There is no doubt that Blenheim Palace is one of the jewels of the Cotswolds. If you are staying in a Cotswolds country cottage or taking a UK holiday in the area, you will find yourself within easy striking distance of the palace.

However you will not want to be within striking distance of the people who will be at Blenheim Palace from the 6th to the 8th August, when a jousting contest will be taking place there.

If you know anything at all about jousting you know it can be a very colourful and exciting event to watch. Obviously everyone taking part will be going home in one piece, but it is still fun to see how it all happens. The horses and their riders will be properly attired for the event, and you certainly won’t be able to miss them.

The whole event is based around this medieval practice, and it looks set to be realistic enough to make you wonder if you have been transported back in time. There will be other events taking place over this long weekend as well, so if you have a family holiday planned in the Cotswolds this will be an ideal place to take the kids for the day.

Archery and falconry are among the other events taking place there; you can even try your hand at the archery yourself if you wish. And if the weather is good why not take a picnic to the event so you can sit back and enjoy everything that is going on there?

Another advantage of coming here is that you will have the whole of the palace itself to explore as well. The palace definitely has a strong history; Sir William Churchill was born here and a lot of other famous names from history are also associated with the palace. Indeed as far as Churchill himself is concerned, there is a whole exhibition dedicated to the former British Prime Minister at Blenheim. Make sure you see it while you are visiting.

It is also easily reached no matter where you are staying in the Cotswolds. Chipping Norton is a short distance to the North West along the A44, and Burford is just out to the west as well. Bicester is just away to the north east, and with lots of other well known Cotswolds villages and towns nearby as well, you won’t have far to travel.

You can also enjoy the aptly named Pleasure Gardens along with the rest of the family. There is a huge hedge maze here, and you can enjoy a ride on the narrow gauge train that will take you there. What more could you want from a day out together?

There is no doubt that the jousting experience will be one to see if your holiday in the Cotswolds is timed just right. Even a long UK weekend break will be perfect if it falls on that same weekend.

But if you venture out to Stratford upon Avon during your stay in the early part of August, you can experience the thrills of the Midlands History Festival as well. This is a huge event which takes place on the 7th and 8th of August, which is the first full weekend in August. Needless to say this will definitely be well attended, especially as it falls in the early part of the school summer holidays.

But what can you expect if you are enjoying a Cotswolds break or a Cotswolds holiday and you decide to pay a visit?

Well the whole event is based around numerous re-enactments of battles which took place in years gone by. Some of these battles are famous while others are not so well known. But a huge slice of history will be represented in the event, with several dozen displays taking place over the two days.

The venue to head for is the Stratford Armouries, which is where everything will be happening. You might feel as if you have gone back in time once you arrive, because there will be all kinds of different people and groups dressed for battle from different periods in time. Don’t be too surprised if you bump into a Roman one minute and a soldier from World War II the next!

The Stratford Armouries can be found in Gospel Oak Lane in Pathlow, Stratford upon Avon. This is a short distance north of the main A46 road in the area, and just off to the right of the A3400. Gospel Oak Lane itself can be reached from either of these roads – just look out for signposts for the Armouries as you get closer to the area. A lot will depend on which direction you are approaching from and where in the Cotswolds you are staying.

The Armouries are well worth exploring on their own anyway. For instance you have museums here to look round and there is also a pleasant restaurant for when you fancy a bite to eat. Whether you want a quick snack or a more substantial meal, you can get exactly what you want here. And don’t forget you can also take a picnic if you like, if you want to see all the re-enactments and not miss a thing.

The whole family will no doubt enjoy this opportunity to see a living history lesson. Even the kids will love it and with a family ticket for two adults and two children costing just £25, you can see this provides a great value day out for everyone.

Cirencester itself is practically surrounded by the beauty of the Cotswolds. Lechlade and Burford are just off to the east and Cheltenham is not far to the North West, so you can see there are plenty of options for visiting other Cotswolds venues while you are there.

But back to Cirencester and the Roman walks. These come courtesy of the Corinium Museum in the area. This award winning museum can be found in Park Street in Cirencester, and the walks are part of the Festival of British Archaeology. The walks begin at the museum itself, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding it. In addition to this you should pre-book your place if you are interested because there will only be a limited number of people allowed on each walk. This is to ensure that the walks don’t get overcrowded.

The cost is very reasonable as well, at just £5 for adults and £2 for any children you want to bring along with you. The idea is to find out all you can about the Roman history of Cirencester, giving you the chance to see the remains that are still visible in the area. The walk should last for around one hour and since it starts at 10.30am you will still have the rest of the day to explore the museum once you have finished the walk.

