Destinations

15 Stunning Locations to Go to within the Cotswolds, England

The Cotswolds is an space within the southwest of the UK encompassing 5 counties; Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire. There are various great locations to go to within the Cotswolds and the realm is famed for its picture-postcard cities and villages.

I’ve spent a variety of time exploring this attractive a part of England and love the realm for its undulating countryside, nice mountaineering, fairly villages, and rustic outdated pubs. Visiting the Cotswolds must be excessive on the checklist of anybody touring to the UK because it actually is among the most stunning components of the nation.

 

Journey to the Cotswolds is a massively rewarding expertise and there’s a lot to do. Take pleasure in visiting stately properties and gardens, nationwide parks, castles, and different historic websites. A number of the highlights of the Cotswolds embody the villages of Bibury, Burford, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

15 Greatest Locations to Go to in The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is among the greatest locations to go to in England to get an actual really feel for its rural countryside and see part of the nation that’s barely modified in centuries. Beneath, you’ll discover a few of the most charming locations within the Cotswolds from historic cities to market cities and sleepy villages.

1. Bathtub

There’s some debate over whether or not Bathtub is definitely within the Cotswolds because it doesn’t fall into the 5 counties that make up the “Space of Pure Magnificence” (Bathtub is in Somerset). Nevertheless, many individuals contemplate it to be on account of its proximity to a few of the prettiest cities within the Cotswolds.

Bathtub is one in every of my favourite cities in England and makes a implausible base for exploring the Cotswold area. Town is famed for its Roman baths which date again 2,000 years. I’m an enormous fan of Roman historical past and exploring these historic bathing homes is among the greatest issues to do in England.

This full-day tour from London not solely features a drive by a few of the most picturesque locations to go to within the Cotswolds and a go to to historic Bathtub, however you’ll additionally get to see a few of the nation’s prime sights together with Stratford-upon-Avon and Stonehenge too.

Location: Bathtub is positioned within the southwest county of Somerset on the southern tip of the Cotswolds.

Getting There: You may take a tour from London, drive or take one of many many bus or prepare companies departing main cities all through the day.

Issues To Do: Visiting the Roman baths, sightseeing, strolling, consuming, and procuring.

The place to Keep: The Macdonald Bathtub Spa and Resort is the proper place for {couples} to unwind and absorb the identical therapeutic waters loved by the Romans some 2,000 years in the past. The Henry Visitor Home is a good choice for first-time guests because of its central location.

2. Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is a wonderfully picturesque village on the River Windrush and is among the prime locations to go to within the Cotswolds. The village is famed for its 5 stone bridges relationship again to the seventeenth Century which add to the attraction of this Cotswolds favourite.

Bourton is certainly top-of-the-line locations to go within the Cotswolds if you wish to see one of the stunning villages in your entire nation. It’s full of quaint, stone cottages, tea rooms, boutique outlets, and a very good assortment of eateries.

Smiths of Bourton is among the greatest eating places within the space; specializing in burgers and cocktails. The pastrami burger is to die for and the costs are very cheap given the favored location. Burgers vary from £12.00 to £13.50 and all cocktails are £12.00 (I like to recommend the Nervous Breakdown).

Location: Bourton-on-the-Water is positioned within the county of Gloucestershire 15 miles east of Cheltenham.

Getting There: Probably the greatest methods to see Bourton-on-the-Water is on a Cotswolds tour from London, which additionally contains many different websites comparable to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Issues To Do: Strolling, sightseeing, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: Sunny Nest is a captivating B&B only a mile from the village. The Mousetrap Inn is a standard inn within the middle of the village and contains an English breakfast.

3. Chipping Norton

The small market city of Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire homes a who’s who of excessive society. That is the place you’ll discover the “Chipping Norton Set” comprised of former Prime Ministers, TV and film stars, media moguls, and different celebrities residing among the many quaint streets, stone cottages, and contrasting mansions.

Chipping Norton is certainly one of many locations to see within the Cotswolds for its old-world allure, rows of attention-grabbing vintage outlets, and wonderful cafes and eating places. It’s the very best city within the Cotswolds and is nestled inside a panorama of hills and valleys.

