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Beaufort Polo Club
This polo club near Tetbury is one of the finest places in the country to take in a chukker or two. Founded in 1928 by the Duke of Beaufort, the club now boasts an expansive new field near the Westonbirt Arboretum and is thriving under the helm of the Simon and Claire Tomlinson, polo royalty.
Birdland Park and Gradens
These parks and gardens are home to over 50 aviaries and boasts the U.K.’s only king penguin colony.
Blenheim Palace
The birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is well worth a visit. This sublime Baroque masterpiece was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (who was also responsible for Castle Howard), and boasts a multitude of exhibits and tours. The Churchill Exhibition, dedicated to the life of the former Prime Minister, is especially interesting.
Castle Combe Circuit Racing
This racing circuit allows visitors to take a fast car for a spin. You can also keep it simple and rent a go-kart.
Chastelton House
Acquired by the UK Land Trust in 1991, Chasleton House isone of England’s finest and most complete Jacobean houses. The Trust has taken a novel approach with Chastelton: they have chosen to conserve rather than restore the house, allowing visitors to feel like they have time traveled.
Corsham Court
Corsham Court is a privately-owned history house in north Wiltshire, close to Chippenham. The formal gardens, designed by Capability Brown, lead onto a large deer park. Inside, there is a significant art collection spanning many eras and styles, and if groups book in advance they can take a guided tour through the house’s private apartments.
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
This museum in Bourton-on-the-Water, is a great place to bring children. Among the vintage cars on display are Morris Minors, Austin Sevens and Jaguars, as well as a London taxi with more than 700,000 miles on the odometer (it’s been to most major cities in Europe).
Cotswolds Wildlife Park
Cotswolds Wildlife Park is a great option for those travelling with little ones; there are a plethora of different animal exhibits and daily activities that will keep young animal lovers occupied. The park also offers a variety of hands-on, personal experiences for adults and children.
Daylesford Cookery School
The recipient of dozens of national and international awards, Daylesford Cookery School is a must-go for foodies visiting the Cotswolds. Housed in a restored stone barn, the school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and is surrounded by acres of working farmland. With a plethora of courses, ranging from the art of foraging to artisanal bread making, students utilize the bounty produced by Daylesford Organic Farm. Helmed by Steve Brown, who cut his teeth in several Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, the school emphasizes seasonal cooking with sustainable ingredients. There are also classes for children, where budding chefs get the chance to hone their skills.
Giffords Circus
Imagination and creativity take center stage in this traditional English circus that has been touring the countryside every summer since 2000. With acrobats, musicians and jugglers, horses and dogs and dance, art and comedy, Giffords Circus is theatrical, dramatic, funny and even a bit life enhancing. Circus Sauce, the 60-seat restaurant housed in two showman’s wagons, follows the circus to each venue (it is the UK’s only traveling restaurant). The three-course menu uses seasonal, locally-sourced produce and changes weekly.
Hidcote Manor Garden
Down the street from Kifsgate Court, Hidcote is the brainchild of American horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnson. Brimming with secret nooks and hidden mazes, the manor's garden is home to many plants collected by Johnson during his travels around the globe.
Highgrove Gardens
Since 1980, the Prince of Wales has worked to transform the Highgrove Gardens into one of the most creatively inspired gardens in the UK. Using organic and sustainable principles, HRH has helped create a rich and varied natural landscape. The gardens include a wildflower meadow, Beech trees and Hostas as well as vegetables and fruits. The gardens are open from April though October and tickets for tours must be purchased ahead of time.
Indagare Access: Horseback Riding
There is wonderful horseback riding in the Cotswolds. Indagare members can contact our bookings team for assistance arranging private lessons.
Indagare Tours: Fishing
Indagare members can contact our bookings team for help setting up a fishing outing with our preferred guides and suppliers.
Kelmscott Manor
This manor house dating from the 17th century was once home to William Morris, the English craftsman, writer, environmentalist and the Father of the Arts & Crafts movement. The manor served as a lifelong inspiration to Morris as well as leading Victorian artists and artisans, some of whose work is still showcased on the property. Visitors will find a significant fine art collection and furnishings that span more than 300 years. The 12.5 acre estate includes the manor house and its garden and a group of historic barns, dovecote, stabling and five cottages. The property is open to visitors from April to October.
Kifsgate Court
The magnus opus of three generations of female gardeners, Kifsgate Court is one of the most influential and renowned gardens in the country. Perched on a cliffside, the romantic garden houses a variety of roses, bluebells and lime trees. Be sure to check out the famous Kiftsgate Rose, which was cultivated on the sweeping grounds and is said to be the largest in Britain.
