Cotswolds Diary : Photos of Broadway and Stanton
Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful places in England. With its quaint, honey-coloured villages, picturesque countryside and bustling markets, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in England. Spread across five counties - Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire - Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and Wales. While there are many beautiful villages in Cotswolds, there are a few that have become favourites of the visitors like Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cirencester and Burford. But Cotswolds has much more to offer. During our recent holiday in Cotswolds we decided to explore some of the lesser visited/talked about villages. Featured in this post are two such villages - Broadway and Stanton. While Broadway did have its share of visitors, Stanton was virtually tourist free. We spotted only one other tourist couple while we were exploring the village.
Located in the Worcestershire part of the Cotswolds, Broadway is often referred to as the "Jewel of the Cotswolds". It is a small and compact village and has its share of quaint little shops and honey-coloured buildings. Our main interest in Broadway however was the Broadway Tower (designed by James Wyatt in 1794) which is located atop Fish Hill. On a clear sunny day, the views from the hill are stunning. We went there for the views and were not disappointed. Admission prices to the tower and the nuclear bunker (open only on certain days) can be purchased from the shop or at the tower. There is also a deer park within the tower grounds. There is ample car parking and parking charges are redeemable against purchases in the café or shop. The café was superb. We enjoyed a hot meal after spending a couple of hours exploring the grounds.
This is the prettiest village in Cotswolds in my opinion. Snowshill comes in a close second. Located in Gloucestershire, Stanton is less than 10 minutes drive from Broadway. Almost all the houses in Stanton are built from the honey-coloured limestone and exude beauty and charm. As you walk down the village streets you notice that there is an atmosphere of peace and serenity all around. Beautiful cottages with pretty gardens, chirping birds - everything looks like it belong to a bygone era. A very charming village. If you are visiting Cotswolds, then I recommend that you explore this village.
Broadway
Located in the Worcestershire part of the Cotswolds, Broadway is often referred to as the "Jewel of the Cotswolds". It is a small and compact village and has its share of quaint little shops and honey-coloured buildings. Our main interest in Broadway however was the Broadway Tower (designed by James Wyatt in 1794) which is located atop Fish Hill. On a clear sunny day, the views from the hill are stunning. We went there for the views and were not disappointed. Admission prices to the tower and the nuclear bunker (open only on certain days) can be purchased from the shop or at the tower. There is also a deer park within the tower grounds. There is ample car parking and parking charges are redeemable against purchases in the café or shop. The café was superb. We enjoyed a hot meal after spending a couple of hours exploring the grounds.
Stanton
This is the prettiest village in Cotswolds in my opinion. Snowshill comes in a close second. Located in Gloucestershire, Stanton is less than 10 minutes drive from Broadway. Almost all the houses in Stanton are built from the honey-coloured limestone and exude beauty and charm. As you walk down the village streets you notice that there is an atmosphere of peace and serenity all around. Beautiful cottages with pretty gardens, chirping birds - everything looks like it belong to a bygone era. A very charming village. If you are visiting Cotswolds, then I recommend that you explore this village.
Some lovely photos there.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jayne.
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