Cotswolds Villages to Visit and Things to Do

The Cotswolds is the classic English staycation: honey-coloured stone villages, rolling hills, cosy pubs and walks that start from the front door of your cottage. The challenge is choosing, because there are dozens of villages and they're spread across several counties. Below are the Cotswolds villages most worth visiting, what each is best for, the things to do between them and how to plan a weekend or a longer stay without spending it all in traffic.

Cotswolds villages at a glance

Village or town	Best for	Good to know
Bibury	Arlington Row, one of the most photographed streets in England	Small and busy at peak times; go early
Bourton-on-the-Water	Riverside strolls, low stone bridges, family days out	Lively and popular, especially in summer
Lower and Upper Slaughter	Quiet beauty and a gentle riverside walk between them	Very little parking; walk in from nearby
Castle Combe	A picture-perfect village in the southern Cotswolds	Park above the village and walk down
Chipping Campden	An elegant wool town and the start of the Cotswold Way	Great base for walkers
Stow-on-the-Wold	Market square, antique shops and pubs	Central for exploring the north
Broadway	Shops, galleries and Broadway Tower on the hill above	Good for a full day out
Burford	A sloping high street and riverside meadows	Handy for visitors coming from the east
Painswick	Churchyard yews and quieter streets	Less crowded than the northern villages
Tetbury	Antiques and independent shops	Close to Westonbirt Arboretum

The prettiest villages, in a little more detail

Bibury

Bibury's Arlington Row is a terrace of old weavers' cottages beside a stream, and it's the image many people picture when they think of the Cotswolds. It's tiny, so a visit takes an hour or two. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to see it without the crowds, and treat it as part of a longer day.

Bourton-on-the-Water

The River Windrush runs through the middle of Bourton under a series of low stone bridges, which is why it's often called the Venice of the Cotswolds. It's lively and family-friendly, with a model village, cafes and plenty to keep children busy. Pair it with a walk to the Slaughters for a quieter afternoon.

Lower and Upper Slaughter

These two tiny villages sit a short walk apart along the little River Eye. There are hardly any shops, which is exactly the appeal: an old mill, stone cottages and a riverside path that's lovely in every season.

Castle Combe

In the southern Cotswolds, Castle Combe is often described as one of the prettiest villages in England, and it's easy to see why. It has a market cross, a stream, a medieval church and a single, gently curving street of stone cottages. It's a good stop if you're coming from Bath or the west.

Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden's long, curving high street of golden stone is one of the finest in the Cotswolds, a reminder of its history as a wealthy wool town. It's the northern start of the Cotswold Way, so it's a natural base for walkers.

Things to do in the Cotswolds

• Walk part of the Cotswold Way, a long-distance trail running along the escarpment between Chipping Campden and Bath. Short sections make easy day walks.
• Climb Broadway Tower for views across several counties on a clear day.
• Visit a stately home or castle, such as Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe or Blenheim Palace at Woodstock on the eastern edge of the area.
• See the autumn colour at Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, or Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh.
• Take children to the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford or the Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power.
• See the lavender fields at Snowshill in early summer.
• Browse antiques in Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury.
• Settle into a country pub after a walk, with a fire in winter and a garden in summer.

A sample two-day Cotswolds itinerary

If you've only got a weekend, this route keeps driving short and mixes famous villages with quieter ones.

• Day one morning: Bourton-on-the-Water early, before the crowds, then the riverside walk to Lower and Upper Slaughter.
• Day one afternoon: Stow-on-the-Wold for lunch, antiques and a look at the church door framed by old yew trees.
• Day one evening: a pub supper back at your base.
• Day two morning: Chipping Campden's high street and a short stretch of the Cotswold Way.
• Day two afternoon: Broadway and the walk or drive up to Broadway Tower for the view.
• On the way home: Bibury late in the day, when Arlington Row is at its calmest.

Planning a weekend in the Cotswolds

1. Pick a base in one part of the area. The north (Stow, Chipping Campden, Broadway) and the south (Castle Combe, Tetbury, Painswick) are quite far apart on small roads.
2. Plan two or three villages a day, with a walk or an attraction in between.
3. Visit the busiest villages early or late in the day.
4. Book dinner ahead at popular pubs, especially on Saturdays.
5. Bring walking boots, because the best views come from the footpaths between villages.

Getting there and getting around

Most visitors drive, and a car is the easiest way to reach the smaller villages. If you'd rather not, trains from London Paddington stop at stations such as Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Kemble, and local buses and taxis connect the bigger towns. Walking and cycling between neighbouring villages is one of the nicest ways to see the area, so you may not need the car much once you've arrived.

Where to stay

A cottage is the classic choice, especially for families or groups, because you get your own space, a kitchen and often a log burner. Country house hotels and inns suit couples and shorter stays. My guide to planning a Cotswolds cottage getaway covers choosing and booking a cottage retreat, and if you want a pampering weekend, many Cotswolds hotels have spas. My spa day guide covers what to bring and what to expect.

When to visit

Spring brings blossom and lambs in the fields, summer has long evenings and lavender, autumn has some of the best colours of the year in the arboretums and woods, and winter is perfect for fires, frosty walks and Christmas markets. Weekends and school holidays are busiest, so a weekday visit is calmer if you can manage it.

A staycation that suits working parents

The Cotswolds is also a good choice if you need a break that doesn't take a whole week. A long weekend is enough to switch off, and many cottages have good wifi if you can't avoid checking in on work for an hour. If you're a business owner trying to step back, my piece on slow travel for founders is about how to take a break without the business falling apart.

Respecting the villages

• Park in car parks, not on narrow lanes or outside cottages.
• Remember that people live in these villages, so keep noise down and don't peer through windows.
• Keep dogs on leads near livestock.
• Take litter home and follow the countryside code on footpaths.

Travel writers who know the Cotswolds or other UK staycation spots inside out can find out about contributing travel guides.

Frequently asked questions

What is the prettiest village in the Cotswolds?

Bibury, Castle Combe, Lower Slaughter and Chipping Campden are often named among the prettiest. Which you prefer depends on whether you want quiet charm or more to do.

How many days do you need in the Cotswolds?

A weekend covers a handful of villages and a walk. Three to four days lets you see the north and south without rushing.

Can you visit the Cotswolds without a car?

Yes, with planning. Trains from London stop at Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Kemble, and buses, taxis and footpaths link many villages.

What is the best base for the Cotswolds?

Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and Broadway suit the north, while Tetbury and Castle Combe suit the south.

When is the best time to visit the Cotswolds?

Late spring and early autumn are lovely and quieter. Weekdays outside school holidays are the calmest.