We first realised that we had arrived when we entered a village packed with cars and not a chance of parking anywhere. People, that is, those that had managed to park, were going from one tea house or pub looking for empty seats, but obviously in this weather there were none. We were in a traffic jam and this was only our first taste of the Cotswolds. Some fifteen minutes later we got out of there but surely this isn't how it's going to be, packed even on a miserable day and no car parks.
Back into the grey and rain we went, deciding to google a few guest houses and hotels in the area and go take a look. The first three on our list were full, the sign says it all; in fact, that was my gut feeling at that moment: the Cotswolds are full.