Things to Do in the Cotswolds (in the 5 Best Villages)

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With beautiful rolling hills and charming historic villages, the Cotswolds is a quintessential part of the English countryside. If you’re coming from London, this area makes an excellent weekend getaway for a couple of days, as it’s only 2 hours away.

But the Cotswold is relatively large (approximately 25 miles across and 90 miles long) with lots of different places to see and villages to visit. If you’re only here for a couple of days, then you’ll need to be strategic about which villages and sights to see.

We spent a lot of time in this area while we lived in England, and we wanted to share some of our favorite things to do in the Cotswolds.

Planning some time in the Cotswolds on your trip to London? We have you covered:
Take a look at our London Travel Guide for everything you need to know before you go!
We also have a guide to the Cotswold villages to familiarize you with the area, and a comparison of the Cotswolds vs Bath if you’re undecided about where to visit.
Before you leave, make sure you double check our packing list.

Things to Do in the Cotswolds Video

For our visual learners, we have a video with our favorite things to do in the Cotswolds to get you excited for your trip!

Things to Do in the Cotswolds FAQs

What are the Cotswolds?

The Cotswolds is a region in South Central England (inside the triangle of Oxford, Gloucester, and Bristol) known for its picturesque villages, sprawling meadows, and rolling hillsides.

Covering nearly 800 square miles, it’s the third-largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England. Designated AONB sites have been deemed to have significant landscape value and, as such, are protected similarly to the UK National Parks.

The Cotswolds incorporate land across six different counties – Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, North Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire. The area is roughly 80% farmland, although there are also tons of cute villages that make this area particularly unique.

Why should you visit the Cotswolds?

There are so many places in the English countryside worth visiting, but the Cotswolds remains one of the best scenic areas for a couple of reasons.

First of all, you have dozens of picturesque villages. Many of the stately houses are built from Cotswold Stone, a limestone that comes from the Jurassic era (the Jurassic bedrock creates those rolling grasslands, which is extremely rare in the UK). The amber stone gives the villages their unique appearance (the ones in the north are more honey-colored, while those in the south are more golden-colored). The limestone also contains fossils, mainly sea urchin fossils, that are 167 million years old.

During the Middle Ages, the grasslands were perfect for raising sheep for wool, specifically the Cotswold Lion. In fact, the name Cotswold actually translates to “sheep enclosure in the rolling hillside”. During this time, the Cotswolds were an incredibly prosperous place as they were instrumental to the successful wool trade business that spread through Europe.

Most of the money from the wool trade financed the construction of large churches, which are referred to as “Wool Churches.” You can see these churches, many of which date back centuries, during your visit.

But the churches aren’t the only thing to see. In the villages, you can find lots of shops, pubs, restaurants, ice cream parlors, etc. We recommend doing your souvenir shopping here, as you can find a ton of locally produced products you can’t find anywhere else.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - picturesque — Aside from things to do and fascinating history, the Cotswolds are a picturesque escape from the city.

How do you get to the Cotswolds?

The easiest way to get to the Cotswolds is by train or car. However, you’ll likely need a car once you’re there, as public transportation is rather limited between the different villages. Part of the main appeal of the Cotswolds is to village-hop and to see the natural landscape, which is easiest if you have your own car.

For a complete breakdown of getting to and around the Cotswolds, check out our Cotswolds Village Guide. If you want to give the Cotswolds a go without a car, we have you covered. Don’t want to do the driving? Consider a tour of the Cotswolds from London.

Taking the Train from London to the Cotswolds

If you’re going to the Northeastern part of the Cotswolds, you can take the direct service from London Marylebone station to Banbury, which is roughly a 50-minute ride.

To get to the Southern Cotswolds, you can leave from Paddington Station and arrive at three different stops: Kemble (1h 11m), Stroud (1h 29m), or Stonehouse (1h 32m).

And if you are headed to the center of Cotswolds, take the 1 hour and 37-minute direct service train from London Paddington station to Moreton-in-Marsh.

To get between the different villages, you’ll need to walk or rent a car. There is limited bus service, depending on where you’re going. It’s also possible to join a guided tour, although you won’t have the flexibility you would by going on your own.

While you’ll likely spend your days going from village to village, you will need to choose where you want to make your home base. We recommend staying in Stow-on the Wold or Morton-in-Marsh, as you can easily walk to pubs, attractions, and other villages.

Instead of taking the train from London, you can also take the train to Oxford and then rent a car to drive to the Cotswolds, which is only an hour’s drive away. This way, you won’t have to drive in the city (which can be super hectic, especially if you’re not used to driving on the opposite side of the road).

