The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds are comprised of picturesque villages and vibrant market towns! They are located in an area of beautiful countryside covering almost 800 square miles.

The best thing to do in the Cotswolds is to drive around exploring the little towns & soaking up the beautiful countryside! Enjoy the beauty of each charming town, stroll the town streets, and stop for lunch at a quaint tea room or cafe.

Take a Cotswolds private tour and plan your own perfect day! Choose which towns in the Cotswolds you’d like to visit and how long you’d like to stay. This is the perfect way to see the Cotswolds! Book your tour here.

The main towns to visit in the Cotswolds are:

• Bibury – Once described by William Morris as ‘the most beautiful village in England’. 
• Bourton-on-the-Water – Often described as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ due to its six bridges that span the River Windrush. 
• Broadway – Broadway has often been referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’.
• Burford – Often referred to as the ‘gateway to the Cotswolds,’ as it is only twenty miles from Oxford.
• Castle Combe – Castle Combe is often called ‘the prettiest village in England’.
• Cheltenham – An ideal base from which to explore the Cotswolds,  Cheltenham, and known as the most complete regency town in England.
• Chipping Campden – Chipping Campden forms the start of the Cotswold Way, a famous hundred mile stretch of footpath that runs all the way to Bath.
• Cirencester – Cirencester is the largest in the Cotswold district, and is referred to as ‘The Capital of the Cotswolds’. 
• Gloucester – In 1085 William the Conqueror commissioned The Domesday Book in Gloucester. There is also an impressive Norman cathedral, much of which survives to this day.
• Lacock – Probably the most beautifully preserved village in the Cotswolds.
• Lechlade – A magnet for boaters during the summer months.
• Malmesbury – Arguably the oldest continually inhabited town in England.
• Moreton-in-Marsh – Home to a selection of interesting antique shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels.
• Northleach – A wool-trading center in the 14th & 15th centuries, and often labeled as ‘The forgotten town of the Cotswolds.’
• Painswick – An attractive town full of little streets and charming shops.
• Snowshill – A charming, secluded Cotswold village in the hills.
• Stanton– A picturesque residential village, with no shops, guesthouses, tourists, or tea rooms. 
• Stanway – This estate village is centered around the magnificent Stanway House with its baroque gatehouse and formal gardens.
• Stow-on-the-Wold – A bustling market town that thrives on tourism and the antiques trade. 
• Stratford-upon-Avon – A market town in medieval times & Shakespeare’s birthplace.
• Stroud – Brimming with independent shops, cafés, and galleries and home to one of the best Farmer’s Markets in the country.
• Tetbury – The location of several Royal Family private homes (closed to the public), set among gently rolling hills.
• Tewkesbury – Known for its elegant abbey and one of the few places in the Cotswold area where you can see ancient half–timbered buildings. 
• The Slaughters – The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. 
• Winchcombe – A cute, lively town and home to Sudeley Castle.
• Woodstock – A market town & home to Blenheim Palace – the birthplace of Winston Churchill.  

Take a tour of both the Cotswolds & Blenheim Palace! This is the perfect day out. Reserve your spot here.

Take an electric bike tour through the Cotswold Villages! This is a favorite for those who enjoy biking. Book your bike tour here.

Here is a list of more recommended activities & tours you can do in the Cotswolds.

Want to see more of England? Take a day trip to Bath, Cambridge, London, Liverpool, or Oxford!