Drift through the Cotswolds’ creative undercurrent over two days of boutique boltholes, design-led spaces and small-batch makers, where craft and character lead the way.

Day 01:

Wander: Painswick Rococo Garden
The UK’s only surviving Rococo garden is a delightfully frilly 1740s fantasy: fish ponds and gothic alcoves, serpentine paths and statues, a teasing maze and long views over the surrounding hills. Painswick, GL6 6^TH

Lunch: Juliet
Stroud’s buzziest tables occupy a former music school turned zipped-up neighbourhood bistro. Start with a Gimlet at the bar, then dive into the Parisian classics: baguette with extremely good butter, oeufs mayonnaise, thick spears of asparagus and a dozen oysters. Stroud, GL5 2AD

Art: Rattle and Brash
Tap into Stroud’s creative energy at Rattle and Brash’s barn, on the outskirts of town. Piano concerts and gigs fill the residency space by night and the day is turned over to exhibitions of up-and-coming talent. Stroud, GL5 1PH

Shop: Humphries & Begg
Print-mad husband-and-wife team Alice Begg and Robbie Humphries create small batch, brilliantly original clothing, in collaboration with artisans in Jaipur, as well as colour-block homeware and Kilim rugs. Stroud, GL5 1AA

Dinner: The Woolpack
Sculptor Daniel Chadwick took over Laurie Lee’s local more than 25 years ago – and it just keeps getting better. With fires lit, flowing cider and plates of hearty-smart food, it feels like the valley’s dining room. Stay on and you might just hear Stroud band Ordinary Folk striking up. Slad, GL6 7QA

Nightcap: Experimental Cocktail Club
The Cotswolds outpost of the Experimental Cocktail Club is a moody indigo-and-amber den, where garden herb tinctures find their way into the drinks and DJs soundtrack the late hours of the weekend. Cowley, GL53 9NL

Day 02:

Coffee: Knead Bakery
At Elkstone Studios’ creative hub, Knead Bakery’s shelves are lined with warm, sugar-crunch brioche doughnuts and rhubarb-custard buns worth driving for. The coffee is excellent, too, and the lavender-filled courtyard is heated on chilly days. Elkstone Studios, GL53 9PQ

Head to: Bicester Village
Pre-booked parking, Hands-free Shopping, and purchases waiting for you neatly at the end of the day. Bicester Village has seamless shopping down to a fine art. Bicester, OX26 6WD

Please visit here for more information: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/visit/creative-cotswolds-itinerary/

Capture the fertile rolling lowlands of Kildare over a weekend of cypress-lined roams, cascading waterfalls, cult Irish boutiques and a coast down the Grand Canal – punctuated, of course, with a pit stop for the perfect Irish pint.

Day 01:

Stay: Cliff at Lyons
This huddle of rose-clad buildings is home to Kildare’s most romantic hotel and sits on the edge of Lyons Demesne’s magnificent country estate. Cliff at Lyons, Lyons, W23 F8KP

Breakfast: Firecastle
The warm brioche breakfast buns are serious shopping fuel, whether filled with O’Neills' award-winning bacon and smoked scamorza cheese or smashed avocado, mushroom, fried egg and a drizzle of black bean rayu. Firecastle, Kildare Town, R51 AD61
Head to: Kildare Village
Pre-book Hands-free Shopping to save juggling the bags you’ll collect on a spin around the Village’s more than 100 boutiques. Shopping packages come with a VIP Pass for a 10% saving on the Village price in participating boutiques, too. Kildare,  R51 R265

Dinner: Bouchon
Head upstairs from Kavanagh’s and the vibe shifts to Parisian bistro. On the menu might be salmon rillette and miso-glazed hake, Irish wagyu burgers and a decadent chocolate fondant. Bouchon, Naas, W91 ANP2

Day 02:

Breakfast bagel: Hey Darling
This cult local mini-chain, with other outposts in Naas and Kill, is famous for its bagels, thickly filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese or chicken Caesar salad – croutons and all. Hey Darling, Sallins, W91 C786

Cruise: The Grand Canal
Not that Grand Canal, but Ireland's version is almost as picturesque as its Venetian counterpart, flowing through the lush Kildare countryside. Cliffs at Lyons can charter a private barge. The Grand Canal

