The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a region of stone villages that has changed little in four centuries, in a superb natural landscape characterized by green rolling hills dotted with sheep. Wool wealth from the medieval period funded the building of honey-colored limestone manor houses, workmen cottages, and grand parish churches that still anchor town centers today.

These villages have grown with the times and offer many delights to the visitor, including restaurants, hotels, shops offering local products, and an overall peaceful atmosphere. This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covering nearly 800 square miles of west-central England, stretching across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Below are the towns and villages we cover in detail. Each links to its own page with photos, videos, walking routes and visitor information.

Bath

Bibury

Bourton-on-the-Water

Broadway

Burford

Castle Combe

Cheltenham

Chipping Campden

Lacock

Lower Slaughter

Malmesbury

Moreton-in-Marsh

Snowshill

Stanton

Stow-on-the-Wold

Tetbury

Map of Cotswolds villages

These are some of the finest and most enjoyable places to visit in the Cotswolds, but there are additional villages worth considering. Have a look at our tour page, which has information about other towns, travel tips, and links to recommended tour companies.