Heading to the Cotswolds and wondering what the best villages are? Whether you have been before or just want to explore this beautiful part of the country, this article will help you.
The Cotswolds are one of the most beautiful places in Britain. It’s the ultimate countryside and picturesque destination that both locals and tourists love.
There are many things to do in the Cotswolds but the number 1 activity is to visit the cute fairytale villages.
In this article, you will find the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds as well as some tips to visit them.
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1. Castle Combe
Located near Chippenham, Castle Combe is the most famous village in the Cotswolds and the ultimate fairytale village in England.
Walking around Castle Combe definitely feels like being transported to another world. It’s incredibly cute and picturesque.
It was also used many times as a filming location for movies such as Doctor Dolittle or Star Dust.
Water Lane and the bridge over the Bybrook stream are the most beautiful spots and particularly popular to take photos.
2. Bibury
Bibury is also an incredibly picturesque village to explore. It’s quite small but you can spend quite a bit of time here since there are a lot of walking opportunities.
The most noticeable place is Arlington Row which features a stunning row of houses dating from the 14th century. It is owned and managed by the National Trust and is an excellent photo spot.
It can get quite busy though so it’s better to get there early.
3. Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water is the perfect village to visit during the summer. While it can get quite busy at that time of the year, it is when it’s the most beautiful.
It is a lot bigger than Castle Combe or Bibury and you’ll find loads of shops, cafes and ice cream parlours.
It’s very pleasant to walk around the village but the best thing to do is to walk along the stream. If you are visiting on a hot day, you can even walk in the stream since it’s very shallow.
It’s also home to the Model Village and the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection which are both popular attractions.
4. Lower Slaughter
Lower Slaughter is a lot less famous compared to the other villages mentioned but it’s just as beautiful and I can’t recommend it more.
It’s very small but since it’s not very busy, it makes it even prettier!
There is a small stream running through the village and beautiful stone houses.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is a walking path going from Lower Slaughter to Bourton-on-the-Water and you can stop at Hawkstone brewery on the way.
💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Hawkstone is Jeremy Clarkson’s brewery. It was featured several times in the show ‘Clarkson’s Farm’.
5. Stow-on-the-Wold
Technically, Stow-on-the-Wold is a town and not a village but it’s such a pretty place and since there are more shops, it’s worth mentioning as you might want to stop there.
It’s an old market town with a cute square and church and loads of local shops. If you’d like to bring back some unique and local souvenirs, it’s a good place to buy them.
Map of the cutest villages in the Cotswolds
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you’d like to discover more beautiful places in the UK, don’t hesitate to check out my other articles.
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