A Week in London and the Cotswolds for Christmas
Over the past few years, I had this vision to spend Christmas in London and the Cotswolds. The thought may have come from everyone’s favorite Christmas movie, “The Holiday,” where Cameron Diaz runs away from Los Angeles to the English countryside for the holidays. She’s in the coziest cottage in the English countryside, bundled up drinking a bottle of red wine—and *spoiler*— obviously meets the love of her life.
I talked my family into doing no gifts last Christmas and instead, taking a trip to England to live out this fantasy.
The planning began in October, three months before we would leave. It would be the first Christmas my family wasn’t spending it at home and getting to experience the magic of the Christmas season in England had us all excited.
Our route:
London for 3 days
Drive to Cotswolds on Christmas Eve (rented a car through Turo)
Cotswolds for 2 days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Back in London for a night
Flight back to LAX
The Cotswolds is made up of a variety of oh-so-charming villages that genuinely look like you’ve jumped straight into a storybook. Towns consisting of traditional pubs, dreamy cottages, and cobblestone streets are found between stretches of rolling hills.
We landed on staying in the town of Stow-on-the-Wold, which seemed quintessentially English. A traditional Christmas Eve dinner was had at The Porch House, England’s oldest inn, and on Christmas night, we stayed in, cooking our own dinner of charcuterie, pasta, and roast with ingredients from Daylesford Farm. Unlike the movie, there was no snow to trudge through, but definitely chilly, windy weather and gray skies. The one downside was that because it was a holiday, most shops and cafes were closed on the two days we were in town.
Where we stayed:
London: The Hoxton Holborn
Cotswolds: Airbnb in Stow-on-the-Wold
Other Cotswolds hotels on our radar:
Where to Eat in the Cotswolds:
The Cotswold Guy: Founded and owned by David Beckham’s private chef, Christopher Davey. Don’t leave without a famous sausage roll!
Daylesford Farm: Heaven on Earth for anyone interested in cooking, eating, or interior design
The Porch House: England’s oldest inn
Other Cotswolds restaurants on our radar:
What to Know:
You’re in England, so driving on the left side of the road will take a few to get used to. Be cautious while driving in the Cotswolds, as there are many potholes and curbs. We ended up getting a flat tire on Christmas Eve (yes, all of the car shops were closed, but we made it back to London on the spare).
What to do in London in December:
Holiday tea at Sketch
See The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House
Go to a football game at London Stadium
Walk and shop in Notting Hill
Eat and drink at a pub
See the Christmas lights in Mayfair (hop on a double-decker bus tour—touristy, but magical)
Browse through Covent Garden
We found the holiday markets to be extremely touristy in London. To experience more authentic European Christmas markets, those can be found in Vienna, Prague, or Brussels. Our cozy Christmas in England ultimately inspired by “The Holiday,” was successful to say the least. Keep in mind London is a top destination to travel to during the holidays, so don’t be surprised by large crowds and long lines.
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