Best areas for a short stay in the Cotswolds with a toddler

[tokajlover]

My DH and I and our two-year-old are looking to stay for 2-3 nights somewhere in the Cotswolds, preferably in Oxfordshire (we have been to the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire side).

I know very little about this area and would appreciate any advice on best areas to stay in, accommodation etc. For us the most important thing is that we have something nearby to do with our daughter. We want to stay in a pretty place, but not quite in the middle of nowhere. My DD likes both rural areas (farms, interesting walks, especially near bodies of water lol), as well as walking around towns and popping into places, but while my DH and I enjoy a good long walk in the middle of nowhere, she would probably be bored stiff if she had nothing significant but fields to see, hence looking for suggestions for areas we could stay in that have a bit more to do/are more toddler-friendly.

Thank you!

Bourton on the water is lovely. Bird land, motor museum that has brum, not far from Cotswold wildlife park or Stow on the Wold.

Bourton is great for small children. My dc were particularly taken with the model village. But it does get horrendously crowded.

I don’t think Stow has a lot going for it. Same’s true of Moreton in Marsh.

My dc used to like paddling in the Slaughters.

Bourton is great. Cheltenham not been mentioned yet, it's certainly great for mums not so sure about for toddlers but there must be something!

Lechlade is small but great, good cafes, ice creams, pub on riverside, river side walks, swan peddlos, Cotswold safari close by.

Bourton would be far too busy for me but fine for a day visit. Lechlade is popular but not as popular.

Woodstock is a sweet small town near Oxford. It houses Blenham Palace which has the most amazing grounds for kids.

Gosh we went to Bourton in January (en route elsewhere) and couldn't believe how jammed it was. Coaches spewing out tourists from all over the place. Weird place! We imagined it would be worse in the summer. Maybe we caught it on a bad day?

Calcot Manor (Tetbury) is a very child-friendly hotel if that sort of things is important.

Westonbirt Arboretum might be fun to explore (see what they have for youngsters these days).

Cirencester (nearby town) has a small open air pool (or there is a massive lido with kids pool in Cheltenham).

More of a drive away is Adam Henson's farm. cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

The Cotswold Zoo was rated by my daughter when she visited with her Junior School (some years ago):

www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

At that age your child will be just as excited by a new playground, I expect.