The Cotswolds region is a photogenic collection of counties defined by honey-stoned houses and a ridiculous amount of natural beauty. No surprises that in 1966 it was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
For the visitor to England, there is no better introduction to the joys of the quintessential English countryside. Countless celebrities, ranging from the Beckhams to Hugh Grant, Stella McCartney, and Kate Moss move here to escape the glare of fame, and we can see why.
Here’s our insider’s guide to some of the best things to see and do if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in this dreamy part of the country.
Image Credits: Getty Images, David Knibbs. Image Location: Cotswolds, England.
What is the Cotswolds famous for?
Villages and towns
Broadway gets a lot of attention for the cute shop-lined high street and the grand Lygon Arms, a historic inn dating back to the 17th century famed for its freshly baked finger sandwiches, and scones with jam and clotted cream.
The bonny Burford sits on the River Windrush 18 miles west of Oxford and charms with its high street filled with antique shops, and Grade I-listed parish church and priory.
Cheltenham’s Regency elegance is a big hit with tourists. It’s also perfectly placed to strike out to satellite towns and villages—including Stow-on-the Wold, Chipping Campden, Broadway, Burford, and Cirencester—via public transport.
Woodstock’s historic town center and fine Georgian façades often get overlooked as tourists pass through en route to Blenheim Palace—the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, and birthplace of Winston Churchill. Yet, the market town has medieval roots, founded to cater for visitors to a royal hunting lodge.
Cirencester sits pretty on the lower slopes of the Cotswolds hills, the area’s unofficial capital. See how the other half live at Cirencester Park, the country house of Earl Bathurst, filled with original art and leafy gardens, and home to walks, grottoes and the tallest yew hedge in England.
Upper and Lower Slaughter are two of the area’s most beautiful villages, so old they appear in the Doomsday Book of 1086. Don’t worry about the name—slaughter means muddy. Just enjoy pottering about the tea shops, museums, and scenic beauty.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Grandriver
Food and drink in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds has every level of eating and drinking, from afternoon tea to Michelin-starred dinners paired with fine wines.
Make a beeline for farmers’ markets rich with field-to-fork local goodies such as Single Gloucester cheese and Gloucester Old Spot pork, which have been awarded protected designation of origin status. A bunch of small independent cheesemakers include ex-Blur bassist Alex James.
Every year the Michelin Guide swells with more and more Cotswold venues. In the heart of Cheltenham, Lumiere restaurant won its first Michelin Star in March 2023, offering tasting menus packed with fresh, sustainable ingredients.
Owned by Lord and Lady Bamford, Daylesford is an estate on the edge of the roses-around-the-door Cotswold village of Kingham. The environmentally minded aristocrats have created a sustainable empire under the umbrella of Daylesford Organic, which include a farm shop, cookery school, spa, self-catering cottages, and pubs. The duo’s various eating venues feature in the Michelin Guide and hold a Michelin Green Star for their organic, locally sourced, and on-site-grown ingredients. It’s also where local celebrities pick up their perfect-looking groceries to take back to their perfect-looking mansions.
There's nothing quite like a traditional Cotswold pub, especially one that’s seen the interior touch of Lord and Lady Bamford. The elegant The Wild Rabbit is now a light-and-airy sweet spot decorated with linen, stone and beams, and the perfect place to tuck into tender lamb with miso-roasted eggplant by the fireplace.
A little off the beaten track in Meysey Hampton, near the wetland wonderland of the Cotswold Water Park, the Masons Arms is a mellow pub with fireplaces, beams, and eight serene rooms. While overlooking the village green you can dine on rustic dishes, like wild mushrooms on toast and pheasant breast with cider cream sauce, washed down with a craft ale. After such indulgence, you may well need one of those comfy rooms.
Image Credits: Getty Images, Stephen Dorey. Image Location, Cotswolds, UK
How to get to the Cotswolds by train
Direct train services from central London stations serve several towns in or near the Cotswolds, including Banbury, Bath, Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stroud, Charlbury, Kingham, and Oxford.
Download the Trainline App today to book your tickets to the Cotswolds.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Joe Daniel Price. Image Location, Cotswolds, UK