I’ll admit it. I was a bit nervous that I had built the Cotswolds up so much in my mind before this trip that the actual experience may not live up to my expectations. It has been exactly the opposite. Every time I turn a corner into another village, I think, “This is exactly what I pictured in my mind.” Now I understand why the British use words like “lovely” and “charming”. They are the only words that can begin to do justice to places like this.
Cotswolds
England 2015 – Day 3: This is the Cotswolds
It would be impossible to explain in words how beautiful this area is. It is quintessential English countryside at its very best. About three miles down the road from Charingworth Manor is the village of Chipping Campden. I decided to begin my first full day of exploring by visiting the village. The Cotswolds are covered with public walking paths (literally over 100 miles of them), many passing through villages and across farmland. These are usually accessed by small gates along the side of the road marked by a sign indicating “public footpath”. My first stop on the way into town was a small footpath into a field of sheep at the side of the road. The field overlooks the old woolen church in Chipping Campden (St. James’), one of many built by wool merchants to “show off” their wealth. You can just wander through the field among the sheep (and plenty of cute baby lambs). After my stop at the field, I parked by the church and wandered around the town for a while. In the center of town, the market hall dates back to 1627, where it was originally used by produce merchants. One of the best parts of the day was the walk I took on one of the footpaths though some of the fields surrounding the village.
England 2015 – Day 2: From London to Chipping Campden (on the left)
Despite a solid 9 hours of sleep last night, I still woke up tired this morning. Blame it on my body thinking I was getting up at 1AM. I had a few hours to spend in London before heading to pick up the rental car, so I took advantage of the quiet streets and wound my way from my hotel in Westminster to Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, and back.
London has a very different feel when you beat the crowds and can enjoy a walk without wall to wall people surrounding you. I took the obligatory pictures of Buckingham Palace (and the boatload of news vans camped out awaiting the Royal baby announcement!) and then headed back to my hotel via St. James’s Park. While there are plenty of other things to see and do in London that I skipped over this time, the Cotswolds were calling me.
Traveling with Laura 