Spanning five counties, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Wiltshire, the Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty. With rolling hills, quaint little villages, beautiful towns, and country pubs. There is something for everyone, no matter your tastes. No wonder the area remains popular with tourists, attracting 38 million visitors per year.
If you’re thinking of booking your next holiday in the area, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re spoiled for choice for things to do in the Cotswolds. For those arriving with families and young children, there are parks aplenty that are perfect for tiring the kids out. For couples looking for a romantic getaway, there are pretty gardens and stunning walks to stroll along with your partner. If you’re thinking of spoiling yourself with a solo getaway, you can spend lazy days enjoying pub lunches, museum tours, or shopping in the beautiful towns.
With so much on offer, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and you may struggle to pick the right activities or end up cramming in too much at once and finish your holiday more frazzled than when you started.
Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve whittled down our favourite things to do in the Cotswolds into a handy top ten list. Whether you’re visiting on a minibreak or an extended summer holiday, you’re bound to find something to do.
The best things to do in the Cotswolds
We all know that the Great British weather can be temperamental at times. With that in mind, we’ve chosen a range of things to do in the Cotswolds that cover indoor and outdoor activities. Our top ten list of things to do in the Cotswolds includes:
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
- Castle Combe Race Circuit
- Blenheim Palace
- The Lygon Arms
- Sudeley Castle
- Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park
- Cotswold Motoring Museum
- Lower Slaughter
- Bourton on the Water
- Diddly Squat Farm Shop
These are all easy to reach with your car, but the Cotswolds also has good public transport links. There are regular trains from London through Oxford, Cheltenham and Worcester, with stops in several Cotswold towns and villages. Buses will take you through scenic villages to towns and cities with big shopping centres. There are also lots of local, affordable taxis should you want to have a meal and drink in a rustic pub, but Uber and Lyft have yet to make it to this British idyll.
Let’s dive in and have a look at these Cotswold gems in more detail.
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Nestled just outside Burford’s historic and beautiful town, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens holds a description that many attractions claim but few live up to: fun for all the family. The star attraction is, of course, the animals, from giraffes, bats, lions, penguins, and snakes, there’s an abundance of wildlife in the beautiful grounds of the Bradwell Grove Estate.
There’s a restaurant for when hunger strikes, or you can enjoy a picnic overlooking the rhino, zebra, and giraffe enclosures. If you want us to put together a picnic hamper for you, just let us know. The park is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, so easily accessible for all members of your group. Dogs are welcome at the park (on a lead) so the family pooch needn’t miss out on a wonderful day.
The estate also has beautiful gardens to explore, described as “theatre with plants”. If you spot a plant you like and want more information about, the gardens team can be contacted via email and are happy to answer any of your questions. You don’t get that at London Zoo!
The park does get busy, especially during the summer holidays, so it’s wise to book in advance, and e-tickets are available online.
Castle Combe Race Circuit
The Cotswolds isn’t just made up of chocolate box cottages and rolling countryside. Less than half a mile from the village of Castle Combe is the Castle Combe Race Circuit, the west country’s home of motorsport. If there’s a petrol head in your group, or you’ve been dying to try out a sports car on a race track, then this is the place for you.
The circuit hosts a range of racing events from March through to October. Visitors can also experience an “Action Day”, a popular fusion of a car show and track day, where you can admire the cars on display and chat with like-minded enthusiasts.
If you want to surprise someone with a racing gift, you can buy driving experience vouchers. They’ll get the chance to drive a range of high-performance machines around the track. Have you ever wished to get behind the wheel of a Lotus Elise? Well, now’s your chance.
Blenheim Palace
The historic house Blenheim Palace is well worth a visit at any time of year. A World Heritage site, Blenheim Palace has more than 300 years of history to explore in the house and gardens. Famous as the birthplace of Winston Churchill, visitors can walk in the former Prime Minister’s footsteps, explore the staterooms and discover TV and film locations across the palace.
Whilst wandering the park and gardens, why not lose yourself in the Marlborough maze or visit the Butterfly House. Or, you could leave the formal gardens and find the Cedar of Lebanon tree in the extensive park, famously used as the Whomping Willow in the 2007 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Christmas is a very special time of year to visit Blenheim Palace. Visitors can explore the gardens lit up with festive tunnels of light, and, after spying Father Christmas along the way, visit the Christmas market. During summer, the grounds come to life with spectacular events and pageants, and in September, the grounds host Blenheim Horse Trials.
The Lygon Arms
The Lygon Arms Hotel is based in the charming town of Broadway. The hotel has some beautiful rooms but, if you already have accommodation sorted, it’s also well worth a visit just for the food. The hotel serves a traditional afternoon tea packed with delicious treats. Grown ups can opt for a champagne afternoon tea, while kids can also enjoy the experience, with a children’s version.
If you want to have cakes and scones at home, there are lots of patisseries and cake shops in the Cotswolds. Hugo Lovage in Burford has a wide range of cakes, macaroons and plenty of seasonal treats.
Once you’re stuffed full of sandwiches and cake, you can walk off the sweet stuff by indulging in some retail therapy along Broadway’s high street. Or, you could explore Broadway Tower, a folly set in 200 acres of parkland. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out a relic of the Cold War, Broadway’s nuclear bunker! However, if you want to leave the exercise for another day and just relax, you can always spend a few hours in the Lygon Arms Hotel spa instead.
