Destinations

The Prettiest Cotswolds Villages for Cozy Pubs and Meandering Walks

Cozy pubs, incredible hotels, and lots of historic churches and manor houses await.
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For a car-free weekend, Broadway is well-networked with pubs, restaurants, and attractions along local walking trails.

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Broadway

The beautiful Worcestershire village of Broadway is a perfect option for car-free escapes. It’s larger than many surrounding towns and there are enough pubs, restaurants, and attractions to check out between tackling local walking routes. Embrace the slower pace of life for longer with a stay at The Lygon Arms, home to regal suites, a restaurant serving dishes designed by James Martin, and a sumptuous spa and indoor swimming pool.

Bourton-on-the-Water is dubbed by locals as the, “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its abundance of stone bridges crisscrossing the River Windrush.

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Bourton-on-the-Water

Affectionately called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” by chirpy locals, many curious visitors visit the Gloucestershire village of Bourton-on-the-Water to admire the numerous stone bridges that climb over the River Windrush. The local churches are a must-see for history buffs, with evidence of a Christian presence in the area dating back to the 8th century, while the walking and cycling routes are a great way to see all the local sights on a sunny day. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels in the area, should you wish to make a weekend of it.

The Slaughters Country Inn serves a filling pub lunch.

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Lower Slaughter

Honey-hued houses built from Cotswolds stone, a sprawling historic manor house and a church dating to the 13th century—Lower Slaughter has all the ingredients you’d expect from one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. Roam the peaceful graveyard and gardens of St Mary’s church before a pub lunch (or a sleepover) at The Slaughters Country Inn.

Upper Slaughter, just 15 minutes away from Lower Slaughter, can be reached via walking along Warden's Way.

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Upper Slaughter

Similarly to its sister town just five minutes away, you’ll find a characterful church and cemetery and a place to feast and sleep in Upper Slaughter. Tick off both villages in one afternoon by walking along Warden's Way, or top up the step count and head toward Bourton-on-the-Water, just 40 minutes away on foot.

Painswick, a village known for its Rococo Garden and local brews, is best enjoyed during the spring and summer.

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Painswick

Sample local ciders and ales in The Oak, swing by Rupert Aker’s gallery to see his latest impressionist works, and stroll around Painswick Rococo Garden—all the more beautiful through spring and summer. Enjoy a charming weekend break at The Painswick, gazing out at bucolic valley views from each of the 17 unique bedrooms and feasting on Jamie McCallum’s dishes in the restaurant.

Burford sits conveniently between Oxford and Cheltenham.

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Burford

Burford, a quaint countryside town between Oxford and Cheltenham, offers much more than a stop-off between the larger cities. Once a medieval hub thanks to its wool trade, past residents have left their mark in enchanting 15th-century properties, not forgetting Burford Abbey, built on the remnants of a 13th-century Augustinian hospital. Best of all, Burford is home to one of our favorite places to stay in the Cotswolds, The Lamb Inn.

Castle Combe is peppered with 13th -century landmarks.

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Castle Combe

13th-century attractions show how enduring Castle Combe’s charm is, and, beside the market cross, it’s easy to imagine stallholders selling their fare on a sunny medieval day. On a 21st-century summer’s day, you’re more likely to stumble across smart staycationers walking off big breakfasts from The Castle Inn before embarking on some of the region’s prettiest walks, stocked up with treats from a local café.

The entrance of local St Edward's church is hugged by two sturdy tree trunks.

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Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is one of the larger towns in this region, and it’s easy to lose an afternoon admiring the historic architecture and feasting in local eateries. The entrance to St Edward's Church is particularly enchanting, a creaky wooden door framed by climbing tree trunks.

The best thing to order at the Blockley Café is a classic English breakfast.

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Blockley

Embrace the slower pace of life in Blockley over a long weekend with friends in a holiday home or boutique hotel. Fill up on a full English breakfast at Blockley Café before making room for cider-sipping in one of the local pubs with a walk around the area via the village hall and St Peter's and St Paul's Church.

Make sure to save room for cake at The Bantam Tea Rooms in Chipping Campden.

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Chipping Campden

Bookshops, dog boutiques, and rickety stores filled with antique gems—there are many reasons lovers of this English region keep coming back. Sip steaming coffees and munch on freshly baked treats from Bromley's of Cotswolds, make time for cake at The Bantam Tea Rooms, and raise a pint of ale to one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds at The Red Lion Tavern.

Kingham is an easy day trip for savvy Londoners looking for a happy medium between big city hustle and bustle and a total countryside retreat.

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Kingham

Kingham is the most cosmopolitan of the prettiest Cotswolds villages, where in-the-know Londoners decamp to when they need a break from the city. Nearby is Daylesford, the game-changing organic farm shop and spa, and the very smart Wild Rabbit (pictured), owned by the Bamford family and one of the best restaurants in the Cotswolds.

Almost all of Stanton is built from local Jurassic limestone.

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Stanton

At the foot of the Cotswolds escarpment (basically a steep hill), Gloucestershire’s Stanton is built almost completely out of golden-tinged Jurassic limestone, or Cotswold stone. The handsome village has retained a sense of authenticity, lacking the tea rooms and cute shops that dominate others. Stay nearby and you’ll be within easy reach of Snowshill Manor and Garden, one of the prettiest National Trust buildings in the county.

A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller.