The Official Guide to Cotswolds Breaks and Holidays
The Cotswolds area is one of England's favourite destinations; famous for hundreds of honey-colour limestone villages in a beautiful rural setting. Use our website to discover all the Cotswolds has to offer!
Step into 2012 in the Cotswolds...
Spring is a perfect time to visit the Cotswolds – what could be more inviting than our beautiful scenery and great food, alongside excellent accommodation choices? If you're searching for inspiration, take a look at the winners of our Cotswolds Tourism Awards 2012.
There’s lots on in the Cotswolds this Spring – while you're here pay a visit to Batsford Arboretum, Court Barn Museum or Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, or enjoy some retail therapy at one of the many farmers’ markets. If you're organising a group tour, check out our Tours, Group Travel & Itinerary section for a useful list of tour guides, car hires and more. If you can't make it to the Cotswolds just yet, have a go at our online Gardens of Gloucestershire Treasure Trail until you are able to get here!
Enter our Cotswolds Photography Competition and your image may be featured in the 2013 Cotswolds Calendar - find out more here.
What's coming up in 2012
The Olympics…
If you’re visiting London and the South of England for the London Olympic Games, the Cotswolds are recommended as the perfect complement to London. London to Cotswolds rail services are fast and frequent and the journey time of 90 minutes is around the same by car.
A stay in the Cotswolds puts Bath, Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon (as well as London) within easy range, so take a look at our accommodation options by using the search above, or search for 2012 special offers in the Cotswolds here, or search the Great2012offers website.
Find out about the Olympic torch relay in Gloucestershire
The Olimpicks…
2012 sees the 400th anniversary of our own ‘Cotswold Olympicks’ (not Olympics) on 3rd June. This actually makes our Games older than the Modern Olympiad, although we accept that the TV audience may be a little larger for the London event!
Queen Katherine Parr
Sudeley Castle will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Katherine Parr in 2012, with events including a banquet and Tudor family fun days.
Alongside these major events is the fantastic line up of annual festivals and events in the Cotswolds. From the Snowdrop season at Painswick Rococo Garden, to festivals involving music, literature, arts, food, steam, history and textiles – there really is something for everyone.
Find out more about festival and events in the Cotswolds here.