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The Cotswolds is one of my favourite places for a UK staycation. If you’re looking for the perfect cottage and things to do near Longborough, then this is the post for you!
For the last few years, Chloe and I have been battling the cold depths of winter by booking little trips away. Trust me, a staycation can really recharge the batteries and energise you for the weeks and months ahead.
In January we explored the quaint village of Porlock in Somerset when everyone else was hunkered up inside. It was such a brilliant little staycation, so much so we wanted to replicate it again. Where this time? To one of our favourite places in England – the Cotswolds.
Instead of being stuck in our tiny flat in London, we booked this beautiful property on Classic Cottages to get away from it all. And what a few days it was!
This cottage was in the small village of Longborough, just on the outskirts of Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. Basically, it’s in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Longborough had a village shop/café where you could grab a coffee and a pastry. Better yet, the cottage is next to the Coach & Horses pub – somehow we ended up there every evening!
Naturally being in the Cotswolds, there are lots of stunning walks through the rolling countryside in the area. I’d also really recommend going on a tour of the nearby towns and villages – it’s hard to pick a favourite because they’re all so cute.
If you’re looking for an amazing holiday home, a place to beat winter for a few days and recharge the batteries, then keep on reading my review of Bank Cottage in the Cotswolds. This place really is perfect for a little getaway, so keep on reading.
Contents:
Kitchen and living room at Bank Cottage
For me, the place that makes or breaks a holiday home is the kitchen and living room. The kitchen has to be functional enough that it feels like you can whip up a feast (if you want to of course), but it can’t feel like you’re cooking at home (because what’s the point in that). As for the living room, well it just has to be comfy, doesn’t it?
Thankfully, Bank Cottage ticked all the boxes. The kitchen looked brand new, as were most of the pots and pans too. It was a really good-sized kitchen though with enough crockery to see you through a few days or to take care of a large family. My only gripe with the kitchen was the induction hob, but that’s only because I’m not used to cooking on induction!
We spent most of our time in the lounge. Here they had three snug sofas around an old-fashioned log fire. I say old-fashioned because it is the type of log fire that you’d see heating a whole pub. I guess that’s the whole point of it. For me, my favourite part of the day was lighting the fire and curling up on the sofa with a glass of red. It’s one of the reasons I love these types of staycation.
Just off the lounge was a dining table and chairs, so another spot for a cuppa in the morning or to eat in the evening.
The whole lounge area was really well laid-out though with those rustic country cottage vibes.
Bedrooms at Bank Cottage
One of the best things about Bank Cottage was the bedrooms. There are three very good-sized bedrooms, all with double beds. The largest is the converted loft on the top floor which retains the old cottage wooden beams to add character to the room. There was a striking feature wall of flowers on a blue background that matched the personality of the cottage nicely.
The other two rooms were the floor below on the second floor. The main bedroom was an en-suite. The room had really nice panelling on the back wall and it had that cosy cottage feeling too.
The final bedroom was a decent size, especially when this is the smallest room in the house. It easily fits two people – there’s even room for a cot too (this is where our son slept).
All of the rooms had large wardrobes in them, so if you’re staying here for more than a few days, there’s plenty of storage space to unpack in and make it feel like your home for a few days.
The only thing I wish was for one of the bedrooms to have a queen-sized or a king-sized bed in them. There’s definitely room for one, and I really like sleeping in a big bed!
Bathrooms at Bank Cottage
The only major downside to the cottage was the bathrooms. Both the en-suite and main bathroom on the second floor are very very small. Almost shoulder to shoulder width. There is a toilet downstairs just off the back of the kitchen too which was also small too.
It just makes the bathrooms very functional. In, do your business, have a shower, get out. I didn’t feel like I could luxuriate in them though. I guess that’s a positive and a negative!
Photos of the cottage
Things to do in Longborough and the surrounding area
I know it’s very easy to hunker down and stay in the cottage, especially when you’ve got that fire going, but I wanted to showcase some of the best things to do near Longborough. This is so you can get a really good overview of what the Cotswolds is like on your weekend away. If you’ve got little ones then there are some family friendly activities thrown in here for you too.
Longborough to Bourton-on-the Hill circular walk
You can’t come to the Cotswolds and not get out into the countryside on a good yomp.
We wanted a walk that started as soon as we stepped out the front door of the cottage we were staying at, so we did a big loop from Longborough to Bourton-on-the-Hill and back. All in all, this walk took about 3 hours with a little stop at the pub in Bourton-on-the-Hill (because why wouldn’t you?)
