What are the Cotswolds must-sees?

[chicaguapa]

We're going for a few days at the end of August so what are the places/ things we shouldn't miss please? We're staying in Chipping Norton.

DC are 12 & 9 so are beyond farms and soft plays. I'm not even sure if I'll be able to coax them into going to Blenheim Palace tbh. I'm looking at the Treasure Trails as that's often the only way I can get DD to put one foot in front of the other.

Any 'hidden' gems?

Cotswold Wildlife park and bird land in Bourton on the water are OK for that age. Boughton it's self is quite fun.

Westenbirt Arboretum is good if there is something going on, otherwise you need to wait until autumn and have a family photography competition.

Berkeley Castle and butterfly house might be good, if a bit of a drive.
Second Bourton - model village is surprisingly not twee, motor museum might be good, and it's a pretty town with Winston's ice cream.
Try and catch Gifford's circus too.
How about Chedworth Roman Villa, or even Bath for some Romans?

Loads to do 'tis fantastically pretty & lovely.

Visit oxford, colleges & castle or cycling tour or ghost walk
Cotswold water parks high wires, abseiling,canoeing, beach & loads more look on their website
Climbing centre at north leach
Oxfordshire museum in Woodstock is great before or after blenheim palace .
Sudeley castle - great playground & house
Broadway excellent free playground & tower to climb. Highest point for miles around
Roll right stones near chipping norton great walk fun for the kids
Do a walk / geocaching- let the kids map read
Train to oxford from charlbury takes 15 mins or get bus from chipping norton
Chipping norton lido open until 6.30pm whatever the weather

PM me if need more info

Also batsford arboretum is great & quite cheap near moreton in marsh.

Yes water park is lovely, even if you just walk round.

But it has heaps of activities too.

Ashmolean or Pitt rivers museums Oxford.
Great pubs by pretty rivers like Bibury, Swinbrook.
Daylesford's ridiculous 'farm shop' for a laugh .

Leave the kids with DP one day (if going) and head to a spa? Lots of them!

Try geocaching to get kids walking. Hidden treasures. Id save the aboritum for autumn when it will be stunning. There are stunning walks around Chalford and sapperton

A must see is Gifford's circus which is just amazing!!! Around in minchinhampton till the 19th. Then bath and Marlborough which are a bit further.

Yes Pitt rivers in Oxford

You could always combine both giffords circus while in bath and Bath spa but will need to book both well in advance.

Theres a Treefest thing at Westonbirt at the end of August which looks good.

If you go to Broadway, theres a branch of the Ashmolean there now, and a design museum. The lavender fields are fab.
The road there takes you through what I think is the quintessential cotswold village - Bourton on the Hill - and its a lovely drive from Chipping Norton which has an ace kebab van

How about a boat trip in Oxford? You can easily get the bus into Oxford

Southcerneyoutdoor.co.uk is a brilliant lake where you can hire kayaks or have lessons in loads of watersports.
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Definitely Giffords Circus
Northleach climbing centre, I think it's called WildRock
Oxford for shopping, tours of colleges, walk along the river

If you're near the forest of Dean puzzle wood is magical

If you're near the forest of Dean puzzle wood is magical

I climbed broadway tower when I thought I might be miss carrying DD1 - I just had to get out the house (no EPU back then, she's 16)

It is a splendid view and quite fun.

Thank you. I'm looking all these places up. Broadway Tower looks lovely and the South Carney kayaking place is a real possibility. I haven't seen them on any tourist websites.

We're coming from Hampshire so Bath and places further afield are best left for another trip. Forest of Dean looks a bit far from Chipping Norton too unfortunately.

Giffords isn't on over the August bank holiday. What a shame!

I'd say south Cerney is a bit of a trek from Chippy tbh. Go punting in Oxford (terribly touristy I know, but great fun) maybe.

Cotswold wildlife park is good, and they have walk through lemurs and you are very close to the animals.

I haven't been to the birds of prey place at Moreton in the Marsh, though I always think I should when driving past. Nice tea shop in Moreton too

Climb Cleeve Hill (near Cheltenham) - on a good day you can see Wales

The lemurs are really cute as is the sloth who hangs above your head.

The big cats are very hard to spot and don't miss the bats.

Forest of Dean roads can be very slow, which adds to the apparent distance.

Been to daylesford today saw a gorgeous handbag £1450! I sniggered and then put it down. So lovely but so expensive.

There's an owl sanctuary in Morton on Marsh (I think it's mentioned up there ^). Lots of owls and you can see them fly. There's also vultures. Not so nice.

Bibury is beautiful, lovely walks around the village.

Or, there's this www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/

I would give chad worth roman village a miss tbh not massively impressive for your age group. Treefest I think they would also be bored with having enjoyed it myself with my younger dcs. The wildlife park I have heard good things about, there is lots in bourbon on water. Blenheim is fab. I love the Cotswolds but a lot of it is lovely walks, pretty villages, nice pubs which may not dazzle your kids. Oxford seems a good bet