The Best Cotswold Villages to Visit
If you're visiting the Cotswolds because you want to see some picture-perfect English villages, count yourself lucky. The best Cotswold villages rank among the best villages in the country.
Think honey-coloured cottages surrounded by plumpish green hills. Historic churches. Quaint shops. Narrow lanes that tumble haphazardly between buildings. You might even catch a village fete if you visit on the right day.
But the Cotswolds is big. Four-hundred-and-fifty square miles big. So, to help you decide where to point your sat nav, we've picked out eight of the Cotswolds' most gorgeous villages – all within easy driving distance of our Cheltenham hotel.
Happy exploring!
Guiting Power
Guiting Power doesn't get the love it deserves.
It's small, sure – and it doesn't offer much in the way of all-singing all-dancing entertainment. However, as one of the best-preserved villages in the Cotswolds, it's a treat for fans of old-fashioned rural architecture. Nearly every building is made of honey-coloured Cotswold stone, which looks almost as crisp and clean as the day it was laid.
This wasn't always the case. By the mid-20th century, Guiting Power was falling into disrepair. However, careful work by the Guiting Manor charitable trust has seen the village restored to its former glory.
Do yourself a favour and check out this hidden, honey-coloured gem.
Stanton
Like Guiting Power, Stanton is very much a working, living, authentic village. Don't expect to find gift shops, tea rooms and other tourist-friendly amenities here.
What you will find, however, is one of the best Cotswold villages in terms of pure, unspoilt beauty. Stroll up the High Street and you'll see what you mean. It's stone cottage after gorgeous stone cottage – most flanked by pretty flowers or delicate green topiary.
Don't forget to visit the village church, too. Here, you'll find some stunning (if faded) 14th-century wall art.
Snowshill
If you live for landscapes, make room in your itinerary for Snowshill.
Perched high on an escarpment, this village is famed for its heart-stirring views over the Severn Vale. Look west on a clear day and you'll be treated to a tumbling panorama of green hills and bristly trees, framed by an endless blue sky.
Had your fill? Take a short stroll to Snowshill Manor. This 16th-century manor house is filled with curious treasures, ranging from mechanical doorbells to stuffed fish.
Upper Slaughter
Don't let the gory moniker fool you. Upper Slaughter has long been recognised as one of the best Cotswold villages – and it's much, much prettier than its name implies.
The name may, in fact, come from an old German word, sluohter. This has nothing to do with slaughter: it meant 'uneven ground with holes and pools'.
Thankfully, there's more to see nowadays than holes and pools. One of the highlights is Eyeford Park, a spectacular mansion that was once named 'England's Favourite House' by Country Life magazine. Legend has it that John Milton began writing Paradise Lost here sometime in the 17th century.
Lower Slaughter
The Slaughters come as a package. It's only a 20-minute walk from Upper Slaughter to Lower Slaughter, so you may as well tackle both in one trip.
It's worth it. Heck, the walk alone is worth it. The trail follows the River Eye and promises an easy, scenic traipse across pretty green fields and tree-lined paths.
Lower Slaughter is just as beautiful as its northerly cousin. Be sure to stop by the Old Mill, whose red bricks stand in stark contrast to the limestone cottages surrounding it.
Bourton-on-the-water
So far, we've focused on sleepy, traditional villages: the kinds of places with one or two pubs and a whole lot of heart.
Bourton-on-the-Water is a different sort of beast. It still has heart, of course – and it's full of the honey-hued limestone buildings that characterise the best Cotswold villages. But with its plethora of pubs, cafes and antique shops, Bourton is altogether hipper and more happening than most.
You could easily while away a summer's day exploring its quaint streets and following the path of the River Windrush, which trails through the centre of the village.
Broadway
Broadway is one of the Cotswolds' most famous villages – and for good reason. This bustling settlement has everything you could ask for: vine-covered stone cottages, a pretty village green and a smattering of independent art galleries, delis and gift shops.
The chief attraction, however, has to be Broadway Tower: the Cotswolds' highest castle. Buy a ticket to its rooftop viewing platform and you'll enjoy breathtaking views that stretch for 62 miles in every direction.
Bibury
Cottage fans, meet your new favourite destination.
Yes, Bibury is home to Arlington Row: a world-famous stretch of stone cottages that stands as one of the most iconic landmarks in the Cotswolds.
Arlington Row was built in 1380 as a wool store before being converted into cottages in the 1600s. That makes them older than the Taj Mahal, Isaac Newton and the United States of America.
If you have a UK passport, you might recognise Arlington Row. The cottages were printed on the inside cover of every passport issued between 2010 and 2020.
The Perfect Base for your Adventure
Would you like to explore the best Cotswold villages while still enjoying the perks and amenities of a large town?
We've got you covered. Cotswold Grange is a boutique hotel set within Pitville: a peaceful residential suburb of Cheltenham. Stay with us and you'll enjoy easy access to the town's famous attractions, parks and shops.
And best of all, you'll be only a mile or so from the edge of the Cotswolds National Landscape. Jump in the car and you could be poking around our famous local villages in no time at all.
How's this for a summer's day? You rise early for breakfast, spend a lazy afternoon exploring the Cotswolds, and then cap it all off with a visit to a local restaurant and a great night's sleep in one of our comfy boutique rooms. Perfect.