What are the Cotswolds?
The Cotswolds are England largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with 2,200 km2 of rolling hills and unspoilt countryside, dotted with picturesque villages, market towns, castles, country houses, gardens and arboretums.
The actual origin of the name is unclear. “Wold” is an old English word, “hills”, so one theory is that adding the word “cot” – “sheep” – gives “sheep enclosures on rolling hills”, a pretty accurate description! Or the name could be derived from “Cods-wold”, literally “cod hills”, named after an ancient local Saxon landowner.
Each area of the Cotswolds retains its own identity, even if the common distinctive trait is the same, which is expressed precisely in the “wolds”. Exploring the small, typically English villages, made of honey-colored stone, rural paths, waking up with the birds singing, getting lost in the woods and meadows is like taking a step back in time or becoming the protagonist of a fairy tale!
How to get to the Cotswolds?
The closest airports to reach the Cotswolds are Bristol and Birmingham. From here the easiest thing to do is to rent a car to be able to move from one village to another independently and quickly.
The roads are quiet, not busy and almost all accommodation includes parking. There are also buses, but their frequency is reduced at weekends and in general waiting for the bus means waiting for a few hours, especially in the summer months during which there are tourists.
From London by train: the Great Western Railway from Paddington station arrives at the small station of Moreton-in-Marsh. From here you will then need to rent a car, as above.
However, for those who don’t feel like driving, there are three main train lines that run through the region: one from Oxford to Evesham via Charlbury, Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, one from Swindon to Cheltenham via Stroud, Kemble and Stonehouse, and one from Bristol to Gloucester via Yate, Cam and Dursley.
You can also travel in vintage style on the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway, an heritage railway that runs from Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe, Toddington and Broadway. There are no daily services, so check the timetables.
Why visit the Cotswolds?
Firstly for the unspoilt rural landscapes and the small villages where time seems to have stopped centuries ago. But there are also other things to see and do! Visit the castles of Berkeley, with its deer park and Sudeley with the Queen’s garden where 80 types of roses are grown. Get lost in the gardens, travel on board a vintage steam train, admire the foliage, go trekking.
What are the unmissable villages of the Cotswolds?
Bourton-on-the-Water
The “Venice of the Cotswolds”, with stone bridges crossing the River Windrush, overhanging willows and ducks passing by.
Castle Combe
The unspoiled charm of this fairytale village in Wiltshire has made it a popular film location. Curiosity: once upon a time there was a castle in the area, which was demolished centuries ago.
Lacock
Did you know that Lacock Abbey was a major filming location for Harry Potter?! Its interior served as the backdrop for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in several films. One of the most beautiful spots is the Chapter House where Harry Potter finds the Mirror of Erised in “The Chamber of Secrets”. No booking is necessary and you can purchase tickets on site.
Bibury
The flower-bedecked former weavers’ cottage on Arlington Row is another Cotswolds icon, once featured on UK passports. Here you can also find the Bibury Trout Farm.
Lower Slaughter
Small Lower Slaughter and nearby Upper Slaughter boast numerous Cotswold stone buildings along the River Eye. There’s also a historic watermill and the two village churches, St. Mary’s Church and St. Peter’s Church.
Broadway
It is a very charming village, with boutiques, tea rooms, art galleries, restaurants and a shopping centre. The main street, High Street, is very wide, lined with elegant buildings made with the characteristic Cotswolds stone. Don’t miss the Broadway Tower, a neo-Gothic tower on a hill not far from the village. This is one of the highest panoramic points in the Cotswolds. In the evening you can spot deer as the Broadway Tower is located within an estate that includes a deer park, where these animals live freely.
Cirencester
A wool-making village in Gloucestershire that was of great importance in Roman times. Its church dominates the Market Square and you can see it for miles around! It has good transport links making it an ideal base for exploring the Cotswolds.
What is the best time of the year to visit them?
First of all, it is important to be prepared for all types of weather in each season! Generally, Spring sees average daytime temperatures of around 9-17°C and frequent showers. The gardens in the area are beautiful at this time of year. You’ll admire snowdrops, bluebells, and it is also a great time to spot birds and wildlife.
With average temperatures of 19-22°C, sunny days and long, bright evenings, Summer is the peak season in the Cotswolds. And therefore the busiest time.
Autumn is a great time to visit the Cotswolds. Especially early in the season when there is less chance of rain. Daytime temperatures average between 9°C and 19°C and you can admire the beautiful Autumn colours of the woods and warm yourself by a log fire in one of the country pubs.
How many days do you need to visit the Cotswolds?
Ideally, you should have at least three days to explore the Cotswolds. This would allow one day for the northern part of the region (Chipping Campden, Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, The Slaughters and Bourton-on-the-Water), one day for the centre (Winchcombe, Painswick, Northleach and Bibury) and one day for the south (Tetburv, Westonbirt, Castle Combe and Lacock).
Where to stay and eat there?
There’s a huge range of accommodation, from thatched cottages to five-star hotels.
Local products are present in the menus of starred restaurants and country pubs. On Sundays, eat Sunday roast, roast meat accompanied by potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. The Cornish pastry is instead a puff pastry with meat and vegetables, but if you prefer fish you can order a seafood chowder, the typical creamy fish soup, fish and chips or an Oyster Po’boy, a sandwich with oysters! And for a snack, a Cream Tea is a must, a tea accompanied by scones, jam and butter cream!