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The Slaughters. Bourton-on-the-Water. Castle Combe. Burford. Such names evoke the essence of an idyllic, rural England of days gone by. They are among the picture postcard villages to be found in the Cotswolds, a 790 square mile region designated as “An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” located in the western part of England. There is something for everyone in the Cotswolds. They are renowned for their stunning scenery with gentle hills and river valleys, criss-crossed with limestone walls and dotted with historic villages and market towns, many almost unchanged for the past 300 years. For the historian, there are enough castles, stately homes and places of interest to keep you occupied for a lifetime. Warwick Castle, which dates back 1,000 years is one of the finest medieval castles in England and is almost matched in magnificence by ancient Berkeley castle, originally built to keep the Welsh out of England. Stately homes abound. Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage site, is the home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It is a must visit with its magnificent mansion and stunning Capability Brown-designed gardens. Longleat is another popular destination, not only for the home itself but also for the well-known wildlife park. Other classic country houses include Buscot Park and Charlecote Park, both of which boast beautiful gardens for visitors to enjoy. The Cotswolds are home to one of the largest Roman villas in Britain at Chedworth and world famous Roman baths in Bath. The prehistoric Rollright Stones are one of the most important stone circles in Britain and date back some 3,500 years. Of the larger Cotswolds towns, Oxford is home to Britain’s second oldest university and some wonderful architecture and is one place that everyone must visit. Founded by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, Gloucester, with its awe-inspiring cathedral , cannot be missed. And, for an extra touch of culture, a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare country, is surely essential. Wildlife lovers will enjoy a visit to the Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Birdland at Bouton-on-the-Water and the Cotswolds Falconry Centre. Adventure seekers can go skydiving and rock climbing while hikers will find walking the Cotswolds an experience that will never be forgotten. With all these wonderful and exciting attractions, no one can expect to see even a fraction of what the Cotswolds have to offer in just a day. The region just begs a visit of at least several days. Fortunately for the traveller, throughout this beautiful corner of old England, luxury Cotswolds hotels abound for the pleasure of the discerning visitor. To be found throughout the Cotswolds at places as far apart as The Slaughters, Chipping Camden, Oxford and Stratford many of these hotels are located in the magnificent old country homes and stately houses of the area. They boast first class facilities and offer unsurpassed cuisine of the highest quality. Conveniently located, luxury Cotswolds hotels serve as the perfect complement to your visit to the area and are ideally placed to provide a base for your exploration of this beautiful and unique part of Britain. The Lords of the Manor is one of Gloucestershire’s premier Luxury cotswolds hotels. Offering superb accommodation and impeccable customer service in the village of Upper Slaughter, bookings can be made direct on lordsofthemanor.com
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