Christmas in The Cotswolds
Picture the film, ‘The Holiday’ and imagine that times a million.
Although the iconic cottage in the film is based in Surrey (and sorry to tell you, that cottage doesn’t exist), the idyllic Cotswolds feels more like the embodiment of that classic holiday film. The beautiful stonework of the buildings, pretty villages dotted across the countryside, the livestock grazing as you drive along the winding roads. The Cotswolds is every bit the picturesque England you envision it to be, especially at Christmas time.
Now, I will clarify that not all of England looks like this, but if you want your fantasy, I say, ‘let them eat cake.’
Daylesford Organic Farm
In the early hours of a November morning, I met with my dear friend Isobel and we grabbed breakfast at Daylesford Farm. You can’t spell Cotswolds without Daylesford. One could argue, the farm estate that has stood proudly for over 40 years, is the beating heart of Gloucestershire. The farm shop and cafe opened its flagship location in 2002, and since then the company has evolved into a bakery and patisserie, a creamery, cookery school, wellness-spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant, smokehouse and fermentary. Lest we forget, there are also several rental cottages and pubs to stay in and visit.
If you’re a first-timer to the Cotswolds then I would definitely recommend coming to Daylesford. Experience that authentic English organic farm shop in its flagship location. But if you do end up missing out, then visit the stores located in London that stock Daylesford products.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Perched upon a hilltop at 800 feet, Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest (and cutest) market town in the Cotswolds. It is known for its market square, abundance of antique shops, and a great selection of pubs and inns. Start yourself off at the market square and peruse the cute, old world shop fronts. Isobel and I stopped by the Fairfax & Favor store and built up our Christmas wish list.
You must then visit St. Edward’s Church, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The famous Yew Tree Doors attract thousands of visitors per year as it is known to have inspired J.R.R Tolkien and The Durin Doors in The Lord of the Rings trilogy books.
Stow-on-the-wold has a reputation as one of the best places in the Cotswolds to shop for antiques. There are plenty of antique emporiums to search for treasures. There are also several art galleries around town where you can find contemporary British paintings and sculptures.
Bourton-on-the-Water
To think, we almost didn’t go here! You walk right into the centre of the village and see stone built bridges across the River Windrush. The low-hanging willow trees and historic stone cottages are something out of an idyllic postcard. And if you travel during the festive season, the iconic fir Christmas tree will be sitting in the middle of the river. The warm glow of tree lights brings that extra festivity to the village.
Stroll across the river bank and jump into the many quaint pubs and cafes for some good comfort food. There are also plenty of walks one may take from Bourton-on-the-Water. One of the most popular walks is the Bourton to the Slaughters circular walk, which means you’d be visiting the Lower and Upper Slaughter villages, both beautiful Cotswold places. Bask in the idyllic setting and if you can, try to get there early in the morning as it does tend to get rather busy with crowds, especially on weekends.
It was such a joy to explore this landscape around Christmas time. Things just feel more magical during this time of year. The Cotswolds is such a beautiful part of England, filled with history and traditions of village life. Be sure to find yourself in this cosy part of the country.