The only downside is that the walk could be moved to another date if the weather is not good. But even if you miss out you can do it another day and still go inside to explore the museum.

It’s definitely worth a look anyway as it has had a £5 million facelift in recent years, so it has plenty of new exhibits to show you. Cirencester itself is a stunning part of the Cotswolds too – while it is more built up than many of the smaller villages it is still worth exploring everything it has to offer.

So if you are at a loose end over the next couple of weeks, make sure you figure out whether you can spare the time to come up to the Cotswolds for a Cotswolds holiday. With so many other events taking place all over the area as well, you can expect to have a wonderful time exploring every detail of this popular area.

The museum is not far from the Church of St John the Baptist, and the Corinium Dobunnorum is directly north of it. This is just one of the sights you’ll be seeing on your guided walk. Enjoy!

This is not just a major UK event in the world of aviation – it pretty much tops the list globally as well. So if you love planes and you want to see some of the best ones in action above your head, this is the place to come.

But where exactly is it? Well even though you will be able to see the planes from a distance the show is based at RAF Fairford. This is a short distance south of Cirencester and you will see there are plenty of other major areas of the Cotswolds north of this as well. If you take a look on a map, you’ll spot such delightful places as Burford and Lechlade off to the eastern side of where RAF Fairford is situated. If you were staying in Self Catering Cotswolds accommodation in Lechlade for example, you could expect to get to RAF Fairford within about half an hour.

Obviously if you are going to be visiting the show on the weekend of the 16th and 17th, you need to be sure you leave your Cotswolds Accommodation in plenty of time to make it there. You can expect heavier traffic thanks to the popularity of the show.

Perhaps the most notable thing about the air show is that it is going to commemorate the incredible 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. While no one would want to see anything like this happen again, the organisers are keen to remember the events in style.

As such they have invited airplanes and members of the Air Force in each country to take part. This means that all the countries involved should be there – including the German Luftwaffe. This should prove to be a poignant event that will bring everyone together to remember a key moment in history. With planes from many different countries taking part it is a major event you won’t want to miss.

Remember that you should really buy tickets in advance of the event. You can go online to do this and there is plenty of information about the Royal International Air Tattoo there as well. A quick search should reveal all you need to know.

And if you haven’t got a holiday in the Cotswolds booked just yet, why not book a long weekend in conjunction with the show itself? You will no doubt enjoy this and it gives you the chance to enjoy a great display as well as a relaxing weekend away. What better opportunity could there be to escape for a few days into the Cotswolds countryside?

If you attend the Air Tattoo on one day you can always take in a picnic nearby on the second day and watch what you can from a different vantage point too.

For example, a short distance north of the Cotswolds you will find the famous venue of Stratford upon Avon.  To give you an example of just how easy it is to reach, you can expect it to take you around forty minutes to get there from Bourton on the Water.  The A429 and then a left turn onto the A3400 is all you need to do to reach it.

To give you another example, if you are staying in the Cotswolds at Chipping Campden, the journey is cut virtually in half to just twenty minutes.  In this case the road you would need is the B4632, which is virtually as the crow flies if you look on a map.

What’s more, the Whitsun week has plenty in store to enjoy if you want to visit all the Shakespeare properties.  There are five in all, and Hall’s Croft is planning a Herbs and Healing event that will provide fun and knowledge for all the family.

The Herbs and Healing week takes place between the 29^th May and the 6^th June.  You can pot your own herbs during the week, and you will also find out lots of information about how the herbs we use in cooking were used to provide medicinal remedies back in the 17^th century.  It looks like it will be quite an eye opener and the whole family should learn something interesting during their time here.

You will find Hall’s Croft in Old Place in Stratford upon Avon.  This is not very far from Avonbank Gardens and the River Avon itself.  It is also only around ten minutes walk to get to Hall’s Croft if you have previously visited the Shakespeare’s Birthplace experience.

Hall’s Croft itself was the home of Shakespeare’s daughter, and it is known as Hall’s Croft because her husband’s name was Dr John Hall.  You will enjoy the exhibition you will find inside the property, which of course will include the Herbs and Healing event during the Whitsun week.  As such the event is very relevant to the previous owner of the house back in the 17^th century.  Herbs were used often for medicinal purposes, and even today we still use them in such a way on occasion.

This provides an ideal day out for anyone who is spending a holiday in the Cotswolds for that week.  You may already have booked your Cotswolds accommodation but if you haven’t why not try and book an authentic Cotswolds cottage to stay in while you are here?  It could be just what you are looking for.

