Most people have heard of The Cotswolds, it's widely regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom. So we wanted to help use our expertise to share with you some of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds so you can plan out your stay. The Cotswolds covers parts of the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset. With endless rolling hills and picturesque villages full of fabulous independent stores. Here we outline our favourite spots to visit and the best things to do in the Cotswolds. Whilst you're here, if you are coming to visit the Cotswolds you will need a base, we have a collection of exceptional properties available to let, click here for more information on that.
1. Number 1 On Our Best Places To Visit In The Cotswolds, The Cotswold Way Walk
The Cotswold Way is a trail walk that starts the pictueresque Chipping Campden and meanders down for 100 miles ending in Bath. It's a perfect walk for all ability levels and is especially popular for walkers bringing along their four legged friends!
You could cover the whole walk in a few days or just walk certain stretches on weekends, there is no shortage of epic views, lovely places to eat and things to do. The official guide breaks the route into 15 sections, which include the six-mile path from Chipping Campden to Broadway, at the beginning of the Cotswolds Way, and the nine-mile route from Birdlip to Painswick, which passes through beech woodlands, through Copper’s Hill and Painswick’s Rococo Garden.
It's a really enjoyable walk and is a great way to see the Cotswolds in all its natural beauty.
2. Visit Some Of The Pretty Villages
The Cotswolds are renowned for having some of the most spectular villages in the United Kingdom that attract thousands of visitors every year. Traditional buildings carved from Cotswold Stone, surrounding rivers and centuries-old town squares. Hopping between the villages is one of the best ways to spend your weekend in The Cotswolds, visiting the plethora of independent stores, delicious eateries and collection of fantastic pubs that are on offer.
Whilst there are numerous villages you can visit, some of our favourite ones to make sure you see are Bibury (pictured above), Bourton on the Water, Broadway, Painswick, Castle Combe and Cirencester. If you are looking for a base that is within a reasonable distance of these villages, you can have a look at the properties we have available to stay in at Crucis Park Estate.
3. Explore The Country Manors
The Cotswold isn't just limited to picturesque villages, it's also home to some stunning country manors that are well worth visiting. Berkeley Castle is a great day out near the town of Gloucester, with beautiful gardens whilst the castle itself is home to the Berkeley family. It's their ancient fortress home where they have lived since their ancestor, Robert Fitzharding, completed the Keep in the late 12th Century and so is full of interesting history.
Stanway House is another spot well worth visiting, Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Stanway is an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house famous for its 300 feet single-jet fountain, the highest in Britain and the highest gravity fountain in the world. The house, its fascinating furniture, the jewel-like Gatehouse, the church and 14th-century Tithe Barn, the 18th-century water-garden, the specimen trees and avenues, the surrounding villages, farms, parkland and woodland all subtly combine to create an enclave of very English and almost magical harmony.
The real showstopper however is the stunning Blenheim Palace which is renowned globally and marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Blenheim Palace is the only non-royal country house in England to have the title of palace which was the birthplace and home of Winston Churchill.
4. Relax & Treat Yourself To An Exceptional Spa
The Cotswolds is home to some of the best spa retreats in the country and so is the perfect getaway if you want to come and relax. At Thyme, a village-like hotel, the Meadow Spa has a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool and a curated list of probiotic treatments in partnership with Aurelia London. Calcot Spa, meanwhile, offers Elemis facials, massages and reflexology.
Dormy House Spa is another fantastic Spa that you can check out that is well known for its fantastic spa days. So there is plenty of choice (there are other spas in the area as well) of spots to go and relax whilst you are visiting The Cotswolds.
5. Crucis Park Estate
We've included our own estate on this list and for good reason! As we all know, the Great British weather can't always be relied upon even in the summer, so making sure you are staying somewhere that will actually make you think twice about wanting to leave is important. Crucis Park Estate is set in beautiful grounds just outside the village of Ampney Crucis.
We have a collection of properties available for let that are the perfect Cotswolds base for any of the activities listed above, but also as a serene space to relax in its own right. With a fantastic mixture of traditional Cotswold architecture and a modern twist, our properties offer all of the amenities you would want with a luxury finish. All of our properties are family friendly and dog friendly so even if it's raining outside, you will feel right at home looking out into the beautiful countryside regardless.
In Conclusion
The Cotswolds is one of the most visited places in the United Kingdom and it's easy to see why. With no shortage of great things to see and do for the entire family, you are sure to have a lovely short break that you will remember for years to come. These suggestions are just some of what there is to do so please do make sure you look for other activities that might suit you better, you will not be disappointed.