A good Cotswolds family itinerary should never feel rushed.
The region is full of beautiful villages, farm parks, wildlife attractions, castles, gardens, rivers, museums, country pubs and countryside walks, but families rarely enjoy a holiday that tries to do everything. Children need snacks, naps, space, fresh air, food, flexibility and time to settle. Parents need the day to work practically. Grandparents may prefer gentler outings. Teenagers may need variety and downtime. International families may need to recover from travel before beginning a full itinerary.
The best Cotswolds family holidays are built around rhythm.
One strong activity a day is often enough. A farm park morning, a country pub lunch and an afternoon at the house can be perfect. A wildlife park day does not need three extra village stops. A rainy morning can become a museum visit followed by baking, films and a private chef supper at the property. A longer stay can allow the family to stop sightseeing constantly and begin living more slowly in the countryside.
This guide suggests family-friendly Cotswolds itineraries for 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and longer stays. It includes ideas for young children, older children, teenagers, multigenerational groups and families visiting from the United States or further afield.
Explore our collection of luxury cottages and country houses in the Cotswolds as you consider the right base for your family itinerary.
How to Use This Family Itinerary Guide
This guide is designed to be flexible.
The Cotswolds is not a single city where every attraction is close together. It is a rural region of villages, market towns, country lanes, valleys, gardens, estates and family attractions spread across several areas. A perfect itinerary for a family staying near Burford will be different from one based near Broadway, Tetbury, Cirencester, Woodstock, Kingham or the South Cotswolds.
Use these itineraries as a structure, not a fixed route.
Before planning each day, consider:
- Where your property is located
- The age of your children
- Whether you are travelling with babies or toddlers
- Whether grandparents are joining
- How far you want to drive
- Whether you need pushchair-friendly places
- Whether you need indoor rainy-day options
- Whether you want lunch out or dinner at the house
- Whether private dining would make evenings easier
- Whether the house itself should be the focus of the stay
- Whether your family is arriving from overseas and may need a gentle first day
For most families, the best rhythm is one main outing each day, supported by easy food and enough time back at the property.
The Golden Rule: Do Less Than You Think
The most common mistake families make in the Cotswolds is planning too much.
It is tempting to list every famous village, every family attraction and every recommended pub. But children rarely enjoy being moved from place to place all day, especially in a rural region where short distances on a map can still involve slow country roads, parking, walking, loading pushchairs and finding food.
A successful family itinerary usually includes:
- One main activity each day
- One clear meal plan
- A nearby backup option
- Time at the house
- Flexibility for weather
- Shorter drives where possible
- Earlier meals for younger children
- Downtime for everyone
The Cotswolds is best enjoyed slowly. This is especially true with children.
A Perfect 3-Day Cotswolds Family Itinerary
A 3-day Cotswolds family trip is ideal for a long weekend, half-term break, birthday weekend or short countryside escape.
The aim is not to see everything. The aim is to choose one strong family day out, one classic Cotswolds village or countryside day, and enough time at the house to make the stay feel like a proper break.
Day 1: Arrival, Settle In and Simple Supper
The first day should be gentle.
Arrive at the property, unpack properly and let children explore the house safely. If the property has a garden, playroom, games room, pool or outdoor space, allow time for the family to enjoy it before doing anything else.
For families with young children, avoid booking a restaurant far from the house on the first night. A stocked kitchen, simple arrival supper, grazing board, children’s tea or private chef meal can make the evening far easier.
A good first evening might include:
- Arrival provisions
- Children exploring the house and garden
- Simple supper at the property
- Baths and bedtime
- Adults enjoying drinks or dinner once children are settled
For international families arriving from the United States, this day should be even softer. Jet lag, car seats, unfamiliar roads and tired children can make a full sightseeing plan unrealistic. The best first night is usually at the house.
Day 2: Farm Park, Wildlife Park or Castle Day
Choose one main family attraction close to your base.
For younger children, Cotswold Farm Park can be an excellent choice, particularly from a North Cotswolds base. It gives children animals, play and countryside without needing the day to become complicated.
For families with mixed ages, Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford can work very well, especially from the Central, Eastern or Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
For families who want history and play, Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe or Blenheim Palace near Woodstock can make the day feel more substantial.
