Avonvale Holiday Lodges

When out and about exploring the Cotswolds National Landscape, Broadway (15 minutes’ drive) is a clever place to start, with its typical mellow-stone cottages, foodie pubs and indie shops. Close by, Broadway Tower (20 minutes) is an ancient beacon site with a cracking viewing platform for casting your eyes over the undulating Cotswolds countryside. Big-hitting Cotswolds attractions for kids include the rare-breed horses, lambs to feed (in spring) and wildlife walks at Cotswold Farm Park (half an hour), brainchild of TV presenter Adam Henson. Just on the northern extremities in the National Landscape is the mighty Warwick Castle (40 minutes), where kids can dress in medieval jousting outfits, explore dark and moody castle dungeons or see birds of prey handled by expert falconers. Stratford-upon-Avon (half an hour) pulls in the punters to watch performances at the Royal Shakespeare Company, see where one of the country's greatest playwrights grew up at Shakespeare’s Birthplace or visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, with its pretty half-timbered facade and leafy gardens. Get a feel for the town with an open-topped bus tour or take a cruise down the River Avon from Bancroft Gardens.