Step inside the Cotswolds, where Americans are flocking for a taste of old

• The Cotswolds attracts American tourists and affluent expats seeking old-world charm. • The area has long been favored by the British aristocracy. Nowadays, it's known as the 'Hamptons of England.' • These photos show how this 800-square-mile area of the English countryside looks during fall.

With its fairytale cottages, quaint shops, and buildings older than the US, it's no wonder Americans are intrigued by, and increasingly flocking to, the Cotswolds.

Long favored by royals, aristocrats, and exhausted Londoners — including myself on many occasions over the years — it embodies country life in Britain and its old-world charm. In recent years, it has become a magnet for American tourists and affluent expats.

Here's what I saw when I spent a few days in the "Hamptons of England," le