Cotswolds 3-day itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in the Cotswolds – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
6 prettiest villages in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds, United Kingdom (UK)
Credit Shutterstock.com/littlenySTOCK
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
If you’re looking to visit a classic, picture-perfect English village, there’s nowhere better than the Cotswolds. The lush hills are dotted with small towns and villages, famous for their immaculately-kept medieval high streets, lined with half-timbered houses and cottages built with traditional, honey-coloured Cotswold stone.
Many of the villages date back as far as the 12th century, when the region was famous throughout Europe for its wool and cotton production. The area flourished, and over the following centuries many merchants built elegant houses, some of which still exist today.
Many of the villages have small museums, but really the best way to enjoy them is to simply potter, dipping into historic pubs and chintzy tea-rooms along the way.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Cotswolds 5-day itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in the Cotswolds – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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Overview >Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The Cotswolds can roughly be split into north and south areas, with the northern half being home to most of the best-known villages – Chipping Campden, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway and Stow-on-the-Wold, while Castle Combe lies in the south, near Bath. The proximity of the northern villages to each other means it’s possible to explore several in one day, although it can take time to find parking spaces.
Driving is by far the easiest way to get between the villages, although most are connected by buses (which can be infrequent). There are also guided tours, that take in several villages in one day.
When to do it
The Cotswolds villages are one of the biggest draws in England, and villages like Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway will be busy on a sunny weekend at any time of year.
If possible, the summer months are best avoided as the roads get clogged and villages crowded. If you do come in July or August, plan to see one village in the morning and one in the afternoon as a maximum, to allow time for traffic and to find parking.
Autumn is particularly beautiful, as the countryside between the villages blazes with colour and high streets are carpeted with leaves. Winter can also be an excellent time to visit, with cosy pubs, roaring fires and independent shops for a spot of Christmas shopping.
Experience
Bourton-on-the-Water
Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK)
Straddling the river Windrush, Bourton is regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England. Tea and cake by the riverside are a must-do, as is pottering around the elegant boutiques and souvenir shops. Don’t miss the Model Village, built to one-ninth size of the actual Bourton (it even has a model village within the model village).
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Broadway
Worcestershire, United Kingdom (UK)
Often referred to as the ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’, Broadway’s wide main street is chocolate-box pretty, with elegant, honey-hued cottages housing designer boutiques, cafes and bars.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Burford
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)
Eye-catching half-timbered houses and medieval homes step down Burford’s sloping high street, that tapers into a medieval bridge over the River Windrush. A great base for walking, Burford is also home to England’s oldest chemist (dating back to 1734). Dip into the 16th century Tolsey building, one a meeting place for local merchants and now home to the Burford Museum, giving an insight into the town’s colourful past.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Experience
Castle Combe
Wiltshire, United Kingdom (UK)
One of England’s prettiest villages, Castle Combe is a perfectly-preserved slice of medieval life, with a pub that has been open for more than 500 years. The Market Cross and St Andrews’s Church date back to the 13th century; on the exterior of the church, the faceless clock is one of the oldest working clocks in the country.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Barnsley House
Cirencester, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK)
A charming 17th-century manor house hotel, with a lovely spa, three restaurants and glorious gardens.
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The Manor House
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (UK)
A romantic country house retreat set in historic Castle Combe, one of England’s most medieval villages.
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Wild Rabbit
Kingham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)
Picture perfect, eco-friendly luxurious village inn, set in the prettiest part of the Cotswolds.
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Cowley Manor & Spa
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK)
Multi-award-winning luxury but family-friendly hotel and exceptional spa set in 55-acre gardens, ideally located for exploring the beautiful Cotswolds.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds, United Kingdom (UK)
One of England’s most beautiful regions – a patchwork landscape of idyllic countryside, postcard-perfect villages and cosy historic boutique hotels.
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