top of page

Cotswolds Villages

Lucy & Richard from Cotswolds Guided Tours just love showing guests around on their small, mixed group Cotswold tours or their private Cotswolds Tours. For those wishing to find out a little more about this wonderful region they have created this Cotswolds travel guide, which we hope you will find useful.

 

The Cotswolds is known for its picture perfect cottages, in stunning hillside or valley locations. From sleepy hidden villages that seem untouched by the passage of time, to bustling locations that are on everyone's 'bucket list' our aim to celebrate & share these wonderful locations with you. Villages in England where often built around the 'village green' an open grassland space known as 'common land' where the working class person could graze there small flock of sheep, clucking chickens or if they were lucky their milking cow. In the north of the region you will notice that the cottages are built from the darker lime stone or even in some villages iron stone, which has a warm orange hue. The further south you travel in the region the lighter the stone becomes, often pale cream to grey in appearance. Where ever you are in the region, you will notice as the sun begins to set, the cottages seem to glow in their glory & provide a warm welcome to visitors & locals.

Some villages are characterised by thatched cottages, although these are few & far between, more often you will see the welsh slate roofs or Cotswold stone quarry tiles. 

Wander through peaceful villages, with mellow stone cottages, all set in stunning Cotswolds countryside....

This is England

Welcome to Cotswolds Guided Tours, providing visitors with the perfect way to explore the picturesque beauty of the Cotswolds. My name is Lucy, and together with my husband Richard, we offer guided tours of some of the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds. We love exploring the area and want to share our favorite places with you. Our tours are tailored to your needs and interests, and we provide all the information and advice you need to make the most of your stay in the Cotswolds. Click on any of the locations mentioned for more information and to plan the perfect holiday

Naturally there are some famous villages, that many of you may have heard of on Social Media or in your handy guide book. These include Bibury, Lower Slaughter and Snowshill. Bibury was described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England. Lower Slaughter is located just outside of Bourton on the Water, said to be one of the romantic streets in Britain. Snowshill was made famous by the Bridget Jones's Diary movie. These are all picture perfect locations & definitely ones that should be added to your bucket list.

If you have visited the Cotswolds before, or perhaps want to explore some hidden gems then there are plenty of these just outside of the famous market towns. We have selected some of our favourites in the North Cotswolds, but this isn't an exhaustive list.

Consider walking in Jane Austen's footsteps with a visit to Adlestrop. If you love the tv show Father Brown, then take some time to visit Blockley, there is a gorgeous little café there too! Just on the outskirts of bustling Chipping Campden you can walk through the fields to Broad Campden a peaceful neighbour, with a little village pub. Stow on the Wold is surrounded by beautiful villages including Broadwell & Daylesford. If thatched cottages are your thing then don't miss Great Tew & Stanton. Lastly if you have based yourself in Bourton on the Water & are looking for a tranquil spot, we can highly recommend Upper Slaughter & Notgrove. These hidden gems help provide a glimpse of local life in the Cotswolds, away from the main tourist trails. 

The Cotswolds is an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' the region is filled with pretty villages but there is also lots of outside space to enjoy. Take Dover's Hill, just outside of Chipping Campden if you are looking for the perfect spot for a picnic or a place to walk the dog, this is ideal & has fabulous views....Talking of great views then you mustn't miss Broadway Tower, on a fine day you can see for miles & we just love the fairy-tale look of this little folly. If you are fans of the National Trust then a visit to Hidcote Manor, next to Hidcote Batrim village is wonderful to while away a couple of hours. Or stop by Chastleton House, a Jacobean Manor untouched by the passage of time. Or perhaps you would like to try your hand at falconry, watch birds of prey in flying display or wander through Batsford arboretum on the outskirts of Moreton in Marsh. Lastly as Richard (& I have a love for shire horses) then you could pop over the border into Oxfordshire & visit Hook Norton Brewery, who still deliver some of their famous ales by horse and cart to the pubs in the village. Did you know the Cotswolds has it's own stone circle, called Rollright Stones, which is believed to predate Stonehenge! We just love taking guests to the stones to try 'dowsing', using divining rods to search for leylines. Now if you are looking for a quirky place for a coffee, we would highly recommend Northleach Old Prison...never feel the inmates have long since left, they also do a wonderful breakfast!

​

We just love living in the Cotswolds & sharing the region with our private tour guests. If you are not sure which tour is right for you then we hope you enjoy reading a little more about the locations we visit....but remember it is always easier to ask a local, so do not hesitate to contact us if we can help!

Find more great places to go with Cotswolds Guided Tours 

bottom of page