Best Villages in the Cotswolds to visit

Just 2 hours from London, these pretty Cotswold villages will make you feel like you have taken a step back in time. The beautiful villages of the Cotswolds with their butter-coloured limestone houses nestled in green rolling hills allow you to feel what the poets saw and wrote about centuries ago. The best market towns in Cotswolds includes many you may have heard of including: Chipping Norton, Bibury, Cirencester which is actually more of a city, Moreton in Marsh, Chipping Norton, Chiping Camden and Tetbury. All these pretty Cotswolds villages are great for wonderful boutique shopping and quintessential village photos.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The Cotswolds were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966, and the area runs southwest to northeast through six counties, particularly Gloucestershire, west Oxfordshire and southwestern Warwickshire. On the eastern boundary lies the city of Oxford and on the west is Stroud. The area is famous for the best Cotswold villages and the history in the area of the Arts and Crafts movement. It was here in the Cotswolds that William Morris founded The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1877 to help preserve these stunning Cotswold stone buildings and villages.

The Cotswolds encompasses nearly 800 square miles (2,100 km2), over five counties: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire. There’s a  lot of choice on where to go to see the most beautiful towns and villages in the Cotswolds.

How many villages in the cotswolds? There are approximately 26 to 31 pretty Cotswolds Villages within this 800 square miles but this depends on what is considered a village or a town.

We began our trip to the Cotswolds by seeking out the prettiest Cotswold villages while housesitting in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire. We knew we wouldn’t be able to see all of the villages and towns recommended by other bloggers so we made our own list of Cotswolds Villages that we wanted to see and some we sort of stumbled across along the way.

crossing an old stone bridge in one of the prettiest Cotswolds Village.

With so many amazing choices, trying to choose the best villages in the Cotswolds to visit may overwhelm you a little. This list of 17 of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds will help you figure out which ones to visit.

We visited many of the Cotswolds villages thanks to housesitting in the area. We were able to go back several times and see the villages we liked the best and try to avoid the massive tourist crowds. I don’t believe there is a best village in the Cotswolds to visit as each village has its own charm and character.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

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What is the difference between Cotswolds’ villages and towns?

The Cotswolds cover a pretty vast area of the Midlands of England. Covering an area of 800 square miles in the upper part of the southwest region of England and is the country’s largest officially designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You may get confused when visiting the UK when it comes to describing whether you are visiting a town or a village, throw in hamlets and cities and it can be even more confusing. So here is a short description of what the differences are.

A Hamlet in Britain or to be honest anywhere in Europe is a very small collection of houses that doesn’t have a Church or a community meeting centre. Villages are the opposite they will have a Church and a community meeting place or centre usually operated by the Village Town Hall. A town used to be what is called here a Market Town which literally means that it has a marketplace area, or more likely these days shops and public amenities. A City used to be a place where you would head to the Cathedral but many cities these days do not have a central cathedral.

The largest town is the picturesque market town of Cirencester, often known as the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’. Woodstock is a fine Georgian town with a distinct royal heritage, containing many attractive period buildings but neither is considered a city.

Best Cotswold villages near Oxford

Asthall, nestled in the Windrush Valley, boasts a rich heritage dating back to Roman times, evident from the remnants of a Roman settlement along Akerman Street, a historic road connecting Cirencester and St. Albans. The village showcases a beautiful church and a 17th-century manor house, once the residence of the renowned Mitford sisters and the backdrop for Nancy Mitford’s literary masterpiece, ‘Love in a Cold Climate’.

Bampton stands as a picturesque village steeped in history, its church spire serving as a prominent landmark in the upper Thames valley. Renowned as the Downton Abbey TV shows village this is a lovely little place to visit.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Nestled in the Evenlode Valley, Bledington charms visitors with its quaint village green, complete with a Victorian maypole. The village’s exceptionally intriguing church features a magnificent 15th-century clerestory, adding to its architectural splendor.

Broadwell, though small, with its distinctive church architecture reminiscent of East Anglia, a departure from the typical Cotswolds style. Remnants of a long-lost manor house are evidenced only by two stone pillars, hinting at the village’s storied past.

