The Cotswolds are still one of my favourite areas in England to explore! Imagine rolling green hills, quaint little villages and a huge amount of history. There are so many places in the Cotswolds that you’ll almost be spoilt for choice.
And you know what, that’s what I love most – there’s a surprise around every winding road. Over the years, I’ve visited the Cotswolds around four or five times, each time exploring some new picturesque hamlet or village that’s nestled in the region. Now, whether it’s your first, fifth or fiftieth time exploring the pretty spots in England, I’d always recommend a little gallivant to the Cotswolds. It is a stunning place. That being said, it can be tricky to narrow down the little villages and places in the Cotswolds to visit, especially on a shorter trip.
That’s why I wanted to show you some of my firm favourites to see. Some are larger villages, some smaller towns, and some are just countryside spots, but what they all have in common is that they are some of the best places in the Cotswolds to explore.
Take a look below at some of the best places in the Cotswolds to explore. You’ll have an epic time visiting England.
1.) Bibury
Nestled on the banks of the River Coln, Bibury is a gorgeous little village that has one of the most famous streets in all of the Cotswolds, Arlington Row.
Famed for its crooked little cottages, you’ll feel like you’ve been thrown back a few centuries to a time gone by. Arlington Row (Google Maps pin) is just stunning. Though be warned, it can be a little busy during the day, so plan your visit in the morning or late afternoon when it’s a little quieter.
Once you’re here, pop into The Catherine Wheel, which serves up some piping hot British pub grub that I’m almost sure you’ll enjoy. Just make sure to leave some room for sticky toffee pudding.
Also, if you’re looking for one of the best Cotswolds hotels, then book this room at the incredibly quaint Keepers Arms. This traditional countryside inn is so beautiful. It’s perched about 2 miles from Bibury, and these rooms are stunning. Plus, it has the tastiest restaurant and pub serving local brews and ales. We love it here.
If you’ve got time, take a drive to the nearby Chedworth Roman Villa. The remains are one of England’s most grand Roman villas ever built, and it’s so worth a visit. Just remember, it’s closed in Winter but open all other times of the year. Once here, you can wander around the museum, stroll to see the Roman mosaics, visit two original bath houses and heaps more. If you love history, specifically Roman history, you will love Chedworth Roman Villa.
Read more: Finding England’s famous street, Arlington Row
2.) Stow-on-the-Wold
The market town of Stow-on-the-Wold is one of the best places in the Cotswolds to visit, which is perched right on top of a hill.
Once you’re here, make sure to visit St. Edward’s Church. You see, it’s often considered a Tolkien door as it looks like something out of The Lord of the Rings. Not only that, the whole church is Medieval in age, and so incredible to wander around once you arrive in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Then, once you’ve visited St. Edward’s Church, make sure see the Fosse Gallery, and pop over to the Farmer’s Market that’s held every second Thursday of the month. For a delicious bite to eat, pop into Lucy’s Tearoom for some freshly baked scones accompanied by lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam. Afterwards, head down Sheep Street (Google Maps pin) to explore some of the independent antique stores like Durham House Antiques and Baggot & Co. We love them, and there’s always some treasures you can find inside.
Oh, and relatively close by is the stunning (Jacobean) Chastleton House, which was built in the early 17th Century. It’s a great place to visit for an afternoon, especially if you want to see a historic house that has been left untouched by modern life.
Finally, for a great place to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold, make sure to book this room within the historic Cotswolds property of the Old Stocks Inn. It’s right within the heart of the town, and the Cotswolds stone cottage it’s within is just magical. We love it here.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
3.) Kingham
Around 4 miles from Chipping Norton, Kingham (Google Maps pin) is a tiny village that has hundreds of people living there. Once you’ve arrived, make sure to pop into The Kingham Plough for a tasty lunch and see St. Andrew’s Church (yep, there are quite a few of these in the Cotswolds).
If you’re staying for lunch, head straight over to the Kingham Plough. It’s a traditional cottage Inn that serves up some of the best food in all of Kingham. They roast some of the tastiest pork belly in all of the Cotswolds. Not only that, you can actually stay within these stunning rooms at the Kingham Plough. The rooms are so cosy and such a great way to experience the charm of Cotswolds life. We love it.
