The Prettiest Cotswolds Villages for Cozy Pubs and Meandering Walks
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Is there a destination more quintessentially English than the Cotswolds? The prettiest Cotswolds villages hold all the essential ingredients we crave from a countryside escape, from rickety bookstores to historic churches and cozy pubs where flat cap-wearing punters (and their dogs) sample local ale beside the fire.
For a car-free weekend from the capital, Broadway is home to one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds and surrounding villages, reachable on a bracing walk. Smaller corners can be navigated in the space of a day, such as Upper and Lower Slaughter, while it’ll take return visits to experience all the tasty spots in towns such as Chipping Campden. Whether you’re seeking a whistlestop tour of these beautiful landscapes or somewhere within reach of an adorable cottage for pub garden sipping and delicious suppers, our guide has you covered.
Asthall
The quaint village and civil parish of Asthall, found in West Oxfordshire, is a quintessentially English countryside hideout. Once a Roman settlement that linked Cirencester with St Albans, the town is best recognized today for its striking 12th-century church. The village also houses Asthall Manor, a Jacobean manor house surrounded by manicured gardens, which hosts occasional open days for tours.
Snowshill
From whichever way you approach Snowshill Manor and Gardens, stop by—or roll slowly through—the charming Cotswolds village. The architect and artist Charles Paget Wade spent years restoring the historic manor as he envisioned it, and it’s now a popular day trip destination thanks to its sense of fun and theater.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
