Where shall we visit in the Cotswolds?

[Malteser71]

We are staying in May, two teenagers.

Would love any recommendations, especially for pretty pubs!

Has anyone mentioned Sudley Castle yet? It’s my favourite.

But be prepared for everywhere to be totally rammed. Take picnics as back up.

I live in a tourist spot and stopped going into the village last Summer as it was crammed from morning till evening.

You might want to time visit to popular places to start early (hard with teens sometimes).

And I’m not so sure it will be as busy as usual this year....think we’ll be without a large swathe of international visitors for obvious reasons - you may well’ve chosen the best moment!

Cheltenham lido, my favourite swimming pool,
Water sports at Cotswold water park
Walks, everywhere,

There is a lavender and camomile farm somewhere in the Cotswolds which looks beautiful, I can't remember whereabouts. X

If they like the idea of climbing the Farpeak climbing centre at Northleach has an amazing outdoor tower, bouldering wall and ropes course. The cafe is amazing and the whole place is beautifully looked after and super friendly. www.farpeakclimbing.co.uk/

Slimbridge bird park

@Blimeyoreilly2020

There weren’t any foreign visitors last year really. The most far flung visitor was from Scotland (not sure if that counts as foreign.)

I’m not complaining though as lots of my friends run holiday rentals. We do need the visitors.

Op- you’ll have to book the night before for Cotswold Wildlife. They were running a system of pre-booking for the next day but it was always sold out by 7am the previous day. I’d suggest staying up til midnight if you want to book!

The rollright stones is my favourite place to visit in the cotswolds followed by a pub lunch in great tew and maybe a trip to daylesford

The water park can be fun but not as pretty

I have younger kids, but have also booked for this summer. The prices were much more reasonable than most places, esp coast. I think this will be the best year ever to go. No coach trips! We will be happy with pubs, walks and being somewhere new. Not all kids demand nightlife, shoppping and adrenaline!
We are national trust members and are looking to go to blenheim too. Probably one of the wildlife parks. Plus bbq and relaxing at our rented place.

For most teenagers, they’ll be bored quite quickly of the twee villages, tea rooms etc,

Maybe/maybe not. They may appreciate it all now after being cooped up. Let them out the car ad watch they gallop away, wild and free! I bet they can manage a cream tea or two!

Took teenagers a few years ago and they enjoyed it. If you like national trust places, Snowshill is great - full of eccentricity and quirky discoveries. We really enjoyed a trip to Oxford too, and the RSPB reserve at Slimbridge.

I'm doing a walking holiday (just three days) in the Winchcombe area in June. I hope that area is pretty!

Again thanks everyone!

South cerney has water sports.

Bourton on the Water is also known as Birmingham on Sea. On a nice day, it is chocked.

As you are up in the North, I'd recommend coming up to the North East tip for a walk around Ratley/Radway/Edge Hill/Honiton/Tysoe etc. The Rose and Crown in Ratley is a gorgeous tiny pub with fantastic food and the Castle beer garden in Edge Hill is also worth a pint for the view.

Upton House is a hugely underestimated National Trust place, and the walks from there are great too.

The villages around here are typically Cotswoldy, but made from iron stone, which is a much deeper orange than the usual honey coloured stone. Bourton Dasset Country Park was once the quarry and is now the a very strange landscape you can visit too.

Oh fab thanks

It really depends on your teens.
Pubs.. the Wild Rabbit is expensive but OMG the food is fabulous.
Bad weather? Escape Hunt in Oxford for the teens.
Cotswold Wildlife Park is lovely
Bibury... touristy but the trout farm is fab ..you can feed the fish and watching them jump is fun.
Burford is nicer than Bourton on the Water IMO.. has a brilliant old fashioned sweet shop (which I frequent!)
See the Harry Potter Great Hall (Christchurch) in Oxford centre
Westgate shopping centre for the teens.
Cotswold Water Park as others have said..lots of activities there.

Moreton in Marsh is lovely for a wander and you've got great pubs there. Or for something different like a spa or afternoon tea you've got Wyck Hill House down the road.
Broadway Tower is good.
And there is an Indian mansion house somewhere around there but I've not been!

And there is an Indian mansion house somewhere around there but I've not been!

That's Sezincote. It's worth a visit.

Love the Cotswolds, Blenheim palace is amazing it’s a whole day out if you walk the enormous grounds. Crocodiles of the World also fun. We ate in a couple of great places in Chipping Norton which were great.