Chipping Campden itself is in a nice central position in the Cotswolds, and can easily be reached from many other locations in the area. In fact there are many Cotswolds country cottages here you can stay in for a long UK weekend break, or perhaps a longer break of a week or more. There is no better place to stay for a break of any kind than the Cotswolds, especially when you have good music to enjoy during your time in the region.

This year’s festival is the ninth year that it has taken place in Chipping Campden. It should be remembered that due to the popularity of the event you should try to get tickets before you turn up. If you just arrive you may not get in due to the immense support and excitement that it generates.

There are various concerts taking place over the time of the Chipping Campden Music Festival. Some of these take place in the evening, while others take place around lunch time. This means that if you plan to attend one of the concerts you may find you have a choice of when you would like to attend.

To give you a few examples of the kind of concerts the festival has, one of the concerts is given by The Takacs Quartet. The Academy of Ancient Music is another interestingly titled concert being given in a few days’ time, and there are many other similar concerts taking place over the time of the festival.

Chipping Campden can be found just a short distance north of Moreton-in-Marsh, and to the north west of Chipping Norton. Banbury is a little way out to the east, while Stratford upon Avon is situated to the north. As you can see it can be easily reached from plenty of other areas nearby, so even if you are not staying in the Cotswolds you can reach it quite easily from other locations too. A good example would be Stratford upon Avon, as it would take you less than half an hour to get from one to the other. This would be a fairly straight route as well, taking you down the B4632 towards Chipping Campden itself.

The great thing about visiting this festival is that you get a chance to see Chipping Campden itself as well. This is a popular and well known location in the Cotswolds, and many people make this the base for their Cotswolds holiday. In fact if you haven’t already booked a trip here, now might be an ideal time to do so.

The Recreation Ground itself is not too far from the famous Pulteney Bridge in the city, and it is on the east side of the bridge. If you cross it from the side of the city and head into Argyle Street you will only have a few minutes walk if you make the journey from the centre of Bath on foot.

Saturday is the longer day of the two for the festival itself. It opens at 10am and continues right through the day until 5pm. On Sunday the hours are restricted to between 11am and 4pm, so if you want a full day here the Saturday will be the best bet.

The Bath Coffee Festival also provides a nice unusual day out if you are staying in Cotswolds accommodation nearby. There are plenty of English country cottages around and you can buy some coffee and take it back to enjoy at your accommodation if you wish. There will certainly be plenty to choose from!

There are various events taking place in the festival, including chefs making the most of coffee in their cooking and displays by award winning baristas. Whatever you love about coffee, you are sure to find something to please you here.

The Bath Coffee Festival will also be packed with lots of exhibitors, giving you the chance to buy plenty of things to take back home with you. With such names as Gillards of Bath and Lavazza Coffee UK present, you can see that the event covers every aspect of coffee drinking. You might still be surprised that the humble coffee bean could have a festival all to itself, but you will find lots to appreciate here.

This is the first coffee festival to take place in Bath, and it looks set to be a big success. Many major names have got involved and with free entry for the public who want to see what it is all about, there is every chance of it being a repeat event in years to come. Who knows, you might end up making this an annual event if you go along and you like what you see – and taste, of course!

Even if you aren’t particularly a coffee lover you can still go along and see if you can learn a thing or two. You might also be able to find a gift for someone you love who is mad about coffee. But whatever you think of the drink itself, you will love the chance to see something different while you are in the Bath area.

The Badminton Horse Trials are just over half an hour’s drive from Cirencester.  The thick of the Cotswolds is further away than this, but you could still have no more than an hour to get there from your Cotswolds accommodation should you wish to make the journey.  The main A433 road leads right down from Cirencester to where the trials take place, and you will find the Horse Trials are well signposted too.

It is easy to reach them from Bath as well, if you happen to be taking a long weekend away to coincide with the first Bank Holiday weekend in May.  The Horse Trials run until Monday 3^rd May, so whichever day you wish to go it should be easy to get there.

If you are staying in Bath accommodation right in the middle of the city, you can expect a half hour drive to reach Badminton.  Simply follow the A46 north out of the city and follow the directions to arrive at Badminton itself.

Advance tickets are not available now for the Horse Trials, since we are very close to the event itself.  But you will be able to arrive on your chosen day and buy entry tickets at the gate.  You are advised to get there early though otherwise certain tickets may well sell out.  This is always a popular annual event, so you don’t want to be disappointed by turning up later and not being able to get in.

If you haven’t been to the Badminton Horse Trials before, it’s worth noting that the gates open very early in the day.  The first two days see them opening at 8am, but on Sunday that is pushed forward to 7am.  The final day starts at 7.30am, with the first event taking place an hour or so later.