One of the sections takes you past Sezincote, the old country palace built in the same style as the Taj Mahal. It’s not something you see anywhere else in the Cotswolds, so it was pretty cool passing by it.
Another great spot is the walk across the fields into Bourton-on-the-Hill. It’s oh so quaint, and exactly what the Cotswolds is all about. Hopefully you’ll see what I mean from the photos!
The pub we went to in Bourton-on-the-Hill the the Horse and Groom. Get yourself a pint by the fire and rest those weary legs for a bit.
The way back to Longborough was equally lovely and involved walking through a couple of forests which was nice to break up the scenery. Overall, I’d give this walk a solid 8/10 – it’s well worth doing if you’re in the area.
Exploring Bourton-on-the-Water
Now that our son Cooper is running all over the place, we wanted to take him somewhere we knew he’d love – the Model Village at Bourton-on-the-Water.
A beautifully crafted replica of Bourton itself, the village invites you to explore intricate stone buildings, tiny bridges, and even a miniature version of its iconic River Windrush.
Cooper was literally running from one side of the model village to the other, constantly peering into all the windows and shuffling over the bridges. It really was a joy to watch him have such a good time. I bet he didn’t understand why he was so big all of a sudden!
Oh, and if you want a little Inception, there’s even a model village within the model village. Clever, eh?
Once you’re finished at the model village, I’d really recommend wandering around Bourton itself. This popular village is often referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of the attractive little bridges that cross the gently flowing river which runs through the centre of it.
Whether you’re enjoying a riverside stroll or indulging in a cream tea at a cozy café, there’s something magical here.
Lunch at The Royal Oak, Whatcote
Chloe and I are massive foodies, so we wanted to go somewhere special on our Cotswolds staycation. There are a lot of incredible restaurants to choose from in the area, but one place the really caught our eye was The Royal Oak in Whatcote.
This place is the definition of Michelin-starred. It’s a rustic country pub in the middle of a rural village, but it’s well worth making the detour driving here.
Captained by head chef Richard and his wife Solanche who runs the front-of-house, The Royal Oak is all about seasonal locally foraged ingredients with a huge emphasis on game in autumn and winter. On our menu had deer, partridge and pheasant, so it’s a very different menu to most others restaurants you’d find in the UK.
To kick things off we had the most delicate tart filled with smoked eel and an apple sorbet, and it packed so much flavour. This was just the start of what was to come, and each dish had so many layers but all perfectly balanced.
One of my favourite courses was the fallow deer with pear, artichoke puree, a broccoli puree and the most unctuous jus you’ve ever tasted. If you like big bold flavours then you will love it here.
Seeing the church at Stow-on-the-Wold
I’ve visited Stow-on-the-Wold a couple of times before, and it is such a beautiful village to explore. This is another small market town packed full of tea rooms, sweet shops and boutique stores.
The vast Market Square testifies to the town’s former importance. At one end stands the ancient cross, and at the other the town stocks, shaded between an old elm tree. Around the square is an elegant array of Cotswold town houses and shops.
One of the places I love visiting is St. Edwards Church. At the side of the church there’s a door that’s photography gold. Either side of the door are two oak trees that have become a part of the church. Apparently this is where J.R.R Tolkien got the inspiration for the Doors of Durin in Lord of the Rings, so as a mega fan I was so excited seeing this. I’ve always wondered though – what came first, the church or the trees?
Fairytale Farm
This is another activity for the kids. As the name suggests, Fairytale Farm is a magical place that really does live up to its name. The first part of Fairytale Farm is like a giant adventure playground with lots of sensory exhibits. There’s a dinosaur section which Cooper loved – we spent about 15-minutes in the sandpit digging up a dinosaur skeleton. Why don’t’ all sandpits have dinosaur skeletons in them!?
The second part is the farm itself where you can feed the rabbits, goats and other animals. Cooper is like me and couldn’t get enough of the goats. They really are the best farmyard animal, aren’t they?
If you’re looking a place to entertain the kids for a couple of hours, then you can’t go wrong with Fairytale Farm. I would say the perfect age bracket is 2 to 7 – older kids might not enjoy it as much!
This post was in association with Classic Cottages showcasing some of their top holiday homes in the UK. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.
Are you planning a staycation in the Cotswolds? What are some of the things you’re doing when you’re here? You can let me know what you’re up to in the comments below!
If you’re looking for something a little different, then check out my guide to the most unusual places to stay in the UK. Some of these are pretty wild!