Brize Norton serves as an excellent base for exploring Oxford and the upper Thames valley, conveniently located near Burford and Witney. Adjacent to Brize Norton lies the vibrant Canterton, a bustling town catering to the RAF Airbase.

Chadlington, situated three miles south of Chipping Norton, offers stunning vistas overlooking the River Evenlode towards Wychwood Forest. The village’s St. Nicholas church is adorned with an incredible array of gargoyles, while the surrounding area invites exploration with its scenic walking trails.

Churchill, near the Gloucestershire border, boasts a rich history dating back centuries. Visitors can explore the village’s heritage at the Village Heritage Centre, delving into local history and notable figures such as Warren Hastings and William Smith.

Clanfield’s lies in its picturesque setting, boasting two greens amidst the expansive river Thames valley. A babbling stream meanders through the village, adding to its peaceful ambiance.

Ducklington, by the River Windrush, enchants visitors with its tranquil pond on the village green. Formerly a bustling thoroughfare, the village now enjoys a quieter existence, with the church tithe barn repurposed into a community hall.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The Cotswolds area covers 5 counties that are filled with incredibly photogenic English villages, castles, manor houses, and glorious countryside. You will find a great deal of choice in accommodation in the Cotswolds and some unique Cotswolds Air BnB’s to stay at. You may have noted how the British love their dogs and you will find many dog-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds.

Best Villages in the Cotswolds map

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©About the Cotswolds

For any Anglophile, the Cotswolds Villages are a must-visit. Castle Combe has been called the prettiest village in England and it is tucked into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in northwest Wiltshire. We wanted to find the most picturesque Cotswold villages to explore which is an easy goal to accomplish as there are so many.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Getting to the Cotswolds

I have to say it is much easier to rent a car and get out there to tour your favourite Cotswolds Villages picks. You can, of course, get public transportation to the Cotswolds you just need a bit of planning as the area is pretty big.

The Cotswolds Line has made it easy for tourists to get here, especially as part of a day trip from London or other parts of England. You can catch this train at Paddington Station, although it does cover different parts of the Cotswolds Villages as described here you would plan your journey accordingly.

Then there is the bus service with two options the Oxford Bus Company and Oxford Tube there are different starting points to choose from. 

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The Cotswolds Villages are easy to get to from Oxford and when you are in the region you can go and visit some amazing historical sites like Bletchley Park or Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle is not far either. 

You can also take a Cotswolds Villages tour of which there are many to choose from.

Which is the prettiest Cotswold village?

Voted one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water is frequently referred to as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ due to the patchwork of attractive little bridges that criss-cross the River Windrush that flows through its centre.

What is the nicest part of the Cotswolds?

You can’t beat anywhere in the Cotswolds, from Snowshill to Bourton on the Water it is all gorgeous

How many Cotswold villages are there?

There are over 27 towns and villages within the Cotswolds

What is the main town in the Cotswolds?

That would probably be Cirencester which lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswolds.

Best Time to visit the Cotswolds

Personally if you can try to avoid the summer months to visit the Cotswolds as they are just jam packing with far too many tourists. The Spring and autumn months (March to May and September to November) are ideal times of year to visit the Cotswolds.

18 Cotswolds Villages to visit

There are 26 towns in the Cotswolds to visit and each has its own unique character and history including Stratford-upon-Avon. This is our list of the 18 best places to visit in the Cotswolds.   

Woodstock

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

We began our tour with Woodstock which is one of the best Cotswolds Towns to visit. This is a Georgian town located in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and home to Blenheim Palace. We strolled around the town for an hour or so and enjoyed the gorgeous architecture, the 18th-century Town Hall and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene with a clock that plays tunes on the hour.  

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

pretty villages near woodstock include Chipping Norton, Bourton on the Water, Witney and my favourite Stow on the Wold. Of course Oxford is very close but probably best to arrange a full day in this incredible city.

