With its rolling hills, babbling brooks and tranquil countryside atmosphere, it's no wonder that Oxfordshire is high on people's "place to visit" list when exploring the UK. Nestled in amongst the stunning Cotswolds countryside are picture-perfect stately homes and villages, each more quaint than the last.

If you're a fan of the show Downton Abbey, you'll have found this fact hard to miss and it seems only right to make a stop in Bampton, the village used for much of the filming in the television series. You'll pass the home of Isobel Crawley, the Downton Cottage Hospital, the village church, as well as the filming location for two fictional local pubs, The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck.

Next, you'll head to Bourton-on-the-Water, affectionately also known as 'Venice of the Cotswolds', so named due to its location on the water. Stroll along the river banks, exploring cafes and shops full of beautiful hand-crafted trinkets, or try a traditional afternoon tea in this peaceful haven before heading on to grander things.

Blenheim Palace is a jaw-dropping stately home, perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Not only is its interior filled with stunning portraits and tapestries, but its gardens are also something to be marveled at. Take a stroll around the intricately landscaped garden and walk in Churchill's footsteps as you admire the greenery and stumble across the spot in which he proposed to his sweetheart Clementine Hozier.