Hot dates in the Cotswolds

Stuck for ideas for Valentine's day? Or in need of a bit of year-round romance. We'll share with you some of the hottest dates in the Cotswolds! 

Looking for an unusual romantic day out? Why not make a date at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens? Go potty about the penguins, fall in love with the lemurs, be charmed by the meerkats or gaze at the giraffes' long eyelashes.


Wonderful at any time of the year, Batsford Arboretum is the ideal place for a hot date. Admire early snowdrops in Winter, carpets of daffodils, bluebells and a spectacular display of blossom in Spring and the striking colours of the Japanese maples in autumn. Stroll hand in hand through the trees and share a romantic moment admiring the stunning views across the Cotswolds.


Plan a fun day out with your loved one at the Cheltenham Festival and soak up the exciting racecourse atmosphere, pick a winner together, sample delicious food in one of the restaurants and end the day with a few drinks at The Final Flight Bar with live music and dancing!


Treat your loved one to a romantic Champagne Tea Tour of the Royal Gardens at Highgrove. You will spend two hours on a guided tour of these fascinating gardens, followed by a delicious afternoon tea in the Orchard restaurant served with Highgrove’s own champagne (tours available from April to September).


Do you share a love of fine food and flavours? Why not take a cookery class together at the state-of-the-art Cookery School at Thyme. They offer a wide range of courses to suit all tastes including the signature Instinctive Cook class, seasonal foraging and cooking with your finds, chocolate tempering and much more!


Get all romantic at Painswick Rococo Garden, England's sole surviving complete rococo garden. Lose yourself in the lofty trees of the leafy woodland walk, enjoy beautifully framed views of the surrounding countryside and get lost together in the maze!


Here’s a date with a difference. Take your loved one on a Cotswolds Ghost Tour and scare them silly! Discover some of the Cotswolds most haunted sights and hear some ghoulish tales – guaranteed to send shivers down your spine! For Valentine’s week, couples get 20% off tours on 17 and 18 February with promo good SPOOKLOVE17.


Explore the stunning 18th century landscaped gardens at Rousham. It’s impossibly romantic with temples, cascades in Venus’ Vale and the seven arched Praeneste. It rarely gets busy so it’ll feel like you have the whole place to yourself.


Learn the art of craft distilling and sample fine spirits made right here in the Cotswolds at Cotswolds Distillery. Take a tour of the traditional Cotswolds stone distillery building and learn about the process for creating spirits, including gin and whisky, followed by a tasting session.


Cheese glorious cheese! Sample a wide range of local, British and European cheeses at The Cotswolds Cheese Company shops in Stow on the Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh or Burford. In the Burford shop you can even enjoy a cheeseboard and wine tasting experience in the tasting room.


If you’re looking for a completely different experience to try with your other half, how about learning a rural skill together? Hedgelaying, woodland coppicing, blacksmithing, stone carving and more are all available from Cotswolds Rural Skills.


One for the gin-lovers, The Bell Inn Selsley has more than 30 gins available from the bar and run regular gin-tasting evenings. Book a room so you can tumble into bed at the end of the night!
 

Saltridge Woods (Credit: Ken Long)