There's something rather romantic about escaping London for the English countryside every now and then. A little over a month ago, we found ourselves driving through the Cotswolds, making a brief stop in Burford and promising ourselves we'd return when we had more time to explore. So, we did.

This time, we wanted a slower weekend. Good coffee, beautiful scenery, a little shopping and, naturally, some very good food. Not everything lived up to expectations, but that's part of the pleasure of discovering places for yourself.

Here are a few things we'd recommend doing — and one we'd approach a little differently next time.

START THE DAY WITH ALLPRESS COFFEE | COMPULSORY
If you're leaving London early, we suggest starting with a very good coffee. And by very good coffee, we mean Allpress.

We're fairly unapologetic about our affection for Allpress here at AJOSEPO. It remains one of our favourite places for coffee in London, with the Redchurch Street location in Shoreditch holding a particularly special place in our hearts.

A little out of the way depending on where you're starting your journey? Perhaps.

Worth it? We think so.

VISIT BURFORD FOR THE SCENERY | WITH RESERVATIONS
This one pains us slightly. Burford is undeniably beautiful. Honey-coloured stone buildings, charming streets and the sort of quintessentially English architecture that makes the Cotswolds so appealing.

But having returned for a proper look around, we left feeling a little underwhelmed.

Much of what we encountered seemed geared towards tourists rather than locals, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with that, it made the experience feel a little less interesting than we'd hoped.

Would we recommend visiting? Absolutely, for the scenery alone. Stop for a coffee or a pint, wander through the streets and admire the architecture. Just don't necessarily plan your entire day around it.

Sometimes a beautiful place is simply that. And that's perfectly fine.

VISIT DAYLESFORD ORGANIC | COMPULSORY
Now, this is somewhere we'd happily spend an entire afternoon. Set in the Cotswolds, Daylesford is one of those places that makes shopping for groceries feel like an occasion.

The farm shop is beautifully curated, with an impressive selection of produce, pantry essentials, baked goods and homeware. Much of the food reflects Daylesford's own organic farming philosophy, and the attention to presentation is evident throughout.

And the produce? Excellent. We're devoted Marks & Spencer and Waitrose shoppers here at AJOSEPO, so when we say Daylesford gives M&S and Waitrose some serious competition, please understand that this is high praise.

There's also an on-site restaurant, which gets particularly busy, so we'd recommend booking ahead if you're planning to eat.

And whatever you do, don't leave without visiting the florist. A beautiful bouquet of flowers is practically compulsory.

VISIT SOHO FARMHOUSE | COMPULSORY
If you have a membership, we'd highly recommend making time for Soho Farmhouse. And if you don't, an overnight stay may be an option worth exploring, subject to availability and the property's booking policies.

We've eaten here on several occasions, and the food continues to be some of our favourite in Oxfordshire.

Our recommendation? The rotisserie chicken. Although, to be fair, we've yet to order anything here that we haven't enjoyed.

Much like Daylesford, the experience extends beyond the restaurants. The shops are beautifully considered, with a selection of clothing, homeware and other pieces that make browsing almost as enjoyable as dining.