Village known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds' named as the most beautiful
For an unforgettable staycation, one location outshines the rest. This picturesque chocolate box village has been crowned one of the most beautiful in the nation.
Despite the throngs of visitors it attracts, this enchanting village offers plenty to tourists, including honey-hued cottages and a river that meanders through its heart, spanned by quaint stone bridges.
Bourton-on-the-Water has been declared the UK's most beautiful village by Independent Cottages, with the River Windrush, which flows directly through the town, contributing to its unique charm and earning it the moniker 'The Venice of the Cotswolds'.
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Dating back to as early as 4000 BC, the village boasts over 380 listed buildings - ideal for a day of exploration and appreciation of the village's rich history.
With an average depth of just 10 inches, the river gently babbles through the centre of the village, adding a dash of charm to the ambiance.
Nestled within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bourton-on-the-Water offers stunning countryside views should you tire of the village's beauty, reports the Express.
A mere 300 metres from Bourton-on-the-Water's main car park lies Greystones Nature Reserve.
Managed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Greystones is home to wildflower meadows, Iron Age ramparts, a replica Iron Age roundhouse, and a functioning organic farm.
It's an ideal spot for a day of adventure and wildlife spotting, with creatures like foxes, deer and native birds to be seen.
For more animal encounters, Birdland Park and Gardens is a must-visit.
This beautiful reserve, nestled within nine acres of woodland and gardens, offers plenty to explore.
The park boasts over 130 species of birds, including the UK's only breeding group of King Penguins.
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Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Jeremy Clarkson joins backlash as JD Vance holidays in the Cotswolds
Jeremy Clarkson has joined a backlash in the Cotswolds after US vice president JD Vance arrived at a picturesque hamlet in the region for his summer holiday. Mr Vance and his family are staying at Dean Manor, a Grade II-listed country home in the tiny hamlet of Dean, during a trip where they also stayed with the Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Kent and will later travel to Scotland. Local residents reportedly expressed their frustrations after Mr Vance's enormous motorcade, consisting of 18 vehicles, caused a lockdown in the countryside on Monday. People in the Cotswolds faced road closures and security checkpoints overseen by police with sniffer dogs as Mr Vance made his way to Dean Manor on Monday, according to GloucestershireLive. It came before a "Vance Not Welcome Party" protest was organised by the groups "Everybody Hates Elon" and the "Stop Trump Coalition" in Charlbury, close to where Mr Vance is staying, today. The demonstrators held banners mocking the US vice president and calling him a "war criminal", in an apparent reference to America's support for Israel. Several protesters held images of a widely shared meme depicting Mr Vance with a bald head. The meme went viral after a Norwegian tourist claimed he was not allowed into the US after immigration agents saw it on his phone. One protester in Charlbury held a banner reading "JD Vance's Netflix password is 'password'", while another held a sign which said: "JD Vance claps when the plane lands." Meanwhile, a van displaying the image of a bald Mr Vance was seen driving through Charlbury. A large sign outside a property in nearby Chipping Norton read: "Gaza starves, Vance not welcome." The demonstrations took place as former Top Gear presenter Clarkson shared an image on Instagram which highlighted how his farm is under a no-fly zone over the Cotswolds areas of Chadlington and Spelsbury. In an apparent reference to filming for the fifth series of his show Clarkson's Farm, the 65-year-old wrote: "The JD Vance no fly zone. We are the pin. So on the downside, no drone shots today. On the upside, no annoying light aircraft." However, he later sarcastically shared a video of a peaceful Cotswolds scene and wrote: "Utter chaos caused by Vance. How will we ever manage?" Kaleb Cooper, a farmer who is Clarkson's co-star on the Amazon Prime show, said some of his "wheat got wet" after he got stuck behind Mr Vance's convoy. He wrote: "I could have easily went on my way and got it in the shed without getting in the way." Cooper also joked that if Mr Vance simply "drove around in a VW Polo nobody would know who he was". Clarkson's "Diddly Squat Farm" in Chadlington is around three miles from the hamlet of Dean where Mr Vance is staying. Well known for being popular with members of the British elite - former UK prime minister David Cameron lives in Dean - the Cotswolds is also becoming increasingly popular with wealthy Americans. Some of them moved to the region after the election of Donald Trump last year. TV presenter Ellen DeGeneres is among those who has relocated to the area. Not all of Dean's residents appreciate its growing popularity. Jonathan Mazower, the head of communications for NGO Survival International, who owns one of Dean's 15 homes, said he had to speak out against Mr Vance's presence, adding: "It's a massive intrusion and it's not just the fact our lives are disrupted but it's who he is." Vance's UK tour The US vice president is expected to host shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick during his holiday - but not Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Mr Jenrick has been invited to meet Mr Vance before a drinks event on Tuesday, it is understood. A Conservative spokesman said the party leader's team had spoken to Mr Vance's but that "scheduling" had proved difficult. Both sides have played down the notion of a snub, the Telegraph reported. It comes as the US vice president will travel to Scotland later this week in a trip that could see up to 1,000 police officers deployed as part of security efforts. Sky News understands the Vance family are likely to visit Ayrshire but are not thought to be planning to stay at Mr Trump's Turnberry resort in the area. 1:22 In Kent, Mr Vance said he had a "love" for the UK but joked he had committed a diplomatic faux pas as he began his holiday. "Unfortunately, the one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not," he said. He also said he doesn't want the UK to go down a "very dark path" of losing free speech.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I live in Italy and tourists should know one thing if they're coming this week'
