7 Picturesque Villages to Visit in the Cotswolds

Have you ever dreamt of stopping for a moment and enjoying some peace and quiet in the most picturesque setting? If so, then you definitely need to visit the Cotswolds and its most quintessential sleepy villages. I can guarantee that you’ll feel like you stepped back in time. 

You could easily spend weeks exploring the whole of the Cotswolds. However, I only had 4 days to see as much as possible, so I hope you’ll enjoy the second part of my 4-day itinerary, where I introduce you to 7 quaint sleepy villages.

If you’d like to see our walk, then make sure to watch our Part 1 and Part 2 YouTube videos linked below.

Introducing the Cotswolds​

Covering 800 square miles, the Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. If you’ve never heard of this designation before, it means that the area is both beautiful and important. Therefore, efforts are being made to conserve and enhance its beauty. In addition, it is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. 

The Cotswold means something like “sheep enclosure on the hills”, coming from the word ‘Cot’ meaning sheep enclosure and ‘Wold’ meaning hill. During the Middle Ages it became prosperous from the wool trade. The money was then invested into building churches and manor houses. Now, the Cotswolds is not just a popular tourist destination, but also acts as a retirement and/or holiday home destination for those who can afford it.

There is plenty to do and see in the Cotswolds, but without doubt the best thing to do is to just walk around, take in the beauty and the atmosphere of the place and get lost in small side streets.  In my opinion, one of the many reasons this area is so attractive is the harmony that its buildings create due to the fact that they were all built from the yellow Oolithic Limestone.

Please always respects the locals when visiting these small towns and villages! These cute houses are people’s homes and not everybody likes hundreds of tourists posing in front of their doorsteps.

7 Villages to Visit in the Cotswolds

Let me show you 7 of the most picturesque sleepy villages in the Cotswolds that are a must see in my opinion! There are of course plenty of other adorable villages around the area. Whilst they might lack for activities compared to their bigger neighbouring towns, I still highly recommend stopping by and taking in their pure beauty. 

1. Bibury

Only a short drive from Cirencester – ‘The Capital of the Cotswolds’ – you’ll find the ‘most beautiful village in England’, Bibury. 

Without doubt Bibury’s best feature is Arlington Row, originally built in the 14th Century as a monastic wool store. They were then converted into a row of weavers’ cottages in the 17th Century. The cottages are still used as people’s homes, except number 9, which you can book your stay in. It is actually one of the most photographed rows of cottages in England and I think we can all see why. 

 Did you know? – Arlington Row is actually pictured in all UK passports. (After reading this, I had to double check my partner’s British passport and yes, I can confirm it’s shown inside!)

In front of Arlington Row, you’ll see a massive water meadow called Rack Isle. The name comes from the fact that once the wool was washed, this was the area where they hung it out to dry. Of course, today Rack Isle is the perfect home for different plants, birds and other habitats. 

Other than taking about a million photos of Arlington Row you can visit the Trout Farm and restaurant where you can catch your own trout. The admission fee is £4.50 / 3.25 for adults / children receptively. 

If you can’t book your stay at Number 9 Arlington Row, don’t worry, you can always stay at The Swan Hotel which used to be a coaching inn. Even if you’re not planning on staying in Bibury, make sure you take in the beauty of the hotel. 

2. Castle Combe

After exploring the most beautiful village in England, why not take a walk around one of the prettiest villages in England?

Situated in Wiltshire, the picturesque Castle Combe was named after a 12th Century Castle that once stood to the north of the village. 

When walking around Castle Combe, make sure you head towards the very well photographed bridge by the old weavers’ cottages and take the iconic shot of the village. Once you have explored the Market Cross with the old water pump beside it and St Andrew’s Church, head towards the Manor House Hotel, a 5-star luxury hotel building and golf club, to snap another insta-famous shot. You won’t regret it as the building and its little gardens are truly beautiful.  

Did you know? – No surprise that the village has been used as a film location for many movies such as the original Dr Doolittle, Stardust, The Wolf Man and Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse among episodes from various TV shows.

3. Snowshill

This tiny, adorable village sits in the hills above Broadway, Buckland and Laverton with a population of only around 160.

Whilst the village felt extremely quiet during our visit, there’s actually plenty to see and do in the immediate vicinity of it. You can walk around and admire the ancient cottages, stop by the 19th century church sitting in the middle of the village and visit its beautiful pub. 

Top Tip – Make sure you time your visit for when the lavender is in full bloom and visit Snowshill Lavender, a 35 acres farm offering not just the perfect Instagram spot, but also producing essential oils, soaps and creams.

Did you know? – Snowshill was a filming location in Bridget Jones’ Diary. The village acted as ‘Snozzle’ where Bridget’s parents lived.

Snowshill Manor and Garden

Visiting Snowshill in the Cotswolds wouldn’t be complete without stopping at Snowshill Manor and Garden. 