Painswick

Crowned queen of the Cotswolds, visiting Painswick in the Cotswolds is like stepping into a storybook village frozen in time. Nestled amidst the rolling hills of Gloucestershire, Painswick exudes quintessential English charm with its honey-colored stone cottages, narrow winding streets, and a sense of serenity that envelops you as you wander through its historic lanes.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The highlight of this picturesque village is the stunning Painswick Rococo Garden, a hidden gem known for its beautifully landscaped grounds and whimsical 18th-century design. With its inviting tea rooms and the timeless beauty of St. Mary’s Church, adorned with ancient yew trees, Painswick is a delightful escape for anyone seeking a tranquil slice of Cotswold’s enchantment.

Witney

From Woodstock, we motored to Witney which took around 20 minutes or so. Witney is the largest of the market towns in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Witney has a lovely high street that runs from the 17th-century Butter Cross.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©Experience Oxfordshire

If you are in Witney you need to stop by Cogges Farm which was the filming location for Downton Abbey’s Yew Tree Farm. It is a unique working museum that depicts rural life in Victorian times that is set in a Cotswold stone farm building.

Minster Lowell

Getting to Minister Lowell was easy, it sits on the edge of the Cotswolds only 10 minutes by car from Witney. Witney is literally a one-street town, you descend into the village via a narrow road and a small bridge over the river. The streets are lined with lovely butter-coloured stone cottages and you can head directly to Minster Lovell Hall about which a mystery remains to this day.

Viscount Lovell disappeared after the Simnel Rebellion. Lambert Simnel was the man who declared himself to be one of the Princes in the Tower who was put there by King Richard III. During the reign of Henry VII, he then declared himself to be Richard, Duke of York the real heir to the throne.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©Experience Oxfordshire

In the 18th century, according to legend, an underground room was found and in it was a skeleton sitting at a desk surrounded by papers and books. No one knows if this is actually true though as an underground room has never been found. 

Swinbrook

A 10-minute drive to Swinbrook was next.  Swinbrook is a small village on the River Windrush, It appears untouched by time with its hand-built stone walls in that golden Cotswold stone, a cricket pitch and an old pub next to the Stone bridge.  

St Mary’s Church is an interesting location it has an incredible memorial to the Fettiplace family, who owned the manor during the 17C, sort of stacked on top of each other.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©Nancy-Own-work-CC-BY-SA

The infamous “Mitford sisters” lived at nearby Asthall Manor. They had become scandalous during the 20th century and were caricatured by a Times journalist as “Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover; Nancy the Novelist; Deborah the Duchess and Pamela the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur”. Their graves can be found in the Churchyard. If you are a Peaky Blinders fan you will recognize the name.

Castle Combe

Castle Combe is considered (and rightly so) the prettiest village in England and one of the most beautiful Cotswold villages. In Wiltshire’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,. Set in the stunning beauty of Wiltshire’s rolling green hills the village takes its name from a castle built on the hill to the north of the village in the 12th century, of which little now remains except earthworks, there have been no new houses built here since the 1600s. It was also used for some great movies like Spielberg’s War Horse and Stardust which was based on a Neil Gaiman novel and starred many a famous British movie star.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

As one of the best villages in the Cotswolds, you will find it flooded with tourists all posting photos and selfies. You will have to park in the lot at the bottom of the hill so it’s a bit of a steep walk up. Don’t forget to visit the faceless clock at St. Andrew’s Church and enjoy tea at The Old Rectory Tea Room – it’s Michelin-starred.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Burford

Hop in the car and another 8-10 minute drive takes you to Burford whose high street sweeps downhill towards the River Windrush. Often referred to as the Gateway to the Cotswolds the medieval village of Burford has a truly picturesque high street with attractive 17th- and 18th-century houses descending to the 3-arched medieval bridge crossing the river.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

In Burford, there are many things to do and places to eat or sit and have tea while the world passes by. You can dine at a hotel that was frequented by Nell Gwynn and King Charles. Or simply visit England’s oldest pharmacy.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

We found parking quite easily on Burford’s main street and proceeded to stroll down the hill to the Church and river stopping quite frequently at some of the intriguing shops along the way.

Bibury

Back in the car after a lovely few hours in Burford, we took a 15 drive down to Bibury. This picturesque English Village was described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”. It is a true chocolate box village where the rightly famous Arlington Row used to house 14th-century weavers the backbone of the Bibury economy for hundreds of years.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

A little luxury was in order after our first full day touring the Cotswolds Villages so we chose one of the best places to stay the Swan Hotel which is a former coaching Inn beside the River. There is a lovely restaurant and beautiful country gardens to have a fabulous cocktail before dinner. 

