From the honey-coloured stone cottages, the vibrant market towns to the rolling green hills, there is no shortage of places to visit if you’re planning a trip to the Cotswolds. Spanning almost 800 square miles and covering five counties, each part of the Cotswolds has its own unique identity. One that will have you returning, time after time.
As someone that lives in the centre of the Cotswolds, I can honestly say it is one of the best places to live but is also an extremely popular travel destination. One where I continue to discover new places to go to all the time. Instagram feeds will be abound with the honey-coloured stone that’s the defining feature of the ‘wolds. Steeped in history and architecture, it has a royal influence and is a popular home to the Hollywood elite and sporting greats. The Cotswolds is a region in southwest England and runs through five counties - Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. It is easily accessible by road or train, though to fully get the best of it, driving is the best option as rural public transport isn’t always available!
Cirencester, the county town of the Cotswolds, is an hour and quarter by train from London Paddington and is just an hour’s drive from the vibrant city that is Bristol. Making the area an ideal destination for the day, a long weekend or for longer. However long your trip, you won’t be short of a variety of places to visit. Here are some of my recommendations:
Stately Homes and Gardens
The Cotswolds is abundant with stately homes and gardens, and to our benefit, many of them open to the public. Throughout the year, there are a variety of places to visit. In the early spring, visit Painswick Rococo Garden, which is famed for having one of the largest arrays of snowdrops in the country. They come out in bloom for just a few weeks but are exceptionally beautiful when they do. Another absolute must-visit is the Arts and Crafts Rodmarton Manor. It is one of the last country houses to have been built and furnished in the old traditional style when everything was done by hand using local materials and craftsmen. Rodmarton Manor is a fantastic Arts and Crafts manor where furniture was made using Arts and Crafts ideals and designed specifically for the house. The gardens at Rodmarton are also absolutely spectacular, particularly during the summer when in full bloom. Cotswold Lavender, another popular destination, is only in full bloom for a short period but well worth the visit, if only for photos for the gram and some utterly delicious smelling handcream!
Castles and Palaces!
When it comes to castles in the UK, Scotland and Wales might come to mind, but actually, we’ve some pretty fantastic castles and palaces here in the Cotswolds too.
Sudeley Castle
Once home to Katherine Parr, the last and 6th wife of Henry VIII, Sudeley Castle dates from the 15th century and has seen many royal guests in its incredibly long history. Sudeley Castle also hosts the Spectacle of Lights which is a lighted trail meandering around the gardens during the festive season.
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is definitely worth a visit. You will discover 300 years of history in the Palace walls, and there are incredible gardens and parkland too. It is still the family home of the Duke of Marlborough and was once home to Sir Winston Churchill. Explore the Churchill exhibit including a onesie the former Prime Minister wore to bed (seriously, he wore them before they were cool!), the extensive collection of art, sculpture, tapestries and furniture displayed throughout exquisite rooms, and don’t forget to explore the picturesque parkland (landscaped by Capability Brown). There are several events going on throughout the year at Blenheim, from horse trials to concerts.
Towns and villages
Covering such a wide area, there’s no shortage of beautiful picturesque villages and vibrant market towns in the Cotswolds. Bibury is incredibly popular with tourists, and if you are looking up the #Cotswolds on instagram, Arlington Row, Bibury will be one of the most featured images. Another popular Cotswolds gem is Castle Combe - though I’ve always visited the race track here and never the village! Bourton-on-the-Water is considered the “Venice of the Cotswolds”. This bustling village is awash with attractions and shops, restaurants, quintessentially English cafes and tea rooms, or you can simply enjoy some restful moments by the rippling waters of the River Windrush. Though during busy periods this won’t be a quiet spot!
A really endearing feature of Bourton is its own model village - a scale replica of the village itself, which also contains a miniature miniature village inside the miniature village! If, like me, you’re a car fan, the Cotswold Motoring Museum is a really interesting place to visit too.
If you’re an antique fan, then you absolutely must visit the market town of Tetbury. My local town and also the Gloucestershire home of Prince Charles, whose home Highgrove is just a couple of miles outside of town - another spectacular garden you must visit if you get the chance. HRH is especially proud of Highgrove Gardens and it contains some of the many gifted trees and plants he has received during official Royal visits around the world. Tetbury itself is packed with antique emporiums and shops as well as the town, home to some lovely boutique shops, cafes and great pubs. Step away from the main streets and descend the Chipping Steps, a medieval set of cobbled steps that used to be an old entrance to the town and are joined by an adorable row of old weavers cottages.
Hit the walking hotspots
Woodland walks
Sticking close to Tetbury, you’ll find Westonbirt Arboretum, home to 2,500 different species of tree from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections. Westonbirt is the perfect place for you to enjoy a woodland escape, relax or have an adventure! My favourite time of year to enjoy Westonbirt is during the autumn months when the trees become the colour of fire. If you’re looking for a bit more of a lengthy walk, then head to Woodchester Park, located not far from Stroud and nestled in a wooded valley with parkland, lakes and pastures. Woodchester Park surrounds an unfinished Victorian mansion which was featured in Netflix series The Crown. Follow the trails around the forest, sit by the boat house for a picnic and just enjoy mother nature at its finest.
Cotswold Way
Extending from the market town of Chipping Campden to the Roman city of Bath, the 102 miles (164 km) Cotswold Way journeys through rolling pastures, beech woodland and honey-coloured villages built from Cotswold stone.
As you travel the route you will explore ancient commons in an area of outstanding natural beauty, pass Neolithic burial barrows, stately homes and historic battle sites. The stunning path along the Cotswold escarpment offers ever-changing views to the west towards the River Severn and the Malvern Hills. Whether you walk just a small portion or are a keen hiker and plan to traverse every mile, you won’t be disappointed.
Hit the beach!
But the Cotswolds is landlocked, I hear you cry! You’re right, but it is also home to Cotswold Water Park. Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom's largest marl lake system, straddling the Wiltshire–Gloucestershire border, with 180 lakes spread over 42sq miles, including Cotswold Beach.
The Cotswold Beach is a sandy beach alongside a beautiful swimming lagoon. As well as the abundance of lakeside walks, other activities at Cotswold Water Park include kayaking, boating, water skiing and stand-up paddleboarding (yes, I stood up; yes, I fell in!)
There’s no shortage of things to do and see in the Cotswolds, and in such a vast area you won’t fit it all in during one trip. So you’ll have to come back time and time again! If you do, let me know, I’d be more than happy to share more of my favourite places, including where to get the best latte or ice cream!
