Day 8 - Stratford upon Avon & Cotswolds - Shakespeare's Hangout on Saturday, May 11th, 2013

Drove to Stratford upon Avon today. Used the new park and ride on the outskirts of town. Highly recommend park & rides! Walked along the river to Shakespeare's grave inside  Holy Trinity Curch. We saw lots of the long boats that ply the rivers of England. We also visited the Royal Shakespeare Theatre before enjoying a "Cream Tea" in one of the town's tea rooms. Headed back to Chipping Campden to explore the town in warm afternoon light.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

http://www.rsc.org.uk/

A food barge on the Avon River in Stratford

An Ice Cream Barge!

Stratford upon Avon harbor

Day 7 - Hidcote Bartrim - Hidcote Gardens on Friday, May 10th, 2013

PAfter the cold and windy visit to Broadway Tower, we enjoyed a hot lunch at the Horse and Hounds pub in Broadway.  After we warmed up,we walked through the Hidcote Gardens. The gardens are more formal near the manor house, less formal and more natural the further one gets from the house.

Horse And Hounds pub in Broadway, Worcestershire

http://www.horse-and-hound.co.uk/

Hidcote Gardens

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote/

Hidcote Gardens

Hidcote Gardens

Hidcote Gardens

Day 7 - Broadway - Broadway Tower on Friday, May 10th, 2013

Today, We followed a route through Stanton , Stanway ,Broadway, Snowshill,Hidcote and Broad Campden.  On the way, we visited Broadway Tower. The tower is a "folly" built in the 1800's to resemble a medieval tower to entertain its owners. Really nice view from the top!

Broadway Tower near Broadway

http://www.broadwaytower.co.uk/

Herd of Deer Near Broadway Tower

Day 6 - Woodstock - Blenheim Palace on Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Explored Chipping Campden today.  Also took in Blenheim Palace. It was raining lightly today and very windy. But It was still another good day for exploring. Blenheim is HUGE! On the way out, I recognized the current Duke of Marlborough 's son driving off in a Lotus.  Rough life!

Finished off the day at the Lygon Hotel restaurant & pub. Salmon fillet for Pam and salmon cakes for me. Very good! A table of Americans were seated next to us. Same thing happened to us last night! It makes me wonder why we traveled across the Atlantic to see England only to run into more Americans?

Approaching Blenheim Palace

http://www.blenheimpalace.com/

Day 5 - The Cotswolds - Circuit Drive on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013.

Breakfast was wonderful.  Full English for me and continental for Pam. Shared the table with a couple from California . Good conversation. One can always learn from fellow travelers!

We decided to drive through the Cotswolds today because it was raining off and on. We followed a figure 8 route through Batford, Stow On The Wold, Upper & Lower Slaughter, Bourton On The Water, Burford and Bibury. We ran out of daylight to finish the circuit so we'll save Stanway, Stanton and Broadway for another day.

Topped off the day with supper at Michael's Mediterranean Restaurant in the center of Chipping Campden  . We both enjoyed their Shrimp Scampi. The Ouzo and Greek Coffee ended the meal perfectly. 

Batford Country Lane

Pasture in Batford

Pasture in Batford

Stow On The Wold

Arlington Row in Bibury

Lower Slaughter mill

Lower Slaughter

Shrimp Scampi

http://www.michaelsmediterranean.co.uk/

Day 4 - Chipping Campden on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

From our walk to dinner. The Market Hall built in the 1600's. My Smoked Haddock Fishcakes and Pam's Vegetable Quiche.  The view from our window at The Chance B&B.

Market Hall was built in 1627!  It is still in excellent shape and used frequently.  http://www.chippingcampdenonline.org/in-campden/market-hall.html

My Smoked Haddock Fishcakes @ The Red Lion Inn

http://www.theredlioninn.org/

Pam's Vegetable Quiche @ The Red Lion Inn

http://www.theredlioninn.org/

The view from our room called the Aston Room @ The Chance B&B in Chipping Campden.  We had a lovely stay!  We highly recommend The Chance.

http://www.the-chance.co.uk/contentok.php?id=50

Day 4 - Coventry - Ruins Of A Cathedral on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

We enjoyed another great breakfast in Durham at our B&B . I tried their porridge with whisky.  Great! We then met Chris for coffee at Vennels Cafe.  The cafe is located at the end of a narrow alley called a "Vennel".  Durham has lots of them.

After coffee, Pam and I drove 4hrs to Chipping Campden. Along the way, we visited the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.  Destroyed during the fire bombing of Coventry by the Germans in WWII, it was left standing as a reminder of the destructive nature of war.