Sleepy honey-coloured limestone villages, sheep-clad hillsides, privately owned gardens, 16th century (and older) gastro pubs, quintessentially English tea rooms, an antiques trail, the Arts and Crafts Movement and treasure filled stately homes and castles.

Welcome to the Cotswolds and a selection of bright ideas that include cookery, hat-making and flower arranging classes and a lesson in a private home on how to correctly prepare and serve English Afternoon Tea.

Think about spending an hour or two learning about herbs used in the making of natural cosmetics and healing ointments and meeting master craftsmen and women continuing the traditions established by William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Add a Floral Afternoon Tea and blur the edges of the late afternoon with a delicious tasting of lovingly crafted award-winning spirits at the Cotswolds Gin Distillery.

To finish on a high note, I strongly recommend samplings of Jam Roly-Poly, Treacle Sponge, Summer Pudding, Eton Mess and Sticky Toffee Pudding at the world-famous Pudding Club!

Check out the Read More and tell me what fires your imagination.