The Most Idyllic Villages To Visit for a Cotswolds Weekend

There isn't anything quite like a weekend in the Cotswolds. Charming stone cottages, quiet country lanes, and village pubs that have been on the same corner for centuries, and all of it just two hours by car from London.

Spread across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, the Cotswolds are home to a number of villages, each with its own pace, its own character, and its own reason to linger.

Read on for our town-by-town guide to the region, written from the perspective of people who know it well and have spent years curating stays for guests who want to experience the best of it.

Broadway

Often referred to as the Jewel of the Cotswolds, Broadway is one of the most beautiful villages in England, and one of the most visited. The High Street, one of the longest in England, and the origin of the village's name, is wide and unhurried, lined with honey-stone buildings and with the Cotswold escarpment rising behind it. Once a prominent stagecoach stop on the route between Worcester and London, it later became a sanctuary for artists, designers and writers, and that creative legacy is still visible today. It has been drawing visitors for centuries, and it is not difficult to understand why. 

Where to stay in Broadway

• Lavendula is a classic manor house sleeping up to 20, with a heated pool, croquet lawn and generous gardens, well-suited to large groups and celebrations, and walking distance from the village itself. 

• Hollig House, set in nearby Laverton, is a beautifully restored former hunting lodge comprising a five-bedroom main house and an adjacent two-bedroom cottage, with extensive grounds, a heated pool and a large kitchen designed for hosting.

  
  

Things to do in Broadway

Broadway Tower is the obvious starting point, a folly built in 1798 that sits at the second-highest point in the Cotswolds, with views that stretch across thirteen counties on a clear day. The deer park below the tower is worth timing well; the red deer are most visible in the early morning and late afternoon. From the tower, the Broadway Tower Walk, a 1.5-mile stretch of the Cotswold Way, winds down through open countryside and into the village itself, ending amongst the shops and cafés of the high street. 

Stow-on-the-Wold

Sitting nearly 800 feet above sea level, Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest town in the Cotswolds, and one of its most historically significant. Positioned on the ancient Roman Fosse Way and at the meeting point of several country roads, it has been a hub for trade and travel for centuries. The medieval market square at its heart, ringed with elegant stone townhouses, antique shops, independent traders and traditional inns. It is the most central base in the region, with Bourton-on-the-Water, the Slaughters, Chipping Campden and Burford all within easy reach and for guests who want to cover a weekend in Cotswolds thoroughly.

Where to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold

Jacinth House, set in the neighbouring village of Broadwell, is a beautifully restored farmhouse sleeping 10 across five bedrooms, with a full-time host, optional private chef and a private courtyard with optional hot tub hire. Generous, calm and designed for slow days, it is minutes from Stow and a short drive from Daylesford.

Things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold

St Edward's Church is worth a visit, built between the 11th and 15th centuries, with an 88-foot tower completed in 1447 and a painting by a contemporary of Rubens and Van Dyck in the south aisle. The north door, flanked by two ancient yew trees, is said to have inspired Tolkien's Doors of Durin in The Lord of the Rings. Beyond the church, Well Lane is home to old wells and the ramparts of an Iron Age fort. Twice a year, in May and October, the town hosts a traditional gathering of horses, ponies and Romany caravans on its outskirts. For shopping, we’re fans of the Cotswold Cheese Company and the Borzoi Bookshop.

Bourton-on-the-Water & The Slaughters

Known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water is the village that most people picture before they arrive. The River Windrush, rising ten miles away and meandering 35 miles before joining the Thames at Newbridge, runs through the centre beneath five low arched bridges, with elegant limestone buildings on either side and the kind of scene that feels almost too perfect to be real. Come early in the morning or later in the evening to see it at its best.

A short drive away, Lower and Upper Slaughter offer something quieter. The name comes from the Old English for 'muddy place', considerably less dramatic than it sounds, and the two villages are linked by the tiny River Eye, a tributary of the Windrush. Upper Slaughter is one of only 14 'doubly unspoilt' villages in England that lost no men in either World War. The walk between the two villages, flat and unhurried, is among the most peaceful in the region.

