Holiday apartment in Gloucestershire: Forest, Water and Culture

The Cotswolds are also part of the regional landscape. They extend across five counties, including Gloucestershire, and are characterised by golden-coloured stone and gentle rolling hills. In the same county, extensive natural areas therefore meet distinctive historic settings and a prominent lakescape.

Nature

An important natural area is the wetland at WWT Slimbridge. It is internationally protected, including as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area. The protected area covers more than 325 hectares. WWT Slimbridge also has 13 observation hides overlooking the reserve and the Severn Estuary.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum also combines great diversity with a special perspective on trees and landscape. The arboretum is home to 2,500 different species of trees and shrubs as well as five national tree collections, and features a Tree Top Walkway. Westonbirt is open daily from 9 a.m., except on Christmas Day.

Experiences

Water is particularly prominent in Gloucestershire at the Cotswold Water Park. The area covers around 42 square miles in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and includes 180 lakes. Activities available at the Cotswold Water Park include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming in the lakes.

Culture and History

Gloucester Cathedral represents more than 1,300 years of Christian faith and Christian cultural history. Parts of its medieval cloisters appeared as Hogwarts in three Harry Potter films. On a tower tour, visibility on clear days extends around 40 miles across the Gloucestershire landscape to the Malvern Hills.

Sudeley Castle offers detailed guided tours of the castle grounds and interiors. Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife and the only English queen to be buried on private land, lies in a tomb in the church at Sudeley Castle. Sudeley Castle is surrounded by ten award-winning gardens.

Accommodation

Also pay attention to which services are included, which components make up the total amount and which booking or cancellation conditions apply. If there are different options, it is worth looking at these fields directly next to one another. This keeps the practical differences visible. Then view the offers and compare the details at your leisure before making a decision.

Getting around

The most important bus stations in Gloucestershire are located in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. Local bus services connect many towns and villages. The following location pages are available for further exploration:

Places

Wyck Rissington, Winchcombe, Upper Slaughter, Tewkesbury, Tetbury, Stroud, Stow On The Wold, Stonehouse, Parkend, Newent, Nailsworth, Moreton In Marsh, Longhope, Lechlade, Kingscote, Hartpury, Gloucester, Dursley, Dumbleton, Didmarton, Coleford, Cirencester, Chipping Campden, Cheltenham, Charlton Kings, Bourton On The Water, Blockley, Bledington, Birdlip, Bibury, Berkeley, Clearwell, South Cerney, Fretherne, Highnam, Todenham, Lower Slaughter, Andoversford, Northleach, Badgeworth, Sevenhampton, Lydney, Boddington, Staunton, Redmarley D'abitot, Corse, Wotton-Under-Edge, Awre, Painswick, Soudley, Notgrove, Winchcombe, Quenington, Fairford, Somerford Keynes, Newnham, Mickleton, Maisemore, Coaley, Whelford, Weston Subedge, Uley, Turkdean, Snowshill, Lydbrook, Longborough, Kempley, Hatherop, Guiting Power, Ebrington, Cinderford, St Marys, Bream, Ampney Crucis, Yorkley, Frampton on Severn, Cutsdean, Newland, Shipton Moyne, Miserden, Dymock, Minchinhampton, Woodmancote, Horsley, Littledean, Alderton, Westbury-on-Severn, Flaxley, Eastleach.

For the overarching travel overview: South West England.