There are two main reasons to start the day off at Daylesford Farm; firstly, it’s a great way of getting out of the direct sun and heat, and secondly, Daylesford is at it’s most peaceful when it first opens. Later in the day, Daylesford will be so packed you won’t be able to swing a sausage dog, so arriving between 8am-10am is ideal if you want to miss the crowds. Grab an iced coffee or an ice cream and have a stroll around the extensive farm shop, the garden centre, and the Bamford store.

Next, we’d recommend going for a pizza and a cool glass of rosé at The Fox at Oddington. Only minutes from Daylesford Farm, The Fox boasts a beautiful garden which is lined with perennials like nepeta, which buzz with bees in the summer months. It truly is the most glorious setting for a summer lunch and a glass of wine. Who needs the South of France when you have a glorious Cotswold pub garden and a glass of french rosé?

Less than a 10 minute drive from The Fox is our next stop; Chastleton House. Chastleton is a gorgeous National Trust property with lovely grounds, which are perfect to wander around on a hot summer’s day. If you get too hot, step into the Jacobean manor house which is kept surprisingly cool by the thick stone walls. There is no official cafe at this National Trust property, however volunteers run a little stall within the neighbouring church from which you can buy coffees, teas and a selection of homemade cakes.

And finally, we arrive at the perfect heatwave dinner spot, The Norman Knight; another Cotswold pub with tasty food and a gorgeous garden. The Norman Knight was recently taken over by the group responsible for The Kingham Plough and The Hare at Milton, two very well regarded pubs, and The Norman Knight certainly lives up to the group’s exemplary reputation. Take a seat in the lovely new garden, and order yourself a burger with a selection of sides to share, including thick-cut chips, seasonal salads and hispi cabbage.

If you’ve come to The Cotswolds for a summer trip, I’m sure you’ll be a little disappointed if rain is forecast, but fear not; there is still plenty to do on a rainy day! Start the day in Chipping Campden, an idyllic Cotswold village that makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. If there’s a break in the rain or you’re not fazed by braving the weather, be sure to have a ramble around the historic church and church yard. If you’d rather stay out of the rain, duck in and out the many boutique shops that line the high-street, stopping off for brunch at Huxleys, and picking up some treats to take home from Fillet & Bone deli.

Not far from Chipping Campden there are three excellent antiques shops you can visit, with The Barn being the most affordable of the three. The Barn is more of a warehouse rather than a shop, and sells wares from over 40 sellers. The prices are considerably cheaper than the posh little antiques shops you get on Cotswold village high-streets – think £400 for a chest of drawers, rather than £4000. The Barn also has a lovely cafe called the Espresso Barn, where you can grab a coffee and a cake if you’re in need of refreshment. Mickleton Antiques is also very affordable, and they offer lots of great garden antiques, such as rusty plant supports and obelisks. Saintbury Antiques is also well worth a wander, although the prices vary hugely, with some smaller items being quite affordable, and a few items being rather ridiculously priced (£65,000 golden eagle statue anyone??).

Finish off your afternoon by visiting the bustling village of Broadway. Stop for a coffee and a pastry at Otis & Belle, peruse the wonderful selection of boutique shops; including several excellent homeware shops such as Oka and Susie Watson Designs. For dinner, we’d recommend choosing either Rossi (pizza) or Flipside (burgers) if you’re after a more casual meal, or House of George if you’ve got something to celebrate.

Blenheim Palace truly is a full day out on it’s own.  You’ll need an entire day, or maybe even two to fully explore the extensive palace and grounds. Blenheim Palace really is the ultimate day out for children, as not only is the palace fascinating to explore, but there’s a fun train that can transport tired little legs from one side of the grounds to the other, plus there is a humungous adventure play park that can keep little ones entertained for hours! Blenheim also has much to offer it’s grown-up visitors; beautiful gardens and grounds to stroll around, impressive museum exhibits, and several restaurants to choose from, including the orangery cafe which offers afternoon tea. Blenheim hosts a huge range of exciting events throughout the year for children and adults alike, so be sure to check out their website to time your visit accordingly.

Woodstock is the village that Blenheim Palace presides over, and is a lovely destination to visit in it’s own right. Woodstock has a wonderful little independent book shop that stocks an excellent range of children’s books, as well as a gelato shop called Alfonso, that sells flavours such as lemon cheesecake, banoffee and hazelnut. Woodstock also boats a couple of nice little antiques shops which are worth a wander if your children don’t find antiques too dull!

