Why You Should Visit the Cotswolds

When planning our English road trip, people repeatedly recommended a visit to the Cotswolds. I had never heard of it, but took the advice and was so glad we did, as it is now my favorite part of England. Yes, I love it even more than London (which I did enjoy), but I am a historical fiction-loving, nature girl, and it is stunningly pretty and made me feel like I had traveled back in time. You will truly feel like you are in a movie set!

Visit the Cotswolds, England.
This Cotswolds Cottage by Jenny Mackness on Flickr has architecture typical in the area. with stone walls and a pseudo-thatched roof.

What Are the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is the name of a collection of rural, medieval towns in southeastern England. Due to their origin, they are generally centered around a market square. The thatched roofs and honey-colored houses are adorable against the rolling green hills, accented with limestone walls. The feeling is laid-back and relaxed. The locals I encountered were helpful and friendly. It is a great place to relax and meander through walking paths, shops, tea houses, and pubs.

Why visit the Cotswolds www.thedailyadventuresofme.com
Map of the Cotswolds

How to Get to the Cotswolds from London

You can get to the Cotswolds from London by train in about 1 1/2 hours. Explore the train tables here.

We took a car, which is ideal, so that you can drive from town to town. The drive from London is 2 1/2 hours. The Cotswolds are close to Oxford and Bath, so they are a perfect part of an English road trip. Although driving in England can be scary for someone used to driving on the other side of the road. Read all about our adventures driving in England.

Which Villages Should I Visit in the Cotswolds?

The list is extensive, but here are some suggestions. Don’t feel like you need to see many villages, pick a few, and enjoy your time in each.

Stow-on-the-Wold

what to do in the Cotswolds
Lucy’s Tea House in the darling village of Stow-on-the-Wold, scene of my favorite Cream Tea, ever!

Since we didn’t know what to expect, we only planned two days in the Cotswolds. We stayed in the small village of Stow-on-the-Wold and adored it. I spent a full day just exploring its alleys, fields, and church.

  • Large market square lined with excellent restaurants, small shops, and inns.
  • I had my favorite cream tea in England (and tried yummy Welsh Rarebit) at Lucy’s Tea Room in the main square. This meal so inspired me; I recreated it at home.
  • We stayed at The Unicorn in the family suite. It was modern and comfortable on the inside and historic on the outside.
A cream tea in the Cotswolds at Lucy's Tea House
My cream tea at Lucy’s! Isn’t it a dream?

Bibury

  • Rows of chocolate box houses, which are the most photographed in England.
  • Arlington Row is a collection of 14th-century weaver’s cottages.

Blockley

  • Has a cute village green overlooking a Norman church.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bredon

  • A hike up to Bredon Hill will provide a lookout over the Cotswolds.

Broadway

  • Be sure to take the steep walk uphill to Broadway Tower.

Castle Combe

  • Known as the “prettiest village in England.”
  • Formerly a British hill fort town.
  • See Castle Combe’s town bridge.
  • Close to the lovely town of Bath.

Chipping Campton

  • A typical Cotswold village with stone buildings, footpaths, and gardens.
  • Busy village at High Street.

Mickleton

  • Being the northernmost town in Gloucestershire, this village is convenient if you are planning a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace.
  • Mickleton and the Hidcotes walk

Minster Lovell

  •  Lesser known, less busy village.
  • Contains the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall, a manor house connected to the Tudors. Read more about visiting on Just Go Places.

Moreton-in-Marsh

  • arboretum
  • Accessible by bus from London- check out the tables here.

The Slaughters

How to visit the Cotswolds
Photo from Lower Slaughter by John Shortland.
  • The name means “muddy place,” but it isn’t.
  • Copse Hill Road is named the most romantic road in England.
  • The Old Mill
  • Lower Slaughter Manor Gardens

Witney

Explore the Cotwolds on Foot

things to do in the Cotswolds
Be sure to take a walk through the countryside. This was actually in a friendly local’s backyard, but there is a lovely walking trail.

No matter how you get here, this area is ideal for exploring on foot. Meander through villages or take on any part of its 100-mile walking trail network.

Where to Stay in the Cotswolds

Pick a few towns that you would like to concentrate on and stay in a small village in that area. We loved Stow-Upon-Wold. I find my hotels at Hotels.com, and so can you- Book Now and Save at hotels.com. Obviously, this is an affiliate link, but it is true, I do, and by using it, you help support this website, which I appreciate.

If you are going to England to experience romantic towns along babbling brooks, green rolling hills, and small stone villages, this is a place I highly recommend visiting. Whenever I am asked about our trip to Great Britain, I always end up talking about this unbelievable part of the islands.

Have you visited England? What was your favorite part? Have you spent time in the Cotswolds? What towns did you like? Please let me know in the comments.

For more information about these historic islands, read my posts about England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

And, of course, please pin these for later:

If you liked it, please share it. Thank you!

17 thoughts on “Why You Should Visit the Cotswolds”

  1. So want to visit and stay for a while in this part of England. Currently housesitting in Yorkshire and have very similar towns and villages here in beautiful York stone with thatched roofs and great names as well Thornton le Dale, Hutton Hole and those moors. I also love the friendliness of the people who live in the more rural parts of the UK (not to mention their accents).

    Reply
  2. We loved the Cotswolds. We went in March, so it was pre-spring, not as pretty as it could be, but it didn’t take away from the amazing houses and quaint towns. I love a cream tea anytime, and yours looks so pretty.

    Reply
  3. Love this blog post. You are my type of gal. Would love to connect with you. I’m a lover of afternoon tea and all things English countryside, so you could imagine how happy I was when I found this blog post. I see that you headed to Antigua on a cruise back in February, that’s where I’m originally from, hope you had a blast and enjoyed the food. Will continue to stay tuned to your blog and all of your adventures.
    K.J.

    Reply
  4. I’m so grateful I found this on Pinterest. I’m planning a weekend getaway to the Cotswolds and looking for ideas of things to do and see. Although I primarily cover London on my blog and YouTube channel, it’s great to show people day trip ideas. But, I agree with you- best to spend more than one day in this area! I see we also have the same theme designer (PDC) for our blogs too!

    Reply
  5. Would love to know the name of the company that roofed this house. I am from Canada and would like to have this done to my roof.

    Reply

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