you think. A good range of restaurants too. Quite a small town but very pretty.

Cirencester is bigger, but just as pretty.

Burford's very busy indeed, even for the Cotswolds. Quiet hotel just down the road https://www.oldswan.co.uk/

[TurboRob]

Daylesford Farm is northern end of Cotswolds, near Stow on the Wold. Very nice part of the world.

I’d recommend staying anywhere in or around the Burford - Chipping Norton - Moreton-in-Marsh triangle; it’s all lovely.

Suggest you take the easiest route there from Norfolk on the Thursday - A11/A14/Rugby/down the A429 Fosse Way*, and explore the area on Friday:

Daylesford
Chipping Camden
Broadway Tower
Moreton
Stow
Clarksons Farm/Pub
Etc

• this route goes past some fun places too, like Caffeine&Machine, Compton Verney.

Then it’s an easy ~1hr drive east to MK on the Saturday.

[Peeping Turtle]

TurboRob said:

Daylesford Farm is northern end of Cotswolds, near Stow on the Wold. Very nice part of the world.

I’d recommend staying anywhere in or around the Burford - Chipping Norton - Moreton-in-Marsh triangle; it’s all lovely.

Suggest you take the easiest route there from Norfolk on the Thursday - A11/A14/Rugby/down the A429 Fosse Way*, and explore the area on Friday:

Daylesford
Chipping Camden
Broadway Tower
Moreton
Stow
Clarksons Farm/Pub
Etc

• this route goes past some fun places too, like Caffeine&Machine, Compton Verney.

Then it’s an easy ~1hr drive east to MK on the Saturday.

Thanks for this, looks like. nice little plan!! time to find the Accomadation..

[AstonZagato]

If you are coming from Norfolk, you could spend a day in Cambridge.

[Huzzah]

Bonefish Blues said:

NDA said:

Burford is a lovely town for a couple of nights - worth having a Google/Street View to see what you think. A good range of restaurants too. Quite a small town but very pretty.

Cirencester is bigger, but just as pretty.

Burford's very busy indeed, even for the Cotswolds. Quiet hotel just down the road https://www.oldswan.co.uk/

We've only eaten here not stayed but jolly nice too.

https://www.innforallseasons.com/


A little out of Burford, which is lovely and not quite as busy as the Cotswold flesh pots.

[wyson]

I wouldn’t bother with that Cotswolds trip with a 2 year old in tow. I tried something similar in the past and it was an unmitigated disaster and now pick holidays with the needs of the terrors first and foremost.

Basically, I was an inexperienced parent at the time, had one 2.5 year old. She just screamed for 3 days straight. The Cotswolds were apoplectically boring for her, and she made it known. Rather than seeing the Cotswolds, we ended up driving between playground to playground and dealing with tantrums all the way home.

Edited by wyson on Tuesday 29th April 07:52

[illmonkey]

I'm fairly local and use these roads regularly. If you want some places to stop along the way, I've used them as reference points on the map.

Charlbury is just near me, so a starting point, the road to Chippy from Charlbury is wonderful though, so try to do that. This is the famous "Harry's Garage" road
Chippy is a small town, so maybe a coffee, then head down to Burford, another fast curvy road. You can stop at Diddly squat, if you must...
(The lamb inn, Shipyon under Wychwood is quite nice, it's not on the map as you drive straight past it after Chippy)
The Wild Rabbit is a lovely place for dinner or a stay, in the small Cotswold village Kingham
Onwards to Dalesford, once a quick depart from the overpriced crap you head to
Stow, lovely place for a wonder, but busy.
The road out of Stow to Broadway tower is great too. And as you're there, you may as well traverse along Fish Hill (and back down)!
Cotswold Barn is just a local cafe, but is becoming a bit of a petrolheads pitstop.
Once you've enjoyed the views from Broadway, a scenic road down to Burton-on-the-water for a summers paddle

Of course there are loads of roads and you can generally dart about and find some fantastic places, I just head out and spend a few hours exploring. But at least with this you have a bit of a route and good roads mixed.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6X63kHXc4YgZVYLh9

[super7]

DB4DM said:

Lygon Arms in Broadway is another idea

or the Lygon Arms in Chipping Camden which is great for Sudely Castle if your into Tudor things and Prescott Hill if your into hillclimbing

Daylesford is over rated and expensive. People only go there to be 'seen'. It's a mecca for all pretend wanna-be's. Depending on your car, you might need to park round the back so as not to ruin the display of Range Rovers out the front.

[Master Bean]

illmonkey said:

Charlbury is just near me, so a starting point, the road to Chippy from Charlbury is wonderful though, so try to do that. This is the famous "Harry's Garage" road


https://maps.app.goo.gl/6X63kHXc4YgZVYLh9

Harry's Garage road is in pink.

[illmonkey]

Master Bean said:

illmonkey said:

Charlbury is just near me, so a starting point, the road to Chippy from Charlbury is wonderful though, so try to do that. This is the famous "Harry's Garage" road


https://maps.app.goo.gl/6X63kHXc4YgZVYLh9

Harry's Garage road is in pink.

st, you're right. Was doing it quickly. Both good roads

[Lotusgone]

The Noel Arms in Chipping Camden is also good, with off-road parking. Stayed there before, including with Mrs L last year.

[saw2]

wyson said:

I wouldn’t bother with that Cotswolds trip with a 2 year old in tow. I tried something similar in the past and it was an unmitigated disaster and now pick holidays with the needs of the terrors first and foremost.

Basically, I was an inexperienced parent at the time, had one 2.5 year old. She just screamed for 3 days straight. The Cotswolds were apoplectically boring for her, and she made it known. Rather than seeing the Cotswolds, we ended up driving between playground to playground and dealing with tantrums all the way home.

Edited by wyson on Tuesday 29th April 07:52

Plenty for kids in the area and locations suggested:

Cotswold Farm Park (Adam Henson)
Cotswold Wildlife Park (Burford)
Bibury Trout Farm (add Bibury to the list if not mentioned previously)
Birdland (Bourton)
There is a great family playground in Broadway just off the main road (free).

Those all favourites with my kids when they were much younger and still (now early teens)

Also steam railway between Cheltenham (racecourse) / Toddington / Broadway.
Lots to see and do at Cotswold Water Park (South Cerney).

I would add Snowshill and Stanton to the 'pretty' villages list.

[Bonefish Blues]

Bibury trout farm can be enjoyed for less by buying some white sliced and sitting on the river wall. Cheap gig for kids