A good structure is:
- Breakfast at the house
- Morning attraction
- Lunch at the attraction, nearby café or pub
- Return to the property mid-afternoon
- Garden time, games or rest
- Easy supper at the house
Avoid adding too many villages afterwards. Children often enjoy the house more than another stop.
Day 3: Village, Short Walk and Sunday Lunch
The final day should be easy.
Choose a nearby village, market town or short walk, then build the day around lunch. This might be Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Tetbury, Lechlade-on-Thames, Woodstock, Winchcombe or another place close to your property.
For families with toddlers, keep the outing short. For older children, add a small attraction, tower, riverside walk, museum or ice cream stop.
A good final day might include:
- Slow breakfast
- Short village visit
- Easy walk or café stop
- Sunday lunch
- Return to collect bags or relax before departure
For a 3-day stay, this is enough. A successful family weekend should leave everyone wanting to return, not feeling exhausted.
A Perfect 5-Day Cotswolds Family Itinerary
A 5-day Cotswolds stay gives families more space to enjoy the region without rushing.
This length works well for half-term holidays, school breaks, international visitors adding the Cotswolds to a wider UK trip, and families who want a countryside stay but cannot commit to a full week.
Day 1: Arrival and House Time
Keep arrival day simple.
Plan food before you arrive. This could mean stocked provisions, a farm shop hamper, a prepared supper or private dining at the house. Let children discover their bedrooms, the garden and the main family spaces.
For families travelling with babies or toddlers, this day should be about routine: food, bath, bedtime and parents settling in.
For older children and teenagers, use the evening to explain the plan, choose activities and let them enjoy the house.
Day 2: Animals and Outdoor Play
Begin with a child-friendly attraction that gives the holiday an immediate sense of fun.
Depending on your base, consider:
- Cotswold Farm Park
- Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
- Birdland Park & Gardens
- Crocodiles of the World if staying on the eastern side
- A farm shop and outdoor play-style day where suitable
For younger children, animals are often the easiest first full day. For older children, choose a larger wildlife or activity-based option.
Keep the evening relaxed. A big animal day followed by a long restaurant dinner may be too much. A family supper, barbecue, private chef meal or simple pub close to the house may work better.
Day 3: Classic Village and Country Pub Day
Use the third day for a slower Cotswolds experience.
Choose one village or market town, not five. Pair it with a pub lunch, short walk or café stop.
Good family options include:
- Bourton-on-the-Water for attractions and riverside interest
- Broadway for a beautiful high street and nearby tower
- Burford for a classic town and wildlife park area
- Cirencester for history, shops and practical food options
- Tetbury for a South Cotswolds base and nearby gardens
- Woodstock for Blenheim Palace and a polished village-town feel
- Winchcombe for Sudeley Castle and heritage
- Lechlade-on-Thames for riverside interest
A good day might include a short walk, lunch, one small attraction and then time at the house.
For toddlers, finish early. For teenagers, add food, shops, photography or a more active element.
Day 4: Castle, Palace, Garden or Arboretum
By day four, families are usually ready for a more scenic or heritage-led day.
Choose an attraction that suits the age mix.
For castle and heritage interest, consider Sudeley Castle or Blenheim Palace.
For outdoor space, consider Westonbirt Arboretum, Batsford Arboretum, Painswick Rococo Garden, Hidcote, Kiftsgate or another garden suited to your route and season.
For Roman history, consider Corinium Museum and, on a suitable weather day, Chedworth Roman Villa.
The key is to match the site to the children.
Young children may prefer open space and play. Older children may enjoy history if the visit is not too long. Grandparents may enjoy gardens and cafés. Parents may appreciate a day that feels culturally rich without being too demanding.
Day 5: Slow Morning, Farm Shop and Departure
The final day should not feel rushed.
Plan a slow breakfast, pack gradually and visit a nearby farm shop, deli, café or short walk before leaving. This is also a good day to buy local produce, gifts, cheese, cakes or food for the journey home.
A good final morning might include:
- Breakfast at the house
- Short local walk
- Farm shop stop
- Café or bakery
- Easy lunch
- Departure
For families travelling overseas, use this day to reset before London, Oxford, Bath or the next part of the trip.
