Village · Gloucestershire
Bourton-on-the-Water
Low bridges, riverside walks and one of the Cotswolds' best-known village centres.
Explore Bourton-on-the-Water →Stone villages, market towns and countryside made for wandering
Explore one of England's best-loved landscapes, where honey-coloured villages, rolling hills, historic market towns and quiet country roads sit close enough to combine in a single day.
Take the slower road
The Cotswolds are best discovered one village at a time
Short distances make it easy to mix a market town, a country walk and a smaller village without rushing the day.
Explore the Cotswolds
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to find villages, market towns, gardens and countryside across the Cotswolds. Pick one place, then see what else fits naturally nearby.
Featured places
Where to go in the Cotswolds
Choose one or two places as anchors for the day, then use the local roads and footpaths to connect the villages and countryside around them.
Market Town · Gloucestershire
Stow-on-the-Wold
A hilltop market town with old inns, independent shops and easy links to nearby villages.
Explore Stow-on-the-Wold →
Village · Worcestershire Edge
Broadway
A broad historic high street beneath the Cotswold escarpment, with walks towards Broadway Tower.
Explore Broadway →
Market Town · Gloucestershire
Chipping Campden
A handsome wool town with a long high street, historic buildings and good access to northern Cotswold walks.
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Town · Gloucestershire
Cirencester
A lively market town with Roman roots and a useful base for exploring the southern Cotswolds.
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Village · Gloucestershire
Bibury
A small riverside village known for historic stone cottages and easy countryside walks.
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Town · Oxfordshire
Burford
A steep historic high street leading towards the River Windrush, with easy links into the eastern Cotswolds.
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Town · Gloucestershire
Tetbury
Historic streets, antique shops and a quieter base near the southern edge of the Cotswolds.
Explore Tetbury →
Landscape · Gloucestershire
Cotswold Way
Long-distance walking along the escarpment, with shorter sections that fit easily into a day trip.
Explore the Cotswold Way →
Choose your kind of day
What are the Cotswolds best for?
Small places, big characterVillages & Market Towns
Footpaths & escarpment viewsWalking & Countryside
Manors, churches & old streetsHistory & Heritage
Estates & plantingGardens & Country Houses
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
The Cotswolds are ideal for short, linked journeys. Pick one main stop and add one or two places nearby.
Bourton, Stow & Lower Slaughter
A classic central-Cotswold day with short drives and plenty of time on foot.
- Bourton-on-the-Water for riverside walks
- Stow-on-the-Wold for shops and old inns
- Lower Slaughter for a quieter village stop
Broadway & Chipping Campden
Two of the northern Cotswolds' strongest historic towns, with countryside between them.
- Broadway for the high street and tower walk
- Chipping Campden for architecture and history
- Optional walk or scenic drive between the two
Cirencester, Bibury & Burford
A useful southern-to-eastern route combining a larger town with two smaller Cotswold favourites.
- Cirencester for Roman history and lunch
- Bibury for riverside character
- Burford for its historic high street
Less distance usually makes a better Cotswolds day
The map can make the Cotswolds look compact, but the best visits are usually the ones that leave time for walking, lunch and unplanned stops rather than trying to collect too many villages in one day.
For a dayChoose one cluster of two or three nearby places.
For a weekendUse one market town as a base and explore outward.
For walkingBuild the day around a short section of the Cotswold Way or local footpaths.
At busy timesArrive early at the most popular villages and leave quieter stops for later.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen your part of the Cotswolds, the local guide will help you turn it into a complete trip.
Keep exploring
There is more nearby than the Cotswolds alone
Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Severn Valley and the wider South West and Midlands are all natural additions to a longer trip.