The Kings Stone Rollright Stones near Chipping Norton Town.

There’s lots to do in and round Chipping Norton from exploring the outdated wool mill to the close by Rollright Stones (a 5,000-year-old stone circle). I visited Rollright on one in every of my current journeys again to England and was blown away by the place. The medieval Chequers is a pleasant little pub within the city and it serves a terrific Sunday roast.

Location: Chipping Norton is eighteen miles northeast of town of Oxford within the county of Oxfordshire.

Getting There: Close by Oxford is definitely reachable from wherever within the UK by highway and rail. From Oxford, it’s a 30-minute drive or an hour by bus (S3) to Chipping Norton. You may also take a Cotswolds tour from Oxford.

Issues To Do: Buying, consuming, ingesting, strolling, and sightseeing.

The place to Keep: The Fox Resort is housed inside a sixteenth Century constructing within the middle of city and has an onsite bar and restaurant. The Falkland Arms is a standard inn 8 miles from Chipping Norton and is ideal for these looking for a rural retreat.

4. Stroud

Should you’re on the lookout for one of the best of the Cotswolds then you possibly can’t go mistaken with the city of Stroud in Gloucestershire. I’ve buddies residing right here so have visited many occasions and located that it’s a terrific base for exploring a few of the most stunning cities within the Cotswolds.

There are many mountaineering trails close by that take you thru open pastures and historic woodlands. The Cotswold Method is a 100-mile path working from Bathtub to Chipping Campden and passes by the Stroud Space. I’ve hiked just a few sections across the city and extremely suggest it if you go to the Cotswolds.

The city itself is so fairly with the primary excessive avenue atop a cobbled hill, providing magnificent views throughout the countryside, and that includes plenty of wonderful impartial outlets, cafes, and eating places. On my final go to, I purchased just a few books by one in every of my favourite authors, Laurie Lee, who lived within the space.

Location: Stroud is positioned within the county of Gloucestershire 13 miles from the city of Cirencester.

Getting There: I’ve at all times pushed to Stroud (it takes two to a few hours from London relying on visitors), but it surely’s additionally nicely linked to the remainder of the UK by prepare and bus.

Issues To Do: Climbing, strolling, procuring, and ingesting native cider on the Stroud Brewery and Taproom.

The place to Keep: The Clothiers Arms is a pub and inn within the middle of city that’s excellent for first-time guests. Should you’re on the lookout for just a little luxurious, the Burleigh Court docket Resort is a superb choice.

5. Cirencester

Cirencester is taken into account the “capital of the Cotswolds” for its central location. This attractive outdated market city is located on the River Churn which is a tributary of the Thames. The city has a historical past relationship again to Roman occasions and is stuffed with attention-grabbing issues to see and do.

The Cirencester Brewery Arts Centre is a gallery and house for native artists with some attention-grabbing outlets and cafes inside. Stroll across the stunning Cirencester Park, see the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, or browse the various outlets and market stalls (the market is each Monday and Friday). There’s even an open-air pool for the summer time months.

The Abbey Church and Cirencester Park in the Cotswolds, UK.

Cirencester is certainly top-of-the-line cities to go to within the Cotswolds and is a perfect base for exploring the area. The city is simply minutes away from a few of the prettiest villages and must-see locations within the Cotswolds. This interactive self-guided tour is an efficient strategy to get an introduction to the city.

Location: Cirencester is positioned 80 miles west of London within the county of Gloucestershire.

Getting There: Cirencester has wonderful highway and rail hyperlinks with the remainder of the UK. The prepare from London’s Paddington takes simply two hours.

Issues To Do: Sightseeing, strolling, procuring, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: The Corinium Resort and Restaurant is a centrally positioned resort that’s excellent for {couples} and households. The Fleece is a standard inn within the coronary heart of the city and is an excellent choice for first-timers in Cirencester.

6. Higher Slaughter

Don’t let the creepy identify idiot you, because the village of Higher Slaughter is among the greatest locations to go within the Cotswolds for sightseeing. Higher Slaughter is a quintessential English village the place you possibly can think about having tea with the vicar and watching cricketers on the village inexperienced.

