The Best of British!

I want to use this blog not only to show the work I'm doing or what I'm up to, but also develop in areas I thrive and enjoy, and what better way to do that than talk about all the fun things I've been getting up to! I often see UK trips as a wasted use of annual leave, but there are some truly beautiful spots that feel so quintessentially British and I can't paint those with the same brush.

I've always wanted to go into travel writing to some degree, and discuss holidays or talk about how I navigate the world. I'm a tight-fisted, anxiety-ridden man who hates trying new things who often throws themselves into things that cost money and filled with adventurous activities that I've never done before, so I feel I have a perspective that could actually prove quite useful to the masses. This trip, however, was a nice relaxing break in one of the nicest parts of the UK. 

As part of a birthday celebration, we booked a cottage in the Cotswolds, wanting to experience the British countryside the Americans love about us so much. After a stop in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the home of Shakespeare, we eventually went on to our homestay in the town of Winchcombe. The house had a lovely design throughout, great facilities, ignoring the broken fridge, and a hot tub that cooked us alive, but that was perhaps our fault more than the apparatus itself. However, this was not the main pulling point of our stay. 

During the summer, visiting these little towns does make you appreciate the architecture of the past and the beauty that our little island has to offer. When we stopped by the likes of Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway, you soon feel that this is where you want to end up... That and "oh this is how the other half live". 

In Bourton (I'm shortening for ease of typing) we enjoyed the great scenery, genuinely lovely people, and appreciated the quiet outside of the big cities. It's also the home of Brum, if you remember that, so I was having a particularly nostalgic experience. £10 in at the museum, and you walk through TARDIS doors... It's like they knew how to get me in. Overall, we genuinely had a wonderful time here and I recommend it for a nice summer stroll. I assume in more wintery conditions it looks like a scene from The Holiday, so who knows?! You might meet your Jude Law here too. Of all the destinations after Stratford, this one felt the most tourist-centred, but it definitely didn't impact your ability to enjoy the town for what it was. For a more lowkey spot, Broadway might be the better option with a great little market and plenty of eateries. 

Both destinations have good parking facilities, easily walkable town centres and very relaxing vibes for a family. If you're wanting a boozy night, perhaps head to Stratford if you are in this area. Having said that, get some cocktails made in your cottage - some great finds on the usual sites - and get drunk with the cows mooing to wake you the next morning. 

Now, I don't want to babble on too much about the trip, you need to experience it for yourself, although the beauty of it might not land as successfully in colder conditions. 

Here's some Do's and Don'ts.

DO have a drink by the stream. There's plenty of bars and restaurants to sit and relax by, but you're also allowed to dip your toes in the water, so may as well pack a little lunch and have some time by the riverside to watch the dogs run through the water. 

DO take food to wherever you're staying. Stop by a Tesco! If you're like us and planned a takeaway night in your little cottage, you need to check UberEats beforehand. We ended up ordering bog-standard takeaway grub for restaurant prices because they're not quite as common in the smaller Cotswolds towns. Now, if you can, don't order like that at all, but I'm warning you if it was your plan.

DON'T... Actually, there's nothing I did there that was particularly stressful. As I said at the start, most trips are taking me out of my comfort zone for something new, but this one quite simply didn't. I knew what I wanted from it, and I got exactly that. So, I guess my DON'T is to expect a wild ride that's full of adventure because this part of the world should be experienced for its tranquillity.  However, do prepare for the cost because eating and drinking around here is not always cheap; the area borders on London prices, but there’s always the chain spots dotted around. The biggest cost will definitely be the stay itself. 

All I'll say is, enjoy the area, it's a great vibe, and plan your days well. There are many little towns to see, and I wish I got more time to explore the likes of Stratford-Upon-Avon - that could be a full weekend affair on its on. So, if you're like us, and just doing a few days away, this beautiful part of the world is a very solid choice.