Where to stay in Bourton-on-the-Water & The Slaughters

Our nearest property to this part of the Cotswolds is Jacinth House, a beautifully restored farmhouse in the village of Broadwell, sleeping 10 across five bedrooms. With a full-time host, optional private chef, private courtyard and optional hot tub hire, it sits just minutes from Bourton-on-the-Water and is ideally placed for exploring the Slaughters, Stow-on-the-Wold and Daylesford at your own pace.

Things to do in Bourton-on-the-Water & The Slaughters

The walk between Lower and Upper Slaughter is not to be missed, follow the River Eye between the two villages and enjoy the scenery. Lower Slaughter Mill and café is worth a stop; a mill has stood on this site since the Domesday Book of 1086. Birdland Park and Gardens is a great day out for families. Greystones Farm, on the edge of the village, is a nature reserve set on ancient meadows, home to diverse wildlife and the site of Salmonsbury Camp, a Neolithic and Iron Age meeting place and a Scheduled Monument. For another great family day out, Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park is one of the best in the region, with over 50 breeds of rare and native livestock and a lovely restaurant.

Chipping Campden

Once a rich medieval wool town, Chipping Campden is one of the most beautiful towns in the Cotswolds. The high street dates from the 14th to the 17th century and is widely considered one of the finest in England, a long, gently curving stretch of honey-stone buildings lined with antique shops, independent galleries and restaurants. The ancient Market Hall still stands at its centre, and the wool church of St James rises above the roofline. It also marks the official start of the Cotswold Way, the 102-mile national trail that winds south to Bath, making it the natural first stop for anyone planning to walk the region.

Where to stay in Chipping Campden

Our nearest property is The Mynt near Chipping Norton, a design-led seven-bedroom house with a heated pool, sauna, ice bath and gym, a strong base for exploring the northern Cotswolds.

Things to do in Chipping Campden

The high street rewards a slow walk from one end to the other. At Stuart House Antiques you’ll find gems shaped by centuries of history and craftsmanship. The East Banqueting House, a Jacobean ruin at the northern edge of town. Dover Hill, a short walk from the town centre, is the starting point of the Cotswold Way and offers wide views north across the Vale of Evesham. The Hidcote Manor Garden, a National Trust property a few miles outside town, is considered one of the finest Arts and Crafts gardens in the country, a series of interconnected garden rooms, each with a distinct character, that can absorb an entire afternoon.

Chipping Norton

Affectionately known as "Chippy" by locals, Chipping Norton is a bustling market town sitting at the highest point in Oxfordshire. It has the feel of a working town, St Mary's Church, the grand Town Hall and the iconic Bliss Tweed Mill, built in 1872 and now converted into luxury apartments, give it a grounded, lived-in character that the more polished Cotswolds villages lack. 

Where to stay in Chipping Norton

Our nearest property is The Mynt, a seven-bedroom contemporary house inspired by the owners' travels, blending Ibiza, Parisian and Moroccan influences into a stay that feels more like a private retreat than a traditional countryside rental. Heated pool, sauna, ice bath, state-of-the-art gym, cinema room, poolside bar and hidden bar. Walking distance to the town.

Things to do in Chipping Norton

The Chipping Norton Theatre is a multi-arts theatre, cinema, gallery and music venue. The Chipping Norton Museum, housed in the former Co-op Society Meeting Hall, covers the town's history from its medieval market roots through the wool trade and beyond. A short drive away, the Rollright Stones are a group of prehistoric megalithic monuments with strong local folklore. Chastleton House, a National Trust Jacobean property built in the early 17th century. For families, Fairytale Farm is a short drive by car and has animals, an enchanted walk and an adventure playground. On warmer days, Chipping Norton Lido is great for a dip.

