This year I’m spending Christmas at our home in the Cotswolds with my husband and our two boys. After a year of constant movement, this is the time I protect most — family mornings that stretch into long lunches, cold walks followed by open fires, card games, candlelight and no agenda. For me, this is the version of Christmas that truly restores.
If you’re thinking of escaping to the Cotswolds, these are my top five places to stay, eat and quietly soak up the season.
Accommodation: Daylesford Cottages & Residences
Calm, beautiful and completely grounding.
This is where countryside Christmas is done beautifully. Calm, understated, and surrounded by nature. You wake to frost on the fields, drink coffee slowly, light fires early and feel instantly grounded. It’s the kind of place where Christmas happens naturally, without performance.
Best Eat: The Double Red Duke
Firelit, atmospheric and perfect for a long winter lunch.
Deeply atmospheric and festive without being forced. Low ceilings, firelight, brilliant food and that warm, enveloping feeling you want from a proper Christmas lunch spot. This is where winter evenings stretch longer than planned.
A Stroll Around: Stow-on-the-Wold at Dusk
Softly lit, cinematic and timeless.
One of the most magical winter villages in the Cotswolds. Antique shops glowing, bookshops open late, old pubs softly lit and stone streets that feel suspended in time. Best enjoyed slowly, hands in pockets, no destination needed.
A Short Trip: Burford
Burford, with a stop at The Bull for coffee or lunch.
A long walk through Burford’s sweeping high street, past the sloping rooftops and old stone houses, followed by a stop at The Bull for coffee or lunch. It’s relaxed, quietly buzzy and feels wonderfully local — the perfect pause before heading back into the countryside.
Christmas Shopping: Burford Garden Centre
Books, flowers, gifts and the softest cashmere.
So much more than a garden centre. A beautiful bookshop, seasonal flowers, thoughtful home gifts and the best cashmere for winter layering. I never leave without at least one book and something soft and indulgent.
The Cotswolds Christmas Feeling
This Christmas is all about space, firelight, long walks, unhurried meals, and intentional quiet. No rushing, no to-do lists — just time unfolding as it should. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Maria x
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