A Cotswolds Travel Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Rich with many wonderful restaurants, pubs, boutique shops, landmarks and attractions, a tour of the Cotswolds is the perfect way to experience the quintessential English countryside.

Quick links:

Why Visit The Cotswolds

When To Visit the Cotswolds

Where To Stay  In The Cotswolds

What To Do In The Cotswolds

Why Visit The Cotswolds

History

Visitors find themselves in another era when they walk amongst the honey-coloured Cotswold towns and villages in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With sheep farming and wool trading having been the main resource here in the past, the many wool churches and manor houses still stand today as they did when wealthy textile merchants built them long ago. As years went on, the Arts and Crafts movement flourished in the Cotswolds and the remnants from both eras left a rich legacy that formed the Cotswolds as we know it today.

Culture

Even though the Cotswolds is rich with history, modern living has most definitely caught up and found it’s place amongst the rolling hills in the form of top-class eateries, museums, galleries, food & music festivals and shopping experiences across the region that are second to none. Spanning almost 800 square miles over five counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire), the Cotswolds may be a series of smaller towns and villages, but it is vast and can easily keep you occupied, excited and interested for weeks on end.

When To Visit The Cotswolds

Winter

Winter may be considered the low season in terms of your typical UK holiday, but yielding smaller crowds means lower accommodation costs, and it doesn’t stop there! Celebrating Christmas in the Cotswolds can be extremely romantic, particularly when we are lucky with a gentle dusting of snow! Enjoy fireside dining, boutique shopping and many a crisp walk in this stunning region.

Spring

Springtime in the Cotswolds is the season of lambs, sunshine and flora. Arguably one of the most beautiful times of the year, it is also often warm enough to leave the overcoats at home making it a fabulous place to see in the more pleasant weather of spring.

Summer

Flowers in full bloom and warm summer evenings, there’s nowhere more bliss and colourful than the Cotswolds in summer. Just picture afternoon picnics amongst the lavender, or perhaps a lakeside sunset walk… idyllic!

Autumn

Autumn in the Cotswolds brings a quieter ambience with wonderful foliage all around, but with the warmer weather often continuing throughout September and even October, all the things that are so wonderful about the Cotswolds in the summertime, still apply in autumn.

Where To Stay In The Cotswolds?

Popular locations

Larger towns:

• Stow-on-the-Wold
• Cirencester
• Cheltenham

Picture perfect villages:

• Chipping Campden
• Bourton-on-the-Water
• Burford
• Painswick
• Broadway

Secluded countryside:

• Bourton-on-the-Hill
• Oddington
• Lower Slaughter

What To Do In The Cotswolds

Activities

There a number of activities which can be enjoyed in the Cotswolds, from family-friendly to solo adventures. Enjoy getting active with watersports at Cotswolds Water Park or why not go on a bike ride by the lavender fields in Snowshill? Even a walk over the rolling hills of Cotswolds is spectacular and a great way to spend time with loved ones.

There’s also a number of indoor activities which can be enjoyed, particularly in those “brisker” months. Why not check out one of our art galleries or museums? Or perhaps spend an afternoon moseying around our boutique highstreets? There’s plenty to do for every member of the family!

Dining

You’ll find a wealth of tearooms, cafes, restaurants and pubs in the Cotswolds. Enjoy dining on everything from finger sandwiches to hearty, gastropub meals during your stay.

27 Amazing Dining Pubs in the Cotswolds

18 Lovely Tearooms in the Cotswolds

No matter where you choose to visit in the Cotswolds, it promises to be a fantastic trip. Continue reading more about the Cotswolds on our travel blog or you can always call one of our friendly Travel Experts for more advice on booking your next Cotswolds holiday.