Roman Villa at Chedworth
Originally occupied in the 2nd century AD, Chedworth Roman Villa reached its peak in the 4th century when it became an elite Romano-British dwelling. One of the largest and most complete Roman villas in the UK, the site has some impressive in-situ Roman mosaics and a collection of fascinating artifacts. Guests may also visit The Nympahaeum, a water shrine where residents would make offerings to the goddess of spring. Unknown until the mid-Victorian period when a gamekeeper accidentally discovered it, the villa is now run by the National Trust.
Royal Shakespeare Company
Culture vultures should head to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and home of an excellent theater, where you can see clever contemporary productions of all the classics.
Sezincote
Set amid the rolling Cotswold countryside, Sezincote is an extraordinary family-run estate, at the center of which stands a Mughul–style palace. Surrounding the house, which was designed as a reinterpretation of classic Mughul forms including a central dome and minaret, are grottoes, waterfalls, temples and canals. The 4,500 acre estate also boasts stunning gardens, making this unique property a must-visit.
Snowshill Manor
For a peek into the life of an extraordinary man, visit this Cotswolds manor house which showcases the eclectic collection of unusual treasures gathered by owner Charles Wade—an architect, craftsman and poet. There are thousands of unique objets to wonder at, from tiny toys to Samurai armour, collected by Wade during his travels. The terraces and ponds are well-worth exploring, while the house itself is a fine example of a traditional Cotswolds home built with local stone.
Sudeley Castle
Katherine Parr, said to be the Henry the VII’s favorite wife, is buried on the sweeping grounds of history-rich Sudely Castle in the picture-perfect village of Winchcombe. The tomb of one-time queen isn’t the only attraction: the Castle boasts nine world-renowned gardens, the most famous of which is the Queens gardens, named in honor of the four British monarchs who admired the hundreds of varieties of roses that grow at the castle. Lucky (or not so lucky) visitors might spot the ghost of Queen Katherine who is reputed to roam the grounds of Sudeley, admiring the gardens she once loved so much.
The Cheltenham Festival
After the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival is considered the most important horse race in the UK’s National Hunt Racing Calendar. For starters, the city really comes alive at this time of year and attending the race is an ideal opportunity to see the British dressed up. The race takes place in March, usually coinciding with St Patricks Day or the nearest weekend. There are other Cheltenham Festivals throughout the year too, notably October’s literary festival which draws the great and the good names from art and culture.
Thyme Cooking School
Thyme is a full-service countryside destination, but at its heart is its Cookery School. Students can choose from both introductory and master classes that range from foraging and charcuterie to bread making and understanding spice. In addition to cooking classes, guests may stay on the estate and indulge in in-room beauty treatments, dine in one of the property’s restaurants, bike through the countryside or go clay pigeon shooting.
Walking
There are more than 3,000 miles of public footpaths to explore and plenty of pubs to stop off at, rest and feast in. Just north of Stow-on-the-Wold, the Broadway Tower is a glorious 18th-century folly, built like a castle and perched 1,023 feet above sea level, offering views across the Severn Valley to the Welsh mountains. For suggested routes, both long and short, and other information, visit the Cotswolds Tourist Board (www.cotswold.gov.uk), Cotswolds Walks (www.cotswoldwalks.com) or Country Walkers (www.countrywalkers.co.uk).
Warwick Castle
Built by William the Conquerer in 1068, Warwick Castle is as old as England itself. Today, the Castle is one of Britain’s premier tourists attractions: a $20 million dollar renovation has preserved the castle in the same state as it was in the 17th century. Yes, it’s more than a little cheesy: visitors can watch jousting tournaments, join “Merlin” in his quest to aid King Arthur and even go luxury camping outside the castle’s walls, but this destination is a sure-fire winner for kids of all ages.
World of Mechanical Music
If you are looking for something out of the ordinary on your trip to the Cotswolds, find time to stop by Keith Harding’s World of Mechanical Music. A home for antiques and musical curiosities, this small museum has a collection of self-playing musical instruments which are displayed as live entertainment. The museum is a showcase honoring great British craftsmanship: its restoration workshops are a draw for the world’s most serious collectors of this type of music boxes.
Also in the village of Northleach, you’ll find the Cotswold Discovery Centre housed in a former prison, which aims to inspire visitors to explore the lesser-known parts of the region, and has informative displays on the history, geology, landscape, people and nature of the area.
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