The Cotswolds – England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – cover 800 square miles of rolling hills, charming villages and historic market towns. Renowned for its honey-coloured stone buildings, the region owes its unique geology to Jurassic Oolitic limestone. Most of the Cotswolds are in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire but extend into Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Somerset.

History

The area has been inhabited for 6,000 years, since the Neolithic period. Under the Roman occupation agriculture and trade flourished, then after the Norman conquest it became a prosperous centre of the wool industry. The legacy of these years can be seen in the region’s magnificent wool churches and grand homes.

The Cotswolds for Visitors

Tourists come to the Cotswolds for its scenic beauty and diverse attractions-from stately homes to vast walking trails, including the 102-mile Cotswold Way. While the summer months are the most popular, spring and autumn offer an equally enchanting experience.

The Cotswolds attracts 25 million visitors every year. With some 70 towns and villages to see as well as parks, castles, gardens and cathedrals, one of the best options is to take one of the Cotswolds private tours. The knowledge and experience of companies like cotswoldtour.co.uk/cotswolds-private-tours enables you to see much more than if you simply set off with a map and a guidebook.

Going It Alone

If you do prefer to see the sights independently, then getting around is easiest by car, though there are trains, buses and even a steam railway. The Cotswolds beautifully blend history, natural beauty and English charm to create an unmissable visitor experience.