FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Notswolds is both a place and a platform. A region of open skies and limestone villages, and a creative movement celebrating the people, crafts, and stories of England’s forgotten heartland.
These are some of the questions we’re most often asked about the region and the work we do here.
VISIT
For travellers and anyone curious about the region.
What is the Notswolds?
The Notswolds is an emerging region in the heart of England, often overlooked yet quite remarkable. It marks the beginning of the oolitic limestone seam that shapes much of England’s most beautiful architecture.
The Notswolds is England’s forgotten heartland. A landscape of stone villages, thriving market towns, and wide open skies. Grounded in craftsmanship and kinship, it’s shaped by people who remain deeply connected to the land.
Where is the Notswolds?
The Notswolds lies north of the Cotswolds, where the limestone belt begins to ripple through England’s central counties. At its heart is Rutland, with the region extending into neighbouring Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Cambridgeshire. Perfectly placed between London and Birmingham, around 90 minutes by train or two hours by car from each, it’s also within easy reach of the North, sitting midway between Yorkshire and the capital. It’s a region that offers both space and accessibility in the heart of England..
What is the Notswolds region known for?
The Notswolds is known for its unspoilt landscapes, thriving market towns and a countryside shaped by craftsmanship, kinship, and a grounded way of life.
It’s a region defined by its quintessential English villages and great estates, among them some of Britain’s most iconic heritage houses, including Burghley House, Belvoir Castle, Boughton House, Easton Walled Gardens and Grimsthorpe Castle. There’s a thriving cultural scene, from open-air opera at Nevill Holt Festival and theatre at Tolethorpe to independent galleries like Gladwell & Patterson and Goldmark gallery. At its centre lies Rutland Water, surrounded by miles of open countryside for walking, cycling, and equestrian pursuits. This has long been one of Britain’s most agriculturally significant regions, supplying produce to much of the country. From Stilton cheese, Melton Mowbray pork pie and Lincolnshire sausages to farm shops, markets, and field-to-table restaurants, food is a living expression of the land itself.
A new chapter in English countryside life and design, the Notswolds is grounded, well connected, and full of potential, a place to grow, create, and live well, rooted in the landscape and its rhythms.
How do I get to the Notswolds?
The Notswolds is one of the best-connected countryside regions in England. Around an hour by train or two hours by car from London or Birmingham.
It sits within easy reach of the North, close to major road routes such as the A1 and A47, and accessible from East Midlands, Luton, and Stansted airports.
Once here, most towns and villages are within a short, scenic drive, surrounded by open countryside and winding rural lanes.
ABOUT US
For those who want to know the story and people behind the brand.
What is Notswolds as a brand and platform?
Notswolds is a design, culture, and lifestyle platform that connects the people, places, and independent businesses shaping this region.
Founded by creatives who call the area home, the platform exists to foster belonging, celebrating craftsmanship, creativity, and the enduring relationship between people and place. Through stories, films, and experiences, it shines a light on the creativity and care that define modern countryside life.
Who are the people behind Notswolds?
The Notswolds was founded by Laura Jekyll and John Davison, creatives who moved to the region after years in London. John, a cameraman with BAFTA-winning projects, brings decades of technical and visual storytelling experience. Laura, with a background in brand strategy and design-led marketing in The City, understands how to create powerful ideas that connect audiences across the globe.
Bronya Hallett leads press and media relations for Notswolds, drawing on her national press network to connect stories, people, and ideas. Through her Lincolnshire studio, Sedere & Co, she also designs bespoke club fenders that are earning international recognition for their craftsmanship and charm.
Chris Young advises Notswolds on planning and strategy, informed by his career in print and digital media including work for the RHS and DK Books. He runs CY Gardens, a bespoke garden and landscape studio known for thoughtful designs rooted in place and purpose.
How do you choose who and what to feature?
Every maker, place, and experience we share is chosen because we genuinely love and believe in it . We don’t run advertising or accept sponsored posts. We feature only the people, places, and projects we truly admire — chosen for their craftsmanship, creativity, and connection to place, not for payment or promotion.
Do you run events or workshops?
We’re shaping a calendar of seasonal gatherings, creative workshops, and community events that bring people together around craft, food, and place. These will evolve through the year, from intimate workshops to larger celebrations, each shaped by the people and stories of the region.
Watch this space — details will be announced soon.
How can I get involved?
We love hearing from people across the region — whether you’d like to join a workshop, recommend your favourite local place, share your story, or collaborate on something creative. However you get involved, you’ll be part of a community that values craft, culture, and connection to place.
COLLABORATE
For businesses, brands, and creatives.
What kinds of businesses or makers do you feature?
We feature independent businesses, makers, and creative studios that reflect the spirit of the region - thoughtful, design-led, and rooted in place. From heritage crafts to gardens, food, and hospitality, we celebrate the creativity and modern countryside culture shaping a new story of rural life.
How can my business be featured?
If you’re a local maker, brand, or creative studio, you can submit your business for consideration via our contact form or email us directly. We select features based on craftsmanship, creativity, and connection to place.
Can we collaborate on content?
Yes — we love working with local businesses and creatives to produce short films and visual stories about the region. We’re interested in stories that celebrate craftsmanship, creativity, landscape, and everyday life. The people and places that make the Notswolds quietly remarkable. Each project is crafted with a cinematic eye and a sense of belonging, helping brands share their story in a way that feels real, rooted, and unmistakably Notswolds.
Through our content studio, Lionfish House, we offer content creation services that capture the spirit of place, from films and photography to editorial storytelling and social media suites.
To start a collaboration, get in touch via our contact page or email us with a few lines about your idea — we’d love to hear from you.
How can we get involved?
We’re always interested in new ideas and collaborations that celebrate life in the Notswolds. If you have a story to share, a project in mind, or a local business or maker you think we should know about, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to suggest a feature, propose a collaboration, or simply introduce your work — many of our favourite stories begin with a conversation.
Together, we’re building a community rooted in craft, creativity, and connection to place.
Do you offer partnerships or advertising?
No — we don’t offer paid advertising or sponsored features. Every recommendation and story we share is chosen on merit, guided by integrity, quality, and authenticity.
We do, however, collaborate selectively on editorial projects, films, or experiences that align with our values and genuinely reflect the spirit of the region. If you think your work belongs in that conversation, we’d love to hear from you.