Inspiration

3 days in the Cotswolds: Feasting, antiquing and rambling at leisure

5 min read

Arlene Winter, co-owner of House of George in Broadway, lays out three days of rambling footpaths, rumbling trains and wonderful meals that'll have you falling for the Cotswolds harder than you ever have before.

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The Cotswolds

Day one: Town and country

Start this trip the way every great Cotswolds trip should start, with a quiet wander along a street of lovely independent shops. In Broadway, you’ll find Broadway Deli, OKA Broadway and Cotswold Trading. The first is a great place to pick up ingredients for any picnicking you’re planning and the second two are dangerously beautiful interiors shops where you can set your mind whirring with the question of whether a coffee table makes a rational souvenir. Head out late and idle until lunch, for which The Swan, at the end of the high street, makes a great destination, with its great menu, rough stone walls and old beams giving you a taste of the region in more ways than one.

After lunch, wander over to Cotswold Distillery and pick up the most essential picnic item, some takeaway sundowners. Then it’s off to Broadway Tower on a roughly 3-hour circular hike with a halfway stop at the foot of the iconic landmark to enjoy your distillery samples and snack on your deli finds as the sun goes down. Head back home to take a moment and maybe a little nap, before dining at Moda at The House of George, where a spectacular menu shows off the best of local produce and creativity. End the day in the snug, sinking into armchairs by the fire.

Day two: History and grandeur

After lingering over an award-winning breakfast at the hotel, drive over to Snowshill Manor, where Charles Wade used the grand house as a giant canvas, framing his collection of fascinating artifacts with style and colour. The grounds make a lovely place to wander as well, plus you can enjoy a great lunch at the cafe on site. Continue your historical journey at the Broadway Museum, packed full of the interesting stories of the area’s heritage. It’s worth keeping an eye on any events that are running too, as you could end up making some of your own art or even churning your own butter. Pass the rest of the day idling along the river and working up an appetite for dinner at The Coach House, an innovative and delicious Indian restaurant on the high street, before you come back to House of George for cocktails on the terrace. Between the spirits in the perfectly balanced drinks and the heat lamps outside, you’ll be kept wonderfully warm.

Day three: Trains, antiques and fish

You’ll be utterly chuffed if you spend the morning on the lovingly preserved Steam Railway that rattles through the countryside from Broadway. You can even order lunch on board if you’re taking a later train. Or, with Hayles Abbey Halt, the next stop on from Broadway being only 6.5 miles down the track, you could fit in some more hiking, walking out and catching the train back, or vice versa. Go fabulously furnished with a pre-packed picnic basket from House of George, which comes complete with their distinctive and delicious cocktails. Depending if/how long you walk and lunch al fresco for, leave some of the afternoon for thinking about a little memento.

If the aforementioned coffee table felt unambitious, there are antique shops scattered all through the area where you can pick up something more substantial. To the south–east of Chipping Camden and in the town itself you’ll find some fine examples, from Northwick Pine Antiques, near Northwick Park, to Kendall House on the high street, all with everything from statement furniture to more portable items. For your last night out in the Cotswolds, we have to recommend heading to Henne in Moreton-in-Marsh, a small, intimate venue run by two friends who champion local produce and create a delightfully homely atmosphere. After three days steeped in the arts, crafts and culinary magic of the Cotswolds, you’ll go home nourished, refreshed and inspired.