Rolling hills and idyllic villages define the Cotswolds, an easy day trip from London. Hire a car for leisurely visits to quintessentially English towns with fairy-tale names like Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh. You'll also find thatched cottages, twisting footpaths and historic landmarks like Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Winston Churchill), Jane Austen's home and Gloucester Cathedral. The spa town of Cheltenham, with its Regency architecture, makes a good base for exploring.