Cheltenham

Not a Cotswolds village, but an essential part of any longer stay in the region. Cheltenham is a Regency spa town, known as the Cultural Capital of the Cotswolds and the Festival Town, with an energy that sets it apart from everything around it. Wide tree-lined promenades, over 2,500 listed buildings, excellent independent restaurants and a cultural calendar that runs year-round. The Gold Cup in March and the Literature Festival in October anchor the year, but jazz, science, food and music festivals fill the gaps between them. For guests who want the countryside by day and a proper town by night, Cheltenham is the answer.

Where to stay in Cheltenham

Our closest property is Wistaria House, which sits within a private vineyard estate on the Cotswolds escarpment above Cheltenham, with six en-suite bedrooms, panoramic views across the countryside, a Moroccan Bar, Roman Cellar, hot tub, outdoor dining spaces and a cinema room. It is a house built for occasions, long lunches, late evenings, and everything in between.

Things to do in Cheltenham

 Cheltenham's Regency architecture is best appreciated on foot. Start on the Promenade, the main shopping street lined with elegant Georgian buildings, the Neptune Fountain at its centre and work through to the Montpellier Quarter, where exclusive boutiques and restaurants spill out between the famous white caryatid sculptures. The Pittville Pump Room, a mile from the centre, was built in the 1820s and remains one of the finest Regency buildings in England, set within Pittville Park with its ornamental lakes, tennis club and café. The Wilson, Cheltenham's art gallery and museum, is free to enter and covers everything from local archaeological finds to Arts and Crafts furniture and 17th-century Dutch paintings. For something more active, Leckhampton Hill and Cleeve Hill are both a short drive from town, with stretches of the Cotswold Way running across each. Sudeley Castle in nearby Winchcombe, once the residence of Katherine Parr, has extraordinary gardens and a chapel that houses her tomb. 

Stroud & the Stroud Valleys

Described by Jasper Conran as the Covent Garden of the Cotswolds, Stroud is the part of the region that most visitors never reach, and the better for it. Enveloped by five sweeping green valleys and crowned the best place to live in England in 2021, it has a thriving independent culture and creative community. In fact, their Saturday farmers' market is renowned as one of the finest in the country. The echoes of the wool trade are still visible in the valleys, where old mills line the rivers that once powered them. The Slad Valley, a few miles from town, is where Laurie Lee grew up and set Cider with Rosie,  still very much present in the landscape.

Where to stay in Stroud & the Stroud Valleys

We have two properties here. 

• Primula House is a five-bedroom Georgian manor in the Slad Valley, with a swimming pool, tennis court, cinema room and croquet lawn, with direct access to some of the best countryside walking in the region.

• Viola, set above the Stroud Valley with views across Woodchester Vineyard, takes a different direction entirely, with six bedrooms, Scandinavian-influenced interiors, an infinity pool, an in-house bar and a self-contained Coach House suite. Pared back, design-led and genuinely private.

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Things to do in Stroud & the Stroud Valleys

The Stroud Farmers' Market runs every Saturday with over 50 stalls, local producers, artisan makers and some of the best street food in the Cotswolds. Made in Stroud on Kendrick Street stocks shelves with ceramics, candles, chutneys and goods made by local makers. The Malthouse Collective, a converted red-brick mill on the edge of town, is packed with antiques and curiosities and draws shoppers from across the county. Woodchester Valley Vineyard, a family-owned boutique vineyard set on the rolling slopes of the Stroud Valleys, offers tours and tastings of its award-winning Cotswold wines. The Stroud Subscription Rooms, where the Beatles performed in 1962, is the town's main live music and events venue. Painswick, a short drive away and known as the Queen of the Cotswolds, centres around St Mary's Church and its extraordinary display of 99 perfectly clipped yew trees. The Painswick Rococo Garden is the only Rococo garden remaining in England. For walking, the Slad Valley, the Laurie Lee Wildlife Way and the Daneway Walk are all exceptional.