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Visit the Bibury Trout Farm where you can catch trout and eat the ones you caught for a fee or simply wander the paths, watch the trout being fed and enjoy the natural surroundings and wildlife.

Chedworth

The next day we set off for Chedworth which turned out to be a 20-minute drive from Bibury, it may have been shorter but Google Maps got us a bit lost and we ended up down some absolutely gorgeous British country lanes.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Chedworth is definitely off the beaten path I think we saw maybe 7 tourists like ourselves visiting. Chedworth doesn’t have a village centre or green but it does lie close to the Chedworth Roman Villa which is worth a visit.

 Chedworth Roman Villa has some of the most incredible virtually intact Roman mosaics in England. The Villa is comprised of bathhouse rooms and hypocaust systems, and a Nymphaeum Water Shrine that is still fed by the same waters. You can walk along the suspended walkways to view the mosaics. There is also an onsite museum with some fascinating artefacts. The cost of an adult ticket is £13.20.

Bourton on the Water – the Venice of the Cotswolds

From Chedworth it was a 20-minute drive to the famous Bourton on the Water a charming village nicknamed the Venice of England and is the most popular Cotswold village. Sadly Bourton on the Water is truly over-touristed. We drove through it several times and it was simply packed with people. My advice? Avoid at all costs during the summer months. It might not be so packed in the fall or wintertime.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

If you do manage to get there pretty early and get parked or are taking a bus tour head to the Bakery on the Water, for an excellent breakfast or some to-die-for baked goods.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

You should also visit the Model Village which is a miniaturized version of the actual village. The mini replica village is one-ninth of its full scale and contains all of the local buildings as they were in the 1930s.  If you are disabled and need a wheelchair or walker you are allowed to view the Village from the side gate. Tickets to the Model Village cost Adult £4.50. The Cotswold Motoring Museum makes a great stop for all the petrol heads in the family.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

If you fancy a beautiful stay near Bourton on the Water take a short drive to Rissington and stay at the Lamb Inn. A beautiful inn in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Lamb has a range of rooms with free wifi and some of the best food in the area.

Lower and Upper Slaughter

Now you could if you wanted to walk to Lower and then onto Upper Slaughter as by car it’s literally 4 minutes and 10 minutes from Bourton on the Water. This walk is part of the 14-mile Warden’s Way between Winchcombe and Bourton-on-the-Water. Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter straddling the River Eye is another of the Cotswold’s prettiest villages, Lower Slaughter.are two tiny villages that perfectly capture the that charming Cotswold village feeling.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

I know the name is rather “unique”? But it actually derives from the old English word slough which means muddy water. Dating back to the Domesday book Lower Slaughter doesn’t have a huge amount to offer except for the fact that words will fail you at attempting to describe its picturesqueness if that’s an actual word. Things like quintessentially English, chocolate box cottages, charming, and pretty all tend to fail you when attempting to describe this lovely English village.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

A short walk away perhaps 10 minutes for a fast walker or 25 for one like me is Upper Slaughter. Again words fail at trying to describe the perfection of this village. Climbing roses adorned every cottage if there weren’t roses the wisteria was simply unimaginably massive. 

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Upper Slaughter is one of only 14 villages in England that hold the title “Thankful Village” which means that during WWI and WWII it lost no men in those horrendous conflicts.

Don’t forget to drop by the Old Mill at Lower Slaughter where you will find a fabulous gift shop, a museum and best of all some to die for ice cream.

Naunton

A 12-minute drive from Upper Slaughter lies Naunton. A little-visited village in the Cotswolds Naunton is picturesque and the perfect place to go for a quiet pint in a perfect English pub. The Black Horse Inn has been serving walkers for over 100 years and is a really charming and characterful pub.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Stow on the Wold

Only 10 minutes or so by car down the road is Stow on the Wold one of my favourite Cotswolds Villages. Hubs also wanted to visit because this was the Village that John Entwhislte came from and was buried in.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest of the Cotswold towns and apparently one of the most popular but we didn’t find it crowded with tourists there were more locals than visitors which was really nice.

