Itinerary
Day 1
After a transfer arranged by us from Heathrow, you’ll arrive at our chic design boutique hotel on the high street of a great little town in the Cotswolds.
Next, we’ll get to know each other and go over logistics for the week while chatting and sipping drinks.
Afterwards, B will take us on a stroll to familiarize us with “our” village, including visits to a 12th century church and a peacefully meandering river. Plus, we’ll get to explore a charming little private garden within walking distance of the hotel. A lovely start to a lovely trip!
After a little free time to rest and freshen up, we’ll eat a simple supper of pizza, salads, and wine on the terrace downstairs.
Day 2
This morning, as with every morning of the trip, a delicious English breakfast (along with other great options!) will be waiting for you downstairs.
First up today, we'll explore a world famous Arts and Crafts-inspired garden made by the same designer who created Serre de la Madone in Menton, France. It’s known for lovely, intimate “garden rooms” created around the centuries-old house, all protected by the National Trust.
Next, we’ll have a classic English afternoon tea at a sumptuous countryside manor. Scones and clotted cream, tea and cake, cucumber sandwiches… be ready to treat yourself!
On the way back to our village, we’ll have a chance to shop at a fun garden center that carries everything from local art, to made in Britain stationery, to dishes and linens for the home. Then we’ll have some free time to wander the streets, shops, and pathways of our storybook village.
For dinner, we’ll head out to a beautiful inn that was recommended by one of our local artist friends. Not only is the food delicious, the decor is delightful as well.
Day 3
This morning we are in for a treat. A beautiful country garden with charming garden rooms, blossoms galore, and charming little nooks and crannies. Words really can’t do these places justice.
For lunch, we’ll dig into a traditional Sunday roast at a very charming, quite famous spot that you’re going to love.
In the early evening, we’ll tour a flower farm and hear how it came about in a very unexpected, inspiring way. Then we’ll have fun arranging flowers from the farm, as we learn from the owner herself.
Day 4
Today we’ll have the immense privilege of spending the day with a renowned local artist, who also happens to be a very charming host.
First up, he’ll take us to the home of William Morris, the legendary Arts & Crafts era artist and designer. We’ll tour the home, learn about this fascinating artist, and soak in all the beauty.
Next, we’ll head to our local artist’s home for a light lunch in the garden.
After lunch, we’ll take a botanical drawing workshop that will get our creative juices flowing (all drawing levels welcome, of course!)
Then we’ll have a chance to peruse all of our local host’s beautiful designs, books, and original art——the perfect place to look for unique gifts and souvenirs to take home.
Before supper, we’ll tour our host’s garden (this is the Cotswolds after all! ;) and have a chance to relax in the beguiling world he’s created there.
To end this very special day, we’ll sit down to cocktails and supper in the garden.
Day 5
Today, we’ll head to a nearby village that’s known for its antiques and other charming shops. Whether you’re on the lookout for a certain kind of English pottery, a brass lamp fit for Downton Abbey, or colorful modern tea towels, chances are you’ll find it here. This is a fun spot to wander on your own, so you’ll be free to decide if you want to stop for lunch in one of the cozy local cafes or to keep on shopping.
Then we’ll get a private tour of an Arts & Crafts English manor that’s been cared for by the same family for 5 generations. It’s one of the last country houses to be built and furnished in the old traditional style when everything was done by hand with local stone, local timber and local craftsmen. Every little detail is just incredible. Oh, and did I mention the garden?!
After a bit of free time at the hotel to rest and freshen up, it’s off to dinner at a lovely pub in a nearby town.
Day 6
Oh, today is a fun one! We’ll get our hands dirty at a local organic farm as we learn how to cook a fresh, British style summer meal, using produce from the garden on site. As part of the workshop, we’ll have a private tour of the garden, get a folder of recipes to take home, and of course sit down to enjoy the fruits of our labors.
After our workshop, we’ll have time to visit the farm’s fantastic shop that’s a weekend destination for posh Londoners.
After heading back to our own lovely village, we’ll have free time for the rest of the day to pack explore all it has to offer (or get a head start on packing).
Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner of tapas and drinks just up the street from the hotel. As we say our goodbyes, you might be surprised at how much we’ve all bonded over the course of the week——there really is a special alchemy that happens on these trips, and it’s always a little bittersweet to go our separate ways.
Day 7
As with every other morning of our trip, a breakfast will be waiting downstairs, this time in boxes to take with you on on the group transfer to Heathrow. We’ll go home feeling inspired and replenished for whatever comes next!
