20230322_113914Arlington Row in Bibury (March 2023)

If you’re looking for that quaint, fairytale-like countryside, then look no further than the Cotswolds. Situated in southwest-central England, it’s an area of the country that’s home to lush rolling hills, charming cottage villages, and many, many sheep. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to this region every year to visit the villages and to experience a piece of that English cottage-core lifestyle.

Ever since I saw stunning photos of the Cotswolds online, I knew I had to go there. As it’s located in a rural part of England, there are no trains that go directly there, and it’s best to go by car. I had limited time, so I opted to go with a guided tour, which would allow me to see a few of the charming villages– ideally, it’s best to have a few nights in the Cotswolds to really explore the villages and perhaps stay in one of the cottage homes. But as I only had one day to really take it in, a day trip would suffice this visit.

The Cotswolds is considered an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and it stretches across several counties, including Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Geography-wise, it’s known for its Jurassic limestone, which mixed in with the grassland creates the Cotswold stone, used to construct the well-known cottages in the area. There are a couple of dozen villages all throughout, but due to time constraints, I was only able to visit four of them on this trip– but better than nothing!

It was an early day out, and I headed to the meeting point in Kensington. The tour van wasn’t to leave until 8h30, and although I arrived 10 minutes early, I was surprised to find that I was the last to arrive. I clambered onto the van, which was completely full with 15 people (not a seat unoccupied!) and, with our driver-guide, we braved the horrendous London traffic out of the city. Here are the villages we visited:

Burford

20230322_104214St John the Baptist Church in the distance

This village is known as the “Gateway to the Cotswolds,” as it’s one of the first villages you come across upon entering the region. Burford is also one of the larger villages in the Cotswolds, with just over 1300 residents. It took about 90 minutes to reach Burford, and we were allotted an hour to wander town. I took a quick look inside the St John the Baptist Church, strolled up and down the High Street, and enjoyed a sausage roll and coffee at one of the cafés, as I didn’t have breakfast just yet– the sausage roll was heavenly, especially toasted!

Bibury

20230322_114359Arlington Row

I was especially excited to see Bibury, as it’s one of the most-photographed villages in the Cotswolds. It’s especially known for Arlington Row, built way back in the 14th century originally as wool stores– today, they’re homes for the local residents, who I’m sure aren’t happy with the hundreds of visitors who photograph their houses every day! We only had 45 minutes in Bibury, but it was so tiny and frankly, it was just to see Arlington Row– to be honest, it was only four or five cottages and no more than 50 meters long, but hey, I got a photo!

Bourton-on-the-Water

20230322_123314Spring in bloom

Along with Burford, this is one of the larger villages in the Cotswolds at just over 4000 residents. It’s also large enough that we used it as our base for lunch; we had 90 minutes in town, where I had a simple meal in one of the cafés (as well as cream tea) before I strolled along the burbling water. Bourton-on-the-Water is known for its distinctive, low-arched bridges, upon which both pedestrians and vehicles can pass. It was very peaceful despite the afternoon of tourists, and I even saw some gorgeous pink flowers and trees in bloom.

Stow-on-the-Wold

20230322_144342At the market square

Our final stop was at Stow-on-the-Wold, historically a market town for the Normans to unite towns and villages from all over, especially for sheep trade. In fact, there are still “tures,” or narrow alleys which were used to herd sheep for counting one-by-one as they passed through the gap. We had an hour to explore the village, to see the market square and St. Edward’s Church (which apparently have some yew trees that I completely overlooked!). I also strolled the two high streets that make up the village before we returned to the van to head back to London.

My introduction to the Cotswolds was a decent one, albeit rushed. However, I understand with time constraints, we could only visit a few in a day. It would’ve been nice to add another village to visit, and many of us asked if our driver-guide could take us to just one more (sadly, he didn’t). While our driver-guide was pleasant enough, he wasn’t much of a guide in giving much information about the places we went to– if anything, he just drove us around. All the same, I’m glad I got to have a taste of the Cotswolds, so that I know what to see when I return!

Stay tuned for the last of my England series soon. Until then!

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

62 thoughts on “Destination: The Cotswolds, England”

    1. Awesome! The Cotswolds are so bucolic and picturesque. I can assure you there were many visitors about, so I was fortunate not to have them in my photos! 😆

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    1. How lovely! The Cotswolds are the ultimate cottage-core destinations and an inspiration to plenty of books, films, and media that take place there. Thanks for reading, Elle!

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  7. I must say Arlington Row does look very photogenic. No wonder it’s so popular among tourists! Although this trip was very short, but it’s a good teaser of what an English countryside has to offer.

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    1. Absolutely! Bibury is one of the most-picturesque villages in the Cotswolds, and I made sure to see it while in England this time. Gorgeous nature all around…thanks for reading, Bama!

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  9. So quaint but at the same time it requires dedication on the part of the inhabitants to maintain old houses, it would certainly be easier to have modern comforts in recent houses.

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    1. That’s very true! Charming and quaint the cottages are, keeping them up can be a full-time challenge. But I suppose for the beauty and idleness of the countryside, it’s all the more worth it!

