Best Cotswold Villages

The are renowned for the English wool trade as they supplied over half of the country’s output of wool from the Cotswold sheep that dwelled on the rolling hills of surrounding countryside. Since the Industrial Revolution when the cloth trade moved North, the wool trade in the area declined but The Cotswolds remained idyllic and peaceful.

The area of The Cotswolds spreads over 790 square miles including parts of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire to name just a few of the counties. Cotswold villages are lie amongst the rolling hills, where wild woodland meets the outskirts of pretty Cotswold market towns. Cotswold villages are typically renowned for being a fascinating blend of pretty Cotswold stone cottages, lush village greens, winding rivers and streams, and content village life. The classic Cotswold village is peaceful and quiet, with pretty clusters of cottages made from honey- coloured local limestone known as Cotswold stone. Thatched roofs and rambling roses that trail around the front of cottages are typical in the summer and in the winter the wonderful smell of log burners and open fires fills the countryside air.

Lower Slaughter

The picture-perfect village of is hidden between the lanes of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-Water. This pretty village sits perfectly next to the Eye stream, giving a beautiful and unspoilt backdrop to a charming Cotswold village. There’s a converted mill that has a café and gift shop selling craft products, situated next to two small bridges that cross the river. When you visit the village, it’s no wonder to people that Copse Hill Road was named in a poll for Google Street View as the most romantic street in Britain. Lower Slaughter Manor and The Slaughters Inn are renowned for being some of the most picturesque places to stay in The Cotswolds, giving you pure luxury and beautiful views of the area.

The Village of Bourton-on-the Water

This is a typical bustling Cotswold village with masses of shops, restaurants and cafes, catering well for Cotswold tourism with plenty to do. Bourton is often referred to as the ‘Venice of The Cotswolds’, the centre of Bourton village thrives around the beautiful . The amazing Model Village is an interesting place to visit, taking you on a journey by foot through mini Cotswold streets and houses that are built to stand waist height, making you feel like a giant. Bourton-on-the-Water is also home to the Cotswold Motor Museum, giving you a wonderful selection of vintage cars and classic cars, motorcycles and caravans for the eager motorist. The village also has a great family attraction called Birdland Park, where you can see over 500 birds including flamingos, peacocks, penguins and pelicans.

Guiting Power

This picture-perfect village is listed in the Domesday Book and it lies on a small river that meets with the River Windrush. Guiting Power was designed and built by Cotswold masons, providing a beautifully styled village that perches on a slope made up of shops, cottages and inns. Near to Guiting Power is the Cotswold Farm Park, owned by TV celebrity Adam Henson. At the farm park, you can wander around the farm and see the sheep, pigs and many farmyard animals that roam the beautiful hills of The Cotswolds. It’s neighbouring village ‘Temple Guiting’ gained the ‘Temple’ prefix in the 12th Century when the manor was under the ownership by The Knights Templar. The stone war memorial in the village is a central focal point in the form of a medieval stone cross. The area is popular for walkers and ramblers who love to explore the Cotswold countryside, admiring views and woodland before they make their way back to one of the cosy village inns for a drink.

Book a Daytrip on The Secret Cottage Tour

If you want to escape busy tourism and see the hidden secrets of the beautiful Cotswolds, then book a daytrip with the Secret Cottage Tour. The Secret Cottage is our home, a pretty thatched cottage that is hidden away from the lanes of our village. We provide a tour of the Cotswolds in our luxury minibus, to include a tour of the Secret cottage, accompanied by some wonderful home cooking. We stop at the cottage in the morning for a hot drink and pastry, then return for a delicious homemade buffet lunch and in the afternoon, we give you a traditional Cotswold cream tea. The Secret Cottage tour will take you to all the amazing places in The Cotswolds, giving you fond memories of true English countryside at its finest. When the tour comes to an end, you will be taken back to the train station so that you are back in London for dinner! For the perfect Cotswold daytrip, book with us now.