That sounds like a good trip plan.
I have a small website about the Cotswolds with more information -
Cotswolder.
In the north Cotswolds, from your base in Stratford, you could visit some of the interesting market towns - Winchcombe, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold. Lots to see and do in these towns, plus a few nearby things:
- Broadway Tower, on the hill above Broadway.
- Visit the village of Stanton, south of Broadway to see a perfect Cotswolds village.
-
Snowshill Manor near Broadway (National Trust). The pub in Snowshill is supposed to be good (we haven't been there).
-
Hailes Abbey, remains of a Cistercian Abbey, between Broadway and Winchcombe.
See my photos.
- Two famous gardens north of Chipping Campden -
Hidcote (National Trust) and Kiftsgate. See my photos of
Hidcote and
Kiftsgate.
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Chedworth Roman Villa (National Trust) has been "renovated" since your last visit - more mosaics are on display. If you like Roman things (as I do), there is a smaller villa south of Cheltenham -
Great Witcombe (English Heritage).
See my photos. The pub in Chedworth is good - Seven Tuns.
- The Slaughters are still beautiful villages to visit. But don't eat at Washbourne Court in Lower Slaughter. This used to be my favorite place to have afternoon tea in this area but it is not longer good (our experience and that of a local friend). There is a flat 1 mile or less walk along the river from Lower Slaughter to Upper Slaughter.
Devizes is well out of the Cotswolds, in Wiltshire, and is a lovely town. The Kennett- Avon Canal passes through the town and has a famous hill of locks - where the canal boats spend hours slowly climbing the hill.
Bradford-on-Avon is a very nice town near Devizes.
When you visit Avebury, don't miss Silbury Hill just a mile away. We visited Avebury many times, never bothering with Silbury Hill, but now it is one of my favorite things to see. You can drive to a small parking lot right at the base of it. It is man-made (preshistoric) but looks like a natural hill.
See my photos.
In the southern Cotswolds, the villages of Lacock and Castle Combe are a bit touristy, but are beautiful and interesting villages. For Castle Combe, the parking lot is a bit of a walk from the village - maybe 1/2 mile - but I think you can drive right into the village too.
One warning - I live in the Cotswolds and we are experiencing a very wet winter. You have probably read about the flooding. I am sure this excessive rain will stop soon, but things will be wet in the countryside for a few months. The footpaths will be muddy. But, even in all this rain, we have many very nice and sunny days.
Please post any more questions. I tried to give an overview of my favorite things. There is lots more info on Cotswolder.