Great Britain 2010 Chipping Campden, The Cotswolds

About 80 miles west of London is an area of natural beauty called the Cotswolds.  This is where it appears time has stopped. Gorgeous honey colored cottages, thatched roofs, rolling hills, tiny villages and affluent neighbors create an unparalleled charm.  It's here where the Royals, TV personalities and English movie stars have their country homes.  Movies including Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones Diary and the Harry Potter films were shot here.  Henry VIII and Elizabeth I stayed in nearby castles and a host of spectacular manor houses dot the area.

We spent two weeks in Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds in May 2010.  My friends Jerry (Jeralyn) and Marsha joined me on a 4 week holiday to Great Britain.  We chose Chipping Campden after staying in the Cotswolds in 2009 and knew it to be one of the prettiest villages.  It also hosts the Chipping Campden Music Festival so we made our trip plans to coincide with this annual event.

We rented a 3 bedroom, 2 bath cottage we just loved.  It was roomy and cozy with a great location.  It was originally built by Charles Ashbee, the famous arts and crafts silversmith whose work can be seen in the British Museum.

The house has a wonderful backyard with a little garden and expansive lawn.

The conservatory was bright and warm and overlooked the garden.

The house had a nice size living room and dining room that could seat 6 people.

We had two queen bedrooms and a twin bedroom and two baths. Best of all it had a washer and dryer!!!


Chipping Campden is a beautiful village with a High St dating back to the 14th Century.  Located in the northern Cotswolds, it is surrounded by idyllic farmland and picturesque cottages.  St. James Church, the largest church in the area hosts the Chipping Campden Music Festival for two weeks in May and it is FANTASTIC!!  Candlelit concerts, a vast array of musicians and the best pianist you will ever hear.  The music is so good that the BBC tapes a few of the concerts for their programming.

Around every corner is a photograph waiting to happen.  Chipping Campden is such a delightful village I plan to stay there again in spring 2011 for 6 weeks!  It's hard to not go back to a place that looks like this!