Five minutes by car from the famous 'picture-postcard' village of Broadway, in the ancient hamlet of Buckland, lies Buckland Court, a delightful cluster of Cotswold stone cottages. Said to date back to the seventh century, Buckland nestles in a quiet valley set against a scenic wooded backdrop. Once a collection of old farm buildings, these cottages have been superbly converted and refurbished to create a wonderfully peaceful holiday retreat.

Although it is only about 30 miles from Birmingham, the Cotswolds remains largely unspoilt – it's an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that comprises mile upon mile of rolling upland, wooded valleys, pretty villages and bustling market towns built of the distinctive honey-tinted Cotswold stone.

Bourton-on-the-Hill, with its steep cottage-lined street leading to the church, is one of many artists' delights in the area. Then there is Sezincote, with its Indian-style architecture, beloved of John Betjeman. A former centre of the wool industry, Chipping Campden has an impressive 15th century church and a fine Jacobean market hall. Traditional crafts are kept alive with pottery and the Campden Weavers.

Learn the fascinating history of Sudeley Castle

Near Winchcombe lies Sudeley Castle, which has some excellent exhibitions detailing its history and telling the stories of all those who once resided in it. Katherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII, was one of the famous figures who lived at the castle. Her body is in a marble tomb within the church.

Sudeley isn't just good for a history lesson. It also has a pheasantry, adventure playground, some medieval ruins and wonderful gardens.

Treat yourself to a shopping trip (or two)

Bath has a beautiful town centre, but one of the best places to shop is Cheltenham. Boasting a huge range of stores, from grand department stores and high-street favourites to small independent businesses, it's a fantastic place to both shop and eat.

If you've still got some spending money left over, Broadway is another great shopping destination. Again, there's a great variety of independent stores, plus it's an incredibly picturesque village. Don't miss the Lygon Arms Hotel, which is thought to date back to the 1300s. Oliver Cromwell and Charles I were once guests! We recommend enjoying a meal in the impressive Great Hall.

Visit the birthplace of Shakespeare

You can't come to the Cotswolds without visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the world's most famous playwright. There are five houses associated with Shakespeare in and around the town, and each offers a great insight into the writers' life, from birth to death.

Explore Westonbirt Arboretum

Nature-lovers will be blown away by the variety of trees at this arboretum. There are around 15,000 labelled trees here and 2,500 different types. The trees come from all over the world, including Britain, Japan, China, Chile and North America. One of the best times to visit is autumn, as the colours are simply fantastic.

Enjoy wonderful gardens and wildlife

There are some great gardens in the Cotswolds, such as Painswick Rococo Garden – the only survivor from the 18th century of garden design. If you have kids, they'll find the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens much more fascinating, as they can see everything from lemurs and lions to rhinos and penguins.

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