Cotswolds and kids

[ChoccyJules]

Booked a cottage in Stow on the Wold for halfterm. We went to Broadway as a wider family a few years ago and I remember posh gift shops and a design/furniture museum. DD went to the wildlife park with other family members.
Anyway, I like old-fashioned stuff, eg am definitely going to the model village in Bourton on the Water. We are not big fans of crowds. The kids (6 &9) like to let off steam and tend to whizz through anything museumy unless there is a trail or similar to follow.
We are National Trust members.
What do you think are our must-do's?
Also, we are within walking distance of Stow so if you are local -where are the nice eateries, pubs etc? Even public playgrounds?
Am still pinching myself we got a cottage 4 weeks before halfterm!

Dragonfly Maze at Bourton. It's next to Birdland (which is worth a look if you like that sort of thing).

The Maze is great though, there's a quiz to do as you go round it, we love it.

Batsford Arboretum is lovely, if that's your thing.

Cotswold water Park.

Will have a think and see what else I can come up with

Cotswold Farm Park, Birdland, a little further afield in Gloucester area, Rococco Gardens, Gloucester Docks, National Waterways Museum, 😬

Snowshill Manor has a fantastic collection of freakish items to look at, lovely views and Broadway Tower is fun and near.

Chedworth Roman Villa is NT; Slimbridge WWT is probably too far away but worth a visit.

If you go to Bourton on the water, pop in and do the dragonfly maze but also you can get a trail to do around Bourton from the shop there which is quite nice to do

Chedworth roman villa as pp says. Also Snowshill Manor is interesting and NT.
Berkeley Castle my 2 enjoyed with butterfly farm.
Bourton in the Water Dragonfly maze, toy museum.
Crocodile farm very expensive but interesting.
Butts farm rare breeds
Cotswolds are lovely loads of things to do.

Lots of great suggestions, thanks

Stratford butterfly farm 🦋
Broadway tower has lots of grass for letting of steam & if you have a drink parking is free.

Cotswold farm park is brilliant

Swindon Oasis if the weather is rubbish.
Car museum and model village at Bourton on the Water
Winston's ice creams!

Yes Blue - Winstone's Ice Creams are wonderful, a real hidden gem. They are a tiny operation on the top of one of the Commons round Stroud but are incredibly popular. Almost no parking, so ideally walk up from somewhere else on the Commons and enjoy all lovely views.

Oasis looks a good idea, presumably it's packed on a rainy day though (aren't they all)?!

Cirencester is a beautiful town with a lovely big park. They also have a Roman museum which is very interesting.

Go to Cotswold country park and beach, there are lakes where you can paddle, beach area, picnic area, play area and you can also hire out pedalos , jet skis and canoes. It's a really lovely day out, I've been going for years

You lot have certainly filled a week and then some!

Cotswold Country Park sounds great, I'm adding that to my list of places to go! 😃

Check the local NT and English Heritage places to see whether they have anything planned for children over 1/2 term. They are usually pretty good round our way.

In the -unlikely- event that it does finally warm up there are open air lidos at Cirencester and a huge one in Cheltenham.

Near Stow, but off the beaten track? I am going to mention Broadwell because it has a couple of swings etc on a large village green (plenty of room for football), a ford (not too busy and usually with a bit of water in) and the Fox Inn at the top. The pub has changed hands since we were last there, but I suspect it is still very much a local pub.

Pub recommendations warmly welcomed, thanks!

The organic farm shop on the road between Cirencester and Burford is lovely, esp for Sunday lunch.

A really special, family friendly pub with gorgeous food is the Gumstool Inn near Tetbury. The Tunnel Inn is lovely near Cirencester. My fav is The butchers Arms in Sheepscoombe.

Loads of beautiful 'free' things to do near Winstone's Ice cream. Selsley common or Coaley viewpoint for a picnic with amazing views/ kite, Woodchester mansion playtrail, Thistledown for walk and brilliant cafe. If you're in the area you're not too far from Slimbridge, Cattle Country or Westonbirt. Prema arts centre in Uley do fab interesting things with lovely cafe too. You could watch the Severn Bore or cycle the canal path.

I love living here!!!

Sorry I meant road between Ciren and Bibury!

Also, Cotswold Olympicks in Chipping Campden on the Friday night. The torchlight procession down the hill is magical when you’re a kid.

Pubs: it's a bit out of your way, but The Salutation at Ham is super. Near Berkeley Castle.

Getting excited now and been reading lots of tripadvisor reviews of cafes and pubs. Because I like food and I like somewhere the kids can be accepted too. TBH I haven't yet found anywhere which screams family-friendly to me in Stow. Looking forward to exploring all the beautiful villages round and about.
It's hard to get a feel for the geography, every time someone mentions somewhere interesting it looks quite far South...maybe the whole area is smaller than I think?!

Went to Chedworth Roman villa today, more to see than expected :-)
DH is insisting I am worrying about nothing that it's Bank Hol tomorrow and we are going to Bourton on the water...I think it will be heaving. He thinks that's the one place we all want to go so why put it off. He doesn't have to live with him when there's a queue...
So wish me luck!
Anyone been to Chippy Lido? Is it brrr? Would kids cope with that temp water?

Gosh (skipping through the thunderstorms) you were soooo lucky with warm weather.

Cheltenham Lido is massive, but the kids pool is warmer. Cirencester is probably warmer/smaller.