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21 August 2011

The Cotswolds {British Adventure}

I was really looking forward to this part of the trip... I had visited the Cotswolds years ago, when we lived in London, and I was beyond excited to come back and see more...!! It is, truly, the epitome of English country and a place I could see myself moving to without skipping a beat!! We found ourselves first in Stow-on-the-Wold, a charming medieval market village with delightfully rustic stone buildings...



  







I looked at my checkbook, but, alas, couldn't afford this little beauty...!!



There were lots of antique stores to browse through, but the prices were too high for us thrifty girls!!




I think I have found my next dream vacation spot... You can rent this little beauty weekly, I couldn't resist looking online, it looks absolutely dreamy inside (here's the link)!!

But this sweet cottage was, by far my favorite... Straight out of a storybook...!!!




The entryways... Oh, the entryways!!!




The Royalist Hotel is the oldest hotel in England, it dates from 947 AD!!




Just a few minutes drive from Stow is Broadway, a charming village often referred to as "the jewel of the Cotswolds". The name comes from their "broad way" (called High Street), lined by red chestnut trees and gorgeous ancient honey-colored limestone buildings.














A local man told us about this church just a few minutes up the hill... He said they had filmed parts of  "Four Weddings and a Funeral" there. That's how we ended up in Snowshill, a tiny village with a beautiful church and breathtaking curb appeal... 








I think on my next visit I will follow this "Cotswolds Romantic Road" route, it sounds absolutely wonderful!!

Finally, we made our way to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare (and one of the most important tourist destinations in England)



The gorgeous Avon river



Shakespeare's birth home





I know, this was a really long post (and I left much more out!)... It was all soooo pretty, I just couldn't help myself!!! I feel like the neighbor who invites you over for dinner then sits you down for an hour-long slide show of their latest travels...!!

My last post will include snapshots of our weekend stay in London (with a quick previous stop in Buxton and the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester - to pick up my daughter...). I hope you will visit me again soon!
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24 comments:

  1. Divine TheatreAugust 21, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    Oh My goodness! How lovely!
    I noticed the way they placed the flagstone on top of the stone walls. Never saw it done that way before!
    Thanks for the trip!

    Andie

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  2. OutofmymindAugust 21, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Oh so beautiful! I felt like I could just walk into the pictures! Thanx for sharing!

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  3. AllieAugust 21, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    Absolutely divine! One of the loveliest posts I've seen. You captured the romance and beauty so brilliantly with your photos. Wish I could be there now. Maybe if I click my heels together 3 times? If only :)

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  4. Laura @ 52 FLEAAugust 21, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    I have loved this entire photo tour! Everything is so lovely and your photographs are fabulous. Thanks for bringing us along!
    :)

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  5. time worn interiorsAugust 21, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    Thanks for the tour! Wow! I would love to visit England one day!
    tot

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  6. PearlAugust 21, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Very beautiful, love the charm, no wonder you could stay there.

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  7. Dandelion and DaisyAugust 21, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Your photos are wonderful, I am so happy to get to see them. Looks like you two had a great trip, thanks for letting us tag along! Beautiful, beautiful countryside....I could imagine living there.

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  8. Anna at the Doll HouseAugust 21, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    It is a very beautiful part of England. I'm glad you loved it so much. Pity about the weather though. It seems you got a lot of rain.

    Anna

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  9. melanieAugust 22, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Your pictures really shout out to me...travel there! I am so in love with the houses and the streets...I do think I could live there!
    thanks for sharing such wonderful photos!
    melanie

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  10. Maria (Magia Mia)August 22, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    Oh My Lord! (I will not share the words that slipped from my lips as I viewed this gorgeous architecture.) I will just say "Mamma, I'm home".

    Anyone that finds viewing this post boring, or too lengthy, needs to get their head examined....:)

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  11. AngelaAugust 22, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    I'm sure I would have been stumbling around with my mouth hanging open...it is so wonderful!

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  12. Junebug Furniture and DesignAugust 22, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Thanks for the tour today. Lovely, gorgeous photos! Thank you for sharing with us and capturing the beauty. Many years ago I took Celia to England, we loved the architecture and the charming cottages. I wish some day we could return.
    Thank you so much for visiting us today, it means the world to us.
    xo Glad & Cel

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  13. FlossAugust 22, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    Lovely - my parents honeymooned in a Cotswolds inn. I've been wondering if it was one of those you saw! Thanks so much.

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  14. IdoAugust 22, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    I don't mid long posts as long as they have those amazing pictures, I love those beautiful towns, every single pictures is like out of a fairy tale book and the rainy, wet weather fantastic! I love it, thank you for the amazing tour!
    Have a lovely week!
    XXX Ido

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  15. Little CottageAugust 22, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Thanks, Isabel, for being such a great guide! Isn't this the place where many period pieces have been filmed for BBC? Lovely pictures!
    You are not doing Camas Street Fair, I gather.
    Much love,
    Sylvi

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  16. het tuinengeltjeAugust 23, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    Absolutely Faboulous!

    Greetz, Sylvia

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  17. SofiaAugust 25, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    I found my way here by accident, but what a nice accident. I will return to see more. I wouldn´t mind being your neighbour if you show pictures like this!

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  18. MonicaAugust 26, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Hi Isabel,
    glad you had fun!!
    We had thought of renting in Stow :) and I looove Snowshill!!!! Did you see the lavender fields?? Oh I am SO in love with those places I hope someday I can call HOME!
    Big hugs,
    Monica xo

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  19. MonicaAugust 26, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Please show more pictures of the Cotswolds!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

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  20. JenneliseAugust 26, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Everything is so picturesque! I wish I was there right now!
    Jennelise

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  21. Debra@CommonGroundAugust 27, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    I really enjoyed so much the tour you gave us, just beautiful, I've always wanted to visit the Cotswolds, this is the next best thing! xo

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  22. UnknownAugust 29, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    I am just now getting a chance to look at all these beautiful images from your trip to England . . . I am so happy that you shared these . . . and that rental is looking pretty good right now - lol :) xoxo

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  23. UnknownJune 4, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    Have just stumbled upon this enchanting post. I am an Englishman (from Brighton)living in Spain and your photographs bring back some happy memories of the Cotswolds where my wife and I enjoyed two holidays in 1989 and 1989. Both times we stayed at Stow-on-the-Wold and we visited such delightful places as Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Snowshill and Bibury. Beautiful photos!

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  24. Elizabeth MaxsonAugust 31, 2013 at 10:01 AM

    Just browsing, and came across this....and I just love the tour! My dream to visit this place someday....I think this is the place where the word "charming" was invented!!

    Big hugs
    Elizabeth

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I so enjoy and appreciate your comments!! Thank you so much for stopping by!!!