CHRISTMAS IN THE COTSWOLDS
COTSWOLDS TRAVEL GUIDE | While Scotland was relatively devoid of Christmas decor, the holidays were in full swing in England. Our time in the Cotswolds was too short, but we were able to pack in so many festive things. We visited Bath, Daylesford Farm, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, and even witnessed a fox hunt!
We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb in Churchill, in a renovated, old stone barn. We picked the location because it was only a seven minute drive from Daylesford Farm, one of our favorite spots for breakfast. The day we arrived we had a delicious lunch at the Falkland Arms, which, we were informed, had just been decorated for Christmas the day before! The atmosphere, while always cozy, doubled in hygge vibes with all the greens, lights, and the festive Christmas tree.
That evening we took a cooking course at Daylesford Farm’s Cookery School. It was very relaxing, with only six students in total, and we learned how to make a full British Christmas dinner. The menu included turkey, potatoes, veggies, brussel sprouts, and a surprise bread sauce which our instructed whipped up when he heard we Americans had never had bread sauce before (btw, it was amazing!). It was an all-round jolly evening!
Our first full day in the Cotswolds, we popped down to Bath to see their beautiful Christmas Market. It was huge! Streets and streets full of stalls serving up mulled cider, sticky toffee pudding, hot chocolate, and minced pies! Under the large Christmas tree a fiddler fiddled away with great flare, and there were smiles on everyone’s faces.
Our last full day was the cherry on top! We had the special opportunity to witness a fox hunt meet (no foxes are actually hunted, the dogs only follow a scent that has been dragged. The point is the joy and fun of riding and the socializing.), it was such a delight! They brought sausages and port around for the riders, and the spectators, which on a bitter cold morning on a hill…that was the best thing ever! The dogs were such loves, and jumped all over you for attention. The spectacle was amazing!
After the hunt we made our way to Stow-on-the-wold for some Christmas shopping. We stopped in the antique shops, and the beautiful Cutter Brooks store, which had the most amazing mushroom ornaments, and a chestnut ornament that I simply had to have. After some successful shopping, we ate at the oldest inn in England, the Porch House, circa 947A.D.!
We ended the delightful day in Burdford, which was bustling with live music, preformers, vendors selling mulled wine on the street; everyone was turned out for their town Christmas lighting ceremony! It was a merry scene, and my favorite place we visited in the Cotswolds. It is for sure on the list of places I need to return to, I absolutely loved it!
Next we were off to London to experience more Christmas fun!
HELPFUL LINKS:
Cottages of Character (our cottage rental)
