The Cotswold hills are well known as a perfect short break destination. Between Oxford and Cheltenham, Stratford and Bath, this area of gently rolling hillsides, slow flowing rivers, and towns and villages built in the local golden limestone is beautiful to look at and a joy to explore.

If you’re not sure where to start, in this blog we look at how you might typically spend a two night, 48 hour car-based break with us. We’ve included a good walk, some shopping time, a cheese tip, a people-watching hotspot, a visit to a Cotswold garden, some other famous villages, and a few other ideas to help you fall in love with our area.

First of all? If you’ve decided to stay in Broadway, congratulate yourself! You’ve chosen an absolutely ‘classic’ Cotswold village. Our village is small enough to be loaded with charm and large enough to be interesting. To be here as the sun sets, when most visitors have gone home is a romantic experience.

After your journey to Broadway, why not leave the car in our car park and explore Broadway on foot?  Step out of our front door and you are immediately and most definitely IN the Cotswolds - from the terrace overlooking the village green to the surrounding buildings dating mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries.

As its name implies, Broadway is based on a single High Street. It is one of the most beautiful streets in Britain, made so by the wide, chestnut tree-lined space and views of distant hills.

These days, a diverting mix of shops and galleries, tea rooms and restaurants make it easy to slowly while away an afternoon here, just exploring and absorbing the atmosphere. If you want a little more of a challenge we do recommend the walk up to Broadway Tower (a circular walking route of around two hours). From the top,  there's a view which locates Broadway village in its landscape for you, looking out past the Cotswold edge to the Malverns and Vale of Evesham.

It’s downhill all the way back, of course, and you’ll feel wonderfully virtuous as you return. You might like to book yourself an afternoon tea back in Broadway as a reward!

If you’re visiting in the warmer months enjoy a pre-dinner drink on our terrace (or get cosy by the log fire at other times of the year). Drinks to try include Cotswold Gin, Broadway Ales or maybe a Hawkstone Cider from some local farmer named Jeremy Clarkson.

TOP TIP Broadway has a unusually high number of local festivals and events, from Ferrari Owners’ club rallies to a Horticultural Show. It’s always worth checking dates on the local website  - and maybe even planning your dates around them.

Today we’re suggesting a visit to a very photogenic smaller village, a pub lunch, some time people watching and a visit to a beautiful garden.

Accommodation at The Broadway always includes a hearty Cotswold breakfast, so set off today fully prepared and ready to explore.

Lower Slaughter village (about 12 miles away from Broadway) is famously pretty. It can get busy at peak times, so starting your day here means you have the

opportunity to beat any crowds. Even better, we recommend heading to Upper Slaughter and take the one hour circular walk between the two villages. You’ll follow the slow-flowing River Eye between ‘The Slaughters’ and experience the gently rolling hills and Cotswold stone cottages that make the area famous around the world.

Afterwards, head up to nearby Stow-On-The-Wold for a coffee and to explore the shops and galleries around the old market square in this famous hill-top town. Don’t miss the doors at the rear of St Edward’s Church, said to inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Doors of Durin’.

For lunch, try one of the many pubs in the area, the Chequers at Churchill or the King’s Head in Bledington.  For a contemporary Cotswold experience, head to the chic Daylesford Farm Shop for some serious people watching, and lunch in one of their cafes.

In the afternoon, head back towards Broadway. If you return via Moreton-in-Marsh, we recommend stopping off at The Cotswold Cheese Company shop. In addition to famous names such as Double Gloucester, you can try some of our new local stars in the cheese world, such as Rollright, from Kings Stone Dairy.

Visiting a garden is a bit of a ‘must do’ when taking a Cotswold break. In the area around Moreton and Broadway there are half a dozen gardens of national importance. Perhaps the most famous is Hidcote Manor Garden, the National Trust flagship garden, arranged as a series of garden rooms, revealed as you explore the 20th century estate.

You might choose one of these other gardens:

Batsford Arboretum - Excellent autumn colours, but with other seasonal highlights too.

Bourton House - Terraces and borders highly praised by Adam on BBC Gardeners’ World.

Cotswold Lavender - in the early summer months, an Instagrammer’s delight.

Kiftsgate Court - Near Hidcote, home to the eponymous, spectacular climbing rose.

Sezincote House Garden - Moghul paradise gardens evoked in the Cotswolds.

Snowshill Manor - also National Trust. Gardens and, indoors, an eclectic collection.

TOP TIP There are over 100 villages and settlements in the Cotswolds area. There’s no need to try and see them all! Instead take time to explore just a couple slowly and you’ll find the true atmosphere of the Cotswolds.

Evening Theatre

It’s easy to overlook that Stratford-upon-Avon is just half an hour from Broadway. The RSC’s two theatres offer a gold standard for contemporary performance. Alternatively head over to Cheltenham for theatre in the beautiful Frank Matcham-designed Victorian Everyman Theatre, or for one of the town’s regular music, jazz, literature or science festival events

Finish your Cotswold break by diving into some of our Tudor history at nearby Sudeley Castle. The late medieval and Tudor periods were when the Cotswolds were at a peak of agricultural wealth. Cotswold breed sheep, with their heavy fleeces, were prized and traded throughout Europe.

Sudeley Castle has a long and interesting story that seems to, in particular, weave in and out of the story of England during the Tudor and Civil War eras.

The Castle’s great claim to fame is that it was home to Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. In 1535 Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn came here, with Henry meeting Cromwell at nearby Hailes Abbey. Elizabeth I visited three times. Her third, three day, visit was described as one of the longest parties in history.

Today, visitors can experience some of that Tudor atmosphere, evoked by the castle and its setting. In particular, Katherine’s final resting place in the chapel - Lady Jane Grey was her Chief Mourner - is one of those places in England where you really feel the weight of history.  Outside, the castle’s ten gardens work well to complement the castle buildings.

TOP TIP. If you prefer your history a little more ancient, nearby Belas Knapp is a particularly terrific Neolithic long barrow. A steep ascent is rewarded with  spectacular views back down towards the town of Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle.

Head home having had a taste of the Cotswolds and, we're sure, planning your next visit!