Cotswolds and Forest of Dean Travel Guide Attractions, Eating, Drinking, Shopping and Places to Stay

The 'quintessentially English' Cotswolds is a gentle hilly countryside region of southcentral England. This popular tourist destination is spread over 790 square miles and is close to the cities of Gloucester, Bath, Oxford, and Stratford-upon-Avon. The Cotswolds has been designated an English 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' (AONB) since 1966 and stretches across six counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Worcestershire). The Forest of Dean in the Wye Valley is an ancient forest which is many hundreds of years old. This was once the hunting grounds of King Henry V (born in nearby Monmouth) and was one of the places where he honed the skills that would allow his army to win the historic battle over the French at Agincourt. This is where William Wordsworth walked and conceived of poetry that has been loved by generations.