PLACES TO VISIT - THINGS TO SEE AND DO   Open All Year (OAY)

Note:- all the links on this page open a new window, so if you wish to view them at your leisure, load them down onto the task bar and then come off line (except the theatre link will be in a new window but will not work off line). 
Maps and suggested routes supplied, depending on time allowed for site seeing.

EATING OUT 
This area is a gourmets delight, superb restaurants including Greek, Italian, French, Chinese, Thai, Indian, are to be found in Chipping Campden or Stratford Upon Avon and of course excellent English food served in quaint country pubs in local Cotswold villages. Old fashioned tea rooms serving tea and home made cakes to die for. 
Click here for full information.

SPECIAL OCCASION IDEAS 
Flowers. Chocolates. Classic car hire. River boat restaurant. Flying lesson, a day at the Races etc. 
Click here.

SHAKESPEARE PROPERTIES & STRATFORD UPON AVON. 7 miles north.
This famous small market town, on the river Avon, home of Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Arden’s House Nash’s House, new Place, and Hall’s Croft. Visit them all on an open top bus. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is surrounded by the beautiful Bancroft Gardens where the band will play on a Sunday afternoon. OAY. 
For programs and booking click here Royal Shakespeare Theatre this will open a new page for you, and you will retain the Folly Farm web site.

Take a stroll along by the river Avon or admire the colourful narrow boats moored near the locks. Old world shops, designer outlets, as well as a few more famous stores mingle with quaint tea shops, old fashioned Inns, and good quality restaurants. Stratford has a large Leisure centre open to all, and a town cinema. Winner of the Britain in Bloom small town, the spring and summer flowers are a joy to behold, winter blooms, Christmas trees and Christmas lights, add to the all year round high quality of the town and an ideal place to visit at any time.  

Other places around the town and nearby are, Butterfly Farm, Shire horse Centre, Teddy bear Museum, Wellesbourne Water Mill, Hatton Craft Centre, Cox's Yard and Warwick Castle.  

COTSWOLD VILLAGES OAY 
We are surrounded by pretty unspoilt villages and small market towns. Chipping Campden, Broad Campden, Broadway, Stow on the Wold, The Slaughters, Moreton in the Marsh (famous for its Tuesday market). Bourton on the Water, Northleach, Burford, Bibury ,to name but a few. Relax and enjoy a leisurely drive through some of the prettiest English countryside past thatched cottages, old black & white buildings housing small individual shops, take tea in an old fashioned tea shop or lunch in a cosy country pub and watch the world go by.
Click here for villages.

OTHER PLACES WITHIN EASY REACH. Most less than 1 hours drive.
Shipston on Stour, Banbury, Woodstock, Oxford, Cheltenham, Gloucester Docks, Worcester, Tewkesbury and the Vale of Evesham, Warwick, Leamington Spa. Cadbury World. We are only 45 minutes drive from NEC & Birmingham Airport.

NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES IN OUR AREA
Hidcote Manor Gardens, Snowshill Manor, Charlecote Park, Upton House, Coughton Court. 
Click here for full information.

CASTLES & STATELY HOMES
Warwick Castle and gardens one of the finest in the country. Sudeley Castle and gardens, Ragley Hall, Blenheim Palace. Kenilworth Castle, Berkeley Castle. All within easy reach. Click here for full information.

GARDENS AND ARBORETUMS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Hidcote Gardens, Kiftsgate Gardens, both two miles away. Arboretums at Batsford & Westonbirt. Ryton Organic Gardens, Spetchley Park Gardens and others all within easy each of us. Ilmington village has some of the prettiest traditional cottage gardens. Click here for full information. See also Plant Centres.

SHOPPING
Small market towns in surrounding villages with individual shops to browse. Stratford upon Avon, a 15 minutes drive, some high street stores, designer shops, mingle with cafe's, bars and restaurants. Leamington Spa or Banbury, a 30-40 minutes drive, with well known high street stores, our largest nearest towns for shopping. 
Cheltenham, 45 minutes drive, a large city, with the usual large department stores etc. 

For the real ardent shoppers, why not take the train from Stratford upon Avon station, a 50 minute ride will take you straight to the new Birmingham Bull Ring where you can shop till you drop. There is every shop you could possibly want with eating places, a good place to spend the whole day. Ease your aching body with a bubble bath when you return. 

WALKING
Cotswold Way, Heart of England Way, Centenary Way are all on our doorstep. Together with local walks in and around Ilmington village, (maps supplied), our visitors are assured of a wealth of delightful country scenery.

CYCLING
A great time can be had cycling through the Cotswold villages (Quite hilly though) and there is a cycle way through to Stratford upon Avon, we can store your bikes safely and if you need to hire bikes click this link:-           http://www.cotswoldcountrycycles.com/cyclehire.htm   

CRAFTS AND ANTIQUES
We have produced a craft and Antiques lovers trail around our area taking in some of the better less expensive places to visit, including The Barn Antiques, Dodwell Antiques, The Stratford Antique Centre, Warwick Town, Hatton Craft village which has an abundance of crafts shops, large antique centre and factory shops.
Click here for further information.

For that special gift, check out this site, www.carvingwood.co.uk