We managed to find parking near Market Square where there is an old town stock that sits by an elm tree. At the other end is the ancient cross of Stow on the Wold. This is a great shopping centre with many small independent retailers selling everything from fine clothing to cheese.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

We made a stop at The Old Butchers for lunch on the off chance we could get a table. The door was plastered with great reviews on Trip Advisor and Michelin recommendations. The restaurant itself is located in a restored and renovated butcher shop which makes for some pretty interesting knick-knacks.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Not for nothing either the food was absolutely superb. Fresh mussels were the order of the day for hubs and I had the best Prawn Po’Boy I have ever eaten.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

At a friend’s recommendation, I suggest a stay at the Porch Inn which is the oldest inn in England dating back to 947. Timber beams, uneven doors, stone walls and a beautifully restored listed pub this charming Inn has 13 rooms to choose from and is usually fully booked during the summer months.  

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Snowshill

From Stow on the Wold, we simply drove and ended up in what I thought was the one of the prettiest Cotswolds villages and nary a tourist in sight. Snowshill

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Snowshill is beautifully set in the rolling Cotswolds hills which surround it on 3 sides. The views are absolutely outstanding from the top of the Village and it is completely unspoilt. 

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Snowshill Manor, owned by the National Trust, is a fascinating place to visit a stunning 20th century manor house in a beautiful rural setting. With fabulously picturesque gardens outside and inside the amazing and eclectic collections of Sir Charles Wade includes everything from clocks to samurai armour.  Charles Wade loved to collect and the Manor is packed with his finds from around the world. There is a tearoom, stunning terraced gardens to admire and entry to the Manor house itself for a mere £12.00 per ticket.

The lavender fields of Snowshill are a beautiful sight, row upon row of nodding English lavender wave at you from around mid-June onwards. Take a break from driving at the farm where you can purchase some gorgeous lavender products.

Rows of scented lavender bushes stretch into the distance

If you adore lavender take a trip to France to visit the Lavender Fields

Stanton

Tiny but absolutely perfect and probably the most beautiful Cotswold village of them all, Stanton is “refreshingly free of gift shops”.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The village is built almost completely of Cotswold stone, a honey-coloured limestone. Several cottages have thatched roofs which is unusual in a Cotswolds Cottage. It has a high street, with a pub, The Mount, at the end.

The pub’s unique position provides the most spectacular panoramic views across the Vale of Evesham towards the Malvern Hills & even the Black Welsh mountains beyond.

Broadway

No relation to New York’s Broadway this is what I think the best village to visit in Cotswolds should look like. Relatively free of tourists early in the morning it was most definitely a picture postcard. We drove up the main streets admiring all the lovely cottages and then found parking behind the main street easily enough. The streets are lined with chestnut trees beautiful period buildings and shops.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

If you fancy a snack or lunch pop into the Broadway Deli where you can treat yourself to a full English Breakfast laden with tomatoes, bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans, eggs, toast and tea. Or grab yourself a sandwich to go and have a picnic on one of the many benches located around the village.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

If you fancy a pint or two drop into the Old Coaching Inn or rather the Lygon Arms which dates from the 1300s. Here you can stay in the same suite that Oliver Cromwell slept in during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. A predominantly Tudor-style coaching Inn the Lygon Arms was a key connection between Wales, Worcester and London in Elizabethan times.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

King Charles, I and his supporters would assemble at the White Hart which was what the Lygon Arms was known as back in the day. Celebrities have also sought refuge here from Mary Pickford to Liz and Richard.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The Broadway Tower

About 7 minutes from Broadway you will spot signs for the Broadway Tower and park. This is a family-owned estate of 50 acres that includes a Deer Park, Restaurant and shop alongside a tower.

An Iconic structure the Broadway Tower has a roof platform with absolutely stunning views of the Cotswold countryside and escarpment. The Tower was the brainchild of the great 18th-century landscape designer, “Capability Brown”. His vision was carried out for George William 6th Earl of Coventry with the help of renowned architect James Wyatt and completed in 1798. 