Castle Combe & the South Cotswolds

Often described as the prettiest village in England, Castle Combe sits at the very southern end of the Cotswolds in a wooded valley that feels entirely removed from the rest of the region. Honey-coloured stone cottages draped in ivy, a medieval market cross at the top of the village, the Bybrook River winding beneath a centuries-old stone bridge. It has changed very little since the Middle Ages and has been used as a film backdrop so many times, with Stardust, War Horse, Doctor Dolittle among them. Only around 50 people live in the village centre. Come early in the morning or out of season to see it as it deserves to be seen. 

Where to stay in Castle Combe & the South Cotswolds

Our nearest property is Hather Manor, a thirteen-bedroom Georgian manor set within 85 acres, with an Ibiza-style pool, hot tub, steam room, tennis court, football pitch, cinema room and underground cellar space for late evenings. It is the Cotswolds' most capable house for a large group celebration and works equally well across summer and winter.

Things to do in Castle Combe & the South Cotswolds

The village is best explored on foot. The medieval Market Cross is the natural starting point, with St Andrew's Church a short walk from it. The Manor House Hotel, a 14th-century estate at the heart of the village, has Michelin-starred dining at Bybrook and an award-winning golf course. Beyond the village, Lacock, a short drive away in Wiltshire, is a National Trust property that has doubled as a filming location for everything from Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter. Lucknam Park, a grand 18th-century country house hotel nearby, has a Walled Garden restaurant worth booking for a special lunch, along with an equestrian centre and spa. For those wanting to explore further, the surrounding countryside offers circular walks through river valleys and hidden footpaths that most visitors never find. Additionally, Tetbury, a short drive away, has excellent antique shops and sits close to Highgrove, the countryside home of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Kingham & the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

Kingham sits in the broad Evenlode valley with wide open village greens bordered by elegant stone cottages, many dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is a small, quiet village with miles of open countryside in every direction. It has also become one of the great foodie destinations in the Cotswolds, with the Kingham Plough and The Wild Rabbit being two of the most talked-about pub restaurants.

Where to stay in Kingham & the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

Our nearest property is Lilie Farm, is a self-contained estate of three separate luxury cottages sleeping 20 in total, with a Dutch Barn entertaining space, heated outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, gym, cinema room and tennis court. Walking distance to Daylesford. It is the rare property that works as both a base and a destination, the kind of place that makes leaving feel genuinely difficult.

Things to do in Kingham & the Oxfordshire Cotswolds

Daylesford Organic has a fantastic farm shop, café, garden and homeware sections to explore, and for those who are keen to relax, the Bamford Haybarn Spa, has restorative massages, facials and mind and movement classes. Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Jeremy Clarkson's farm shop, is nearby and worth a visit for its loyal following and local produce. The Big Feastival, held annually at Alex James' farm on the outskirts of the village, brings together food and music across a summer weekend. Chastleton House, a National Trust Jacobean property, is a short drive. Blenheim Palace, thirty minutes away in Woodstock, is one of England's greatest baroque houses, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, set within Capability Brown's landscape park. For anyone keen on walking and cycling, the surrounding countryside has a number of routes centred on the village.

Experience the Best of the Cotswolds with Harrad & Bloom

Consider this guide a starting point. The Cotswolds are vast, layered and endlessly rewarding, and we have spent more than a decade building the relationships, the knowledge and the little black book that make every stay here exceptional.

Our collection spans some of the most exceptional homes in the region, each chosen for how it feels to stay there as much as how it looks. From there, we build everything around you. Through a close network of trusted staff and local suppliers, every part of the stay can be arranged. Private chefs, house staff, childcare, in-house wellness treatments, or something more are considered if the occasion calls for it. Everything is handled quietly in the background, so you can settle in and let the days unfold.

You can spend your time exploring the villages, or not leave the house at all. Long lunches on the terrace, afternoons by the pool, evenings that stretch late with the right people around you. It’s entirely your call. We simply make it happen.

Explore our collection of luxury rentals or get in touch to start planning your stay.