Italy ranks among Europe's most popular holiday destinations, especially during the summer months. The nation is renowned for its rich heritage, art, fashion, architecture, cuisine and iconic landmarks. Multiple Italian cities draw massive tourist crowds, including Rome, Venice and Florence. Italy provides vibrant city experiences and varied landscapes where visitors can unwind and enjoy stunning scenery, from diverse coastlines to the Italian Alps and rippling countryside. The country also presents a variety of activities to cater for travellers with different preferences and interests. However, a resident of Italy has shared valuable advice for travelers heading there this week, offering insight into why towns and cities may appear 'quieter' than usual. Rob Murgatroyd, who relocated from the United States to Florence with his family in 2021 in search of a new way of life, explained the situation. He shares his Italian adventures on TikTok and in a recent clip he revealed: "It's summer right now and Italy has this tradition called Ferragosto. "On paper, it's an ancient Roman Catholic holiday that officially falls on August 15th but in practice, it feels like as we get closer to August, people just kind of disappear." Rob has spotted that during this period local shops shut down and the streets become noticeably less busy He disclosed that he lives in central Florence, the capital of Italy's Tuscan region, and his regular café has shut for six weeks so the staff can take a trip to the sea. The expat added: "Most of our local spots are closed for at least a few weeks. They could be working. They could be making money. "But they said 'no, I'm going to go to the beach and I'm gonna have pasta with my Nonna.' And that's when it hit me. I spent my whole life mastering hustle." Rob, who enjoyed a thriving chiropractor career in America, hadn't grasped until relocating to Italy that whilst he understood how to graft hard and get by, genuine "soul on fire living" remained completely "foreign" to him. He continued: "Simple traditions like Ferragosto, taught me that life isn't just about what you produce, it's about what you pause for. "Italians pause for joy, for family, for a moment in the sun. They showed me that the game isn't about maximising output, it's about maximising moments." Carpe Diem Tours explains the historic roots of Ferragosto, detailing that the festivities were introduced by emperor Augustus in 18 BC to grant Roman Empire labourers a break following months of intensive agricultural work. Initially scheduled for August 1, the Catholic Church later shifted the date to August 15 to align with the Assumption of Mary. Ferragosto allowed countless Italian families to explore artistic treasures in Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples for the very first time, while landlocked families finally got their chance to experience coastal life. The Rome-based tour operator explains that nowadays Ferragosto encompasses the entire summer period around August 15, when Italians traditionally close their businesses to venture outdoors for lengthy strolls, discover beaches or mountains, and simply enjoy quality time with loved ones. In his TikTok video caption, Rob added: "In Italy, Ferragosto isn't just a holiday. It's a full-on summer shutdown. "August 15 marks the peak of vacation season when cities empty, beaches fill, and shops close for weeks, sometimes even a month. Here's what it's like when Italy hits pause." The footage has amassed thousands of views and likes and more than 200 comments. One Italian resident remarked: "Yeah I work in a family owned plants nursery and in August I am the only one working and taking care of plants. "My boss and all her family is on holidays. I have the keys [to] go everyday water, clean and look after plants but it's only me, even the neighbouring businesses hardly have anyone working. It's like I am in an abandoned area." Another user chimed in: "Bingo! Building wealth and focusing on protecting your family's future is important, but you need to stop, breathe and enjoy life along the way."
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Telegraph
Jeremy Clarkson leads Cotswolds backlash against JD Vance
Jeremy Clarkson has joined the Cotswolds backlash against a visit by the US vice-president. JD Vance has embarked on a summer holiday in Britain, peppered with formal discussions on fraught issues such as Ukraine and free speech. The second family spent two nights with David Lammy at Chevening, the Foreign Secretary's grace and favour residence, incorporating fishing and talks with security officials over whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia. But residents have complained the visit has left them 'completely sealed off from the outside world', and Clarkson has now joined the backlash in suggesting the high-security holiday has interrupted the filming of Clarkson's Farm. In a post on Instagram, the presenter shared an image showing a no-fly zone, which includes his own Curdle Hill Farm, also known as Diddly Squat Farm. He added: 'The JD Vance no fly zone. We are the pin. So on the downside, no drone shots today. On the upside, no annoying light aircraft.'
