Royal Connections; 48 Hours in Cotswolds

The Highgrove Royal Gardens are open to the public between April and October

COTSWOLDS, ENGLAND: With cottages built of honey-hued stone, sleepy country pubs, and softly undulating green hills, The Cotswolds is a world away from the hustle and bustle of London. Just two hours west of the capital, and close to other major British cities including Birmingham, Bristol and Oxford. This picturesque region is the perfect place to swap Jimmy Choo heels for Hunter wellies.

Discover English villages, shop for antiques in historic market towns, enjoy local artesian foods from farmshops and farmers’ markets. The region also has royal connections and a summer season of major equestrian events, ensuring there’s a wealth of country life to experience.

Stay in a village

The Painswick is situated in the village of Painswick, there’s also a restaurant, rustic-chic deli-café, and two beauty treatment rooms.
An award-winning country pub with five rural-chic rooms, Ebrington Arms in the market town of Chipping Campden is a cosy Cotswolds bolthole where guests can enjoy roaring open fires, fine ales and seasonal pub food.
A small and traditional-style hotel with 28 en suite rooms, The Mayfield House Hotel in Crudwell.

DAY ONE: Royal start off

Highgrove House is the private residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charles acquired this country home in 1980, just before his marriage to Princess Diana. The royal couple spent many weekends here along with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry. A keen gardener, Prince Charles has devoted much time to planning and designing Highgrove’s organic gardens.

ROYAL GIFTS. Prince Charles has established a range of exclusive ‘Highgrove’ products and souvenirs including teas, preserves and fine china. There’s even an organic gin with botanicals such as thyme, lavender and sage from the Highgrove gardens.

ANTIQUES & ARTS VENUE. Historic Tetbury is the quintessential Cotswold town. Built using traditional honey-coloured Cotswold stone, many of the elegant buildings once belonged to wealthy wool merchants. The town is known for having excellent antiques and interiors shops. It’s also set to be a centre for culture. Tetbury’s railway station is been renovated to become a new home for art, music, cinema, exhibitions and performances.

Taste local

Held every Saturday, award-winning Stroud Market is considered one of the best, but other towns and villages including Tetbury, Gloucester and Cirencester also have excellent farmers’ markets. Make the most of what’s on offer by going stall-to-stall and sample local cheese, sausages, mustard and russet apples to name but a few.

POLO CLUB. The Cotswolds is home to renowned equestrian events including Badminton Horse Trials held annually in May, and Gatcombe Festival in August. With events every weekend from May until September, spectators are welcome to attend all matches played at Beaufort Polo. For those wanting to learn or improve their skills, riding and polo tuition from Polo Association-approved coaches is available here throughout the year.

CELEBRATION. Known as the capital town of the Cotswolds region, Cirencester is set to mark the 900th anniversary of the founding of Cirencester Abbey by King Henry I with a series of events throughout 2017.

PUB CLASSICS. A traditional coaching inn located in the heart of Cirencester, The Fleece has a history that goes back to 1651, when King Charles II hid from Cromwell’s troops in the building.

DAY TWO: Foodie or Bike

Stow-on-the-Wold is chocolate-box pretty, boasts an array of teashops, and there’s even a chocolatier – so it’s appropriate that this Cotswold town now has its very own walking foodie tour. On the three-hour Cotswold Foodie Tour you’ll learn about Britain’s foodie traditions like afternoon tea. Along the way, you’ll enjoy artisan cheeses, cakes, chocolate, charcuterie, and special Cotswold blend tea and coffee.

Or… explore the lovely towns and villages of the Cotswolds on a guided electric bike tour Following quiet country roads and lanes, and anchored by popular villages such as Burford, Chipping Campden, Kingham and Northleach. Customised private tours can also be arranged.

Stylish foodie Mecca

Lady Carole Bamford opened Daylesford Organic farmshop and café on her family’s Cotswold farm in 2002, and it’s been a stylish foodie Mecca ever since. There are now Daylesford farmshops in exclusive locations such as London’s Notting Hill neighbourhood and luxury department store Selfridges, but it’s still a real treat to come here. Her Michelin starred pub The Wild Rabbit in nearby Kingham is an equally stylish spot for lunch, and has a menu focusing on homegrown produce.

THE SMALLEST VILLAGE. The Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water is home to an enchanting little visitor attraction. The Model Village is a one-ninth-scale replica of the actual village, containing miniature reproductions of village landmarks such as its two churches and old water mill, as well as carefully pruned little bonsai-type trees. This Lilliput-like attraction took local craftsmen five years to build, and was officially opened on the day of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1937.

Gin for dinner

A classic British tipple since the 18th century, gin is back in fashion. Where better to enjoy a G&T (gin and tonic) than The Feathers in the picturesque Cotswold town of Woodstock? It boasts a Gin Bar listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its record-breaking number of more than 400 gins from around the world, while the restaurant offers a Gin Fusion Menu featuring matching gins served with every course. There are 21 rooms and suites for those who overindulge.

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