Stow Market Square Antique Shops

THE INSIDERStow Market Square Antique ShopsWhy we like it Stow-on-the-Wold is one of the better Cotswold towns for browsing rather than rushing from landmark to landmark. The Market Square and surrounding streets are packed with antiques, interiors, galleries, gifts and independent shops, so it works especially well on a slower day when the weather is […]

Stow → The Slaughters Walk (easy countryside loop)

THE INSIDERStow → The Slaughters Walk (easy countryside loop)Why we like it The countryside between Stow-on-the-Wold and the Slaughters is exactly the sort of landscape that is easy to miss if you spend the whole trip driving from one famous village to the next. A walk here gives you field paths, stone walls, quieter lanes […]

The Brewery Quarter

THE INSIDERThe Brewery QuarterThe Brewery Quarter is the practical answer to a very particular Cheltenham question: what do you do when a group wants food, drinks and entertainment without trekking across town between each stop? This central leisure quarter puts restaurants, bars, cinema and activities together in one place. Why go It is especially useful […]

The Mousetrap Inn

THE INSIDERThe Mousetrap InnWhy we like it The Mousetrap Inn is a useful Bourton-on-the-Water option when you want a proper pub meal and a bit more breathing room than the busiest stretch beside the river. It feels like somewhere you can build lunch or dinner into the day rather than simply grabbing whatever table happens […]

Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection

THE INSIDERCotswold Motoring Museum & Toy CollectionWhy we like it The Cotswold Motoring Museum is one of Bourton-on-the-Water’s best rainy-day or family-friendly stops — and it is much bigger inside than the modest exterior suggests. The collection mixes classic cars, motorcycles, caravans, toys, signs and motoring memorabilia across a series of packed galleries, so even […]

Dunkertons (Cheltenham Taproom & Shop)

THE INSIDERDunkertons (Cheltenham Taproom & Shop)Dunkertons Park at Dowdeswell is one of the easiest recommendations when you want something relaxed, sociable and a little different from a traditional Cotswold pub. The organic cider producer has turned its Cheltenham base into much more than a shop: there is a large taproom, several independent food traders, regular […]

No.131 (The Promenade)

THE INSIDERNo.131 (The Promenade)No.131 is one of Cheltenham’s best-known addresses for a polished weekend: a townhouse hotel on the Promenade with bold interiors, a lively bar scene and dining under the same roof. It is particularly well placed if you want to stay somewhere that feels like part of the evening rather than somewhere you […]

Cheltenham Racecourse

THE INSIDERCheltenham RacecourseCheltenham Racecourse is one of the places that defines the town. It is known as the Home of Jump Racing and hosts 16 racedays across the season, ranging from relatively relaxed autumn and spring meetings to the huge four-day Cheltenham Festival. Why go You do not need to be a committed racing fan […]