There are a number of pretty towns situated in the Cotswolds, many of which offer their own unique setting. Although, one that stands out in particular is Castle Combe, known for being one of the prettiest villages in England. Why You’ll Love It: The Porch House creaks with age; inside it’s all all low ceilings, beams and wooden tables. So you can’t help but be charmed by the old world atmosphere. Plus, this Cotswolds’ restaurant can satiate plenty of tastes whatever type of hungry weekender you are: you can enjoy excellent pub grub by the fire in the bar, take a lavish lunch with the ladies in the bright conservatory, sip local drinks on the sunny garden terrace, or upgrade your dining experience in the rustic restaurant. Where: You’ll find this Cotswolds’ gem waterside at Gloucester Quays, which is a local mecca for shopping and food. Parking is easy in the Gloucester Quays car park, or you can get there on the main bus route. The fact that the Cotswolds is easily accessible but not too easily accessible. You’ve got Bristol not far away; Oxford, too. Nor is it crowded with tourists. You can find peace and quiet without being isolated.

The housing here hasn’t been developed since the 1600s, which is why the old cottages have such an ancient feel about them. The historic bridge in the village that hovers over a river and surrounding greenery makes it a picturesque town that is absolutely worth visiting. The Cotswolds is home to some of the most unspoilt, historic and famous towns and villages in England. The honey-coloured stone buildings provide a quintessential English charm found no-where else in the world. It really is a unique experience!

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Wild Rabbit, Kingham – For culinary masterpieces in an impressive but relaxed setting, the menu at the Wild Rabbit is constructed from locally farmed produce. Starter homes – you want younger people here; you want families. Where can those houses go? Well, anywhere but near me! Seriously, though, they should go everywhere. We don’t need huge, sprawling estates. A number of nice houses, in lots of areas, that integrate into the community: that’s how it should be. If I were invisible, I would go into Highgrove and stand by the phone to listen to any conversation Prince Charles might have with Harry. I feel desperately sorry for Charles – I really do. Family difficulties are bad enough without one of you bleating about it to the press all the time. What:Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden is a zesty cafe-restaurant in Cirencester with a friendly heart. This new offering, by the same team who created The Scenic Supper (friends Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King), is open 7 days a week serving coffee, breakfast, brunch and lunch. Plus, dinner in the evenings from Thursday to Sunday. Where: You’ll find Lumiere on Clarence Parade just behind the centre of the town. Helpfully, this means there is ample parking nearby (although you may want to book a taxi if you opt for the wine flight with your meal).

The Cotswold Water Park dominates the south of the Cotswolds and is an incredible place for leisure offering sports, walks and a beach based around 150 lakes in 40 square miles. Despite its size, it is a well-kept secret just a few miles from Cirencester.

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Summers in the Cotswolds are generally mild and warm with some infrequent hotter days. With more daylight, this means that you can spend much of your time outdoors when visiting the Cotswolds during this time. It is typically overcast with average temperatures of around 21°C, providing comfortable weather to enjoy the numerous activities in the county.

The unusually desolate environment at Cleeve Hill makes a great contrast to the typically green Cotswolds scenery. This walk visits Belas Knap, a Neolithic burial mound, along with sweeping hillside plains. Why you’ll love it: The owners, mother and son Tracey and Paul, have worked hard to make The Wychwood a place that’s welcoming to all – including your four-legged friends. The pub also offers luxuriously appointed ensuite rooms, so it’s an great base for exploring the area on a weekend.The food scene in the Cotswolds is perhaps best known for traditional English pubs. However, there’s a diversity just waiting to be untapped. Here are some great ways to get culinary in the Cotswolds.

I’d take Emma, of course. When I was working in Kuwait and Basra during the Iraq War [covering the conflict for Sky each day], the only thing we didn’t have access to was alcohol. So a bottle of Cotswold Gin would be the thing I’d want to take anywhere like that. (Having said that, there wasn’t really time to switch off: we were broadcasting nonstop.) The heat was the other issue. So my answer is: Emma, Cotswold Gin, and a cooling fan made by a Cotswold company. I’ve never cooked in my life; wouldn’t know how. If someone else was going to cook, the main course would be lamb from the ‘Cotswold’ shop, Tesco. Starter would be a cheesy soufflé. Pudding would be Cotswold cheese…. Though that means I’ve now got a cheese starter and cheese for pudding – so you can see why I don’t cook for myself. In that case, we could start with soup using vegetables from the garden – maybe a nice Cotswold gazpacho. The scale and diversity of The Cotswolds make it the sort of place you can visit year after year and always discover something new. Two thousand years of history are visible everywhere you look, from the miles of stone walls to the straight Roman roads and elegant Georgian architecture of Bath and Cheltenham .Design expert Katy Campbell and acclaimed photographer Mark Nicholson offer an insider's look at the Cotswolds' most charming and inspirational private homes The Details: Open for lunch Monday – Friday 12.00pm – 2.30pm, and dinner 6.00 pm – 9.30 pm; Open for food Saturday 12.00 pm – 9.30 pm and Sunday 12.00pm – 8.00pm. French doors in the dining room lead out to the kitchen terrace which looks out over the house’s twenty acres of terraced gardens, woods and ancient pastures leading down to a small lake. Robin admits, ‘it was the view that sold me the house’. And what a view it is. It is quite literally breath-taking. I challenge anyone to step out onto the terrace and look up without having a sudden, small intake of breath. It is a quintessential Cotswold landscape that is endlessly absorbing. To me, it explains why bronze age settlers chose to inhabit this stunning spot thousands of years ago (and left behind a burial mound whose treasures can now be found in the British museum). They must have been jolly cold come wintertime in their short woollen tunics, but it would have been worth it for such a view. Simon McCoy at home in the Cotswolds: 'I never thought I’d be quite so obsessed with mowing the lawn' (Image: Emma Samms) Her own house is pleasingly uncluttered, but not stark. ‘I always try to create soft, serene spaces but still with a bit of soul to them – I love a ‘collected’ aesthetic – when a room feels like it has come together over time’. She believes in preserving or enhancing historic architectural details as much as possible and admits to often being ‘worryingly obsessed with lighting’, partial to low wattages, dimmers, and candlelight.