WHEN YOU GO:    Cotswold Hills Region, England

Getting There:

Depending on the U.S. departure city, airlines serving London’s Heathrow Airport are American, British Airways, and United. Airlines serving London’s Gatwick Airport are American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and TWA. The 1-800 phone numbers and Web links for these airlines are available at this magazine’s Airlines page.

The Cotswold villages are approximately 2-1/2 hours drive from London’s Heathrow Airport via auto route M25 (the ring) to M4, heading west, to route A419 north to Cirencester and the Cotswold Hills. Visitors are recommended to rent a car, available via Auto Europe, Avis, Europe By Car, and Hertz.. The 1-800 phone numbers and Web links for these agencies are available at this magazine’s Autos page.

Staying There:

A variety of lodging accommodations and eating establishing for the Cotswolds and for Bath and Stratford are described in detail in Rick Steves' Great Britain. Rick Steves also gives excellent advice on sites and suggested itineraries. Fodor's Great Britain has an entire chapter devoted to the "Heart of England," covering the Cotswold Hills, Bath, and other locales. These and other travel guides on Great Britain and Europe are available via the amazon.com link below.

Fast Facts:

The Cotswold Hills are dotted with storybook villages which beckon to be explored. This is also one of England’s best locations from which to base other interesting explorations. Within approximately an hour’s drive are some of England’s most noteworthy locales, including Shakespeare’s Stratford Upon Avon, the glorious cities of Bath and Oxford, the southeastern corner of Wales, and the ancient stone sites of Stonehenge and Avebury. The Cotswold villages were constructed from local golden stone during the height of England’s wool trading era (15th through 17th century). The homes, shops, and churches are well preserved and are surrounded by beautiful English countryside.