The Tree Nursery

The hot tub at this park – and the nearby country surrounds – mean you might not want to venture too far. But if you do? Check out Cheltenham, a city of Regency-era buildings and fab shopping and drinking options (15 minutes’ drive), just west of the site. Alternatively, head north, east or south to survey the scenery of the Cotswolds and the protected area’s chocolate-box villages, including Bourton-on-the-Water and Upper Slaughter (a spot much prettier than its name might suggest…). Long a playground for the rich, the area is full of stately homes like Sudeley Castle (25 minutes) with its grand gardens and the handsome Blenheim Palace (50 minutes), home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family. For outdoor times with the chance of getting a glimpse of animals, bound around Birdland Park & Gardens (20 minutes) or the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens (30 minutes) before gazing at the gorgeous cultivated floral displays in Westonbirt, The National Arboretum (40 minutes). To take in more nature, top it all off with a walk to the region’s second-highest point, Broadway Tower (30 minutes), with its far-reaching views over the Cotswolds.