A Perfect 1-Week Cotswolds Family Itinerary
A week is one of the best lengths for a family holiday in the Cotswolds.
It gives enough time to settle into the property, enjoy several family days out, have quiet time at the house, adapt to weather and avoid rushing through the region.
A good week should not be seven full days of attractions. It should be a balance of activity, food, rest and countryside living.
Day 1: Arrival and First Night at the House
Make arrival smooth.
Arrange provisions, plan supper and keep the evening at the property. Children need time to understand the house, bedrooms, garden and routines.
For international families, especially those arriving from the United States, this is the most important day to keep simple. Do not plan a major restaurant, long drive or big attraction immediately after arrival.
Day 2: Animal or Wildlife Day
Start the holiday with something children will immediately enjoy.
Good options include Cotswold Farm Park, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Birdland or another animal-focused outing suited to your base.
Afterwards, return to the house for garden time, games, swimming where available, or a relaxed family meal.
Day 3: Village, Market Town and Pub Lunch
Choose a village or town close to your property and plan a gentle day around it.
This might include:
- Bourton-on-the-Water and its family attractions
- Broadway and Broadway Tower
- Burford and a country pub lunch
- Cirencester and Corinium Museum
- Tetbury and Westonbirt nearby
- Woodstock and Blenheim Palace
- Stow-on-the-Wold and nearby villages
- Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle
Keep the route short. Children do not need several villages in one day.
Day 4: House Day, Garden Day or Private Chef Evening
By the middle of the week, families often need a slower day.
Use the property properly. Let children play in the garden, swim if there is a pool, enjoy games, read, bake, watch a film, do a short local walk or simply spend time together.
This is a good day for:
- Breakfast at the house
- Farm shop provisions
- Garden lunch
- Barbecue
- Children’s tea
- Private chef dinner
- Board games or cinema room
- Early night for children
For parents, this may be the day that makes the holiday feel like a holiday rather than a tour.
Day 5: Castle, Palace, Garden or History Day
Choose one larger cultural or outdoor attraction.
Depending on your base, this could be Sudeley Castle, Blenheim Palace, Chedworth Roman Villa, Corinium Museum, Westonbirt Arboretum, Batsford Arboretum, Hidcote, Kiftsgate or another family-appropriate site.
For younger children, choose somewhere with space and facilities.
For older children, choose somewhere with history, scale, activity or a clear story.
For grandparents, consider access, seating, cafés and how much walking is required.
A heritage day should end gently. A private supper or simple meal at the house is often better than a late dinner out.
Day 6: Lakes, Water, Arboretum or Active Day
Use the sixth day for something more active or outdoorsy if the weather allows.
Families with older children may enjoy the Cotswold Lakes area, water-based activities where age-appropriate and properly supervised, cycling, longer walks, adventure-style activities nearby or a more energetic outing.
Families with younger children may prefer Westonbirt, Batsford, a garden, a short riverside walk or a picnic.
The right choice depends on age and season.
For teenagers, this may be the day to include something beyond villages and gardens.
Day 7: Favourite Places, Sunday Lunch and Departure Preparation
The final full day should be personal.
Return to a favourite village, revisit a pub, choose a short walk, buy local produce, have a Sunday roast or spend most of the day at the house.
For families, the final day often works best when it is not too scheduled.
A good final day might include:
- Slow breakfast
- Favourite short outing
- Pub lunch
- Packing time
- Children playing at the house
- Simple supper
- Early night before travel
This allows the stay to end calmly.
A 2-Week Cotswolds Family Itinerary
Two weeks in the Cotswolds allows families to experience the region much more naturally.
Rather than treating each day as a sightseeing opportunity, the family can build a rhythm: favourite food shops, familiar walks, preferred pubs, regular quiet days, special outings and time at the house.
A two-week stay might include:
- Two animal or wildlife days
- Two village and pub days
- One castle or palace day
- One Roman history or museum day
- One garden or arboretum day
- One lakes or active day
- Several quiet house days
- One or two private chef meals
- A farm shop routine
- A rainy-day plan
- Visitors joining for part of the stay
- Repeat visits to favourite places
Children often enjoy repetition. Returning to the same café, farm shop, playground, village or short walk can be comforting and enjoyable.
For parents, two weeks allows a better balance between sightseeing and rest.
For international families, it also makes sense because the Cotswolds can become a base for wider trips to Oxford, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, London or other parts of the UK without moving accommodation constantly.
Longer Family Stays: One Month or More
Some families stay in the Cotswolds for several weeks or longer, especially during summer, sabbaticals, school holidays, relocations, remote-working periods or extended international visits.
For longer stays, the itinerary should become a lifestyle plan.
Think less about what to do each day and more about how the family will live comfortably.
A longer-stay family rhythm might include:
- Weekly grocery delivery
- Favourite local farm shop
- Regular pub lunch
- Short morning walks
- Occasional private chef support
- One larger outing each week
- Quiet house days
- Visits from family and friends
- Children’s activities
- Outdoor play
- Rainy-day routines
- Work or schoolwork space where needed
- Laundry and housekeeping
- Local cafés and familiar routes
- Weekend trips to Oxford, Bath or London where appropriate
For longer stays, the house matters even more. Storage, laundry, kitchen quality, Wi-Fi, garden space, bedrooms, bathrooms, practical shopping and local access all become part of daily life.
The best extended family stays feel calm, settled and repeatable.
Itinerary for Families with Babies
Families travelling with babies should keep the itinerary very gentle.
The house is the centre of the stay. Outings should be short, flexible and close to the property.
A good baby-friendly plan might include:
- Slow mornings
- Short village visits
- Pushchair-friendly paths
- Garden or arboretum walks
- Lunch out rather than dinner
- Plenty of time for naps
- Food at the house
- Easy access to shops
- Laundry
- A private chef dinner for adults
- Minimal evening travel
For babies, avoid building days around several car journeys. Choose one outing and return before everyone is tired.
Parents should also check cot arrangements, sleeping spaces, heating, bathing and baby equipment before booking the property.
Itinerary for Toddlers and Young Children
Toddlers need simple, active and forgiving days.
A good toddler-friendly itinerary should include animals, space, snacks, naps and short drives.
Good activities include:
- Cotswold Farm Park
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
- Birdland
- Batsford Arboretum
- Westonbirt Arboretum
- Bourton-on-the-Water
- Short village walks
- Farm shop cafés
- Play areas where available
- Garden time at the house
A toddler-friendly day might be:
- Morning outing
- Early lunch
- Return for nap
- Garden play
- Simple supper
- Early bedtime
This rhythm can be repeated throughout the stay with different outings.
For toddlers, the house should be chosen carefully. Safety, enclosed gardens, stair layout, highchairs, travel cots, bathrooms and laundry all matter.
Itinerary for Older Children
Older children usually enjoy more variety and can manage longer days.
A good itinerary might include:
- Wildlife park
- Castle or palace
- Lake or outdoor activity
- Steam railway
- Roman museum or villa
- Arboretum or garden trail
- Country walk with pub lunch
- Market-town food stop
- Games or pool time at the house
- Private chef or barbecue evening
Older children may also enjoy having a role in the itinerary. Let them choose one activity, one meal or one day out.
This helps the stay feel less like an adult-led countryside tour.
Itinerary for Teenagers
Teenagers need space, independence and variety.
A teenager-friendly Cotswolds itinerary should not rely only on pretty villages. Add active days, food, shopping, photography, history, water, wildlife, larger towns and plenty of downtime.
Ideas include:
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
- Cotswold Lakes area
- Paddleboarding or water activities where suitable
- Broadway Tower
- Blenheim Palace
- Sudeley Castle
- Corinium Museum
- Cheltenham, Cirencester or Oxford day
- Longer walks
- Cycling where suitable
- Country pub lunches
- Farm shop food
- Games room or cinema room
- Pool time where available
For teenagers, the property is crucial. Wi-Fi, separate space, games, cinema room, pool or outdoor facilities where available can make the difference between a good stay and a frustrating one.
Itinerary for Multigenerational Families
Multigenerational family holidays need balance.
Grandparents, parents, young children and teenagers may all have different energy levels. The itinerary should allow people to join some activities and skip others without feeling excluded.
