This region, 130 kilometers northwest of London, invites you to take an English-style ride through postcard-perfect countryside, as if frozen in time. It's impossible to resist its bucolic charm and old-fashioned way of life.
Lush green valleys, endless meadows, peaceful, picturesque villages, golden stone houses surrounded by lush flowerbeds, Victorian manor houses inhabited for generations by the same families of lords, not to mention parks and gardens of the utmost refinement... The Cotswolds have long been a magnet for London's high society and artists in search of inspiration, now increasingly joined by tourists from elsewhere. Most travel the region by car on the aptly-named "Romantic Road", a 250-kilometer route with two loops. It starts in Cheltenham, renowned for its Regency architecture. Further north, in Winchcombe, slow down at St. Peter's Church to admire the low-slung houses with their weathered facades and brightly-flowered windows. On the right, a small road leads to Sudeley Castle, a castle surrounded by ten wonderful gardens, the most impressive of which, the Queen's Garden, boasts some 69 varieties of roses. From the highest point in the Cotswolds (331 meters above sea level), at the foot of the Broadway Tower, the panorama on a clear day stretches as far as Worcester, some 30 kilometers away. Next stop is Park Road, Chipping Campden's main street, lined with antique stores, tea rooms and art galleries. For a more flowery atmosphere, head for Bourton-on-the-Water, a charming village with a small stream running through it. In fine weather, the benches and lawns are crowded with people watching the ballet of the swans. In the southern part of the Romantic Road, the roads are narrower and more winding, as well as more rural. No new buildings or advertising hoardings disturb the harmony of the landscape. In the midst of gently sloping meadows and dense forests, it's not uncommon to come across hikers, joggers, cyclists and horse riders. The churches of Northleach and Cirencester in particular, whose construction was financed by wool producers, rival each other in size and beauty. In the village of Burford, you can play cricket, polo, golf or bridge. The last stop, Painswick, is famous for its public garden dotted with 99 pointed, square and round bushes, and its 18th-century rococo garden. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll until tea-time, a sacred moment... so British.
Address book
Cowley Manor Experimental: Contemporary fairy tale
This 22-hectare property recently acquired by the Experimental Group (also present in London, Biarritz, Menorca...) is located just outside Cheltenham. It dates back to the 17th century and is said to have inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Italian-style manor house, which once belonged to English royalty, houses 31 rooms, an XXL spa, a locavore table in an incredible wood-panelled room, a cocktail bar, a lounge, a library... all decorated by French designer Dorothée Meilichzon. Five new rooms have just been created in an adjoining pavilion by English architect Matos Ryan.
The Double Red Duke: Epicurean Inn
This former coaching inn in the Oxfordshire hamlet of Clanfield has been transformed into a contemporary inn. A choice stopover for guests of the 19 rooms decorated with antique objects and works of art, and for customers of the gastropub run by Swedish chef Henrik Ritzén (starred at London's Aquavit): a reason in itself to come all the way to the Cotswolds! We love the opulence of the interiors, the patterned headboards, the colorful wallpapers, and the incredible cachet of the honey-colored building.
countrycreatures.com/double-red-duke
The Fox at Oddington: Simple pleasures
A former village pub over a hundred years old, recently transformed into a convivial gourmet address. You'll come for the atmosphere, with the fire crackling in the pizza oven, as much as for the dishes celebrating the terroir or the choice of beers and wines from independent producers. Upstairs, six rooms with character, decorated with antiques. Next door, a private country house with four bedrooms for groups.
The Wild Rabbit: organic, beautiful and tasty
This trendy (but not show-off) Kingham address was launched by organic high priestess Carole Bamford. It's worth the detour for chef Sam Bowser's dishes, which revisit the British culinary tradition with panache. Rare breeds of meat, fruit and vegetables are sourced from nearby farms, including Daylesford, a benchmark for organic produce, also owned by Carole Bamford. There are also tasting workshops, cooking classes and concerts... And to prolong the pleasure, the house offers 13 rooms with a rustic chic design.
