And off to the Cotswolds.....

The "granary" - a beautiful set up

We woke up this morning to Tims birthday (London time!), and took the train to Smithfields Markets - one of the largest and oldest meat markets in Europe.  Near the markets there was a restaurant called "Smiths", which was our destination for brunch.  It had great English fare, with the highlight being Zac's milkshake... the "Cheeky Monkey", a combination Chocolate and Peanut Butter milkshake!

We were then going to buy some meat to roast that evening, but by the time we had finished our brunch the market was closed!  It opened at 3am... not really a time we wanted to be getting up on our holidays.

After catching the tube home we picked up a hire car and supplies from the local shops and made off for the Cotswolds for the weekend.  The traffic was bad (peak hour I guess, and everyone was trying to get away from London for the weekend), and we arrived in the dark.  It was a beautiful old guest house, called Aylworth Manor, and its "granary" - the granary was fitted out with open fire and fully equiped kitchen.... so we were able to get the roast on for Friday night dinner.  Jem and Kel made themselves busy in the kitchen, while others tended the fire or relaxed.

A very relaxing and pleasant way for Tim to spend his birthday.

Bourton-on-the-water

After a bit of a sleep-in, and English style fry up, we were off to explore the beautiful Cotswolds area.  

Our first stop was at a local farm, where our hosts had told us a hunt was going to start.  We braved the muddy fields to park and have a look at the hounds, the redcoats and the horses all preparring for the hunt.  There was the traditional drinking of port, and eating some nibblies (mini pizzas... not sure how English that was!), and then the trumpet sounded for the announcements and the commencement of the hunt.  It was hard for those of us who were uninitiated to understand what was going on, but it seemed like a glorified riding club.  Very cool to see everyone dressed up in their traditional gear though!

Then we were off to Bourton-on-the-Water (they have GREAT names in the Cotswolds!).  This was a postcard perfect town with lovely traditional houses and shops - and a river running right through the center of the town, with stone footbridges every 30 to 40 meters for us to cross and explore.  We spent some time just wandering around and taking it all in... stopping for some morning tea at one of the Tea Rooms.  We even managed to gate crash a wedding (well, the bride and groom coming out of the church, and into their vintage cars!) at the local church with the bells ringing in celebration.

Back into the car, for a drive through the Cotswold countryside again to a small town called Naunton, where we had lunch at a pub called The Black Horse.  A very nice cosy pub, where Tony had his first beer - a local brew from Stow-on-the-Wold (a 17 year old is able to drink a beer in a pub, just not able to buy it.... crazy rule!).  

Back to Aylworth Manor and the granary for a relaxing night by the fire playing cards, scrabble and generally chillin'.

Our lunch destination

We woke up to another leisurely breakfast, before heading off to explore some more of the towns in the Cotswolds.  Our first stop was a town with one of the best names in history - Lower Slaughter - in fact there are two sister towns... Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter.  Needless to say, it was much more beautiful than it's name sounds.  Lower Slaughter looks like a smaller, less commercialised version of Bourton-on-the-Water.  Then onto Guiting Power, another postcard pretty town - this time on a hill.

Then with our tummies rumbling, we were off to Stow-on-the-Wold, where we had a wander around this historic market town and searched out the many Pubs for a place to eat.  In the end we stumbled accross yet another picture perfect building set in beautiful grounds where we had our lunch.