The Cotswolds - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Cotswolds is an beautiful and picturesque area of southern England, popular with both the English themselves and visitors from all over the world.
The 1966 the beauty of the Cotswolds was recognised officially when it was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and 2006 was the 40th anniversary of this designation.
The Cotswolds is now the largest area of outstanding natural beauty in England and Wales.
This websites aims to be a one-stop guide to the Cotswolds with information on Cotswold accommodation, Cotswold attractions, Cotswold events, Cotswold towns and villages, Cotswold photographs and much more.
Cotswold Accommodation
The Cotswolds is home to some of the best country hotels, self catering accommodation and bed & breakfast establishments in the country. So whether you are looking for a Cirencester bed and breakfast to use as a base for your Cotswold visit, a village cottage to get away from it all, or simply a comfortable guest house while you visit the Cotswolds on business then use our Cotswold accommodation guide to find details of accommodation in the Cotswolds (Pictured is the Swan Hotel in Bibury). Link : Cotswolds accommodation
Towns and Villages in The Cotswolds
Many towns in the Cotswolds were important wool towns and the abundance of wealthy wool merchants left a legacy of impressive buildings. But well before this the town of Cirencester (pictured) was an important Roman settlement, second only in importance to London. Find out about Bibury, Bourton on the Water, Burford, Cirencester, Moreton in Marsh, Stow on the Wold and the other towns and villages of the Cotswolds in the Cotswold towns and villages section.
Cotswold Attractions
If you are planning a visit to the Cotswolds then one thing is a must, make sure to plan a return visit as you will not have time to see all of the attractions that the Cotswolds has to offer in one visit. You may not expect to see lions in the Cotswolds, except if you are visiting the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford, you may not expect to find a cottage smaller than a shoe box, except if you are visiting the model village in Bourton on the Water and you may not expect to see the tallest hedge in Europe, except if you are visiting Cirencester. Find out all about Cotswold attractions in the Cotswold attractions section.
Cotswold Events
The Cotswolds plays host to countless events throughout the year, from craft markets and local Farmers' markets to The Cotswold Show in Cirencester and the world famous Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. More details of Cotswold events can be found in the Cotswolds events section of this site or by going to the Cotswold Events website.
On Cotswolds Events you will find details of events all over the Cotswolds. Popular events in the Cotswolds include the Badminton Horse Trials, the Cheltenham Festival and the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Cotswold Headlines
Waste Taskforce Takes Recycling Message To Streets
24th April 2007We can help you to recycle and compost even more of your rubbish! That’s the message being spread by canvassers working in the Cotswold District over the next three weeks.
Cotswold residents are already top of Gloucestershire’s recycling league with rates topping 40 per cent. And the canvassers from Resource Futures will be advising householders how they can do even better by making the most of all the recycling and composting opportunities provided through the District Council.
Crackdown on Uninsured Drivers Leads to 1,100 Vehicle Seizures
Wednesday 18 AprilA crack down on uninsured drivers has led to more than 1,100 vehicles being seized in just six months.
On September 28 2006 Gloucestershire police launched a campaign aimed at getting uninsured vehicles and those not being driven in accordance with their licences off the roads.
Leisure Centre Celebrates Year Of Success
2nd April 2007The Cotswold Leisure Centre Cirencester celebrates its first birthday on April 4th – and will look back on a year of success.
The £8.5m building, owned and run by Cotswold District Council, has clocked up a grand total of more than 341,000 visits to use the facilities which include a 25m pool, learner pool, Relax Zone, gym, squash courts, dance studio and sports hall.
So far, 3,230 people have taken out one of a range of membership offers.
See the
Cotswold News page for full details
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