Cotswolds Birthday Trip: Visiting Burford, The Garden Company & Lunch
There are birthdays you plan months in advance, and then there are the ones that unfold with an ease and without much thought. My 32nd fell firmly into the latter. This year, I wanted something gentle, something cosy, charming, and delightfully unhurried.
Burford, as it turns out, was the perfect choice.
A Morning at Burford Garden Company
We began the day at a place I had never visited before: the Burford Garden Company. “Garden centre” is far too modest a description, this is a destination in its own right and can easily be a day trip on its own. Vast, beautifully curated, and filled with more temptations than any birthday girl should reasonably be trusted with.
Inside, it unfolds like a lifestyle department store; with elegant homeware and modern rustic furniture. Beautifully displayed kitchenware and an abundance of gifts, stationery, and unique decorative pieces. We also cannot forget the extensive mens- and womenswear selection
And all that is before you even step outside into the sprawling garden centre, where everything from ornate pots to full-scale greenhouses is available to browse. Add to that a charming bookshop and a thoughtfully stocked children’s store, and you could easily spend an entire day here without ever getting bored.
As we filled ourselves with caffeine, we headed to Burford around mid-morning.
Wandering the Heart of Burford
With coffees in hand, we made our way toward Burford High Street, one of the most postcard-perfect streets in the Cotswolds. Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Cotswolds,” the town carries an irresistible blend of timeless architecture and modern charm.
Burford’s steep, picturesque high street is lined with antique shops, independent boutiques, cosy tearooms and art galleries, all tucked inside centuries-old buildings, made from that unmistakable honeyed Cotswold stone. As we strolled slowly along the hill, we dipped in and out of the little shops, from The Cotswold Cheese Company, where the air is deliciously rich with local cheddar and truffle notes, to The Oxford Shirt Company, a treasure trove of tailoring and classic British style.
We wandered without hurry, drifting between displays, pausing whenever something caught our eye. That’s the magic of English small towns and villages: life moves at half the speed here, and it feels wonderfully intentional.
Lunch at The Lamb Inn
Our lunch destination was The Lamb Inn, a classic Cotswold pub with a refined, contemporary twist. Warmly lit and inviting atmosphere, the pub set the perfect tone for a celebratory meal.
I ordered the low braised beef cheek with beef fat crumb, cavolo nero, and beef sauce; a dish that was, in every way, a hug on a plate. The beef was impossibly tender, only requiring the slightest nudge of a fork, to peel away. Rich and deeply comforting…it was exactly the sort of comfortable indulgence I wanted for my birthday lunch.
A Sweet Surprise
Just when I thought the day had reached its peak, the girls produced a surprise: gifts and a birthday cake. I had absolutely no idea.
Isobel had baked the most beautiful autumn-inspired cake (rather fitting, as it’s my favourite season) complete with warm, earthy tones and delicate decorations. She’d even vlogged the process, making the moment feel all the more thoughtful and personal. You can watch it here.
It was one of those quiet, perfect surprises that lodges itself in your memory for all the right reasons.
The Perfect Girls’ Day Out
My birthday in Burford was the kind of day that feels effortlessly special; a blend of good company, comforting food, and surroundings that make slowing down feel natural and needed. From the treasure trove that is the Burford Garden Company, to the historic charm of the high street and a lunch I’m still thinking about…it was, quite simply, a wonderful treat.
If you’re looking for a place to celebrate, reconnect, or just enjoy a beautifully slow day out, consider this your sign: Burford is magic.
And it gave me the loveliest start to chapter 32.
