ABOUT THE LOCAL AREA
Many attractions in the Cotswolds are within easy reach of Armada Cottage, including Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, Daylesford Farm and Chipping Norton. There are numerous pretty local villages & pubs to visit on foot or by car, and the cottage is also the perfect base for visiting Soho Farmhouse, which is within a 15-minute drive, and Diddly Squat Farm, which is a 10-minute drive away.
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Cotswold treasures such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, and the uniquely named villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are all easily accessible. Stratford-upon-Avon, which is the home of William Shakespeare, is only a 45 minute drive away. And should you need an urban fix and want to explore the magnificent university city of Oxford and its world renowned museums and art galleries, then simply hop on the train or bus for the short journey.
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If you want to leave the car behind completely, there are also regular buses that run to Chipping Norton which has an independent cinema, outdoor Lido and a good selection of shops & restaurants. As well as the larger historic towns of Witney and city of Oxford. Endless cycle highways and public footpaths will allow you to explore the local area at a slower pace.
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A recommended itinerary for a 3 day stay
Day 1- a leisurely walk through the Cornbury Estate followed by dinner at The Bull in Charlbury
Day 2- a visit to Blenheim Palace followed by an afternoon exploring Woodstock and its antique shops. Dinner at The Bell in Charlbury
Day 3- a longer walk or cycle to Ramsden followed by lunch or dinner at the Royal Oak
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A recommended itinerary for a week long stay
Day 1- settle in, explore Charlbury, then relax over drinks or dinner at The Bull
Day 2- take a trip to Burford & spend a couple of hours exploring the town, visit the Burford Garden Company, then head over to The Bell in Langford for drinks or dinner
Day 3- book a visit to Blenheim Palace, spend the afternoon exploring the antique shops in Woodstock & then head back to Charlbury for dinner at The Bell
Day 4- head over to Chipping Norton and have a rummage through Station Mill Antiques, spend the afternoon at the outdoor lido if the weather is good or catch a film at the cinema if not! Or jump on a bus or train to Oxford and spend the day exploring the art galleries and museums
Day 5- a visit to Stow-in-the-Wold for a mooch around the antique shops, then on to Daylesford Farm for a massage, coffee and some home & garden inspiration. Finish the day with dinner or drinks at The Wild Rabbit in Kingham
Day 6- venture further afield and visit Aynhoe Park which is the UK base for Restoration Hardware, followed by a shopping trip to Bicester. Or drive to Tetbury which is renowned for its pretty high street and endless antique shops
Day 7- Long lunch at The Lamb Inn in Shipton-under-Wychwood
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These are just a few of our favourite places- there are endless other things to do and places to visit if you have children or specific interests such as classic cars or aeroplanes. In the summer, there are lots of local music & beer festivals, village fetes, open gardens and craft exhibitions- follow us on instagram for dates. The local area is full of cosy gastropubs with roaring log fires and hearty meals, which make this the perfect destination in cooler months too. We recommend booking in advance though as they are very popular.
Or if you just want to turn up and be spontaneous, bring some comfortable walking shoes and/or your bike and relax whilst exploring the local countryside. Armada Cottage is a great base to explore from, as well as being an extremely comfortable spot to return to at the end of your day.
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