The best restaurant in Woodstock is undoubtedly The Back Lane Tavern; a lovely small plates restaurant that offers a fantastic wine list and dishes including croquettes, charcuterie and salt & pepper squid for the adults, plus a wonderful small plates menu specifically for children. The quality of the food is excellent, and the menu is very broad; there’s truly something to suit everyone!

A day out with your pooch could start with a delicious breakfast at The Straw Kitchen and a wander around Whichford Pottery. Whichford Pottery famously produces Monty Don’s favourite pots, and is really very lovely to roam around – they have a courtyard brimming with potted flowers outdoors, plus a lovely shop selling wares from local artists and artisans indoors. The Straw Kitchen is the excellent cafe on the same site as Whichford Pottery, and it serves healthy plant-focussed dishes. Take note that it’s only open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm!

Only a 5 minute drive from Whichford Pottery is the lovely village of Long Compton. Park up on one of the back roads and give the Whichfood Wood Circular on AllTrails a go. This 7km walk is one of the best walks in the area for dogs, as your dog should be able to be off-lead for nearly the whole time. Plus it’s a very peaceful walk; you’re unlikely to come across more than a couple of other walkers throughout the entire two hours or so.

If you’re into history, take a quick stop at The Rollright Stones on your way out of Long Compton. The Rollright Stones is an ancient site consisting of a stone circle plus some other stone monuments, with the oldest dating back to around 3800 BC! Whilst you’re visiting the stones, be sure to check out their website for more information, and if you scroll to the bottom of the overview page, you can download a full audio tour to accompany your visit.

The best way to spend a few hours on a sunny afternoon with your pooches in tow, is by going to The Cotswolds Distillery for sundowners. The Cotswolds Distillery visitors centre, located near Shipston-on-Stour is a gorgeous site bursting with fragrant lavender bushes, making you feel as if you’re in the beautiful countryside of Provence. The distillery offer great cocktails using their own small-batch spirits, and be sure to grab a bottle of the Cotswold Summer Cup (a much better version of Pimms in our opinion!) to take away with you.

A mere 8 minutes drive from The Cotswolds Distillery is Herd, the perfect place to finish off your doggie day out. Take a seat at one of their picnic tables, and have a lovely al fresco dinner at one of our favourite foodie spots in the Cotswolds. The menu is quite meat-heavy, as this restaurant is located on the site of a working farm, and many of their ingredients are located from their own and neighbouring farms. Herd are probably best known for their burgers, and in our opinion, they offer the best burgers in the Cotswolds!

Sudeley Castle is an impressive 15th century castle with royal connections that have spanned thousands of years. It is also the only private castle in the UK to have a queen buried within the grounds; Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII, who lived and died at Sudeley. Whilst the history at Sudeley is fascinating, there is so much more to this incredible place. The gardens and grounds are beautiful, with a scented rose garden, as well as ancient ruins beautifully planted with incredible herbaceous borders. The castle has a cafe, as well as a shepherd’s hut serving coffees and cakes.

Just minutes from Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe is a historic market town lined with ancient cottages and boasting a nearly 1000-year-old church. Wander along the quintessential Cotswold high-street, stopping off at the lovely antiques shops as you go.

Cheltenham is a historic spa town, known for having some of the most incredible regency architecture in the country. Spend the morning shopping in the stunning district of Montpellier, whilst also admiring the gorgeous buildings. Be sure to make a lunch reservation at WoodKraft, a lovely cafe with an extensive brunch and lunch menu. Cheltenham also hosts many events throughout the summer months, such as the food festival which is 19th-21st June, so be sure to check out what’s on before you plan your visit.

Just outside of Cheltenham is Ellenborough Park; a beautiful country house hotel set within 90 acres of Parkland. The house itself is over 500 years old, but the location has remained inhabited since 2000BC. Head over to the back lawn for some al fresco drinks, looking over the glorious gardens.

Less than a 10 minute drive from Ellenborough Park, tucked down a residential street in a very unlikely spot (with Dominos Pizza as it’s neighbour) is a fantastic Indian street food restaurant. Jai Ho has been awarded with a Bib Gourmand award by Michelin, and with good reason! Jai Ho serves some of the absolute best Indian food in the Cotswolds. You’ve simply got to try the chat bombs and the bang bang cauliflower.