Cotswolds
3
Day Itinerary •
UK
Three days in the Cotswolds reveal the finest collection of honey stone villages, wool churches and ancient market towns in England. The extraordinary Arlington Row at Bibury, the curved High Street of Chipping Campden, the twin Slaughter villages on the Eye stream, the medieval market square of Stow-on-the-Wold and the Broadway Tower viewpoint over sixteen counties are all within a single unhurried drive through the most beautiful rural landscape in Britain. This route explores the north Cotswolds from Bourton-on-the-Water and its extraordinary model village through the perfect wool town of Chipping Campden to the Windrush Valley villages of Bibury and Burford, the hidden Slaughters and the showpiece village of Broadway. Three days that reveal why the Cotswolds is the finest rural destination in England.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Train to Moreton-in-Marsh from Paddington, 1hr 25min
Getting Around
Car essential throughout the Cotswolds
Budget Per Day
Approx 120 to 315 GBP per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, village walks and driving
DAY 1
NORTH COTSWOLDS
MORNING
BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER AND THE HIDDEN VALE OF BOURTON
Bourton-on-the-Water is the most visited village in the Cotswolds, its extraordinary low stone bridges over the River Windrush and its honey-coloured Georgian facades the quintessential image of the region. At 8am before the coaches arrive it is one of the finest villages in England. The model village in the garden of the Old New Inn is an extraordinary recreation of the town itself at 1:9 scale. Entry to model village approx 4 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BOURTON-ON-THE-HILL AND THE FINEST HIDDEN VILLAGE IN THE NORTH COTSWOLDS
Bourton-on-the-Hill is the finest and least visited of the north Cotswold villages, its single steep street of extraordinary honey stone cottages rising to the church with views over the Vale of Moreton below. The adjacent Batsford Arboretum is the finest collection of ornamental trees in the Cotswolds, extraordinary in autumn colour and spring blossom. Entry to arboretum approx 12 pounds. Drive/Travel: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
CHIPPING CAMPDEN, THE MOST PERFECT COTSWOLD MARKET TOWN
Chipping Campden is the finest market town in the Cotswolds, its extraordinary curved High Street of 14th to 17th century wool merchants' houses unchanged for three centuries. The extraordinary Market Hall of 1627 stands in the middle of the road. The Church of St James with its perpendicular tower is the finest wool church in England. The almshouses of Sir Baptist Hicks are extraordinary. Entry to church free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The village of Snowshill, 3 miles from Broadway, is one of the most extraordinary and least visited in the Cotswolds, its extraordinary manor house containing one of the strangest private collections in England: 22,000 objects accumulated over a lifetime by eccentric architect Charles Wade including samurai armour, clocks, bicycles and musical instruments. The village itself has no pub or shop and is entirely unspoiled. National Trust entry approx 14 pounds.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Saye's Bakehouse, Bourton Outstanding sourdough and pastries at the finest bakery in the north Cotswolds. Arrive before 9am. | Lunch: The Churchill Arms, Paxford The finest country pub lunch in the north Cotswolds. Outstanding seasonal menu and local ales. | Dinner: Eight Bells, Chipping Campden The finest inn restaurant in Chipping Campden. Outstanding local lamb and Cotswold beef.
DAY 2
THE WINDRUSH VALLEY
MORNING
BIBURY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN ENGLAND
William Morris called Bibury the most beautiful village in England. The extraordinary Arlington Row, a 14th-century row of weavers' cottages beside Rack Isle water meadow, is the most photographed building in the Cotswolds and one of the finest medieval survivals in Britain. The River Coln running through the village and the extraordinary Bibury Trout Farm give it a setting of quite remarkable beauty. Entry to trout farm approx 3 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BURFORD, THE GATEWAY TO THE COTSWOLDS
Burford is the finest example of a Cotswold wool town, its extraordinary steep High Street descending to the River Windrush lined with 15th to 18th century buildings of honey limestone in extraordinary variety. The Church of St John the Baptist contains extraordinary medieval stonework, a monument to Speaker Lenthall and the marks scratched by Leveller prisoners in 1649. The independent shops of Burford High Street are the finest in the Cotswolds. Entry to church free. Drive/Travel: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER TO BOURTON EVENING WALK
The Windrush Valley Walk between Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water follows the extraordinary River Windrush through water meadows, ancient mills and the extraordinary villages of Windrush, Great Barrington and Little Barrington, returning through the finest valley bottom landscape in the Cotswolds. The 6-mile walk takes 3 hours through extraordinary countryside. The evening light on the water meadows is remarkable. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Sherborne Estate water meadow walk between Sherborne and Windrush, 4 miles south of Burford, is one of the most extraordinary and least visited walks in the Cotswolds, following the Windrush through a valley with no roads or buildings in sight in any direction. The extraordinary medieval barn at Great Barrington and the complete absence of other walkers make it the finest hidden walk in the region. Entirely free to walk via public footpath.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: The Swan Hotel, Bibury Outstanding full English breakfast at the finest hotel in Bibury, beside the River Coln. | Lunch: The Bay Tree, Burford Outstanding Cotswold lunch on Burford High Street. The local trout and seasonal game are extraordinary. | Dinner: The Lamb Inn, Burford The finest inn in the Cotswolds, operating since 1420. Outstanding local food and exceptional wine list.