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  10. Hi Rebecca. I haven’t commented before but I’ve been enjoying your experiences of exploring England. We are English travellers always exploring new countries, and it’s so interesting to read of an American’s opinions of our own country. I’ve smiled a lot while reading – particularly when you were surprised that English ale isn’t a carbonated drink! That’s so funny because it’s a million miles from that kind of stuff, as you now know! We’ve previously given US visitors to England some tips on where to go, what itineraries to build, particularly for independent travellers so if you return and want help, we can do that! (This is a friendship thing, not something we’re seeking to charge a fee for 😂). London is a wonderful city – we live about an hour away, on the occasions we’re back at home – and we always love it when we read that visitors find it great too. Have enjoyed reading your take on our country – the roles could be reversed soon as we’re currently in Brazil but our next stop is Louisiana in two weeks’ time. Happy travels! Phil & Michaela

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    1. I’ve seen you and your blog on my Feed, and it’s lovely to read your comment! England and the US may have the same common language, but I’ve come to find there are distinct differences between both countries which are fascinating to discover on my travels! I’d love to hear what tips/itineraries you have for England, as I hope to return in the next 2-3 years (hoping to venture more north and check out York/Yorkshire Dales)! Enjoy your time in the US soon; I’ve actually never been to Louisiana, so I’m looking forward to your adventures there! Safe travels 😊

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      1. I think there’s very few connections between the UK and the US, really. But then, US states can be very different from each other.
        We had a fabulous California road trip a couple of years ago (my daughter lives in the mountains above LA) so we are hugely looking forward to the next one. As soon as you start planning your next UK trip, please get in touch, we’d love to give you some tips.

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    1. Same! I even get uncomfortable crossing roads in the UK and other left-side driving countries! 😆 That’s why I let the tour guide take the reins!

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  12. Without a doubt, the Cotswolds is one of the most picturesque places in the UK as it is dotted with thatched cottages, quaint churches and villages that look like they belong in a storybook. I can easily see why people are so eager to visit this part of the country – it is an amazing place to explore for anyone looking for that quintessential English country charm, relaxation, or a chance to discover some of England’s finest gardens. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Absolutely, Aiva! The Cotswolds was a delight and to explore a part of England outside of London was a new, refreshing experience. Lots of bucolic nature and charming villages to see! Thanks for stopping by 😊

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  13. I’m so pleased you got to see something of the Cotswolds even if on a bit of a rushed tour. In my opinion though, this tour took you to too many of the larger villages/towns and missed a lot of pretty smaller ones. Adlestrop, Ashton-under-Wychwood, Upper Slaughter … There are so many! If you come to England again I really recommend an overnight stay 🙂

    I spotted Phil & Michaela above offering to advise you if you come to England again and I’d also very happily throw in some suggestions!

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    1. Thanks, Sarah! The guided day tour was just a taste of the Cotswolds, and I’d love to return to spend more time in the region, especially to see the smaller towns/villages. I’m open to any suggestions from you!

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  15. Another place to visit. Never been to the Cotswolds. haven’t been to Bath either. When returning to England, I often go to the same places. So…..this is a good motivation to put things right! Thanks.

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  17. Love The Cotswolds. I’m always shocked by the tours from London that whip round in a day. Having spent a total of 5 weeks in the Cotswolds over the years I can safely say I’ve not seen it all, and it really needs at least a long weekend to see the main highlights. Some of the villages in the South (Lacock etc), are actually a 1.5hr drive from the best spots in the North. Add on the drive from London and just the travel can take most of the day.
    Your photos are beautiful though and it looks like a lovely introduction 🙂

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    1. I know that the Cotswolds are big with dozens of villages throughout, so my day trip was just a taste of the region. I hope to return and maybe spend a long weekend (or week) taking my time and exploring the smaller towns. Such a lovely place in England!

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  19. I would love to visit some of these or other Cotswolds villages. Day trips are usually packed with activities, not much time for relaxation. Too bad there aren’t decent train lines to this area, it’d be much easier to plan a few days exploring it.

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    1. I agree! Day trips are definitely not the way to go to get a comprehensive experience of a place– sometimes, they barely scratch the surface! There’s also the option to rent a car and drive around the Cotswolds, but as I’m not comfortable driving internationally (lest drive on the left side of the road), I chose a guided tour for convenience. Hope you can go to the Cotswolds some day, Tanja!

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  22. The Cotswolds in a day eh! I think it’s good that you went for it and at least got to sample a tasting platter of the region. Hopefully you’ll be back again someday to explore deeper. I do love that gorgeous snapshot of Arlington Row in Bibury. This is a part of England I have yet to explore myself. Thanks for reminding me to have it on our UK list…

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    1. Thanks, Leighton! Even though I only had a short, packed day in the Cotswolds, it’s a lot better than nothing. If anything, it’s a taster of the region, and I hope to return in the next couple of years to take my time and explore the smaller villages. Hope you can go soon!

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  25. Such a lovely area, the epitome of charming! I was there many years ago when my son and I drove around the UK, can’t remember what town we stayed in, but there was a long curved building that I loved.

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  26. I would love to visit the Cotswolds one day and part of me want to have a tiny cottage like these and live a rural life of baking sourdough bread and tending to my garden ahah! It was great that you could still see four of them in a day, and the number of people for the guided visit seems very reasonable, better than a huge bus full of other visitors! I’m glad you could enjoy it! Thanks for sharing this beautiful destination!

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    1. Thanks, Juliette! Yes, the Cotswolds are so quaint and beautiful– perfect for the ultimate cottage-core life! I’m happy I got to visit a few of the villages in a day, but I hope to return and explore more villages! Hope you can visit some day!

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      1. Indeed! Perhaps after I finish my postgraduate (some time next year). A little awkward to fit things in at the moment, with deadlines always looming over my head haha 😆 juggling f/t work and p/t uni

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