The Cotswolds is one of the most well-known Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB) in England. It’s a popular spot to visit for a day, a weekend or a week. In my opinion, a day is definitely not enough time but if you plan it well you could see a lot of the Cotswolds in a weekend.

In our most recent trip we decided to spend an entire week exploring the area. A lot of this had to do with traveling with Teddy (I’m slowly learning how different traveling is with him now). We needed a spot where we could have a home base and travel to little towns and villages between naps.

We hit up all of the main little towns in the Cotswolds and explored around. Given that we were traveling during the pandemic, we were very careful where we went in and what we did so a lot of the trip was just walking around and taking pictures.

Broadway

Broadway village is a lovely place to walk around and filled with some of the best places to eat in the Cotswolds. It’s also a great place for some shopping or if you’re on a tight budget like we were, window shopping.

Some of the main places to eat include Crown and Trumpet Inn, Broadway Deli, The Bakehouse (this is where we dined and I would recommend it), Market Pantry, and Tisanes Tea Room.

If you’re in the area make sure to stop at the Cotswolds Distillery for some homemade Gin.

Naunton

This spot was unknown to me until we happened to book an Airbnb nearby and honestly in my opinion it’s one of the best places to wander around. Especially if you don’t like crowds.

Naunton is also located within a bit of a valley so if you have the chance, do one of the hikes that takes you above the little town for some really beautiful views.

Make sure you stop for lunch or dinner at The Black Horse Inn. I had the lamb shank and it was honestly one of the best meals I had while in the Cotswolds.

Bibury

Of course, no trip to the Cotswolds is complete without a visit to Bibury. This little town is arguably the most famous and photographed in the Cotswolds. It’s here that you will find the popular Arlington Row. These set of homes were originally built in the 14th century as part of the parish in Bibury.

Wander around the town and grab a bite to eat at the Swan Hotel if you’re feeling fancy. The Trout Farm (yes, it’s a farm for trout fish) may not sound like the most exciting place to visit but it’s a nice spot to stroll through in the summer.

Chipping Camden

In the Middle Ages, Chipping Camden was home to many of the wealthy wool merchants of the region. If you’re looking for some window shopping than the small market town of Chipping Camden is a must see. Stroll around the high street and then make your way to St. James’ church. The grounds are stunning and it’s truly amazing how old some of the tombstones are.

Stow-on-the-Wold

Definitely one of my favourite places in the Cotswolds is the cute little town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Similar to Chipping Camden, Stow-on-the-wold is also a market town but what makes this one different is that it’s located on an 800 foot hill so there are beautiful views surrounding it on all sides.

The buildings are incredible and the local shops are really cute. There’s a sweets shop that I spent too much money in and a sock shop which was great for getting souvenirs (and Christmas gifts). I wish we had have stayed for a meal in one of the cozy pubs but being short on time I only got to peak in longingly.

Bourton-on-the-Water

Another super popular spot in the Cotswolds is Bourton-on-the-water. In my opinion this spot has become overrated and way too busy. What makes it so special is a small river that runs through the town with cute little bridges in various spots for you to cross over.

If you do decide to visit Bourton-on-the-water during your visit, be sure to go first thing in the morning before the coach buses or after dinnertime.

Castle Combe

I discovered this beautiful little town through Instagram and I could not have loved it more. It’s a bit of a trek outside of the main cluster of Cotswolds towns but that’s what makes it so special. You can’t park anywhere in the main streets of the town and because it’s a bit out of the way it’s much more quiet.

It doesn’t take long to tour around but I would highly recommend doing a little walk and then enjoying a pint or glass of wine in one of the super cozy pubs.

Upper and Lower Slaughter

Another underrated area in the Cotswolds are the two joining towns of Upper and Lower Slaughter. Upper Slaughter is home to the famous Lords of the Manor Hotel where they actually have some guests helicopter in for their stay. There’s not a whole lot to do in Upper Slaughter if you aren’t part of the elite club staying at the Manor hotel but it’s a nice spot to wander through all the same.

Once you’ve walked around Upper Slaughter, make the 20 minute walk to Lower Slaughter. This small village is built on the banks of River Eye. The slow moving stream flows through the village and you can walk beside it or over it through little foot bridges. On a nice day, grab a latte, a pint or a small picnic and eat along the banks.

Bonus:

Bath

Of course if you’re going to be in the Cotswolds it only makes sense to visit Bath. We only spent a couple of hours exploring this beautiful city but it quickly became one of my favourite places in the UK. The rows of houses and shops were built in a Roman-style and make you feel as if you are actually in Europe not the United Kingdom.

Because we visited during the height of the pandemic we didn’t actually get to experience any of the famous baths, but I’ll definitely need to go back and do so soon. Instead we took our time shopping, eating and just enjoying the gorgeous views.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Home to Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon was an interesting place to walk around. I would definitely go back to take a tour because I don’t think that we got the full experience. GIven that it was the pandemic, many of the tourist spots were actually closed but we did manage to see Shakespeares birthplace, where he is buried, where his daughter lived and where his wife lived.

All in all, the Cotswolds has so much to offer that it’s worth spending an entire week. There are also so many footpaths you can take that bring you through farmers fields and give you a closer look at sheep than you’d probably even get at a petting zoo!