A good multigenerational week might include:
- Arrival supper at the house
- Wildlife park or farm park day for children
- Garden or arboretum day for everyone
- Pub lunch and village visit
- Quiet house day
- Private chef celebration dinner
- Castle or palace day
- Short walks close to the property
- Time for grandparents to rest
- Activities for older children separately where appropriate
The house should be the anchor. It should be comfortable enough that staying behind feels pleasant, not like missing out.
Private dining can be especially valuable for multigenerational groups because everyone can gather without transport, late nights or restaurant logistics.
Itinerary for Families Visiting from the United States
For families visiting from the United States, the Cotswolds can be a highlight of a UK trip, but the itinerary should be planned around travel recovery and rural logistics.
A good plan should include:
- Gentle arrival day
- Stocked kitchen
- Car seats arranged in advance
- Shorter drives at first
- Private transfer where useful
- Lunches out rather than late dinners
- One or two iconic Cotswolds village days
- One animal or wildlife attraction
- One castle or palace
- One garden or countryside day
- Rainy-day backup
- Time at the house
- Possible day trips to Oxford, Bath or London if staying longer
For a first family visit, the Cotswolds should feel like the English countryside imagined from abroad: beautiful houses, villages, gardens, animals, pubs, local food and enough space to slow down.
Do not overpack the itinerary. American families often want to see London, Oxford, Bath, the Cotswolds and more in one trip, but children usually enjoy it more when the family moves less and settles properly.
A private Cotswolds house can make the UK trip feel calmer and more personal.
Rainy-Day Backup Itinerary
Every family itinerary should include rainy-day options.
A wet day does not need to be wasted. It simply needs a different rhythm.
A good rainy-day plan might include:
- Morning museum or indoor attraction
- Family-friendly café or pub lunch
- Farm shop stop
- Afternoon at the house
- Baking, films, games or crafts
- Private chef supper or easy family dinner
Useful rainy-day ideas include:
- Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
- Corinium Museum
- Blenheim Palace interiors and indoor elements where suitable
- Sudeley Castle in mixed weather
- Farm parks with covered areas where available
- Cafés and bakeries
- Soft-play-style options in nearby larger towns where appropriate
- Cinema or swimming in larger towns
- House-based activities
The best rainy-day plan is usually close, warm and not too ambitious.
Food Across a Family Itinerary
Food should be planned as carefully as activities.
Children need snacks, breakfasts, water, early meals and familiar options. Parents may want good food, but not at the cost of exhausted children. Grandparents may prefer lunch out. Larger families may need private dining or stocked provisions.
A good family food rhythm might include:
- Breakfasts at the house
- Farm shop provisions
- Picnic supplies
- Child-friendly pub lunches
- Simple suppers
- Barbecue
- Private chef dinner
- Children’s tea
- Sunday roast
- Arrival supper
- Snacks for every day out
For families, lunch out often works better than dinner. Evenings at the house can be more relaxed, especially with young children.
For celebration stays, private dining can be the centrepiece of the itinerary.
For longer stays, build a practical food routine rather than relying on restaurants.
Our Cotswolds concierge service can help with private chefs, arrival provisions, food planning, child-friendly pubs and family dining.
Choosing the Right Base for Your Family Itinerary
The base should match the itinerary.
If you want Cotswold Farm Park, Sudeley Castle, Batsford Arboretum, Broadway, Chipping Campden and Bourton-on-the-Water, a North Cotswolds base may work well.
If you want Cotswold Wildlife Park, Cirencester, Corinium Museum, Burford, Bibury, the Coln Valley and Lechlade-on-Thames, a Central Cotswolds base may be better.
If you want Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, Painswick, Minchinhampton, Stroud, Nailsworth and quieter countryside, a South Cotswolds base may suit.
If you are arriving from London or Heathrow and want Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Burford, Chipping Norton, Charlbury, Kingham and Oxford access, an Oxfordshire Cotswolds base may be ideal.
For families, the best base is not always the most famous village. It is the place that makes your days easier.
How to Build Your Own Cotswolds Family Itinerary
To create your own itinerary, start with the house.
Then choose activities close to that base.
A simple structure is:
- One animal or wildlife day
- One village and pub day
- One castle, palace or history day
- One garden, arboretum or nature day
- One rainy-day backup
- One house day
- One special meal
For a weekend, choose two of these.
For five days, choose three or four.