Sudeley Castle
If you’re after a bit of local history, then Sudeley Castle is well worth a visit. Open every day from March 7th to October 30th between 10am and 5pm, the castle and gardens are regarded as one of the most beautiful spots in England.
The castle has been linked to many English kings and queens, including Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VIII, Lady Jane Grey, Katherine Parr, Elizabeth I and Charles I. In the oldest part of the building you can see Katherine Parr’s anterooms, and one of the castle’s treasures is the Bohun Book of Hours, which pre-dates the Black Death and is thought to be one of only six in the world.
Sudeley Castle also has 10 gardens to explore, as well as an adventure playground for younger visitors. The Secret Garden is an especially romantic spot, replanted in 1979 by the current chatelaine of the castle, Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, as a celebration of her marriage to Lord Ashcombe.
Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park
Countryfile viewers will recognise presenter Adam Henson, whose farm is based in Guiting Power, a 10-minute drive from Stow on the Wold. Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park is both a working farm and a place for visitors to learn more about rare breeds, and conservation, and get up close with farm animals.
The farm park offers an interactive experience. You can feed the animals, watch chicks hatching, see newborn lambs, piglets, donkeys, and goats, and kids can let off steam in the adventure barn. You might even meet the man himself, Adam Henson, in person!
The indoor barns are accessible for wheelchair users, and the whole of the Farm Park is pushchair accessible. The place is popular and you will need to book your visit in advance. If you’re driving back through Stow on the Wold, then it’s worth stopping off in this beautiful town. You could visit the Porch House, which claims to be the oldest pub in the world, or go for dinner at the ever-popular Old Butchers.
Cotswold Motoring Museum
A museum is a great place to spend a rainy day. And Cotswold Motoring Museum is the perfect place to while away the hours. Exhibits of cars and toys will bring out the enthusiast in anyone. There are vintage cars, motorbikes, and caravans, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for children’s TV favourite, Brum.
The museum is a big hit in the area, and was voted Classic Car Weekly’s museum of the year in 2011. It’s also good value, with a family ticket (two adults and two children) available for less than £20. For model car lovers, the gift shop is a must-see, with model cars by the likes of Vanguard, Maisto, and Cararama available to purchase.
The museum is open from 10am to 6pm every day and there’s no need to book, so is the perfect place to go if you need somewhere to entertain the family quickly if the weather turns and outdoor activities are off the table.
Lower Slaughter
Many chocolate box villages in the Cotswolds are worth a visit, like Bibury, Blockley, Adlestrop, and Snowshill, but Lower Slaughter has a special claim on our hearts. This village is home to the most romantic street in Britain. According to a vote run by Google Street View, Copse Hill Road was named the most romantic street in the country. The road runs along the River Eye and has several small bridges where couples can spend a sunny day.
For those who want to go on a longer walk, there is an easy path between Upper and Lower Slaughter. This takes you past an old mill, which is also worth a visit. The building is old enough to have a mention in the Doomsday Book and there is now a museum, cafe, and shop for visitors.
For those looking for a substantial meal, then The Slaughters Country Inn has what you need. If you head to the neighbouring village of Upper Slaughter, you’ll find the Lords of the Manor Hotel, which offers a luxury fine-dining experience.
Bourton on the Water
Nicknamed the Venice of the Cotswolds, Bourton on the Water is a beautiful town, home to the Cotswold Motoring Museum, Birdland Park and Gardens, and a model village. The town straddles the Windrush river, with quaint little stone bridges perfect for an Instagram photo.
During the August Bank Holiday Bourton on the Water hosts a football game with a difference. Two seven-a-side teams battle it out in the river rather than a football pitch. The tradition dates back almost 100 years and is always fun to watch as long as you don’t mind getting splashed. The Cotswolds has other unusual sports that draw competitors and spectators from all over the world, including the shin kicking championships and cheese rolling.
Staying in Bourton on the Water, there are plenty of shops and pubs to check out, and the Bakery on the Water is a must-visit, with sandwiches and pastries available to eat in the cafe, or you could buy a delicious, rustic loaf to take back to your holiday cottage for breakfast the next day.
Diddly Squat Farm Shop
Following the runaway success of his TV show Clarkson’s Farm, Jeremy Clarkson opened up his own farm shop, Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Visitors from all over descend on the shop just outside of the village of Chadlington hoping to see the man himself or to buy some “cow juice” (milk) “bee juice” (honey) and other interestingly-named products.
Clarkson is expanding the shop and has opened a restaurant, though there’s no menu and you get what you’re given. You can also buy beer and gin, and all the produce in the shop comes from local businesses, as well as Clarkson’s own farm.
There are other farm shops nearby, such as Daylesford Organic, which boasts food that is ethical, healthy and delicious, as well as a wide range of other things to buy from clothing to tableware. If you’re looking for a less expensive place to shop then Chipping Norton is nearby, with boutiques and cafes to enjoy.
If you’ve had enough shopping then you could stop off in the pretty village of Kingham, and enjoy a drink and tasty food at the Kingham Plough. The pub boasts roaring fires in the winter, and a shaded terrace and garden for the summer, and has been known to serve several local celebrities over the years.
Summary
And there you have it. Ten great things to do on your next visit to the Cotswolds. We hope that your holiday is packed full of fun, but don’t forget to relax and enjoy your break as well. Heading out for a fun-filled day is great, but curling up in front of the fire in your holiday cottage is pretty amazing too!
Whether you want to enjoy your days outside in the fresh air, or lounge around in a fascinating museum, you’re sure to find something you’ll remember long after you’ve arrived back home.