Lunch: Neighbourhood
Full Irish breakfast and Okonomiyaki hash brunch plates are served until 1 pm. Afterwards, the set menu runs from Currach scallops to cacio e pepe pasta – and is brilliant value. Neighbourhood, Naas, W91 RH96

Walk: Moore Abbey Wood
In late spring, the forest floor practically glows with bluebells, but the peaceful woodland walking trails are just as lovely year-round, roaming through cypress-lined avenues and offering glimpses of the stately Moore Abbey house. Moore Abbey Wood, Gorteenoona

Please visit here for more information: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/kildare-village/en/visit/kildare-bluebells-barge-trips-itinerary/

At the gateway to the Romantic Road, good wine and green living converge in a bucolic setting of Franconian vineyards and orchards, storied bakeries, cosy taverns and surprising vegetarian fare.

Day 01:

Stay: Mana Lisa Boutiquehotel
Deep in the Tauber Valley, overlooking vineyards and orchards, this sweet stay is run by Nane and Marin Bauer – and their daughter Alisa – who share their love of wine, wellness and good living. Mana Lisa Boutique Hotel, 97922 Lauda-Königshofen

Castle: Wertheim Castle
This atmospheric stone ruin is one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany, guarding over the old town of Wertheim, where the mighty Main and Tauber rivers meet. Wertheim Castle, 97877 Wertheim

Head to: Wertheim Village
A short drive from Wertheim, along the winding meanders of the Main, the Village is home to more than 110 boutiques and year-round savings. Book a VIP package for Hands-free Shopping, reserved parking and a 10% saving on the Village price in participating boutiques. Wertheim Village, 97877 Wertheim

Day 02:

Matcha: La Rue 04
The best matcha in town is found at this minimalist coffee shop near the Marienkapelle – pick up a fragrant cardamom bun to munch alongside the bright green latte. La Rue 04, 97070 Würzburg

Explore: Würzburg Residence
The Prince-Bishops of Würzburg used to live across the river at the Marienberg Fortress until the eighteenth century, when the then Prince-Bishop decided something akin to the Palace of Versailles would be more fitting. This Baroque beauty is the result and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Würzburg Residence, 97070 Würzburg

Wander: The Old Town
Pretty Würzburg marks the start of the famous Romantic Road that wiggles more than 350 kilometres down to Füssen. But don’t rush out before ambling around Würzburg’s pedestrianised old town between its many churches and Romanesque cathedral. The Old Town, Würzburg

Lunch: Zum Stachel
One of the city’s oldest taverns – founded in 1413 – Stachel majors in hearty plates of fried black pudding or roast pork in dark beer sauce, all washed down with more delicate Franconia white wines. Zum Stachel, 97070 Würzburg

Walk: Alte Mainbrücke to Marienberg Fortress
It’s a short post-prandial stroll to the pedestrian Old Main Bridge, lined with stone statues of saints and icons. From there, stride up the winding path on the opposite bank to the imposing Marienberg Fortress. Alte Mainbrücke to Marienberg Fortress, Würzburg

Please visit here for more information: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/wertheim-village/en/visit/wertheim-town-and-wine-country-itinerary/

Draw inspiration from the unmistakable style, artistry and gastronomy of Barcelona and the surrounding Catalan region.

Day 01:

Stay: Cotton House
Once a private palace, then a cotton textile factory, this boutique hotel has been sensitively restored by the city’s best-known interior designer, Lázaro Rosa-Violán. There’s an in-house atelier in a nod to the building’s past, as well as a rooftop swimming pool that draws a crowd. Cotton House, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 670, Eixample, 08010

Breakfast: Batuar, Cotton House
The hotel’s wood-panelled restaurant Batuar doubles as a breakfast room. Head to the buzzy terrace for a jamón sandwich or pancakes piled with mascarpone and chocolate. Batuar, Cotton House, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 670, Eixample, 08010

Shop: Casa Beethoven
One of the most charming aspects of Barcelona is its endurance of specialist merchants such as this La Rambla spot, which dates back to 1880. Sheet music and songbooks range from Mozart to Taylor Swift, and there’s also a niche library of books covering music theory and history. Casa Beethoven, La Rambla, 97, Ciutat Vella, 08002

