The 6 prettiest villages in the Cotswolds
When I picture quintessential England I tend to think of 2 very different scenes – the hustle and bustle of central London, and the quiet, quaint English village. And nowhere else will you come across more quaint English villages than in the Cotswolds. Comprising an area of 787 square miles, you could spend a whole year visiting all the beautiful towns with their buildings made of the golden-hued Cotswold stone. But below are probably the 6 prettiest villages in the Cotswolds:
Castle Combe
You can’t write a list of Cotswold villages without this being number 1. It’s one of the most visited places in the UK and for good reason. With 107 listed buildings and a pretty little river running through it, the place is incredibly photogenic. We went very early in the winter to beat the crowds and got to watch the sun come up. The postcard perfect village slowly coming to life was easily the most memorable moment of our time in the Cotswolds.
Bourton on the Water
Known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, Bourton on the Water is a little livelier than some of the other entries on this list. The River Windrush is crossed by 5 bridges, which see a huge tourist footfall in the summer months. There are some cute shops and lovely cafes around so this is definitely one that you could spend an entire day exploring.
Bibury
One of the most photographed streets in the Cotswolds (maybe even in England) is here. Arlington Row looks like a place lost in time. Used for several films – from Stardust to Bridget Jones’ Diary – you might have to fight entire tour buses for the privilege of walking and photographing this street. When doing so just remember that people actually live here, so try to be respectful. Especially on Sunday mornings when the local residents may yet be asleep! Once you’ve had your fill take a little stroll around the rest of the village. There are many more lovely sites to see.
Stow on the Wold
A larger market town, we stopped here for 1 big reason – to see the famous door to St Edward’s Church. Flanked by 2 ancient yew trees, there is something otherworldly about it. Like walking through the doorway would lead to a magical realm, rather than the inside of a small church! It also apparently inspired the Doors of Durin in the Lord of the Rings. The rest of the town is worth a wander around too, and we found locals to be particularly friendly here (always a plus in my book!). We also had a lovely vegan lunch at this 10th century inn.
The Slaughters
Technically these are 2 villages – so you’re getting a cheeky extra on this list. But Upper and Lower Slaughter are best viewed together, with a short walk in between. The name origin is not as grizzly as it sounds; instead it comes from old English ‘Slohtre’, which means, ‘Muddy place’. This held true for our visit there as some parts were partially flooded! Park in the more popular Lower Slaughter, see the flour mill, and then stretch your legs with a quick walk to Upper Slaughter. There isn’t much here for tourists as such but who cares when the cottages are so damn pretty?
Broadway
Known as the Jewel of the Cotswolds. This is a perfect base for the North Cotswolds, and is absolutely gorgeous. Wander through town admiring the perfectly kept gardens, and unique doorways. There are no less than 4 pubs on the high street, along with a burger spot, several cafes and an excellent sourdough pizza place called Rosi. You can also walk up to Broadway Tower from here – it’s about 1.25 miles each way but fairly steep going! For a truly incredible experience why not stay at the Lygon Arms? This 600 year old hotel has played host to royalty, and celebrity royalty too. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor stayed here in 1963 at the height of their affair. Rooms start from £275 per night.
These are the 6 prettiest villages in the Cotswolds…in my opinion! What’s your favourite village or town in the Cotswolds? For other gorgeous places around the UK, see my UK travel page.
