History and Architecture
Kingham is a model of the classic Cotswold village. It has a large open green and plenty of elegant honey stone cottages, mainly dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The church of St Andrew has a 15th-century perpendicular Gothic west tower, and a fine ring of eight bells that were cast in 1924. St Andrew's has a particularly impressive 17th-century rectory with an excellent outlook, which is well worth a visit.
On the outskirts of the village is the distinctive Kingham Hill School, founded in 1886 as a home for deprived boys and designed by the architect William Howard Seth-Smith.
Exploring the Landscape
The Cotswolds provides a real haven of peace for walking, cycling and exploring at your own pace. The countryside is rolling and rich and filled with quiet lanes, bridleways and paths. The Cotswold National Trail is a 102-mile route that takes in some of England's finest scenery. However far you wish to venture, there is always plenty of guidance and information.
The areas around Bourton-on-the-water, Chipping Norton and Burford are all ideal for exploring on foot and there are some excellent circular walks starting from Kingham Station too.
Cotswold Highlights
The area is filled with major cultural and historical attractions to enjoy from Kingham hotels. One of the most famous is the magnificent Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A World Heritage site on the outskirts of Woodstock, the highlights are many and include the ‘Capability' Brown landscaped park, The Marlborough Maze, plus of course the awe-inspiring palace itself, designed by Sir John Vanburgh.
For peerless Cotswold views, try Broadway Tower. Standing at 1024 feet, it is the second highest point in the area. Built in 1799 it is a glorious 18th-century Gothic folly, from which you can see up to 13 counties and across the Severn Valley into the Welsh mountains. Inside the tower you will enjoy some fascinating exhibitions and information about the famous previous occupants such as William Morris. The Morris Room is furnished with his designs.
Travel much further back into the region's history at Chedworth Roman Villa near Cheltenham. Here are the exquisite remains of one of the grandest Roman Villas in the country, set in a perfect wooded combe. An amazing amount has survived, including over a mile of walling, stunning mosaics, bathhouses, a water-shrine and latrine.
Restaurants and Pubs
In the Cotswolds you will find some of the country's loveliest old pubs and very impressive restaurants. In the village of Kingham itself stands the award-winning Kingham Plough, where local ingredients, culinary flair and relaxed traditional ambiance merge to offer you an authentic Cotswold experience.
On Church Street, The Wild Rabbit subtly re-invents the traditional English Inn and offers you a wonderful choice of locally sourced seasonal food in a unique and relaxed setting.