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

The Tower houses exhibitions on three floors about the history of its colourful past. You are able to view examples of the work of William Morris and understand the link between the Tower and the arts and crafts movements before ascending to an exhibition of the Royal Observer Corps. The cost of an adult ticket to the tower is £12.00  and just the grounds is £ 4.00.   

Chipping Camden

Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England with Broad Campden close by.  Chipping Campden is most noted for its long and wide High Street through the town centre, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century and its beautiful wood church of St James

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Chipping Campden is known as the jewel of the Cotswolds, for its terraced High Street of which many of the buildings date to the 14th century. The High street meanders through the centre of the town and is considered by many to be the most beautiful in England with its 400 year old Market Hall.

Cotswold Way National Trail

One of the best things to do in the Cotswolds is to walk the Cotswold Way National Trail which was established in 2007. The trail covers more than 100 miles of the Cotswolds countryside. The perfect hike for those who love to walk you will see some stunning country views and get a chance to visit historic locations that include: Bath, Sudeley Castle, Hailes Abbey, and the Belas Knap neolithic burial chamber. You can walk any point in the trail but it runs between Chipping Camden and Bath.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Best Places to stay in the Cotswolds

The Old Stocks Inn

Nestled in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold, The Old Stocks Inn is a recently refurbished 17th-century coaching inn that overlooks the green where the original penal stocks still stand.

The family-run Old Stocks Inn has en suite bedrooms, a bar, and a terraced patio garden for al fresco dining in good weather. There are 2 restaurants, both with friendly staff.

Number Four at Stow

This boutique hotel is situated alongside the A429, a minute’s drive from the charming market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. In the heart of the Cotswolds, it has free Wi-Fi and free parking.  

Victoria House

Victoria House offers luxury boutique room-only accommodation in Stow on the Wold in The Cotswolds.

The Swan Hotel

The iconic ivy-clad Swan Hotel is located on the banks of the River Coln in the heart of Bibury Village. Inside, there are 22 beautifully designed rooms (including 4 stunning Cottage suites) and each one is unique in character and comfortable down to the finest detail with large bathrooms, full-size Molton Brown toiletries and soft, cosy bathrobes to enjoy.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©Booking

Swallows Nest

A beautiful little one-bedroom cottage makes a perfect romantic getaway in gorgeous Bibury.

The Bothy

In Bibury, this holiday home with a balcony and garden views has 1 bedroom, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge, and 1 bathroom with a shower.

The Slaughters Country Inn Upper Slaughter

With a riverside location and set in a Cotswold stone building, this 5 gold star inn serves local, seasonal produce in the restaurant. Surrounded by 4 acres of grounds, The Slaughters Country Inn has 31 individually designed bedrooms.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit
©booking

The Slaughters Manor House Lower Slaughter

Situated in the pretty Cotswolds village of Lower Slaughter, this 17th-century manor house offers free internet and free parking on site. It retains original period features and has a sophisticated, award-winning restaurant.

The Manor House Hotel

Moreton in Marsh is where one of the best places to stay is the luxurious four-star Manor House Hotel is located. The Manor House is an enchanting 16th-century Cotswold retreat where you can revel in pure luxury and enjoy fine dining.

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

There are dozens of beautifully quaint Cotswolds Villages, so many that you would really need a week or more to be able to see all of them. These are just a few of our favourites so far, we intend to get back soon and explore some more.

Have you been to any Cotswolds Villages? I would love to know which ones and one you thought was the prettiest, feel free to talk about them in the comments.

If you have the time to explore more of the British Isles then I’d highly recommend at least visiting Yorkshire. Or even make it part of a bigger UK road trip to include Scotland or Wales.

If you’re travelling elsewhere through the UK you may enjoy our following posts:

The Shambles York the oldest medieval street in the world

22 of the Best English cities to visit

38 Seaside towns in the UK to visit

The North Yorkshire Coast – 9 perfect seaside places to visit

23 Stunning English Manor Houses

Uffington White Horse, England’s mysterious chalk figure

Oxford what to do – 34 attractions to visit

Visiting the extraordinary Chiltern Hills of England

19 Beautiful Cotswold Villages to visit

Author

  • Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

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