The village sits on the slopes of a hill overlooking a small brook that connects it to its neighbor, Decrease Slaughter, one mile away. There was as soon as a big Norman fort right here however all that’s left now are the stays of the motte and bailey. Eyeford Home is a big manor home within the village the place it’s alleged the poet John Milton stayed when he wrote Paradise Misplaced.

Probably the greatest issues to do is to take the brief stroll from Higher to Decrease Slaughter and take within the magnificent surrounding countryside. Be sure you pop into the Hawkstone Brewery for a tour to see how native Cotswold lagers and ciders are made.

Location: Higher Slaughter is positioned within the county of Gloucestershire just a few miles north of Bourton-on-the-Water.

Getting There: Driving is one of the best ways to get to Higher Slaughter because it’s fairly rural.

Issues To Do: Strolling, sightseeing, visiting the brewery and Eyeford Home.

The place to Keep: Lords of the Manor is a beautiful four-star resort within the middle of the village and is a good choice for {couples}. The Slaughters Nation Inn is one other wonderful choice with distinctive service.

7. Bibury (One of many Prettiest Locations to Go to within the Cotswolds)

The attractive village of Bibury on the River Coln (one other tributary of the Thames) in Gloucestershire is a must-see within the Cotswolds. The nineteenth Century thinker, poet, and artist William Morris dubbed Bibury “probably the most stunning village in England” and it’s not laborious to see why.

There are many issues to see on this Cotswolds village together with the well-known Arlington Row cottages (one of many most photographed locations within the Cotswolds). The lodgings date again over 600 years and had been as soon as a part of the woolen business. Arlington Mill is one other of the native points of interest and dates to the seventeenth Century.

Bibury is a beautiful village with rows of houses in the Cotswolds, England. 

There are some nice walks across the village in addition to a campsite for those who actually wish to get again to nature. The Catherine Wheel is a pleasant little restaurant within the village, or fish lovers can dine on the Bibury Trout Farm the place the menu consists largely of, you guessed it, trout dishes.

Location: Bibury is within the county of Gloucestershire six miles north of Cirencester.

Getting There: You may take a tour from London or drive to Bibury. Hiring a automotive is greatest as public transport on this a part of the nation could be a little missing.

Issues To Do: Take photos at Arlington Row, go to the outdated wool mill, sightseeing, strolling, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: The Swan Resort is the proper romantic getaway with four-star service and a location within the middle of the village. The close by New Inn at Coln is one other nice choice inside a stunning rural setting.

8. Fortress Combe

The attractive village of Fortress Combe in Wiltshire is positioned proper within the coronary heart of the Cotswolds Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence. Suppose stone cottages, historic bridges, and a village that’s barely modified in centuries. That is certainly top-of-the-line locations within the Cotswolds for picturesque allure.

The village has been used as a location for a lot of well-known tv applications and movies; the most recent being Stephen Speilberg’s Warfare Horse. The homes are constituted of the native honey-colored stone which lends the place a novel, fairytale really feel.

Issues to see across the village embody the thirteenth Century St Andrew’s church, a market cross, and a few wonderful pubs. The faceless clock in St Andrew’s is alleged to be one of many oldest working clocks within the nation and it’s undoubtedly one of many prime issues to see within the Cotswolds.

Location: Fortress Combe is in Wiltshire, not removed from the city of Chippenham.

Getting There: As with different small villages within the Cotswolds, the best strategy to get there’s to drive/rent a automotive.

Issues To Do: Strolling, sightseeing, view the oldest clock in England.

The place to Keep: The White Hart is a country pub within the coronary heart of Fortress Combe. Should you’re seeking to spoil yourslef, then the five-star Manor Home Resort is the proper place to remain.

9. Stow-on-the-Wold

The picturesque Gloucestershire settlement of Stow on the Wold is among the greatest cities within the Cotswolds to go to for its charming stone homes, pubs, river, and market sq.. It’s surrounded by stunning countryside and rolling hills; excellent for getting out into nature.

