Every month we’ll be coming up with a new place to go on a road trip in the UK. Summer is here and it’s the perfect excuse to get on your bike and ride out to the countryside. The Cotswolds is an idyllic location filled with cosy villages, rolling hills and historic beauty. From the Cotswold Wildlife Park, to the Westonbirt Arboretum, here are some must-see places in the area.
Chedworth Roman Villa
The Chedworth Roman Villa is one of the largest Roman villas in Britain, built during the 2nd century. The villa offers an insight into Romano-British history, with it having many rooms to explore. Beautiful mosaics line the floor, such as the spirit of winter found in the dining room. Outside, there’s a special spring-fed pool called the Nymphaeum, which was used to make offerings to a water goddess.
Westonbirt Arboretum
Riding down a country lane is thrilling, but going for a stroll in the woods makes a great change of pace. The Westonbirt Arboretum, found near the market town of Tetbury, is a collection of trees spread out over 600 acres. There are a range of exotic trees from around the world, which are distributed among the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood. The Old Arboretum features stunning vistas and stately avenues, while Silk Wood is arranged as a traditional woodland.
Kelmscott Manor
Kelmscott Manor used to be the home of writer and designer William Morris from 1871 to 1896. He called it the ‘loveliest haunt of ancient peace,’ signing a joint lease for the property with his friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The manor is stunning and it features many of Morris’ famous textile patterns and furniture. There’s also a sprawling garden to explore, with an old black mulberry at the back of the house.
Cotswold Motoring Museum
No trip to the Cotswolds would be complete without a visit to the Cotswold Motoring Museum. Found in the picturesque village of Bourton on the Water, the museum has a collection of classic cars and motorbikes. Some of the most famous bikes include the 1934 Levis owned by British racing champion Harold Breach. The collection also pays homage to the local appreciation for motorcycle football.
In addition to cars and bikes, the museum is home to Brum. The intelligent little car first appeared on TV in 1991 and now resides permanently in Bourton.
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Animal lovers will appreciate the Cotswold Wildlife Park, which houses over 260 different species. Each exhibit is split into different environments, such as the Madagascar and Woodland Walk areas. Visitors will be able to see wolverines, lemurs, giraffes, lions, owls, eagles, meerkats, prairie dogs and many more creatures