Lunch: Dos Pebrots
A unique place, fastidiously executed by El Bulli alumnus Albert Raurich and chef Borja García Ordoño. The menu is based on Mediterranean recipes from antiquity to the early twentieth century and includes medieval Catalan duck with pears and Valencian garlic and pepper squid. Dos Pebrots, Carrer Doctor Dou, 19, Ciutat Vella 08001

Ice cream: DelaCrem
This cherished Italian institution was founded by Massimo Pignata, a Turin-born gelato obsessive. Famous for sticking to natural ingredients and making ice cream fresh every day, his Parmesan flavour went viral and is more delicious than it sounds. DeLaCrem, Carrer de Muntaner, 59, Eixample, 08011

Dinner: Contracorrent
Many of Barcelona’s best bars are built on talented cross-cultural pairings, and this tiny tapas joint is one stellar example. In the kitchen, Sicilian chef Nico Drago has come up with the cleverest upgrades to classic dishes – and his roast chicken Russian salad has secured cult status. Contracorrent, Carrer de Ribes, 35, Eixample 08013

Day 02:

Drive: La Roca Village
Jump in the car towards La Roca Village, just 40 minutes from the centre of town. Here, you’ll find 150 boutiques of the most covetable names in local and worldwide fashion, alongside complimentary parking and electric car charging points on arrival. La Roca Village, 08430 Santa Agnès de Malanyanes

Please visit here for more information: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/la-roca-village/en/visit/Barcelona-fashion-flavour-flair-itinerary/

Take in the bucolic beauty of Barbizon – ‘the painters’ village’ – that captivated the likes of Jean-François Millet and Claude Monet, and finish with the thrill of the treasure hunt at La Vallée Village.

Day 01:

Stay: La Folie Barbizon
Sibling to Paris’ Hôtel des Académies et des Arts, La Folie Barbizon is part creative residence, part country-house hangout on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, where each of the 21 bedrooms has been reimagined by an artist. A brilliantly bohemian hideout. La Folie Barbizon, 77630 Barbizon

Morning stroll: Mosaic trails
Follow the first few mosaic markers through the village lanes to get a sense of the surroundings here that inspired generations of painters. Mosaic trails, Barbizon

Art appreciation: Maison Atelier de Jean-François Millet
The painter’s former home-turned-museum is virtually unchanged since his death – letters, sketches and family photographs share the space with the naturalistic paintings of the Barbizon School. Maison Atelier de Jean-François Millet, 77630 Barbizon

Palace prowl: Château de Fontainebleau
The vast palace was continuously inhabited by French monarchs for more than 700 years. Its gilded salons and parquet floors chart royal life from Renaissance opulence to Napoleonic grandeur. Château de Fontainebleau, 77300 Fontainebleau

Lunch: La Papote
A historic inn that once hosted Monet, Renoir and Cézanne is now a cleverly updated contemporary restaurant, filled with the smells of seasonal cooking and the sound of clinking cutlery. La Papote, 77780 Bourron-Marlotte

River wander: Samois-sur-Seine
One of Seine-et-Marne’s prettiest villages, its cobbled streets and tree-lined riverbank play host to boats and barges that knock gently against their moorings. Samois-sur-Seine, 77920

Culture stop: Château Rosa Bonheur
Step into the artist’s château-studio, where animal studies, worn brushes, used palettes, her hat, her boots, even her cigarette butts bring Rosa Bonheur’s world into sharp focus. Château Rosa Bonheur, 77810 Thomery

Drinks and dinner: Le Restaurant at La Folie Barbizon
A lively gathering place; step up to the bar for a few botanical-based cocktails before shifting to a table where locavore plates are washed down with natural wines. Le Restaurant at La Folie Barbizon, 77630 Barbizon

Day 02:

Head to: La Vallée Village
Just 40 minutes east of the city, all the Paris fashion classics are here alongside international big-hitting labels. Personal Shopping stylists-in-residence are on hand to help curate your perfect edit. La Vallée Village, 77700 Serris

Please visit here for more information: https://www.thebicestercollection.com/la-vallee-village/en/visit/la-vallee-village-arty-weekend-itinerary/