{england: bibury and moreton-in-marsh}

Salisbury
Lacock and Castle Combe
Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Lower Slaughter

Last post on the Cotswolds!

Birbury

First, a little bit about our Airbnb: we stayed in a converted stone barn that was right next to a castle. It was unreal; it had a huge bedroom, beautiful bathroom, and a full kitchen and living space. No one is currently living in the estate, so it felt like it was all ours. The grounds were also really gorgeous. We can't wait to go back. (It was actually pretty comical when we arrived—the GPS led us to a big iron gate at the end of a very private neighborhood. We couldn't believe it was the place we'd reserved. It was literally like a movie, where the village is at the base of this giant castle. But instead of royalty, it was two tired American girls. Haha.)

Our dinner on the second night was my favorite of the entire trip. We ate at an award-winning restaurant called The Village Pub in Barnsley, just a short drive from Bibury. Dylan had the tomato soup (the best) with warm gluten-free bread, while I had the roasted chicken with fresh vegetables. It was so so good—from the atmosphere to the food. Cozy, quiet, and warm.

As a wrap-up to our time in the Cotswolds, I'll just say that we can't wait to return. It's only a ninety-minute drive from Heathrow, so it couldn't be more convenient. The roads were fairly easy to drive on (some spots were narrow), the views were beautiful to admire, and you can see a lot in a short amount of time. We didn't even spend 48 hours there and yet we spent time in eight or so towns! We're also glad we started our trip in the country, instead of end it there, since it was nice to begin the week on a slower pace.

Click below for more photos!

Moreton-in-Marsh & Cornwall Manor

The next day we stopped at The Cotswolds Tea Room for some tea. We knew it was celiac-friendly but had no idea how friendly it would be—essentially everything was okay for us to eat. We ordered slices of the lemon drizzle and salted caramel cake, and then split the most heavenly gluten-free scone I've ever tasted. I literally still think about it.

Shortly out of town, we also drove by the Cornwall Manor. I believe it is a private home that can be rented for events, but we recognized it from the movie The Holiday. (In the movie, they use the exterior as a restaurant.)

Email or comment if you'd like a link to our Airbnbs!