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Cotswolds 3-day itinerary

  • United Kingdom (UK)

Last updated: 07 June, 2024

Where to go and what to see in the Cotswolds – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.

Editor note – Annabelle has not included specific recommendations of where to stay each day unless it’s necessary. Instead, see the ‘Where to stay’ section in our Cotswolds destination guide.

Day 1

2

Begin by touring two of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages. Start early with Bourton-on-the Water, before the crowds arrive and then head north to Broadway, stopping en route for lunch at the Snowshill Arms. Afterwards, drive out to the Broadway Tower, a former folly that offers sweeping views over sixteen counties.

  • The Cotswolds, United Kingdom (UK)

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.

Good for age: 18+

  • Broadway, Worcestershire, United Kingdom (UK)

This 18th-century folly designed by Capability Brown sits on the highest point in the Cotswolds, with views over 16 counties.

The tower barely justifies an excursion, but it’s a lovely countryside walk to get there. Start from the village of Broadway and follow the signposted footpath, heading north. Soak up the scenic views as you ascend the hill, and in approximately an hour, you’ll arrive at Broadway Tower.

Good for age: 8+

Duration: 2+ hours

Day 2

4

Spend the morning at Blenheim Palace, one of the largest stately homes in the country, before exploring the pretty village of Burford. Head north for lunch and foodie treats at Daylesford Organic, before heading on to the Cotswold Distillery Centre to taste and buy locally produced gin.

  • The Cotswolds, United Kingdom (UK)

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.

Good for age: 18+

  • Woodstock, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (UK)

The palace from above with a lake on the side

Bucket List Experience

Blenheim Palace

Birthplace of Winston Churchill, UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2,000 acres of Capability Brown-designed gardens, a gargantuan palace dating back to the early 18th-century – Blenheim is almost bewilderingly rich in heritage.

This Baroque beauty was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704. Passed on down through the generations, it’s now home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family.

The Palace holds spectacular collections of art, furniture and porcelain, housed in ornate, grand state rooms. Alongside, there’s a new, interactive exhibition dedicated to Winston Churchill – and you can also see the tiny room where he was born.

There are several themed tours on offer – of the Marlborough’s private apartments, of the ‘downstairs’ where the servants worked (ala Downtown Abbey), buggy tours of the formal gardens, and of the stables – offering a deeper insight into life here in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Adult price: £32

Good for age: 13+

Daylesford Organic

  • Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK)

Entrance to the Daylesford Organic food emporium. A bright, spacious interior with vegetables and plants stacked to be sold.

Experience

One of the most sustainable, organic farms in the UK, Daylesford has an award-winning farm shop, café, wellness spa and cookery school – the ultimate hub for foodies.

Good for age: 18+

Cotswolds Distillery

  • Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, United Kingdom (UK)

Exterior of a traditional building on a sunny day.

Experience

The first full scale distillery in the Cotswolds, crafting a range of spirits including the award-winning Cotswolds Dry Gin and Single Malt whisky.

Good for age: 18+

Day 3

2

Head to the far west of the region to visit Castle Combe, England’s most complete medieval village. Stop for lunch at The Stables café before the short drive to Highgrove, the home of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, famous for its beautiful organic garden (tours must be pre-booked).

  • Castle Combe, Wiltshire, United Kingdom (UK)

A row of quintessentially medieval houses with an old bridge in the foreground.

Bucket List Experience

Medieval village of Castle Combe

Ask an American to describe a traditional English village and they’d probably describe Castle Combe. Ridiculously pretty, this perfectly preserved slice of medieval life had a starring role in War Horse, and the cluster of stone cottages, edging a winding High Street, almost have the feel of a film set.

The Market Cross, at the village centre, dates back to the 14th century and the White Hart pub has been open for more than 500 years.

If you only visit one village in the Cotswolds – make it this one.

Good for age: 18+

  • Tetbury, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK)

Exterior of the front of the house covered in shrubbery

Bucket List Experience

Highgrove Gardens

It doesn’t get much more bucket list than strolling through the private gardens of an English king. Highgrove House is the private home of King Charles III, and every spring and summer, the gardens open to the public for guided tours.

Designed and developed over forty years, the organic gardens spread over six different areas, from a colour-filled arboretum – home to acers, magnolia and cherry trees – to the Victorian ‘stumpery’, where tree ferns rise up beside natural wood sculptures, and a wildflower meadow.

Tours are led by the King’s garden guides, who have an encyclopaedic knowledge of Highgrove and all its treasures.

Adult price: £29.50

Good for age: 18+