The Cotswolds cover 787 square miles and have so much to offer, making it impossible to see everything in one trip.
I’ve lived in the area for 50 years and I know every village, market town, garden and attraction there is to be found here. Whatever you’re interested in, whatever you’d like to see, and however much time you’ve got, I can put together a custom tour of the Cotswolds to suit your requirements.
One of the highlights of Chipping Campden is its terraced High Street, which was built between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Once a haven for wealthy wool merchants, this historic market town is a popular destination for tourists keen to explore its beautiful architecture and quaint shops. The town became known in the early 20th century as the centre of the Cotswold Arts and Crafts movement and, as such, is home to many artisanal shops selling jewellery, metalwork and furniture.
Notable architectural sights include the arched Market House, and the two Jacobean banqueting houses that are the only remnants of the imposing Campden House estate, which was lost to fire in the English Civil War.
Often referred to as the Jewel of the Cotswolds, Broadway is full of wonderful antique shops, tearooms and museums, housed in listed buildings made from local limestone.
The village is overlooked by Broadway Hill, which is the highest point in the North Cotswolds and is very popular with those who love a good hike.
Broadway Hill is also home to the stunning Broadway Tower, which was the brainchild of 18th-century landscape architect Capability Brown. It was built for Lady Coventry, who wondered whether a beacon on the hill could be seen from her home in Worcester 22 miles away, and it can!
Stow-on-the-Wold is a wonderful market town situated at the junction of several of the Cotswolds’ major roads. It was founded by Norman lords looking to take advantage of trade on the converging roads.
The town has a long history of holding fairs and markets, commonly selling wool, livestock and horses. Military history buffs will have plenty to keep them occupied in Stow-on-the-Wold, as a number of fights in the English Civil War took place around the area.
You can also marvel at the ancient yew trees that stand at the north porch of St. Edward’s Church, and enjoy a little shopping in the quaint Market Square.
These two villages are situated on the Cotswold Way, which is a 102-mile National Trail running along the Cotswold Edge escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, offering beautiful views of the area.
Stanway is a great place to wander to take in the beautiful buildings and scenery that the Cotswolds has to offer. The hamlet is dominated by the Jacobean Stanway House, which is home to an ornate gatehouse and the tallest gravity fountain in the world.
Described as “one of the prettiest and idyllic unspoilt villages of the Cotswolds”, Stanton is almost completely built from local limestone with distinguished architecture and several thatched-roof cottages.
Upper and Lower Slaughter may sound macabre but their name actually comes from “slough”, which means “wet land”.
The two villages are connected by the River Eye, which flows into Lower Slaughter’s 19th-century water mill and waterwheel. With its red-brick chimney, this building stands out against the traditional Cotswold limestone of the rest of the village and is now home to a museum and riverside tearoom. Upper Slaughter also has its fair share of interesting architecture, including Upper Slaughter Manor and Eyford House.
The towns have been inhabited for around a thousand years, and tourists are attracted by their old, quaint buildings and picturesque tearooms.
Castle Combe is my home village, so it holds a special place in my heart. It takes its name from the 12th-century castle that stood to the north. It has been used as a filming location for TV and film, including Poirot, Downton Abbey and War Horse.
The famous market cross was erected in the 14th century when the privilege to hold a weekly market was granted. It stands at the intersection of the lower village’s three main streets.
Other attractions include the River Bybrook with its quaint stone bridges, the Grade I listed Church of England parish church of St Andrew, and a motor racing venue.
Almost entirely owned by the National Trust, Lacock’s unspoiled appearance attracts many visitors, as does its annual scarecrow festival.
It’s home to Lacock Abbey, a 13th-century nunnery with beautiful cloisters that was converted into a stately home in the 16th century. The many additions and renovations over the years have created a fascinating mixture of architectural styles.
The beautiful buildings of Lacock and have been used in film and TV, including Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and the Harry Potter films.
Once called England’s prettiest village by writer William Morris, Bibury is a beautiful tourist destination packed with tea houses, historic buildings, and a National Trust Wildfowl Reserve.
It’s also home to Arlington Row, the most photographed street in the Cotswolds. Originally built as a wool store in the 14th century, the limestone cottages have been used for television and film locations, and are depicted on the inside cover of all UK passports.
Tetbury is the second largest town in the Cotswolds and the location of Highgrove House, home to HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
It lies on the site of an Anglo-Saxon hill fort, and was an important market for wool and yarn in the Middle Ages. The annual Tetbury Woolsack Race maintains this link to the town’s past, as hundreds of competitors race up and down Gumstool Hill while carrying a 60-pound sack of wool.
Tetbury is known for its antique shops and independent specialist food and clothing shops, as well as Prince Charles’ Highgrove Shop. Another draw is the 17th-century pillared Market House, which is still in use today for craft fairs, exhibitions and a weekly market.
The largest town in the Cotswolds, Cirencester was one of the most substantial cities of Roman-era Britain, when it was known as Corinium.
As such, is home to various sites of historical interest, including Roman villas, a partially excavated amphitheatre, and the Corinium Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Roman artifacts.
Other sights include the stunning Gothic Church of St. John Baptist and Cirencester House, with its beautiful landscape gardens.
If you have a particular area of interest or something you’d like to see, let me know.
Some of the many things that the Cotswolds have to offer include:
Depending on how long you’re planning to stay in the Cotswolds, a full-day tour might not be right for you. If you’re coming to the UK from abroad, the Cotswolds probably aren’t the only location that you’re visiting.
Let me know how much time you’ve got and I’ll be happy to put together an itinerary that will give you a great experience, whether that’s just for an afternoon or for several days. I’ll make sure you see the very best of the Cotswolds without feeling rushed or like you’re just killing time.
I can even pick you up from your hotel or airport and drop you back after the tour. Whatever you need to make your Cotswold experience perfect, just let me know.
I’m always happy to accommodate bespoke requests, so if there’s somewhere you’ve got in mind that you’d like to visit, just let me know.
