A road trip through the Cotswolds, the pastoral countryside of southern England

The adventure begins in Oxford, one of the oldest and most prestigious student cities in the world. Founded in the 12^th century, the university is packed with historic monuments and cultural markers. Your first stop is Christ Church, one of the University’s oldest colleges (1546) and a true landmark of the city, with its Gothic architecture, Tudor hall and banqueting hall that inspired the Harry Potter films. Push open the chapel door – the smallest cathedral in the country! – to admire its remarkable 13^th-century stained glass windows, then head for Broad Street, home to the Bodleian Library. You can wander through its reading rooms with a guide; there, medieval manuscripts and literary treasures have been carefully preserved for centuries.

Then wander through Oxford’s cobbled streets, lined with old bookshops and historic pubs, to the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden, home to over 5,000 species of plants. This peaceful setting on the banks of the River Cherwell is the perfect introduction to the serenity of the Cotswolds.

Your first stop in the Cotswolds ought to be Chastleton House, a Jacobean palace built between 1607 and 1612. Unlike many manor houses, it hasn’t been modernised over the centuries: behind its facade of grey and gold stone, you’ll see delightful carved panelling, ornate ceilings and period furniture preserved in their original state. You then head upstairs, where the great room and vaulted gallery offer a fascinating window into what domestic life was like in days gone by. And now for the most eagerly awaited moment of the visit: a secret room that, hidden behind a bedroom, is a reminder of the troubles of the time… The owner is said to have hidden there to escape Cromwell’s troops after the Battle of Worcester in 1651!

On this stopover, let’s head for Hidcote Manor Garden, one of the finest gardens in England, designed by the botanical enthusiast Lawrence Johnston in the early 20^th century. Inspired by Italian and French gardens, Johnston created a unique space here, organised into “garden rooms” separated by impeccable hedges. You’ll love the diversity and harmony that emanates from these four hectares of green space. From colourful flowerbeds to lavender-lined paths, this garden embodies the perfect balance between order and creativity, and all you’ll want is more time in this garden of Eden.

Get back on the road to Chipping Campden, a village with typical Cotswold charm. As soon as you arrive, head for High Street and step back in time: this winding street, lined with opulent mansions of golden limestone, reflects the past prosperity of the wool trade that marked the town from the Middle Ages to the 17^th century. In the town centre, the Market Hall, built in 1627, once housed merchants under its open arcades. If you go up the street, you will see the house of William Grevel, a wealthy wool merchant, recognisable by its two-storey bay window. Turn right onto Church Street and take a look at the beautiful St James’s Church, whose bright stained glass windows and carved tombs are a reminder of the city’s past wealth.

A few kilometres away, Broadway awaits with its narrow streets lined with art galleries, inns and restaurants. You can climb up to the Broadway Tower, an extravagant neo-Gothic tower built in 1798 by the famous architect James Wyatt. From up there, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Cotswolds. On a clear day, you can even see as many as thirteen different counties!

The next stop is Sudeley Castle. There, you can get immersed in the history of a residence that has been consistently inhabited since 1443. Stroll through its beautifully restored rooms and see beautiful masterpieces by Turner, Van Dyck and Rubens. Outside, St Mary’s Church stands in the heart of the park. Here lies Catherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII. All around you, the gardens are magnificent: the Queen’s Garden is teeming with intoxicatingly fragrant roses, while the more intimate Secret Garden seems frozen in time. All you’ll want to do is come back someday!

Join Bourton-on-the-Water, nicknamed the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” where the River Windrush flows peacefully under picturesque stone bridges. Take a stroll along the main street and see the beautiful flower-filled lawns and the cottages’ golden walls reflecting in the water. Take a detour to Model Village, a miniature replica of the market town built in the 1930s, before exploring the Cotswold Motoring Museum, where vintage vehicles bring feelings of nostalgia for a bygone era.

A few miles further on, Bibury, often called the most beautiful village in England, is a must-see for any stay in the Cotswolds. As you walk along the River Coln, you’ll see the cottages of Arlington Row, lined up since the 14^th century in a picture-postcard setting. Bibury isn’t visited, it is savoured!

Welcome to Burford, the majestic gate to the Cotswolds. From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re visiting the past as you stroll down High Street, a sloping street lined with charming medieval and Georgian houses. Walk down to the River Windrush and discover the craft shops, souvenir shops and inns that took root in these centuries-old mansions. Halfway along, the Tolsey might catch your eye: this former 16^th-century courthouse, now a museum, is an invitation to explore the local history. A little further on, the spire of the Church of St John the Baptist rises majestically, soaring above the floodplains.

Next stop, Cotswold Wildlife Park, just a stone’s throw from Burford. Across 49 green hectares, you’ll be able to see more than 260 species of animal living around a majestic Gothic-Georgian manor house. See rhinos, giraffes and tigers as well as the exotic plants in the tropical pavilion and vivarium. For an original visit to the park, take a ride on the little tourist train, a fun experience for young and old alike!

Your road trip ends in Oxford. If you still have a few hours to spare, you can visit the Ashmolean Museum, with its fine Turners, and Magdalen College, famous for its cloister and gardens. A stroll along the banks of the Thames at sunset is the closing note on which to end this trip.