This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which the North Oxfordshire Cotswolds have changed and developed over the last century.
With its gentle hills and timeless villages, the Cotswold countryside is a vision of natural beauty and rural calm, but it is also a region rich in history. In this new addition to the Landscapes of the Imagination series, Jane Bingham offers an intriguing portrait of the Cotswolds over the centuries, ranging from ancient stone circles and ruined Roman villas to the Cotswolds today, a picturesque destination spot popular with country-weekenders, tourists, and celebrities. Readers will visit fine churches and manor houses that have survived from the Middle Ages, and tour a landscape still bearing the scars of the Civil War. The home of kings and nobles since Saxon times, the region is famous for its elegant estates, such as Blenheim Palace--England's grandest stately home--while signs of the early industrial age can be seen in its mills and factories. Artists, musicians, and writers were also drawn to this rural paradise, from William Shakespeare and William Morris to T.S. Eliot and Ralph Vaughn Williams. Bingham captures it all in her charming portrait of this glorious spot in the heart of southern England.
In this new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt’s The Cotswolds, part of Bradt’s distinctive ‘Slow Travel’ series of guides to UK regions, local resident and experienced travel writer Caroline Mills shares her favourite places in a region that remains as popular as ever. Drawing on more than 50 years’ living in the Cotswolds, and combining engaging first-person narrative with authoritative advice, Mills slows readers down and helps them delve deeply into a range of regions: the Cotswolds National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); the Cotswold escarpment, hills and valleys; the Wiltshire Cotswolds and the area known as the Four Shires; three Cotswold 'gateways' (Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath and Oxford); the lesser-known 'hidden' fringes of the Cotswolds, including the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, which follow much of the youthful Thames Valley, and the Cotswold Way National Trail. The Cotswolds’ rich manmade heritage includes Oxford University (the world’s oldest); many famous castles and country houses (including Blenheim Palace and Sudeley Castle), well-known abbeys such as Prinknash; and estates including Westonbirt Arboretum and Highgrove (the private home of King Charles III and the Queen Consort). Roman history is covered too, notably in Bath and Cirencester, together with the Fosse Way, one of the UK’s most important Roman roads. The guide adds colour through interviews with local residents who bring character to the region; activities to try with children; handpicked places to eat, drink and stay (from glamping and country-house hotels to B&Bs on working farms); coverage of the Arts & Crafts movement; numerous options for car-free travel; and quirky events such Gloucestershire’s annual cheese-rolling competition and Tetbury’s Woolsack Races. With a harmonious combination of quintessentially English villages, charming provincial market towns, appealing countryside and a wealth of local food-and-drink producers,the Cotswolds is an all-year-round destination, whether for a day trip, a quiet weekend away or a multi-week holiday. Whether your interests comprise formal gardens or crafts, historic buildings or horseriding, walking or gastronomy, Bradt’s Cotswolds (Slow Travel) is your perfect guide to facilitate in-depth exploration and intense enjoyment.
This Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford guidebook is perfect for independent travellers planning a longer trip. It features all of the must-see sights and a wide range of off-the-beaten-track places. It also provides detailed practical information on preparing for a trip and what to do on the ground. And this Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford travel guidebook is printed on paper from responsible sources, and verified to meet the FSC’s strict environmental and social standards. This Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford guidebook covers: Cheltenham, South Cotswolds, Central Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Banbury, North Oxfordshire, Oxford. Inside this Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford travel book, you’ll find: A wide range of sights – Rough Guides experts have hand-picked places for travellers with different needs and desires: off-the-beaten-track adventures, family activities or chilled-out breaks Itinerary examples – created for different time frames or types of trip Practical information – how to get to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford, all about public transport, food and drink, shopping, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, tips for travellers with disabilities and more Author picks and things not to miss in the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford – Blenheim Palace, Lower Slaughter, Kelmscott Manor, Tetbury, Cheltenham, Stroud farmers’ market, Gloucester Cathedral, Cotswold Farm Park, Bibury, Cirencester, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Broadway, Rollright Stones, Chipping Campden Insider recommendations – tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money, and find the best local spots When to go to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford – high season, low season, climate information and festivals Where to go – a clear introduction to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford with key places and a handy overview Extensive coverage of regions, places and experiences – regional highlights, sights and places for different types of travellers, with experiences matching different needs Places to eat, drink and stay – hand-picked restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels Practical info at each site – hours of operation, websites, transit tips, charges Colour-coded mapping – with keys and legends listing sites categorised as highlights, eating, accommodation, shopping, drinking and nightlife Background information for connoisseurs – history, culture, art, architecture, film, books, religion, diversity Fully updated post-COVID-19 The guide provides a comprehensive and rich selection of places to see and things to do in the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford, as well as great planning tools. It’s the perfect companion, both ahead of your trip and on the ground.
This book explores the changing nature of power and identity from the Iron Age to the Roman period in Britain. It provides fresh insights into the origins and nature of one of the lesser-known, but perhaps most significant, Late Iron Age 'oppida' in Britain: Bagendon in Gloucestershire.
This study investigates the development of urbanism in the north-western provinces of the Roman empire. Key themes include continuity and discontinuity between pre-Roman and Roman ‘urban’ systems, relationships between juridical statuses and levels of monumentality, levels of connectivity and economic integration, and regional urban hierarchies.
The Rough Guide to the Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides. Discover the Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford with this comprehensive and entertaining travel guide, packed with practical information and honest recommendations by our independent experts. Whether you plan to wander amid stunning medieval architecture in Oxford, marvel at perhaps the finest cloisters in England at Gloucester Cathedral or visit Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Rough Guide to the Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford will help you discover the best places to explore, eat, drink, shop and sleep along the way. Features of this travel guide to Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford: - Detailed regional coverage: provides practical information for every kind of trip, from off-the-beaten-track adventures to chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas - Honest and independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our writers will help you make the most from your trip to the Rockies - Meticulous mapping: practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys. Find your way around Stratford-Upon-Avon, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester and many more locations without needing to get online - Fabulous full-colour photography: features inspirational colour photography - Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences - Things not to miss: Rough Guides' rundown of the best sights and top experiences to be found in the Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford - Travel tips and info: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting around, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more - Background information: comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter provides fascinating insights into Scotland with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary - Covers: Cheltenham and the South Cotswolds, the Central Cotswolds, Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Feldon, the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Banbury and North Oxfordshire and Oxford You may also be interested in: Rough Guide to England About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold globally. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.