Visiting the Cotswolds: Gloucestershire
There are so many wonderful things to do in the Cotswolds in and near Gloucestershire. Set out below are some of my favourite towns and villages to visit. I also have a separate post of things to do in the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire here.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a lovely market town and civil parish on top of an 800-foot hill and one of the more well known Cotswolds towns. It has a typical Cotswolds town feel with gorgeous houses, cobbled streets, a market square and independent shops.
St Edward’s Church is a medieval-built Church of England parish church in Stow on the Wold which features Lord of the Rings esque tress and doorways.
There are many pubs to have a cheeky vino and beer and people watch including England’s oldest inn, The Porch House. Lucy’s Tearoom is a great spot to have afternoon tea or a lighter lunch.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most popular tourist stops in the Cotswolds and regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England. The bridges over the River Windrush turn this village into a beautiful postcard.
Given its popularity it gets busy so make sure you get there early. There are a few pubs and tearooms to have a break from walking around including The Old Manse, The Old New Inn, Kingsbridge and Bakery on the Water. We didn’t have time to visit but there is also a miniature Bourton-on-the-Water model village.
Bibury
Similarly to Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury is a very popular Cotswold market town with large tours descending. Situated on the River Coln, 9 miles from Burford, Bibury must be on your list of things to do in the Cotswolds.
The village was actually once described by William Morris (famous artist and designer) as ‘the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds’ and I can see why!
One of Bibury’s main tourist spots overlooking the river is Arlington Row, a group of ancient cottages with steeply pitched roofs dating back to the 16th Century. Henry Ford (founder of the Ford cars) loved Arlington Row and tried to buy the entire row of houses to ship back to the US! He was unsuccessful and it is has since become one of the most photographed parts of the UK.
If you are into your fishing, they have Bibury Trout Farm and restaurant where you can catch your own trout. The farm is also surrounded by beautiful gardens.
We stopped off at The Swan Hotel and Inn for a drink in the sun. The hotel has a large outside area for eating and drinking as well as plenty of space inside.
Broadway Tower
Disclaimer: Broadway is actually in Worcestershire!
Broadway Tower & Park is a family-owned 50-acre estate of parkland. The 65ft tower was built by designer ‘Capability Brown’ and is the second highest point in the Cotswolds. It is believed that Broadway Tower was built so that the Countess of Coventry could see if her Cotswold estate was visible from Croome Court in Worcestershire!
There are different admission tickets for the grounds and the rooftop tower from £5. From the top, there are such amazing views of the countryside. There is also a nuclear bunker which is open at certain times of the year for visitors.
Broadway Village
You can walk to the village from Broadway Tower but driving is easier and quicker. The village is one long strip of beautiful houses and independent shops and cafes and is one of my favourites in the Cotswolds.
We had lunch at Tisanes Tea Rooms which had a lovely outdoor area to enjoy sandwiches and cakes.
Painswick
Painswick is a historic wool town, sitting high near Stroud and is known as ‘The Queen of the Cotswolds’. It is a great base for walks in the countryside and Painswick Beacon has wonderful views across the Severn Valley to the Welsh mountains.
We parked near St Mary’s Painswick Church which is famous for its 99 Yew Trees (dating back to the 18th century), which stand in the large churchyard. I have read that the legend says that the 100th tree will never grow but who knows!
We stopped off at the lovely The Royal Oak Inn for a glass of wine in their garden area and the food looked good too.
Painswick Rocco Gardens
After a little tipple, we walked from the town to the Painswick Rocco Gardens which took around 20 minutes. Rococo describes a period of art fashionable in Europe in the 1700s, identifiable particularly in furniture and architecture. Some of the key features include highly ornamental decoration, the use of pastel colours and asymmetry.
Painswick’s Rococo Garden was designed for the Hyett family, who bought and expanded Painswick House in the 1730s. It was used as a symbol to impress the wealthy! Now it is a registered charity and admission (£10.50) goes towards maintaining the garden.
We spent just over an hour exploring the gardens on a bright sunny day, although you could easily spend longer. The garden entrance starts off at a height before weaving its way down to the sculptures, forest, walkways, mazes and rococo inspired buildings.
Near Painswick is the The Black Horse Inn in Amberley. The pub is 400 years old and is perched on the edge of Minchinhampton Common. It was an absolute GEM of a find. There is no car park but you can just swing your car into a space on the country roads.
The Black Horse has a small outside area at the front but you have to dine outside in the terraced garden at the back with amazing views across the valleys. For the rainy days, there is a conservatory and cosy indoor seating. They serve traditional British pub food with locally sourced ingredients. We tucked into the Gloucester Old Spot Sausage & Onion baguette topped with tangy onion marmalade and fries and a Roast Pork and Apple Sausage baguettes with fries.
Circenseter
Circenster is one of the largest Cotswolds towns but still worth a visit. For a leisurely stroll, Circenster Park is a perfect way to spend the afternoon. You can park near the entrance and wander for miles down the stretch.
The town still has many independent stores but, given its size, is also home to chain shops. The Parish Church of St John Baptist stands high in the market square and is worth a visit. There are also smaller parks around the town to explore and grab an ice cream on a sunny day!
We stopped off at The Crown for a cheeky beverage (or two) and sat in their large back garden.
Fairford
Fairford is situated around a 15 minute drive from Circenster surrounded by the River Coln. It used to be an important coaching town on the old London to Gloucester route.
The town is fairly compact and was very quiet on the weekend we visited. If you have time, you can walk along the country roads via the bridges and river. You can visit St Mary’s, Fairford’s parish church, which has 28 medieval stained glass windows!
We recommend grabbing a bite from Lynwood and Co cafe and a drink in the sun in The Bull Hotel’s garden.
Lechlade on Thames
Lechlade is only 10 minutes east of Fairford and is a lovely historic small town on the River Thames. It has a market square, many independent shops and restaurants and is home to the gorgeous Halfpenny bridge. As soon as we parked up, I found the house I want to live in (!):
We had lunch at The New Inn Hotel which has limited outdoor space but lots of indoor seating. We tucked into a huge portion of Double Cheese Nachos with Jalapeno peppers, Sour Cream, Tomato Salsa, Guacamole and Beef Chilli . It was a decent place for reasonably priced pub grub.
After lunch we walked to The Riverside Pub for a drink overlooking the River Thames. It was a great place for people watching!
Castle Combe
Castle Combe, tucked away in the Cotswolds (in Wiltshire, south of Gloucestershire), is often described as England’s prettiest village and it’s easy to see why. With its honey-coloured stone cottages, narrow lanes, and peaceful atmosphere, it’s a gorgeous place.
The village is small, with just a couple of pubs and charming tea rooms offering a quiet place to relax. Cars aren’t allowed in the centre, so visitors must park outside and enjoy a pleasant 10-minute walk into the village.
East London Girl: Things to do in the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire)
Click here for where to stay in the Cotswolds
No Comments