Also, don’t forget, you’ve got one of England’s most famous farm shops just outside the town itself. Drive around 8 minutes, and you will get to Daylesford Organic (Google Maps pin). It’s got everything from local produce, crafts, art, and so much more. Not only that, they have a yummy restaurant which is perfect for a Sunday roast, bone broth or fresh and zingy salads in the summer months. IT’s so worth stopping by. Though be warned, it can get busy on weekends. This is also the time that most locals visit, too.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
4.) Naunton
Based on the River Windrush, Naunton (Google Maps pin) is a sleepy little village that’s a perfect stop-off point as you venture further towards Stow-on-the-Wold. To get one of the best views of Naunton, climb (or ramble) the hill which overlooks the village itself.
There’s been evidence of a village here since the Doomsday Book recorded it as Niwetone (almost 1,000 years ago), which means there’s lots of history to soak up. If you visit on a Sunday, pop into The Black Horse Inn (Google Map pin) for a yummy roast dinner. Best of all, it’s not too far from Bourton-on-the-Water, which means you can explore both towns in one go.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
5.) Castlecombe
About 5 miles from Chippenham, Castlecombe is one of the best places in the Cotswolds to visit, which is split into two parts. Firstly, explore the narrow valley of the By Brook, then head towards Upper Castle Combe, which is quite a bit higher up.
Once you’re here, make sure to check out the Market Cross (Google Maps pin) and St. Andrew’s Church before heading for a stroll in this almost fairytale-like English village. Plus, you can get an amazing local brew or pint of bitter from The Castle Inn.
Plus, for one of the best manor houses to stay at in the Cotswolds, check into The Manor House Hotel. It’s a luxury manor house that’s so beautiful, and the whole grounds are amazing. It’s the kind of place you stay in the Cotswolds if you want a touch of luxe, that’s within walking distance of Castlecombe itself. These Mews luxe cottages, within the manor grounds, are just so divine. We loved our stay here.
Read more: The most quaint places in England to visit
6.) Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is one of the picturesque places in the Cotswolds that’s perched on its northern fringes.
When you visit here, make sure to visit the wool church as well as the historic marketplace that has been covered way back since the 17th century. Look to see if you can find the marker stone that signifies the start of the long-distance footpath of the Cotswold Way; it’s a great place to go on a ramble or trek through the countryside. It’s a great way to explore the Cotswolds on foot, and the pathways are clearly mapped by the National Trail. You can see all the walkways on their website.
If that’s not your thing, take a stroll around the town and visit the Old Silk Mill, located on Sheep Street and the Court Barn Museum. The 17th-century farm building shows local arts and crafts that are perfect to visit, especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Oh, and for a tasty lunch, pop into Badger’s Hall Tea Room, who have the best afternoon tea in town! Plus, it’s also a gorgeous bed and breakfast, and a really cosy place to stay in the Cotswolds and a great place to act as a base to drive around the rest of this stunning area of England.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
7.) Broadway
A few miles south-west of Chipping Campden is the village of Broadway. It is one of the best places in the Cotswolds to explore, especially if you want to see one of the larger villages in the area.
Once here, make sure to pop over to the Broadaway Tower, which was built way back in the 18th Century as a spot to view beacons that were lit on special occasions. Also, make sure to explore Snowshill Manor, which was built in the 16th Century. Once inside, you’ll see a treasure trove of artefacts from all over the world.
Looking for the best Cotswolds hotel? Make sure to book this room in the historic Abbots Grange Manor House. It’s the most amazing private manor house and estate, where you can stay. It’s so beautiful and is literally dripping in history. Centuries old, this building is just incredible, and the rooms are so gorgeous and typically English.
Read more: What to see in Broadway
8.) Bourton-on-the-Water
Perched on the River Windrush, Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the best places in the Cotswolds to explore ‘ye olde England’. With a heap of historical properties (dating hundreds of years back), it really is a stunning place to walk around and spend a few hours discovering its hidden gems.
Once you’re here, make sure to spot the tiny bridges across the river, too. Oh, and you can visit the quaintest model village that’s been in the town for decades. If all that exploring has your tummy rumbling, pop into Bakery on the Water, which we went to on our last visit. They have the best pasties (a little like a meat pie) and buns that are so yummy.
Read more: What to see at Bourton-on-the-Water
9.) The Slaughters
The Slaughters (Upper Slaughter (Google Maps pin) and Lower Slaughter (Google Maps pin)) are two tiny twin villages that are picturesque and some of the best places in the Cotswolds to experience a quieter way of life. Now, don’t be fooled by the pretty macabre name; it has nothing to do with the modern interpretation of the word.
Historically, it is the Anglo-Saxon word for mud that was used to describe this area way back when. Once here, make sure to explore the Old Mill Museum and take a stroll between the little cobbled streets that make this place so special. Make sure to stop off at the Lower Slaughter Museum (Google Maps pin) and take a stroll around the River Eye, which is lovely in the sunshine.
Finally, for a great place to stay in Upper Slaughter, make sure to check into the Lords Of The Manor Hotel. The whole place is stunning, and we love the property. Plus, the gardens are so beautiful… oh, and I nearly forgot their homemade scones, too! So delicious.
Best of all, the Slaughters are not too far from Bourton-on-the-Water, so you can easily stop off for a quick stroll before leaving the wider area.
Read more: What to see around the Slaughters
10.) Burford
Burford is one of the Cotswolds smaller medieval towns that’s perched on the River Windrush (similar to Bourton-on-the-Water). Standing at the top of Burford’s High Street will give you a pretty good view of how many medieval buildings are actually in this town.
While you are visiting, make sure you visit the Tudor market house of Robert Reavley (number 124). It’s the oldest pharmacy in England. It has existed here since 1734. Oh, and make sure to pop into the Tolsey Museum and see local artefacts from the region.
If you’re looking for some proper pub grub, head into The Royal Oak and make the best homemade pies. Burford really is one of the best places in the Cotswolds to explore, especially on a sunny day.
Oh, and if you want to stay within the picturesque Burford, make sure to book this room at The Angel at Burford. It’s a family-run Inn and the whole team is so welcoming and warm. Plus, this Inn is just so beautiful and feels like stepping back in time… except with all the mod cons.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
11.) Painswick
Around 8 miles south of Glocester, Painswick is a gorgeous town of steeply winding streets that is stunning.
Once here, you should visit the Church of St. Mary; it was built in the 14th century and has lines of yew trees. There are 99 trees, and there is a local legend that the devil will not allow more than that (who knows why?).
Also, if you feel like a little ramble, walk part of the Cotswold Way as the footpath passes through the village and carries on further into the countryside. If you’re hankering for a bite to eat, pop into Falcon Inn for a classic Sunday roast.
Read more: Prettiest places in England to explore
12.) Tetbury
Tetbury was a somewhat accidental find whilst we were scouting some new spots to explore. Thankfully, our last trip remedied this when we decided to stay a few nights in Tetbury itself.
Perched in the southern part of the Cotswolds, Tetbury is one of those quaint English towns that seems to have a little bit of everything. Whilst wandering around Tetbury, make sure to see Chipping Steps, a rather higgledy-piggledy street (filled with the quaintest houses) that’s so beautiful.
For a stunning and quintessentially English place to stay, book to stay and eat at the utterly gorgeous Royal Oak Tetbury (where we stayed). They have the most gorgeous rooms.
Oh, and if you’re travelling from the west, pop into The Wild Duck Inn in Ewen, they have some of the nicest food in the area (and some of the best Scotch eggs I’ve tried). Also, if you have time (and it’s a sunny day), head over to Westonbirt Arboretum for a little wander through the forests.
Read more: What to do in Tetbury
13.) Lacock
Lacock is one of the gorgeous places in the Cotswolds that might feel quite familiar to you. Over the last few years, Lacock has featured in a few big movies, which have been shot on the pretty little lanes (Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, to name a few).
Once you’re here, make sure to explore Lacock Abbey, the historic home of Henry Fox Talbot (the inventor of the photographic negative). Also, make sure to see the 600-year-old tithe barn and head to King John’s Hunting Lodge for one of the best lemon drizzle cakes around.
Read more: What to see whilst in Lacock
14.) Winchcombe
Filled with Jacobean mansions, an ancient church (decorated with medieval gargoyles) and Victorian almshouses, Winchcombe is a beautiful town to explore.
Winchcombe’s origin dates way back to Saxon England, where it was once a key meeting point of 5 ancient trails. Even today, these trails can be followed, especially if you’re a keen rambler. Just make sure to take one of the short trails (that can get steep) towards the Neolithic tomb of Belas Knap.
Also, whilst you’re in the area, pop over to Sudeley Castle, with its grand banqueting halls and gardens. It has had many owners during its lifetime, including the last of Henry VIII’s six wives, Katherine Parr.
Just remember that it’s often closed in the winter months between December and February.
Read more: Beautiful places to see in the south of England
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