Stow is an outdated wool city that dates again to Roman occasions and means “Holy Place on the Hill”. It’s dwelling to one of many Cotswolds vacationer points of interest – the Tolkien Door in St Edward’s church. This attractive outdated door is nestled between two historic yew timber and was allegedly the inspiration behind the Doorways of Durin in Lord of the Rings.

A picturesque Stow-on-the-Wold church in the Cotswolds

The Porch Home Inn is alleged to be the oldest inn in England and is the proper place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They do a terrific steak, however my favourite is the fish pie with salmon, cod, and prawns. Costs are cheap with most mains costing between £15 and £25.

Location: Stow-on-the-Wold is positioned in Gloucestershire 20 miles from Cheltenham.

Getting There: One of many best methods to go to Stow is to take a tour from London.

Issues To Do: See the Tolkien Door, strolling, mountaineering, consuming and ingesting.

The place to Keep: The Stow Lodge Resort is the proper place for first-time guests and is positioned within the middle of the village.

10. Slad (One of many Greatest Locations to Go to within the Cotswolds)

Slad is my favourite Cotswold village and is among the greatest locations to go to within the Cotswold area. It’s additionally the birthplace (and burial website) of British creator Laurie Lee whose seminal guide As I Stepped Out One Midsummer Morning was gifted to me by my grandfather and impressed my very own travels and wanderlust.

Lee is buried within the graveyard of the Holy Trinity church which is nicely price a go searching. There’s a pleasant stroll behind the graveyard up into the hills and this actually is a few of the most picturesque English countryside to be discovered.

Throughout from the church is the Woolpack pub; excellent for refreshment after mountaineering within the close by hills and valleys. There’s outside seating overlooking the valley and it has a superb meals menu with a mix of traditional and up to date pub dishes. Slad is certainly one of many hidden gems of the Cotswolds.

Location: Slad is within the county of Gloucestershire 2.5 miles from Stroud.

Getting There: Hiring a automotive is one of the best ways to get to Slad however there’s additionally a bus from Stroud (No 228).

Issues To Do: Visiting Lauri Lee’s grave, strolling within the hills, and consuming lunch on the Woolpack.

The place to Keep: The Court docket Home Manor Luxurious B&B is a superb choice when you’re on the lookout for just a little splendor in your journey to Slad. St Michael’s Bistro is a superb finances choice close by.

11. Stanton

The 14th Century village of Stanton is among the most stunning locations to go to within the Cotswolds with honey-stone and thatched cottages, colourful flower gardens, and the close by archaeological website of Shenbarrow Hillfort. Though there isn’t a terrific deal to do within the village itself, it’s nicely price a search for its typical Cotswold structure.

The St Michael’s and All Angels church simply off the excessive avenue dates again to the 14th Century and is price a search for its spectacular medieval structure.

Pretty architecture on a bright day at Stanton in the Cotswolds, England.

The Mount Inn is a standard village pub and is a superb place to whereas away just a few hours sampling the native brews and home-cooked meals. It’s a terrific place for a Sunday lunch after a stroll across the village and surrounding countryside.

Location: Stanton is a small village in Gloucestershire 14 miles from the city of Cheltenham.

Getting There: Hiring a automotive is one of the best ways to get to rural Stanton.

Issues To Do: Sightseeing, visiting Shenbarrow Hillfort, strolling, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: Buckland Manor is a big resort set inside stunning grounds 2 miles from Stanton. The Volunteer Inn is a good choice for finances vacationers.

12. Broadway

The big Worcestershire village of Broadway is a good place for some Cotswolds sightseeing. From the charming lanes and byways dotted with conventional homes to the historic Broadway Tower which provides unbelievable views of the encompassing countryside, that is undoubtedly top-of-the-line locations to go to within the Cotswolds.

I really like exploring the outdated market, cottages, and attention-grabbing outlets that decision the village dwelling. The Horse and Hound is a comfortable little pub that’s nicely price popping into for lunch or a refreshment cease. The Broadway Museum and Artwork Gallery is a superb place to study just a little concerning the historical past of this charming Cotswold village.

Location: Broadway is positioned within the county of Worcestershire 16 miles from Cheltenham.