Things to do in the Cotswolds - car — Renting a car out of the city can be both convenient and fun!

Driving from London to the Cotswolds

The drive from London to the Cotswolds takes anywhere from 2 to 2.5 hours. Most major motorways link the two places, although we prefer taking the M40 to Oxford and then into the Cotswolds.

And if you’re looking for fun things to do while you’re in London, you can download our free London in One Day Itinerary.

Because you’ll have a car, you can easily get around to all the villages and cute attractions in the area. Plus, driving here is fun and is all part of the Cotswolds experience! The roads are mostly one or two lanes (no highways), most of which are winding and hilly country roads. It’s easy to get around with Google Maps or village signage.

Walking: The Cotswold Way

If you’re looking for a fun adventure, then you can walk the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile trail that starts in Bath and ends in Campden. This National Trail takes anywhere from 6 to 12 days, so it’s quite a long journey. But the landscape is so picturesque, and you’ll get to see historical sites along the way, like the Neolithic burial chamber at Belas Knap, Sudeley Castle, and Hailes Abbey.

The Cotswold Way is a popular trail for backpackers, most of whom are students. In addition to the length, the trail also has some pretty steep hills, which can be challenging for inexperienced hikers.

For overnight accommodations, you’ll need to book ahead of time (wild camping is illegal as most of the land is privately owned) at the different inns, hotels, or campsites on the path.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - walk the Cotswold Way — You’ll find signage leading the way along the Cotswold Way.

Things to Do in the Cotswolds by Village (countdown style)

We’re counting down the best villages and things to do during your trip to the Cotswolds. As you’ll see, we love the northern part of the area, as it’s easy to get to, and there are tons of interesting sites and landscapes to see. Some of them are even located on the historic Fosse Way, which was a road built by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries.

When choosing the villages, we made sure they had lots of things to do, were convenient to get to from London, and, of course, had that charming English countryside vibe!

5. Things to Do in Bourton-on-the-Water

Considered to be the “Little Venice of the Cotswolds,” Bourton-on-the-Water is built on interconnecting canals of the River Windrush. It’s located on the Fosse Way right in the middle of the northern part of the Cotswolds and was once a Roman settlement (although the town itself dates even further back to 4000 BC).

For many people, it’s the cutest village in all the Cotswolds. And while the village indeed has a quaint charm about it, we’re putting it on at #5. That’s because it can get insanely crowded here in the summer. On average, Bourton-on-the-Water gets roughly 300,000 visitors a year, which is huge considering the permanent population is only 3,500 people. It’s still worth a visit, but try to avoid coming in July or August.

Here are a couple of things to do during your visit to Bourton-on-the-Water:

See the bridges crossing the River Windrush. This river runs through the center of town and is flanked by green parks and Cotswold Stone buildings. There are a total of five different bridges that cross the shallow river, including the Bridge Mill, which dates back to 1654.
Have a picnic while dipping your toes in the river (of course, only if it’s warm outside!), or grab an ice cream and go for a walk along the water.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Bourton on the Water

Have lunch at one of the many restaurants or pubs in town.
Get lost down the small alleyways.
Visit a museum. We like the Model Village (scale replica of the village from the 1930s – £4.50 per person) and the Cotswold Motoring & Toy Museum (vintage cars inside of an old mill – £7.50 per person)
See animals (penguins, flamingos, parrots, owls) at the Birdland Park & Gardens.
Participate in the annual rubber duck race in July. Trust us, it’s super cute to watch, and people get surprisingly competitive!
Take the Bloody Bourton Walking Tour to learn about the ghostly secrets of the village. Every Saturday and Sunday night at 7 PM.
Do the Bourton to Slaughters Walk. This circular 5.7-mile trail takes you through the countryside to the Slaughters villages (we’ll talk more about that a bit later).

BONUS: If you’re here during the summer and want to escape the crowds, drive 20 minutes outside of town to Burford. This is a small, picturesque village where you can enjoy lunch. It’s also far less crowded and way more laid back than Burton-on-the-Water.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Burford Village — Burford Village

4. Things to Do in Snowshill

Taking our #4 spot is Snowshill, the smallest village in the Cotswold (the population is less than 200 people!). But despite its size, Snowhill has a lot to offer and is one of our favorite places to visit. It’s so quaint and pretty that if I had to choose a place in the Cotswolds to retire – Snowshill would be it! (Erica may or may not have something to say about that.)

Snowshill is just 10 miles (a 20-minute drive) from Bourton-on-the-Water. If you visit, here are some things you can do:

Grab lunch or a pint at the Snowshill Arms. This is the village pub with classic English dishes and a great selection of ales, including Cotswolds Ale. There’s also a playground in the back if you’re traveling with kids. When you’re here, you feel like you’re one of the locals.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Snowshill Arms — The Snowshill Arms pub is a great place to stop for lunch!

Walk through the old village center. In addition to visiting the Church, you can also enjoy the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
Visit the local market. There aren’t any shops in town, but there is a market by the church that might be open during your visit (it’s usually one or two times a week).
Visit the National Trust property Snowshill Manor & Garden, a Grade II listed building that was the former home of Charles Wade. Here, you can find over 16,000 items that he collected over his lifetime, including toys, Samurai armor, musical instruments, and clocks. It wasn’t our favorite National Trust property (it kind of feels like a hoarder’s house), but it’s worth visiting for the beautiful gardens and architecture.
If you’re visiting mid-June to early August, head to Cotswold Lavender, which is just one mile outside of town. This 70-acre family-run lavender field is gorgeous when the flowers are in bloom in the summer. You can buy lavender products like soaps, oils, and even lavender ice cream! It’s a nice place to walk around and just enjoy the scenery.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Lavender — If you do make it to the Cotswolds during the lavender bloom, you won’t be disappointed!

3. Things to Do in Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is just an 8-minute drive north of Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s perched atop an 800-foot hill (which is called a wold, like Cotswold) on the Fosse Way. Because of this, it’s the highest village in the Cotswolds!

Historically, Stow-on-the-Wold was a market town founded by the Normans, who settled here to take advantage of the passing traders and merchants. In the 1300s, Edward III set up an annual charter fair (right in the main square) to sell livestock, wool, and local products. The fair still runs to this day, although it now takes place a mile away in the town of Maugersbury.

It still has tons of cute shops and lots of historic buildings and sites to explore.

Some of our favorite things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold include:

Visiting the Market Square. As the center of Stow-on-the-Wold, the square is lined with lots of shops, antique centers, cafes, and inns.
See the door at St. Edward’s Church. Dating back to the 11th century, this church has a door flanked by two massive trees growing over it. The church is also free to explore if you want to go in and see the interior.
Grab lunch at the Porch House. This is rumored to be the oldest pub in England. They carbon-dated the timber from the inside and found that parts of it were built in 947 AD. It’s also cozy and eclectic on the inside (there’s a 16th-century fireplace with witch’s markings on it!). The Porch House is also a hotel, in case you want to spend the night here.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - The Porch House — The Porch House is quaint, historic, and the perfect stop for a great meal.

Go to Cotswold Farm Park. Here, you can meet with over 50 flocks of herd animals, like pigs, horses, cows, and sheep (you can even bottle feed newly-born sheep if you come early enough!). Take the walking tour to learn more about the region and the history of the farm. There is also a playground and a restaurant on-site. This is a great activity to do with kids, and it’s only a 10-minute drive west of town.
Visit Daylesford Organic. This upscale farm (it’s very well known in London) is a great place if you’re looking for a luxury farm-to-table experience. In addition to the restaurant, bar, cafe, and farm shop, they also offer cooking classes, foraging classes, and even a spa! We also loved the garden center, which had some pretty cool local products. Located 10 minutes east of Stow-on-the-Wold.

2. Things to Do in Broadway

Located at the base of the Cotswold escarpment surrounded by rolling hills and lush greenery, it’s easy to see why Broadway is considered to be the “Jewel of the Cotswolds.” The village flourished in the 11th century and continued to grow thanks to the wool, cloth, and silk trade during the medieval times. It’s now one of the larger villages in the Cotswold, with more than 2,500 residents (which is actually quite small if you think about it!).

It’s also associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Numerous artists and writers, including William Morris, Edwin Austin Abbey, Arthur Blomfield, and Francis Davis Millet, had homes here.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Broadway

Broadway is located in the far north of the Cotswolds. If you choose to stay here overnight, we can recommend the Fish Hotel and Retreat on Fish Hill. In addition to the rooms and suites, this high-end boutique hotel also has hand-crafted shepherd’s huts and treehouses available (we stayed in one of their treehouses: video). It’s a stunning hotel that can even be booked with points if you have credit card rewards.

Check out our sister site Booked With Points to learn about using travel rewards.

While you’re here, make sure to add the following things to your Broadway itinerary:

Walk down Broad High Street (the Broad Way after which the town was named). The main street that runs through town is a beautiful green space dotted with red chestnut trees, traditional Cotswold Stone buildings, and charming shops, pubs, and restaurants. Most of the buildings here are from the 16th century, so it feels as if you’ve stepped back in time. You’ll also find some cute places to pick up local products or souvenirs.
Visit Broadway Tower. Located on the highest hill of the village (Broadway Hill), the Broadway Tower is an 18th-century Grade II listed building. It’s three stories high and is considered to be the highest point in the Cotswolds. You can buy tickets to the tower museum and rooftop viewing platform (it’s a self-guided tour), or if you’re here on the weekend, you can tour the Cold War nuclear bunker underground. If you are planning on visiting the Broadway Tower, we recommend driving, as the walk up the hill can be steep and exhausting. And if you come on a clear day, you can see 16 different countries!

