The tradition which is thought to be at least 200 years old has become more popular with each year.   Last year it is estimated that there were over 2000 people present to witness this bizarre but increasingly popular event with contestants as well as spectators and media coming from across the world.

The objective is simple (or so it may seem) – it is to catch the 8lb Double Gloucester Cheese, which has a one second head start, as it rolls 90 metres down the steep ( 1:2 gradient) slope.

This years’ cheese rolling will be taking place on Monday 27th May 2013 at 12:00 midday, so why not go and watch as competitors slip, somersault and make their way to the bottom of the hill in pursue of the Double Gloucester – surely highly entertaining viewing!!

The event has become so popular that its even inspired a cheese rolling game for the i-phone!

For more information click here

Our closests properties to Cooper’s Hill are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

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Photo credit: Hauggen

31st March – Easter Sunday at Sudeley Castle promises plenty of treats and activities for the whole family.

Wonder the magnificent gardens in search of the Easter Bunny for your chocolate treat and take part in the special Easter arts & crafts.  Get your face painted as an Easter bunny by professional face painters or maybe even get a bit of Easter body art with Henna artist and last but not least meet the meerkats, hedgehogs, lizards which will also be at the castle for the day.

This is also a great opportunity to see the latest Roman sculpture which dates between 150- 300AD which was recently discovered during a clear out of a cupboard after being lost for 100 years and will now be presented to the public in the new Roman exhibition.

The castle opens again for the season on 17th March.

A great day out for the whole family!

For more information click here

Here are some of our closest properties to Sudeley Castle are:

Elgin - Gretton Fields (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Pinnock Lodge - Nr. Winchcombe (sleeps 5)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Angelagakehurst & Arina Habich

There were more than 60,000 visitors last year and they hope that this year there will be more as it’s going to be bigger and better, with more green-fingered guests as well as DIY experts and interior designers at hand with Charlie Dimmock, one of TVs best loved gardeners and Tommy Walsh from the popular TV series Ground Force being some of the guests confirmed.

From crafts, fine food, garden gadgets and plants & flowers are just a few of the items 80 tempting market stalls will have on offer.

There will also be free demonstrations and it’s also the perfect opportunity to get some helpful gardening advice and it can’t be a party without live music and entertainment to get the party going!

And for the shopaholic what more can be said that you are also at an outlet shopping centre…….

For more details click here

Our closests properties are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)
Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)
Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo Credit: Darkroom Daze & quisnovus

Friday 29th – Saturday 30th March there is a Knight’s Trail…follow the clues through the Pleasure Gardens, Butterfly House and Marlborough Maze and if you complete the trail you win a prize!

Sunday 31st March – Monday 1st April – Loveable characters Sid and Scrat from Ice Age will be making appearances during these two days along with Mike The Knight and Little Princess!

Other activities include a bouncy castle and cake decorating! Blenheim Palace is an absolute must visit this Easter for all families, especially those with young children!

Some of our properties still available for these dates:

Little Garth, Kingham – sleeps 4

Pinnock Lodge, near Winchcombe – sleeps 5

Jasmine Cottage, near Broadway – sleeps 5

Click here for all of our Cotswold Cottages

Setting off the festival on Tuesday is The Stan James Champion Hurdle, the most important hurdle race of the season. With six other races and the unique first day atmosphere make this one of the most eagerly awaited race days of the year.

Wednesday is Ladies Day, bringing an opportunity to have some fun with Ladies Day fashion awards although the real action is on the track, with an awesome seven race card featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

An Irish flavour hits the racecourse so celebrate St Patricks Day a little earlier.  With plenty of competitive racing as well as the charity race taking place for Cancer Research UK plus lots of Irish-style entertainment.

On the final day besides six other great races is the climax of the entire Jump racing season and the highlight of the best day’s racing of the year, with undoubtedly an atmosphere to match is The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Why not go along and  be part of this truly spectacular sporting event.

For more information click here

Some of our properties still available for these dates:

Wold End House – Chipping Campden – Sleeps 8

Teagles Cottage – Stow-on-the-Wold – sleeps 7

Little Garth – Kingham, near Stow-on-the-Wold – Sleeps 4

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: thisisbrighteyes

With Champion Day, Ladies day, St. Patricks Thursday and Cheltenham Gold Cup day, these are 4 action packed days…and what more you don’t have to miss out as we have 3 fantastic properties with last minute availability up for grabs.

Wold End House – Chipping Campden – Sleeps 8

A simply stunning cottage in the heart of Chipping Campden with 4 bedroom and four bathrooms, off street parking and a wood burning stove to relax infront of after a great day at the races.  Wolds End House is available between 11th and 16th March for £1,640. For full details and photos click here.