Getting There: The Heritage Railway runs between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway and is a handy strategy to get to the village. Driving is the opposite greatest choice to get to Broadway.

Issues To Do: Climbing the Broadway Tower, strolling within the countryside, and seeing the Broadway Museum and Gallery.

The place to Keep: The Lygone Arms is a luxurious resort inside a sixteenth Century teaching inn that’s located within the coronary heart of Broadway. The Broadway Resort is one other good choice within the village.

13. Painswick

The outdated wool city of Painswick is called the Queen of the Cotswolds for its slim streets lined with completely preserved cottages and homes. It incorporates the oldest constructing in England to accommodate a publish workplace, relationship again to 1428. It’s additionally dwelling to England’s oldest bowling inexperienced, a world-famous Rococo Backyard, and extra.

Painswick lies about halfway on the Cotswolds Method so it’s a terrific base for mountaineering the close by countryside and exploring different close by cities and villages. One focal point, positioned simply outdoors the churchyard, is an outdated set of shares relationship again from round 1840 that had been used to punish transgressors.

The stunning church in Painswick

The Oak Painswick is a good place for a pint or a chew to eat after a day’s sightseeing within the Cotswolds. This conventional British nation pub is the place to go for locally-made cider and meals sourced from the Cotswolds.

Location: Painswick is positioned 4 miles from Stroud within the county of Gloucestershire.

Getting There: Bus 66 takes simply eight minutes to achieve Painswick from Stroud.

Issues To Do: Visiting the Rococo Gardens, seeing the outdated shares, strolling, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: St Anne’s Mattress and Breakfast is a comfortable place to remain in Painswick for {couples}. Mulberry is a luxurious two-bedroom cottage in Painswick that’s excellent for households.

14. Burford

The village of Burford nestled within the Cotswold Hills is among the most picturesque within the nation and is definitely price a go to. The village sits on the banks of the River Windrush and contains many honey-stone cottages typical of the area. The gently sloping Excessive Road is lined with boutique outlets, vintage shops, impartial sellers, cafes, and pubs.

The three-arched medieval bridge throughout the river is price a glance, as is the Tolsey Museum charting the historical past of the village. The pharmacy dates again to 1734 and is the oldest in England. You may even keep in the identical inn frequented by Lord Nelson, King Charles, and William Morris amongst different well-known friends.

This Cotswolds Electrical Bike tour is an effective way to see a few of the greatest locations within the space.

Location: Burford is positioned within the county of Oxfordshire twenty miles west of Oxford.

Getting There: You may go to Burford on a tour from London.

Issues To Do: Sightseeing, visiting the Tolsey Museum, strolling, consuming, and ingesting.

The place to Keep: The luxurious Bull at Burford is a standard inn the place King Charles as soon as slept and is a good choice for {couples}. The Priory Tea Rooms provides finances lodging within the coronary heart of the village and is a good choice for solo vacationers.

15. Oxford

Should you can solely choose top-of-the-line cities to go to within the Cotswolds then look no additional than Oxford. Oxford is a captivating metropolis famed for its prestigious college and the annual boat race. Though I really like spending time strolling Oxford’s historic streets, I’ll at all times select Cambridge relating to the pleasant rivalry between the 2 cities because it’s extra native to me.

Oxford is certainly top-of-the-line cities within the Cotswolds with a lot to do from visiting the outdated fort and jail to exploring the shows on the Ashmolean Museum, seeing the collages of the college, and sampling native meals from one of many many eating places within the metropolis.

The beautiful surroundings of Oxford University City from afar.

Probably the greatest methods to get probably the most out of your journey to Oxford is to take a metropolis and college strolling tour. You’ll get to see town’s main landmarks and points of interest and study all about its historical past from educated guides.

Location: Oxford is the county city of Oxfordshire and is positioned sixty miles west of London.

Getting There: This full-day tour from London contains Oxford and different Cotswold vacationer points of interest comparable to Bibury. There are hourly trains from London Paddington and the journey time is beneath one hour.

Issues To Do: Sightseeing, visiting the College, procuring, consuming, ingesting, and strolling.