You can look forward to seeing such events as dressage, cross country, and even the Light Cavalry Band Display.  If you have a passion for horses you will love every minute of it, and there is certainly a lot to see while you are there.

It pays to find out which events are happening on each day, so you can plan your visit accordingly.  There might be some days you would prefer to others, so by looking up information in advance you can prepare the details of your weekend away.  Regardless of whether you are travelling up from Bath or across from somewhere near the Cotswolds, you will love every minute of your long day out at the Badminton Horse Trials.

And who knows, if you like it a lot this could turn into a regular annual event.  What better reason could there be to spend time in this part of the country every year?

Cheltenham isn’t too far away either, as it is out to the west of the ever popular Bourton on the Water.  It takes about twenty five minutes to drive from one to the other.  Since Bourton on the Water is generally regarded as one of the prettiest places in the Cotswolds, it’s good to know you can reach other equally delightful places as well during your stay.

And you will have every reason to visit Cheltenham if you happen to be coming this way towards the end of April and into early May, because the Cheltenham Jazz Festival is taking place during that time.

You can buy tickets for the event online, and it is definitely advisable to do so very soon as the event looks set to be a big success.  Among those attending will be Elaine Paige, who is famous for starring in ‘Cats’ in the West End of London among many other things.  She is performing on Thursday 29^th April at the Cheltenham Town Hall, and the event is sure to be a fast seller.

In fact if you think you know a lot about jazz you might still be surprised at the array of music on offer at the festival this year.  You will no doubt recognise some of the names taking part in this huge celebration of jazz, but there are new names to be introduced to here as well.  Make sure you take in as much as you can and enjoy every minute of it.

As you can probably tell it would pay dividends to book a week away in good Cotswolds accommodation so you can enjoy more than a day at the festival.  You still have a couple of weeks to make your arrangements, and you will be glad you did.

Cheltenham itself is easy to reach; the A40 from Oxford takes you directly out west to Cheltenham and it can also be reached from the M5 from either north or south.  Wherever you are coming from Cheltenham is well connected and very easy to find.  If you book tickets to see a particular show, be sure you know how to reach the venue beforehand.

You can download the full colour brochure for the jazz festival from the website dedicated to Cheltenham Festivals.  Take a look and get a feel for what is happening and when.  There is no doubt that this year looks set to provide another successful jazz festival, so whether you are an old timer with jazz or you are just getting to know it, you’ll love every minute of what it has to offer.

You can change all this if you decide to visit the Cotswold Water Park for a Cotswold break towards the end of April.  On Wednesday 28^th April there will be a special event in the park which will bring you closer to the lesser spotted nightingale.

The event is called the Nightingale Symphony, which should go a long way towards telling you what to expect on the night.  The event starts at half past seven in the evening, so you will have all day to enjoy the delights of the Cotswolds before going along to enjoy this event.  The Cotswold Water Park website states that advance booking is necessary, since only a small number of people will be able to attend.  This makes sense as too many people could frighten the birds off and make it impossible to hear them sing.

Every holiday in the Cotswolds is a memorable one for different reasons.  But surely this kind of event is what makes booking Cotswolds accommodation worthwhile.  Imagine staying in an English country cottage in the area – perhaps even in the Cotswold Water Park itself – and being able to get closer to nature at the same time.

The event is led by Tony Hawkins, who is a bird expert with plenty of knowledge to impart on the evening itself.  For example, the nightingale is somewhat threatened throughout the UK as there are far less of them around now than there have been in the past.  When you visit the Cotswolds you will find that most of the nightingales are in the Cotswold Water Park, since this offers the best surroundings for them.

The website describes the event as a ‘concert’, albeit obviously a natural one – but isn’t that the best type there is?  You can find the Cotswold Water Park easily by following the A419 towards South Cerney.  Look for the Spine Road East, which is signposted as the B4696.  This leads you right towards the park itself and it is exceptionally easy to find as it is extremely large and covers many acres.

In fact if you are planning a weekend break or thinking of opting for UK holidays instead of foreign ones, you couldn’t do better than to stay in the Cotswolds area near the Water Park itself.  There are plenty of other locations nearby that are worth seeing as well, including Cirencester and Lechlade to name just two.

And even if you decide not to witness the Nightingale Symphony, there are plenty of other events on at the Cotswolds Water Park throughout the year.  Whenever you visit to stay in a Cotswolds cottage you will no doubt be delighted by what you find in the Cotswold Water Park.  So why not book something today and listen to the best symphony in the area?