Lady’s 11 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cotswolds

There are few places that get me excited to travel in England like the Cotswolds. The pretty villages, rolling countryside, and idyllic scenery make this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty one of the most beautiful parts of Britain. If you want to explore, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the best places to visit in the Cotswolds.

Places to Visit in the Cotswolds

There’s no shortage of amazing spots to discover in this part of the UK. From towns and villages to gardens and houses, there’s a lot on offer.

But today I want to share some of my favorite places with you. I’ve visited all of them and can recommend them from personal experience. I hope they inspire you to get out and discover the Cotswolds.

1. Arlington Row

Arlington Row is probably the most photographed street in the Cotswolds. Sitting in front of the River Coln, this lane in Bibury is a fairy tale come to life.

Arlington Row is lined with 17th-century weavers’ cottages that are responsible for its historic atmosphere. They’re what make it one of the most beautiful places in the Cotswolds.

If you want to photograph the street without the crowds, make sure to arrive early, late, or in the dead of winter.

2. Painswick

Painswick is my favorite Cotswolds village, and it’s one of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds for picture-pretty ambiance.

Stone buildings, a churchyard full of larger-than-life topiary trees, and my favorite hotels in the Cotstwolds all make this place a winner.

Painswick is also home to the Painswick Rococo Garden. This 18th-century outdoor space was created by Benjamin Hyett in the 1740s. Today it’s the only complete surviving Rococo garden in the United Kingdom.

3. Hidcote Manor Garden

Speaking of gardens, Hidcote Manor Garden is a unique Arts and Crafts Movement garden with a series of “rooms” filled with flowers, topiary hedges, and other features.

The garden is the creation of an American horticulturist named Lawrence Johnston. He collected flowering plants and curling climbers on his travels to places like South Africa and China.

Hidcote Manor Garden is perfect for a wander in the warmer months, when all of Britain is in bloom. I went once during a spring weekend in the area, and it was one of my favorite places to visit in the Cotswolds.

4. Cirencester, Capital of the Cotswolds

Cirencester is one of the largest towns in the Cotswolds and is often referred to as the Capital of the Cotswolds. Founded in Roman times, its rich history lends the town a unique charm.

The Market Place and Church of St John the Baptist dominate the town center, and narrow lanes like Black Jack Street have lots of restaurants and pubs.

The expansive grounds of Cirencester Park are worth exploring if you like green space, too. They make the town one of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds for getting the best of all worlds.

5. Castle Combe

Situated in Wiltshire in the southern Cotswolds, Castle Combe is arguably the prettiest village in the Cotswolds. This place has a chocolate-box high street, scenic side streets, and shops with quaint signs above their doors.

A bridge spans an idyllic river, flowers decorate windows, and Castle Combe has pretty much everything I look for in a quintessential English village.

Given this is one of the most beautiful places in the Cotswolds, it’s a good idea to get here early if you want to photograph Castle Combe before the masses descend.

6. Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds

If you’re on the hunt for something unique, Broadway Tower is one of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds. This structure is a romantic 18th-century folly on a hill overlooking the countryside.

The second-highest point in the Cotswolds, the tower has sweeping views across the area. Inside, it hosts exhibits on past residents and guests like William Morris.

If you like walking, you can also walk from Broadway Tower to the nearby town of Broadway. It’s a good way to get some exercise and see the Cotswolds at the same time.

7. Owlpen Manor

A lesser-known Cotswolds gem, Owlpen Manor is an impressive Tudor house nestled in a valley down an unassuming dirt road. I was lucky enough to take a private tour of it with the owner once, and it was one of my favorite places to visit in the Cotswolds.

Terraced gardens full of topiary yews and box parterres frame Owlpen Manor’s facade from the outside, and the interior reveals a Tudor hall with a massive fireplace and a chamber with 18th-century painted cloth wall hangings.

The house was once owned by Norman Jewson, an Arts and Crafts Movement architect-craftsman who lovingly restored Owlpen Manor to its current glory. Today visitors can see the house on special tours.

8. Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Another of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This family-run spot surrounding a big country house is bordered by steep hills blanketed in flowering plants and trees.

Kiftsgate Court Gardens feature walkways leading to hedge-lined ponds, water features overlooking the idyllic Cotswolds countryside, and sunken gardens with flowing fountains. Small and intimate, these gardens are haven of peace.

9. Bath

On the outskirts of the Cotswolds, Bath is one of the prettiest cities in England. Its golden stone buildings, Georgian architecture, and Roman Baths lure visitors from all over the world.

Bath is also great for shopping, dining, and channeling your inner Jane Austen heroine in the famous Pump Room restaurant. There are a lot of fun independent shops and restaurants in the city, too, so it’s a good place to spend a bit of extra time.

It’s easy to visit Bath and the Cotswolds in one trip if you want to see both places.

10. Westonbirt Arboretum

One of my favorite places to visit in the Cotswolds is Westonbirt Arboretum. This is one of the best places to see autumn leaves in England, and it’s a great place to get outdoors at any time of year.

Westonbirt Arboretum has extensive walking paths through the trees, making it easy to spend hours connecting with the natural world. There’s a cafe if you need a rest, too.

11. Cheltenham

Often considered the cultural capital of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is a regency spa town on the outskirts of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is home to heritage buildings, museums, shops, and restaurants.

It also hosts the annual Cheltenham Literature Festival. The 10-day event is the longest-running literature festival in the world. It celebrates all things reading, writing, and storytelling.

Cheltenham is known for horse racing, too. It’s a great place to visit if you want to spend a day at the races. I went once when I first moved to London and I had a great time.

Best Places to Visit in the Cotswolds

I hope this list has given you some good ideas for places to visit in the Cotswolds. There are still a lot of areas I’ve yet to discover, so I’ll make sure to tell you about any new ones I explore in the future.

In the meantime, you can see these places and more on my Cotswolds map, my map of Cotswold villages, and my Cotswolds itineraries.

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