A NEW study has ranked the Cotswolds highly in the most popular UK 'staycation' destinations

The study, conducted by holiday cottages company Manor Cottages, has placed the Cotswolds as the fourth most popular destination in the UK.

Using Google's keyword planner search, the term 'Cotswold holidays' was searched for 23,100 times annually.

Belfast came in third in the study, with London at second and Norfolk taking the top spot, with 44,600 annual searches.

The top five table rankings can be found below:

The study also gathered some of the top recommended things to do while visiting the Cotswolds - from walks in beautiful stately homes to taking in wildlife at the Cotswolds Wildlife Park.

Walking 

Anyone who has enjoyed a summer stroll through the Cotswolds will agree that its hiking and walk offering is second to none.

With over 100 locations on TripAdvisor under the Parks and Nature category, the Cotswolds offers those who love to get active a truly uplifting experience.

Cotswold Motoring Museum

Car enthusiasts will be in their element at the Cotswolds Motoring Museum, with a collection of over 100 classic cars including vintage Rolls-Royces to Formula 1 racers.

Cotswolds Distillery

If you’re looking to try some of the finest drinks the Southwest has to offer, then you'll love visiting the Cotswolds Distillery.

The award-winning distillery produces a range of gin, whisky, and vodka, and you can take a guided tour to discover more about the distilling process.