The place to Keep: The Randolph Resort is a luxurious five-star resort within the middle of Oxford that’s excellent for {couples}. The Galaxie is a good finances choice for first-time guests to Oxford.

Getting Across the Cotswolds

As a result of the realm is so rural, one of the best ways to get across the Cotswolds is to both take a tour or have your personal transport. There are sporadic bus companies between a few of the bigger cities and villages, however these aren’t at all times dependable, notably on weekends. Click on right here to guide a full-day tour with Get Your Information.

Attending to the bigger cities and cities of the Cotswolds comparable to Bathtub, Cirencester, Oxford or Stroud is simple with hourly prepare companies from London and different cities across the nation.

View of Upper Slaughter a beautiful Cotswolds village

Coach companies like Nationwide Categorical and Flixbus are additionally good choices for reaching a few of the important Cotswold cities.

Fast Itineraries for the Cotswolds

Listed below are a few easy itineraries to comply with when visiting the Cotswolds.

3 Days within the Cotswolds

With three days to discover the Cotswolds, a very good base could be Stroud in Gloucestershire. It’s simple to go to the close by villages of Sled and Painswick and it additionally has entry to the Cotswold Method for mountaineering.

Use someday to discover the above cities and villages, and on a second day drive to Chipping Norton through Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury.

In your third day, drive or take the prepare to Bathtub and discover the traditional Roman baths on this charming west nation metropolis.

One Week within the Cotswolds

One week is the proper size of time to discover one of the best of the Cotswolds. Begin off in Bathtub and spend a day and night exploring earlier than heading to Stroud. Stroll the cobbled streets and drive the brief distance to Sled to have lunch on the Woolpack.

From Stroud head to Stow-on-the-Wold and spend one other day and a few nights exploring this stunning rural village. You can also make day journeys to close by Chipping Norton and Bourton on the Water while right here.

Make your strategy to Oxford for a few days and discover the well-known college, fort, jail, and a few of the nice eating places within the city like Turtle Bay close to the Ashmolean.

From Oxford, make your strategy to Cirencester through a cease in Burford and spend just a few days within the “capital of the Cotswolds” the place you possibly can benefit from the procuring and nightlife within the city earlier than escaping into the Cotswold Space of Excellent Pure Beuty for some wonderful mountaineering.

FAQs About Visiting the Cotswolds

Solutions to some generally requested questions on visiting the attractive locations within the Cotswolds.

The place are the Cotswolds?

The Cotswolds area is positioned within the east of England. It’s made up of the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.

Are the Cotswolds price visiting?

The Cotswolds are undoubtedly price visiting as the realm is dwelling to a few of the most stunning English villages.

Which is the prettiest Cotswold village?

It’s unimaginable to decide on the prettiest village within the Cotswolds as there are such a lot of contenders. Burford, Bibary, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stow-on-the-Wold all should be named the prettiest villages within the Cotswolds.

When is one of the best time to go to the Cotswolds?

The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are a good time to go to the Cotswolds. There can be fewer vacationers and the milder climate is ideal for lengthy walks and hikes within the countryside. Personally, I believe fall is greatest with the unbelievable colours throughout the panorama.

The place ought to I base myself within the Cotswolds?

Bathtub, Cirencester, Oxford, and Stroud all make nice bases for exploring the Cotswolds. These bigger cities and cities have tons to do and it’s simple to get out into the countryside by automotive or bus.

What are the Cotswolds well-known for?

The Cotswolds are well-known for stunning villages of honey-stone homes, mild, rolling countryside, and a few of the greatest cider within the UK.

Are the Cotswolds secure to go to?

The Cotswolds are a few of the most secure components of the nation in comparison with the bigger cities and cities of England. Take ordinary precautions when touring comparable to locking doorways and never flashing costly gear.

In Conclusion

Now the place to go within the Cotswolds to see probably the most picturesque cities and villages. With so many great locations to go to within the Cotswolds, it’s no secret that this is among the hottest components of the UK for guests.

From the picturesque villages of Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water to the cities of Bathtub and Oxford, you gained’t be bored for a second exploring this stunning a part of the nation. Be sure you try one of the best place within the Cotswolds and my private favourite, Slad.

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