DAY 3
STOW AND BROADWAY
MORNING
STOW-ON-THE-WOLD AND THE LARGEST MARKET SQUARE IN THE COTSWOLDS
Stow-on-the-Wold at 800 feet is the highest and most windswept Cotswold town, its extraordinary large market square surrounded by fine stone buildings and the extraordinary St Edward's Church whose north door, flanked by ancient yew trees, is believed to have been the inspiration for Tolkien's Doors of Durin in The Lord of the Rings. The antique shops of Stow are the finest in the Cotswolds. Entry to church free. Drive/Travel: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
THE SLAUGHTERS, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY HIDDEN VALLEY IN THE COTSWOLDS
Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter, connected by the Eye stream, are the two finest unspoiled villages in the Cotswolds. Lower Slaughter with its extraordinary Victorian corn mill on the Eye and its Georgian manor is the most photographed. Upper Slaughter, virtually unknown, has an extraordinary church with a Norman doorway and a village of complete perfection. The 2-mile walk between them along the stream is extraordinary. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BROADWAY, THE SHOW VILLAGE OF THE COTSWOLDS
Broadway is the most famous village in the Cotswolds outside Bourton, its extraordinary wide High Street of honey stone buildings drawing visitors from across the world. The Broadway Tower on the escarpment above, a folly built in 1799 by the Earl of Coventry, gives a 360-degree view over 16 counties on clear days and is the finest viewpoint in the region. Entry to tower approx 8 pounds. The walk up from the village takes 40 minutes.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ford and Cutsdean villages in the hills above the Vale of Evesham, 4 miles northwest of Bourton-on-the-Hill, are among the least visited in the entire Cotswolds, a cluster of extraordinary farms and cottages in a hidden valley of complete perfection. The racehorse training stables at Ford exercise strings of thoroughbreds across the valley lanes at dawn. The walk between Ford, Cutsdean and Temple Guiting along the Wardens Way is extraordinary. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Huffkins, Stow-on-the-Wold The finest tearoom in the Cotswolds. Outstanding pastries, crumpets and proper English breakfast. | Lunch: The Slaughters Manor House Outstanding country house lunch in the finest setting in the Cotswolds. Book ahead. | Dinner: The Lygon Arms, Broadway One of the finest old coaching inns in England. Outstanding Cotswold lamb and local game.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
North Cotswolds, All Nights Base in Chipping Campden or Moreton-in-Marsh. The Lygon Arms or Dormy House. Approx 120 to 300 GBP. Mid-range The Noel Arms, Chipping Campden or The Redesdale Arms, Moreton. Approx 90 to 160 GBP. Budget Option The Volunteer Inn, Chipping Campden. B&B from approx 70 to 100 GBP per night.
Top Tips
1. Bourton-on-the-Water at 8am before coaches: the most beautiful version of the most visited Cotswold village.
2. Bibury Arlington Row: best photographed in morning light from the opposite bank of the Coln. Free to view.
3. Book The Lamb Inn in Burford weeks ahead. The finest Cotswold inn and one of the best pubs in England.
4. Snowshill Manor National Trust: arrive at opening. The collection is extraordinary and the queues grow fast.
5. The Slaughters are finest on weekday mornings. Avoid weekends in summer when coach parties arrive.
6. Broadway Tower walk: 40 minutes up from the village. The view over 16 counties on a clear day is extraordinary.
Total Budget
120 to 310 GBP/day