Cotswolds

Typical houses in Castle Combe

The Cotswolds is a region of England that is sometimes referred to as the heart of England . It is a hilly landscape that runs through six counties from southwest to northeast. These counties include a. Gloucestershire , Oxfordshire and Warwickshire . The Cotswold Hills are bounded to the north by the River Avon , to the east by the city of Oxford , to the west by Cheltenham and to the south by the Thames Valley and towns like Lechlade and Fairford on the River Coln .

In 1966 the Cotswold Hills were classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty .

The limestone characteristic of the region was used as building material in many small towns and villages, including for the so-called wool churches . In the Middle Ages, the region profited greatly from the wool trade, and the wealth gained in this way was also used for the creation of religious buildings. The area has remained prosperous as wealthy Londoners often have a second residence here or retire in the area.

Typical towns in this region are Broadway , Burford , Chedworth , Chipping Norton , Moreton-in-Marsh , Painswick and Stow-on-the-Wold . The village of Chipping Campden is known for its handicraft center, which was set up by Charles Robert Ashbee in the early 20th century .