Itineraries for Your Trip to Cotswolds
1 Day in the Cotswolds for First Timers
The Cotswolds are pretty outstanding—but don’t just take it from me. Officially the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, this nearly 800-square-mile (2,072-square-kilometers) protected region in southwestern England spans five counties, and is famed for its postcard-perfect scenery. From their rolling limestone hills and flocks of sheep to their country pubs and quaint villages (some of which date back to the Domesday Book), the Cotswolds epitomize the timeless charms of the English countryside.
Although you won’t be able to see all of this vast region in one day, you can still enjoy a taste of the qualities that make it special. To help you discover the best of the Cotswolds—plus its lesser-known (but no less worthy) attractions—here’s the perfect one-day itinerary.
If you only have time for one thing, make it visiting Bourton-on-the-Water: Considered one of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages, it’s known as “the Venice of the Cotswolds” thanks to its many bridges overlooking the River Windrush.
The Cotswolds are green for a reason—come prepared for precipitation, no matter what time of year you’re visiting.
Before your day out in the Cotswolds begins, you first have to get there. Luckily, trains run directly from London’sPaddington Station and the Cotswolds in around two hours. Depart early in the morning on a direct train to Cheltenham or Moreton-in-Marsh, and then set off on a private, half-day driving tour of the most scenic spots in the Cotswolds. Admire villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden, and Stow-on-the-Wold, and pause for photo opps in front of thatched-roof cottages and buildings constructed from the region’s famed honey-colored stone. You even have the flexibility to request stops along the way.
Once you’ve stopped for lunch at a country pub or visited a quaint tearoom for tea and scones, it’s time to continue your adventures—and you’ll want to have lined your stomach. At the Cotswolds Distillery —one of the first whisky distilleries in England—you’ll go on a behind-the-scenes tasting tour, admiring the copper stills and learning about the distillation process as you sample from its portfolio. You won’t just burnish your spirits knowledge: You’ll discover why so many artisanal food and drink businesses call this gastronomic region home.
If you thought that the Cotswolds was all idyllic landscapes and too-cute-to-be-true cottages, think again: This ancient region also has its spooky side. Once the sun goes down, discover the Cotswolds at their most macabre on a ghostly tour of one of Gloucester’s oldest and most frightful inns. Wander its dark rooms as you learn about the spirits that may or may not haunt them, and use EMF machines to try and ghost hunt on your own. Finally, once you’ve shaken out the frights, catch a direct evening train back to London from Gloucester.
