Want a memorable day out? Let four wheels take you effortlessly into the Cotswolds countryside…
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Want a memorable day out? Let four wheels take you effortlessly into the Cotswolds countryside...
Snowshill Manor and Garden This extraordinary National Trust property is not just a beautiful 15th century house, but one that's packed full of intriguing curiosities collected over the lifetime of its former owner, the architect and craftsman Charles Wade. He bought it in 1919, and restored it to house his unique collection. Wade was fascinated by the Arts and Crafts movement, and Snowshill is very much a reflection of his own interests and character. Its rooms are packed with everything from furniture and samurai armour to toys, clocks and bicycles. And scrolling back through history, the house was also once the home of Catherine Parr, the only one of his six wives to survive Henry VIII.
Broadway Tower Standing on top of the quirky the Broadway Tower, it's possible to see up to 16 counties on a clear day. Built in 1799 for the Earl and Countess of Coventry, it allowed them to see their home at Croome Court. Later the artist and designer William Morris used it as a country retreat, and there's still a Morris room in the tower with some of his work. The walk from the village climbs Broadway Hill, part of the scenic Cotswolds Way.
The Ashmolean Broadway punches well above its weight when it comes to culture - its museum houses exhibits on loan from Oxford's Ashmolean Museum. You can also see silver, glass, fine porcelain, and paintings by Joshua Reyolds and Thomas Gainsborough. The latest Ashmolean Broadway spring exhibition features the work of artist and nonsense-poet Edward Lear, whose beautiful natural history drawings and paintings catalogue his round-the-world travels.
Broadway station All aboard - Broadway's railway enthusiasts are well underway with a major project to rebuild Broadway Station, which will serve the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway. Meanwhile, chug, chuff and puff along the route from Cheltenham Race Course to Toddington on a beautiful steam train with a rover ticket that lasts all day, with lots of extra activities for kids. You can even sign up for a steam and diesel train-driving course.
Give the kids a runaround With activities to suit all ages, Broadway Activity Park is a great way to let off steam, and it's easy to find as it's clearly signposted half way up the High Street. The three-acre recreation ground is divided into four separate areas to suit different age groups, with play equipment including climbing poles, climbing towers, a skate ride simulation and lots more. There's open grassland all around, so take your lunch to enjoy in the Picnic Area too.
Taking a family and friends trip to the English countryside is a delight with the seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. Its amazing comfort access means you can get in and out without holding a key - you can even open the boot with a flick of your foot!
To win your own luxury family weekend away in the Cotswolds with the use of a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer for the duration, click here.
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