For a week, choose most of them, but leave space.
For two weeks or longer, repeat favourites and slow the pace.
The best itinerary should feel generous, not full.
Common Family Itinerary Mistakes to Avoid
The first mistake is trying to visit too many villages in one day.
The second mistake is choosing attractions too far from the property.
The third mistake is planning adult sightseeing and hoping children will fit around it.
The fourth mistake is not checking opening times, booking requirements or seasonal availability.
The fifth mistake is leaving food too late.
The sixth mistake is planning late dinners with young children.
The seventh mistake is not building in rainy-day options.
The eighth mistake is overplanning the arrival day, especially after a long journey.
The ninth mistake is not giving children enough time at the house.
The tenth mistake is choosing the itinerary before choosing the right base.
A good Cotswolds family itinerary should reduce stress, not create it.
Questions to Ask Before Finalising Your Itinerary
Before finalising your family itinerary, ask:
- How old are the children?
- Are babies or toddlers travelling?
- Are teenagers travelling?
- Are grandparents joining?
- Where is the property located?
- How far are the main activities?
- Do we need car seats or transfers?
- Are we arriving from overseas?
- Do we need a gentle first day?
- Which days need advance booking?
- What will we do if it rains?
- Are there enough food options?
- Are we planning lunches rather than late dinners?
- Do we need private dining?
- Are we leaving enough time at the house?
- Is the itinerary realistic for the youngest child?
- Does the plan still feel like a holiday?
The best itinerary is the one that works for the whole family.
How Luxury Cotswold Rentals Can Help
Luxury Cotswold Rentals brings together exceptional private homes, detailed local knowledge and a highly personal concierge service to help families experience the Cotswolds in a way that feels tailored rather than generic.
A family itinerary is not just a list of places to visit. It should reflect your children’s ages, your property location, the season, the weather, food, transport, grandparents, nap times, teenagers, celebrations and how much time you want to spend at the house.
Depending on your stay, we can help with family-friendly activities, private chefs, arrival provisions, rainy-day ideas, child-friendly pubs, transport, car seats, local food, special occasions and longer-stay planning.
For a weekend, that may mean choosing one perfect day out and a relaxed meal.
For a week, it may mean balancing animals, villages, gardens, history, food and house time.
For international families, it may mean a gentle arrival, careful travel planning and an itinerary that does not feel rushed.
For multigenerational groups, it may mean making sure everyone can enjoy the stay at their own pace.
Explore our Cotswolds concierge service or browse our luxury Cotswolds properties to begin planning a family itinerary shaped around your children, your pace and the people you are travelling with.
Our View: The Perfect Family Itinerary Leaves Room to Enjoy the House
The best Cotswolds family itinerary is not the longest one.
It is the one that gives the family enough to do, enough to eat, enough to see and enough time to rest.
Children may remember the farm park, wildlife park, castle or museum. But they may also remember playing in the garden, having breakfast in the kitchen, watching a film on a rainy afternoon, eating a private chef supper, sharing a bedroom with cousins or walking to a nearby pub.
That is why a private Cotswolds house should not be treated only as a base. It is part of the itinerary.
Plan a few wonderful days out, but leave space for the house to become part of the holiday.
Conclusion
The perfect Cotswolds family itinerary should be practical, flexible and relaxed.
For a 3-day stay, focus on arrival, one strong family day out and one gentle village or pub day. For 5 days, add animals, a classic village, a castle or garden and a slow final morning. For a week, balance farm parks, wildlife, history, gardens, local food, rainy-day options and time at the house. For two weeks or longer, let the Cotswolds become a family rhythm, with favourite places, local shopping, private dining and slower days.
Families with babies need comfort and short outings. Toddlers need animals, snacks, naps and safe space. Older children need variety. Teenagers need independence and activity. Grandparents need comfort and manageable days. International families need gentle arrival planning, car seats, transport support and enough time to enjoy the countryside without rushing.
The Cotswolds offers all of this when planned well: animals, castles, gardens, rivers, market towns, country pubs, museums, farm shops, walks, private houses and the freedom to slow down together.
Explore our collection of luxury cottages, manor houses and private country homes across the Cotswolds and begin planning a family stay shaped around children, countryside, comfort and the pleasure of being together.