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Broadway Tower — Broadway Tower

Take the steam train. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway takes you through some of the prettiest areas of the Cotswolds. We did this and loved every minute (our kids did too)! It’s completely volunteer-run, and the people who operate the train are passionate about what they do. The entire 28-mile roundtrip route goes from Broadway to the Cheltenham Racecourse, although you can hop on and hop off at different stations along the way. Grab a seat by the window and enjoy the picturesque views!

1. Things to Do in the Upper and Lower Slaughters

Now for our favorite place in the Cotswolds – it’s the Upper and Lower Slaughters! These two twin villages are a must if you’re traveling to the Cotswolds. We slightly prefer the Lower Slaughter because there is much more to do here than in Upper Slaughter, but both are worth a visit if you’re in the area.

The villages are actually located right next to Bourton-on-the-Water. You can even park in Lower Slaughter and walk to Bourton-on-the-Water in just 30 minutes. This way, you can visit our #1 and #5 cutest Cotswold villages in one day!

Both Upper and Lower Slaughter are located on the River Eye (the tributary actually links both of them together). Despite their gruesome names (slaughter actually means “Muddy Place” and has nothing to do with slaughtering things), the towns are incredibly beautiful and have remained relatively unchanged since the early 1900s.

Unlike other villages on this list, the Slaughters feel far removed from the main tourist path. While there may not be as many exciting attractions in the villages, the main appeal is the breathtaking natural beauty and historic charm of the town centers.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - Lower Slaughter — My son and I enjoying the empty footpaths in the Lower Slaughters.

Things to Do in the Slaughters:

Stay in the Slaughters Country Inn. This is a romantic hotel right on the river. We stayed here in the fall and it was so beautiful to see the leaves crawling on the building as they change from green to a gorgeous crimson red! There’s a great on-site restaurant (with indoor and outdoor seating) that serves afternoon tea and a special Sunday lunch.
Visit the Flour Mill. Built in the 19th century, the old flour mill is the main attraction in town. After it ceased operations in 1958, the mill was turned into a small museum and ice cream shop. Unfortunately, that too closed town in 2023. However, it’s still worth visiting to see the beautiful building and water wheel.
Walk along the River Eye. Take a leisurely stroll along the river banks by the old mill. There are some cute little bridges and lots of historic Cotswold Stone homes to admire. There are few shops, but we love how untouched things are here.
Visit the Parish Church of St. Mary’s. This is one of those iconic “Wool Churches” we mentioned earlier. While most of the church was rebuilt in 1867, there are some parts that have remained from the 12th and 13th-centuries.
Walk the Bourton Slaughters Trail (we mentioned it earlier in #5). You can’t visit the Slaughters without doing this walk. It’s a circular trail that starts at the Inn near the river and goes into the town of Bourton-on-the-Water. If you have more time, you can also do the full trail, which goes up to Upper Slaughter first before going down to Bourton. As we said, there isn’t much to do in Upper Slaughter itself, but it’s worth seeing as part of the walk. The entire route is about 5.7 miles and should take roughly 2.5 hours to complete. It’s relatively flat and very easy, even for kids. You can also stop at one of the restaurants or cafes along the way.
See the Lower Slaughter Manor. Located on 5-acres of sprawling gardens, this hotel is another option if you want to stay in the area. But even if you’re just visiting, you can visit the restaurant (they have a great afternoon tea) or walk the grounds.

Things to do in the Cotswolds - The Slaughters Manor House

Things to Do in the Cotswolds Closing Thoughts

The Cotswolds is one of those places you just have to visit when you’re in England. But if you’re not sure you have time to squeeze a trip into your itinerary, let us assure you that it’s still possible, even if you only have a few days! While you could easily spend a week or two relaxing here, 2 or 3 days is sufficient. This will give you time to check out a few of the different villages on this list at a leisurely pace. You’ll also be able to drive around the countryside, go on a scenic hike or walk, or visit the historic English pubs in town.

If you’d still like to learn more about things you can do in the Cotswold, check out our Cotswold Travel Guide. And if you’re starting or ending your trip in London, then we also have a free downloadable 1-page itinerary! This is what we would give friends and family who would visit when we lived in London to get them out of the flat.