Broadway is often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds' and the 'show village of England'. It is well known for its excellent art galleries, antique and modern furniture stores such as OKA (co-founded by Lady Astor), which is set in a beautiful Georgian House on the High Street. And let's not forget all the wonderful restaurants, cafe's, delis, pubs and gift shops. The village is in an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so is perfectly placed for exploring the many beautiful towns and villages of the Cotswolds or the outdoors as well as Stratford-upon-Avon, the birth place of William Shakespeare and the royal spa town of Cheltenham which is great for theatre and retail therapy. Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold are all a short drive away. A legacy of the Broadway Artists' Colony; the village has several of the country's best art galleries as well as the aforementioned restaurants, pubs and tea shops, plus a range of gift and clothes shops. Relaxation, retail therapy and good food and drink make Broadway a very popular place to stay throughout the year. The Vale of Evesham is the fruit and vegetable basket of England and has for many centuries supported a number of communities that have thrived on its fertile soil. Drained by the River Avon and with the town of Evesham as its centre, the Vale spans south Worcestershire, south Warwickshire and north Gloucestershire. The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the 'Heart of England'. The name Cotswold means 'sheep enclosure in rolling hillsides'.The area is defined by the bedrock of Jurassic limestone that creates a type of grassland habitat rare in the UK and that is quarried for the golden coloured Cotswold stone. It contains unique features derived from the use of this mineral; the predominantly rural landscape contains beautiful stone-built villages, historical towns and stately homes and gardens. In the Middle Ages the wool trade made the Cotswolds prosperous and some of this money was put into the building of churches, leaving the area with a number of large handsome Cotswold stone 'wool churches'. The area remains affluent, which has encouraged the establishment of many high quality pubs, restaurants and antique shops. The town of Chipping Campden is notable for being the home of the Arts and Crafts movement, founded by William Morris at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. William Morris lived occasionally in Broadway Tower, a folly, now part of a country park. Chipping Campden is also known for the annual Cotswold Olimpick Games, a celebration of sports and games dating back to the early 17th century. It is held in May. You may also wish to visit the following attractions and historical sites. •Blenheim Palace •Warwick Castle •Snowshill Manor •Hidcote Manor •Sudeley Castle •Hailes Abbey •Cotswold Riding •Batsford Arboretum •Sezincote •Cotswold Farm Park •Kifsgate Court Gardens •Cotswold Motoring Museum •Cotswold Wildlife Park •Cotswold Lavender •A range of National Trust properties and gardens •A range of English Heritage properties and sites Like steam trains? Steam trains are now running from Broadway to Cheltenham. You can stop off at a few other places in the Cotswolds as part of your journey. There are too many things to do and see that I have room for on this site, so feel free to view the many Cotswolds tourist sites on the web. To check availbility please click here. |