At a glance

StayCotswold is offering fans of the BBC show "The Traitors" a themed getaway in the Cotswolds, featuring visits to Broadway Tower, which resembles the show's Traitors' Tower, and guided Land Rover tours. The experience includes exploring local attractions like Sudeley Castle and the village of Avening, home to actor Richard E. Grant. This themed staycation aims to immerse guests in a setting reminiscent of the show's dramatic atmosphere.

Fans of BBC hit The Traitors can plot their own getaway in the Cotswolds with StayCotswold, which offers staycations around the village of Broadway, within sight of a tower that could pass for the show’s famous Traitors’ Tower.

And whilst Cotswold resident and star of the second series, Richard E Grant, who lives in the village of Avening, delivered the line “We’ve come on holiday by mistake” in the film, Withnail & I, with careful planning, you can have a ‘Traitors’ style break that is faithful to the show.

From chauffeur drive Land Rover tours taking you to your next holiday ‘mission’, to a visit to Sudeley Castle as a backdrop for plotting with your holiday companions, it’s a brilliant option for viewers locked into the show.

Plot at Broadway Tower

In the show, the Traitors head to their tower to plot their next “murder”, the elimination of a fellow contestant. Broadway Tower makes a fitting stand-in, with its hilltop position and far-reaching views over the Cotswolds. Guests can pay a visit, take in the scenery and decide who among their travelling party would be the first to go (strictly in the name of fun).

Broadway Tower, a folly standing 1,024 feet above sea level, is the second highest point in the Cotswolds and is open daily from 10am until 5pm.

Arrive in style - Land Rover Tours

On each mission, the contestants are chauffeured in black Land Rovers. Holidaymakers can enjoy a similar experience with a guided tour of the Cotswolds in a Land Rover Defender with Cotswolds Tour (cotswoldtour.co.uk). StayCotswold guests receive 10% off these tours.

Options include a private half-day Cotswold tour, a Classic tour or a South Cotswold tour. Tours can also be personalised around a guest’s perfect Cotswold adventure, whether that means historic sites, charming villages or outdoor activity destinations.

A star-spotting village stay

The pretty village of Avening in Gloucestershire has been home to Oscar-nominated actor Richard E. Grant for a number of years. The star of Withnail and I, and Saltburn has previously spoken fondly of life there. His famous line as Withnail, “We’ve come on holiday by mistake”, could be the motto of any visitor who arrives for a weekend and never wants to leave.

Just a few miles from Tetbury, Avening is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and grew from a farming settlement into a community linked to the wool trade. Its Church of the Holy Cross dates back to the 11th century, making it an atmospheric spot for a wander between pub lunches.

Castle drama in Winchcombe

For a more dramatic backdrop, Winchcombe sits close to Sudeley Castle. With its historic stone buildings and castle setting, the area offers the brooding, turret-and-battlement atmosphere that Traitors viewers will recognise.

A suggested Traitors-style long weekend

• Day one: Arrive in Broadway, settle into a StayCotswold property and head up to Broadway Tower for the views. l

• Day two: Take a private Land Rover Defender tour with Cotswolds Tour, then visit Avening and its church.

• Day three: Explore Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle, then round off the trip with a fireside game night back at the cottage.

Tracy Archer, owner director of StayCotswold, said: “Our guests may not arrive by mistake, but plenty of them leave planning their next visit. Between a tower with real Traitors energy, a Land Rover tour of the countryside and villages steeped in history, the Cotswolds is the perfect setting for anyone who wants to feel they have stepped into a drama.”

StayCotswold offers over 300 holiday properties across the region, including 11 in and around Broadway. To view them, visit https://www.staycotswold.com/

Editorial insight

With the popularity of The Traitors continuing to drive interest in themed travel experiences, local accommodation providers are looking to capitalise on the show’s appeal by highlighting links between the Cotswold landscape and the programme’s iconic settings. The use of Broadway Tower as a stand-in for the show’s ‘Traitors’ Tower’ taps into the current trend for immersive, pop culture-inspired getaways, offering fans a way to connect with familiar television backdrops during their stay.

This approach is likely to appeal to a specific segment of domestic holidaymakers seeking novelty and narrative in their travel plans, especially as UK staycations remain in strong demand. The connection to recognisable local personalities and historic sites also provides a broader draw for visitors interested in the region’s cultural heritage, beyond the immediate television tie-in. For operators such as StayCotswold, leveraging these associations can help differentiate offerings in a competitive holiday rental market.

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