Teagles Cottage – Stow-on-the-Wold – sleeps 7

Over 150 years old, this carefully restored cottage features cosy log burner.  This is a great and  spacious property to come back to after an action packed day out.  Teagles Cottage is available between 8th – 15th  March for £1,010. For full details and photos click here.

Little Garth - Kingham – Sleeps 3-4

A delightful 18th Century cottage located in the picturesque village of Kingham and within walking distance to a choice of two popular pubs to carry on celebrating a fortunate day out at the races.  One small dog welcomed.  Little Garth is available between 8th and 15th March for £495.  For full details click here

The properties are so fantastic you may have a struggle to drag yourself away but there’s no doubt that they are all perfect to relax in after an exciting day out!

For more information on The Festival click here

Photo credit: Carine06

The festival offers the possibility to go to be inspired, to enter debates, take part in any of the workshops on offer or to simply sit back and listen throughout this ten day literacy wonder.

With a host of illustrious authors – Hilary Mantel, the Double Man Booker Prize-winning novelist, will be present  to talk about her sequel to Wolf Hall as will the popular and well known  J.K. Rowling who will be there to talk about her first book for adults.

The 2013 line-up continues with big names in fiction such as P.D. James, Kate Mosse, Nadeem Aslam, Pat Barker, Jim Crace, Helen Dunmore and Tessa Hadley as well as with the presence of leading scientists, economists, historians and journalists all holding discussions and debates.

And if you’ve got some time to spare remember Bath ahs plenty of galleries and museums, historical sites, parks and gardens as well as the chance to treat yourself to a visit to the Thermae Bath Spa which is Britain’s original and only natural thermal spa with its warm waters, a series of aromatic steam rooms and the open-air rooftop pool with spectacular views across the skyline of Bath  surely a perfect way to end a day.

For full details click here

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: fenners 1984

The popular tv presenter, Michaela Strachan, who mums and dads will remember from ‘The Wide Awake Club’ in the 80’s and whom the younger ones will recognise from popular ‘ The Really Wild Show’  will be at The Roses Theatre on 15th February 2013 for  the world premiere of her brand new show, ‘Really Wild Adventures’.

‘Really Wild Adventures’ which is adapted from Michaela’s own children’s poetry book will take you on a journey through an alphabet jungle of animal rhymes with an interactive show full of poetry, music, dancing and ‘lots of fascinating wildlife facts,’ say organisers.

There will also be the opportunity to meet the presenter and get an autograph in the book signing that will follow the show.

A great opportunity for the younger members of the family to learn fun facts about the animal kingdom and the chance to meet Michaela Strachan  herself.

For more information click here

Our closests properties are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Roderick Parks

Now listening to the choir or seeing the architecture of the building as well its stunning stained glass are just some of the highlights which attract visitors from all around the world.

It is also recognised for appearing in some of the very popular Harry Potter films where it was used as a location.

This year in celebration of Candlemas, Gloucester Cathedral will be holding ‘Candlelit Cathedral’ a special week of events.

So don’t miss the unique opportunity to experience the Cathedral as it was meant to be – with candlelight.

Fo more information click here

Our closests properties are:

The Granary – Southam (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Gizmo Bunny & notiX’s

Founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1946, WWT Slimbridge is one of nine wetland centres across the UK, and set in 120 acres it is a world-renowned reserve for waterbirds where Wild swans from Russia come every winter and in the summer all six types of flamingos make a stop.

Over the weekend there will be a selection of talks from experts as well as a range of workshops and activities to take part in such as mist netting, bird ringing demonstrations and swan bill sketching.

For the younger members of the family there is also plenty to do: from face painting, the popular decoy game (where they can learn how ducks are caught for research), the bird count challenge for families at the feeders as well as plenty of arts and craft activities.

The popular wildlife reporter from the BBC’s The One Show, Mike Dilger, will also be helping in Saturdays activities as part of his Big 9 Challenge in which he is touring around all of WWT’s centres.

For more information click here

Here are some of our closest properties to Slimbridge:

Springfield Country House – Rendcomb, near Cirencester (Sleeps 10 (+2))

Lakeside House -Fossebridge (Sleeps 10)

Island Lodge -Lechlade (Sleeps 8)

Bowmoor Lodge -Lechlade (Sleeps 8)

Elgin - Gretton Fields (sleeps 4)

Bredon Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Leckhampton Cottage – Prestbury (sleeps 4)

Pinnock Lodge - Nr. Winchcombe (sleeps 5)

Click here to view all our Cotswold Cottages

Photo credit: Anguskirk