Getting there

Planes

Birmingham Airport is the nearest | but it’s still an hour’s drive from anywhere relaxing. Heathrow is probably a better bet: it’s only a couple of hours from most of Gloucestershire.

Trains

The Heathrow Express train runs every 20 minutes to Paddington Station, and from there you can pick up a connection to Gloucester, Moreton-in-Marsh or Cheltenham Spa. From London Gatwick Airport, it’s easiest to get a train to Reading and, from there, a connection to Moreton-in-Marsh, in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Automobiles

Gloucester itself is a couple of hours from London or Heathrow by car. Once you're in the shire | the country-lane driving can be magnificent. If you want to hire a car | Smith cardholders get a ten per cent discount at Hertz. Go to www.hertz.co.uk for more details | and quote ‘635230’ when you reserve a car.