I also recommend The Cotswolds. You can enjoy the rolling hills, the quaint villages, the Roman history or the local people. When I was there, I was quite taken with Bibury and Cirencester. I also enjoyed Chedworth, near Cirencester, where you will see the remains of an old Roman villa with an impressively preserved mosaic floor. You can learn more about this region on line at:

http://www.visitcotswoldsandsevernvale.gov.uk/ http://www.cotswolds.info/

I did the Cotswolds as a day trip from Maidenhead so I cannot recommend specific places to stay. But whenever I travel to the UK and want to research lodging for places I am unfamiliar with, I start with this site:

http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/

Happy travels!

Mark Los Angeles