A Girl's Weekend to the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds, an area of England covering six counties and about 80% farmland, are made for road tripping. Start your adventure by renting a car. If coming from London, it's about a 1 hr 45 minutes trip to where you'll be setting up camp- "The capital of the Cotswolds" and the place with the best shopping, Cirencester. But I recommend taking a meandering day trip and stopping to see a few of the countryside's dozens and dozens of gorgeous castles.

Here are a few favorite stops en route...

Windsor Castle, Windsor

Arrive at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Embark on a guided tour to explore St. George's Chapel and the lavish State Apartments. Don't forget to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony if time allows.

Lunch at a Traditional Pub

On the way to the next castle, stop at a local pub for a traditional English lunch. Enjoy classic dishes like fish and chips or a plowman's lunch accompanied by a local ale.

Highclere Castle, Newbury (optional)

Highclere Castle, famous as the filming location for "Downton Abbey," offers an optional detour for fans of the show. Stroll through the elegant rooms and beautiful gardens, reliving your favorite scenes.

Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe

Head towards Sudeley Castle, known for its stunning gardens and rich Tudor history. Explore the castle's exhibitions, marvel at the artifacts, and take a leisurely walk through the award-winning gardens.

After your day of site-seeing, it's time to head to your new home for the weekend. If you want to stay directly in town to walk to the shops and cafes daily, The Fleece and The Kings Head are both charming and lively establishments. Just keep in mind buildings are very close together so it may be noisier at night than during a country stay.

For the ultimate girls trip, I recommend the unparalleled relaxation of Thyme - Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. Only 22 minutes from town, the grounds will take your breadth away and the variety of delicious restaurants, bespoke activities and spa services means your group will never be bored

After checking in, walk the grounds and then head to dinner at The Ox Barn. The contemporary restaurant uses picked-that-day produce to deliver food, which is all about the best ingredients, cooked simply. Finally, settle into your 3-bedroom "Old Walls Cottage". A typical Cotswold cottage spread over three higgledy-piggledy floors, it's small but perfectly formed, with sweeping views over Thyme’s green grazing land and flocks of Black Welsh Mountain sheep.

Start the morning with a coffee from the Cottage's Nespresso machine in your hotel robe and slippers lounging in your private garden. Then hop in the car and head out to choose your own adventure. Take to the water, check out the local art scene or get your fill of English history, English architecture and, of course, English gardens.

The Cotswold Water Park is an area of about 42 square miles and 180 lakes. It's home to activities including paddleboarding, kayaking and lake swimming.

The Corinium Museum in Cirencester is a hidden gem of this charming Cotswold town. Visitors can trace the story of the Cotswolds from prehistory to the late 19th Century, with hands-on exhibits, interactive displays and a wealth of precious artifacts.

Arlington Row, originally a wool store and then converted into weavers houses in the last 17th century, is one of the most photographed streets in the Cotswolds.

The Garden at Miserden, winner of the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award 2018, is a lovely, timeless walled garden with spectacular views over a deer park and rolling Cotswold hills beyond.

New Brewery Arts is located in a converted Victorian brewery housing a contemporary art gallery, craft shop and cafe, and on-site maker studios. New Brewery Arts offers visitors a unique arts and crafts shopping experience.

After your busy morning of adventure, return home and take advantage of your charming cottage to rest for a bit. Then take a stroll through the quaint town of Southrop for lunch at The Swan.

Top off the day by heading to town for an afternoon of shopping followed by dinner at a local eatery. Well-known names such as Crew Clothing, Joules, Waterstones, White Stuff and Marks & Spencer combine with local boutiques, specialist food shops and independent retailers to offer a unique shopping experience.

The main shopping area centers around the Market Place, Dyer Street, Cricklade Street and Castle Street, but be sure to explore the West Market Place and Black Jack Street areas too. There is also a small covered shopping area called Bishops Walk and The Woolmarket off Dyer Street has lots of little shops to explore.

See where the wind takes you. Make your own English breakfast using your cottage's fully-stocked kitchen or grab a bite on property.

Fill your day with more sightseeing, get a herbal treatment at Thyme's spa, lounge by the pool and take a light lunch poolside at the adjacent Orchid House, or join in on one of the property's bespoke cooking or craft classes. Wrap things up with a twilight drink at Thyme's Baa Bar and head back into town for another delicious dinner among the friendly locals.

On your last day, check out from the Thyme and, if your timing is right, head into town one last time for Market Day in Cirencester!

Cirencester's Charter Market is usually held in the Market Place every Monday (10am to 3pm) and Friday (9am to 3pm). It's one of the oldest charter markets in the country, having been mentioned as early as 1086 in the Domesday Book. Cirencester Farmers' Market is held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 9am to 2pm, by the Parish Church. You can typically find traders selling honey, fruit and veg, meat/game, cheese, locally produced alcohol, street food, fudge and much more.

Wrap up the trip by driving back to London, stopping in Oxford for lunch and sightseeing, if there's time!