10 Places You Should Visit in the Cotswolds, England

The Cotswolds is a rural area of rolling green hills, honey-colored medieval villages, and is brimming with quintessential English charm; there are no shortage of places to visit in the Cotswolds. Covering 5 different counties (Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire), this vast region is a designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and is a perfect day-or-weekend escape from the busy streets of London.

The first time we visited London, I really wanted to visit the Cotswolds and experience some of that English countryside charm. We took a day trip bus tour outside of the city, stopping by Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon and ending the tour at Oxford University (with a short drive through the Cotswolds in between). The tour was extremely disappointing, filled with long hours of sitting on a crowded bus and very little time to explore the ‘pit-stops’ we made. There were so many moments where the bus would drive by a beautiful building or amazing scenery, and my husband and I would stare longingly out the window, wishing we could get off the bus to learn more and explore on our own. (I guess we could have, but that would’ve made for a long and expensive taxi ride back!)

So when it came time to re-visit the Cotswolds, my husband and I made sure to rent our own car, and tour the area on our own schedule. We spent a lovely weekend driving through the lush countryside, admiring the picturesque scenery around us, and stopping in every storybook village we could find. Here’s my top 10 list of places you can’t miss while visiting the Cotswolds!

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Arlington Row in Bibury

Visit Arlington Row (a historic row of cottages from the 14th century) in the picturesque village of Bibury. These little cottages used to be weaver’s homes, and you can still see the Rack Isle where wool used to be put to dry. For those wanting to experience an overnight stay in a historic English cottage, cottage no.9 on Arlington Row is usually available for holiday rentals! Bibury was one of my favorite stops in the Cotswolds, featuring cute homes, leafy pub gardens, and a trout farm.

Afternoon Tea in Stow-on-the-Wold

Grab a spot of afternoon tea at Lucy’s Tea Room in the village of Stow-on-the-Wold. Lucy’s is probably my favorite tea room in all of England (and this is saying a lot because I very much enjoy afternoon tea). The prices are reasonable and the food is amazing. Must-orders: scones and a Welsh rarebit.

Stow-on-the-wold is a historic market town that dates back to the Norman times. It’s worth spending an hour or so exploring many of the boutiques and shops that line the town’s Market Square.

Broadway Tower

Admire the views from Broadway Tower. Standing 65-feet tall, this castle-like tower is the second highest point in the Costwolds and offers sweeping views (on a clear day, you can see up to 16 counties!).

Village of Cirencester

Explore the village of Cirencester, the colorful capital of the Cotswolds. Despite being the largest town in the Cotswolds, Cirencester is oftentimes left off travel guides…probably because it feels more like a ‘real’ market town than a ‘fairy tale’ destination. If you’re looking for a hidden gem though, visit Cirencester. There are less tourists here, and you can get a good vibe for how the locals live. It has a bustling town center filled with independent shops, restaurants, and cafes.

TIP: While we were in Cirencester, a local painter informed us that the best meal in Cirencester can be found at The Fleece. Apparently they serve a mean fish finger sandwich.

Daylesford Organic Farm House

Grab a refreshing lunch at the Daylesford Organic Farm House in Kingham. This place was so cute, it required a dedicated blog post. Read about our visit here. It’s worth a stop!

Chipping Campden

Admire thatched roof cottages in Chipping Campden. This cozy village is famous for having a beautiful high street and a cluster of historic thatched roof cottages at the southwestern end of the town. There are about 50,000 thatched roof homes left in England, and these darling homes are important to English architectural heritage. In the 1800s, thatching (e.g. compacted straw) was the only roofing material that residents living in the rural countryside could afford. At the time, thatch was a symbol of poverty but it’s since become the fabric of the English countryside (depicted in paintings, movies, etc.).

Burford

Walk along Burford High Street. Often referred to as the “gateway” into the Cotswolds, Burford has an idyllic high street lined with historic homes and antique shops. England’s oldest pharmacy is located here!

Costwolds Way

Take a hike along the Cotswolds Way. The Cotswolds Way is a long-distance hiking route that starts in the village of Chipping Campden and ends in the city of Bath. The entire trail is 102 miles long and covers several famous tourist attractions and villages in the area. For those not into long-distance hiking, the Cotswolds Way can be broken down into several little sections (personalize your hike here).

Bourton-on-the-Water

Tour Bourton-on-the-Water, often known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’. The River Windrush flows through the center of this town, with little bridges crossing over it. At Christmas time, a Christmas tree is set-up in the middle of the river and an evening festival is held for the annual switching on of Christmas lights!

Countryside Pub

End a long day of exploring with dinner in a quintessential English countryside pub. There’s no shortage of pubs in the Cotswolds, but good options include the Wild Rabbit in Kingham, or the Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach. There’s really nothing better than relaxing in a dimly-lit pub, next to a roaring fireplace, with a pint of ale (and perhaps a plate of fish and chips) in hand.

TIP: If you visit the Cotswolds over the Spring Bank Holiday, you might be able to catch the annual Cheese-Rolling competition. Every year, local cheese enthusiasts partake in a dangerous (yes, seriously) chase down a hill, after a rolling wheel of Gloucester cheese. It’s a big deal.

Related post: The Cutest B&B in the Cotswolds