The Manor has changed owners and undergone countless changes over the years. It was purchased by Charles Paget Wade in 1919, who filled the house with unusual collections of furniture and other gadgets like toys and craft tools. Wade also commissioned Baillie Scott – who was an important figure in the Arts and Crafts movement – to design the gardens. As a result, every corner of the garden is filled with hidden gems including the priest’s House and Wolf’s Cove Model Village. 

Since it’s now a National Trust property and we have a membership, we could visit the Manor for free. Otherwise, the tickets to non-members costs £8 which can be purchased online.

4. Upper Slaughter

After seeing the name, you might think why on earth I would suggest visiting a village called ‘Slaughter’? To top it off – because one village called ‘Slaughter’ isn’t enough – there’s another village located only a mile to the east, called Lower Slaughter. The two places are often just referred to as ‘The Slaughters’.

To ease your worries, let me explain the origin of the rather ‘unfortunate’ name. It actually derives from “slough” which means something like wetlands or muddy area. And this muddy, wet area was created by the River Eye which meanders through these astonishingly picturesque villages. 

Once dominated by a Norman castle, today Upper Slaughter is actually dominated by a charming Manor House. The Manor operates as a hotel offering both a luxury retreat and a good base if you’d like to explore the area. I highly recommend taking a quick stroll around it even if you aren’t planning to stay there.

In the heart of the village, you’ll see the beautiful 12th Century St Peter’s Church, so make sure you pay a visit.

If you’re looking for the ‘iconic’ shot of Upper Slaughter, then make sure you walk a few minutes from the church towards River Eye. You really cannot miss it!

Did you know? – Upper Slaughter is one of only 14 villages in the UK that received the title ‘Doubly Thankful Village’. These settlements are some of the very few whose members of the armed forces survived both World War I and II.

5. Lower Slaughter

Out of the two Slaughters, without doubt, Lower Slaughter is the one that will make your mouth drop, so you must stop by and explore it.

I was definitely blown away by its beautiful 16th and 17th Century honey-coloured cottages lined on either side of the River Eye with the most adorable bridges built across it creating the postcard perfect picture.

Other attractions you should check out are the Old Mill, the Church of St Mary the Virgin and the Lower Slaughter Manor. The 19th Century Mill now operates as a museum, gift shop and cafe. Even though the 17th Century family mansion is now a luxury hotel, I suggest walking around it as the building itself is very beautiful.

Top Tip – I suggest you visit Upper Slaughter before Lower Slaughter. Whilst Upper Slaughter is adorable, Lower Slaughter will feel like something out of a fairytale! 

6. Minster Lovell

If you love exploring old ruins, then definitely put Minster Lovell onto your Cotswolds itinerary. Whilst the village has three parts (Old, Little and New Minster), the one you’re looking for is obviously Old Minster. 

Even though Old Minster has only one street, it’s actually packed with many gems. It has a church, Minster Lovell Hall, the Old Swan Inn and Minster Mill Hotel for you to explore. In addition, the only street is lined with the unmistakable Cotswolds stone cottages on both sides. What more could one ask for?

The highlight of Minster Lovell is definitely the ruins of the 15th Century Manor House. It’s located right next to the 15th Century church. There’s also a medieval dovecote located a little further. The Manor House was built in 1430 by William, Baron of Lovell and Holand, a very rich man. 

The ruins with the river offer the perfect picnic spot, so I suggest bringing your lunch here to enjoy the atmosphere of the place if the weather allows it. 

There’s a tiny parking area serving St Kenelm’s Church just at the entrance of the path leading to it. Make sure you’re there early to get a spot as the road is very narrow to park on.

Did you know? – According to legends, a skeleton was found in 1708 in a secret underground chamber which is believed to actually be Francis Lovell – the last Baron Lovell – who escaped from the Battle of Stoke and was never seen after.

7. Adlestrop

“Yes. I remember Adlestrop—The name, because one afternoonOf heat the express-train drew up thereUnwontedly. It was late June…” – by Edward Thomas 

Thanks to Edward Thomas’ poem, Adlestrop was immortalised in English literature. Aldestrop used to have a railway station and that’s where Thomas’ train stopped. In his poem, he thought the stop was unscheduled when it indeed used to be a scheduled stop. The rail station closed in 1966 and the building was demolished. However, the station sign and seat were transferred to a bus shelter in the village. 

It’s probably the reason why one local, walking his dogs, said to us that this spot is the second most photographed spot after the Eiffel Tower. Okay, he may have been ‘slightly’ exaggerating, but I could definitely hear just how proud he was towards his tiny settlement. Which, by the way, only has a population of around 80 people. 

Even though the village isn’t a tourist hotspot within the Cotswolds, it has a beautiful church, a village hall, a cricket pitch and a fishing lake. It also has a House which was built as a Rectory in the 17th Century, then later altered. I definitely recommend stopping here, especially if you’re into literature. You can park at the Village Hall and leave a donation if you wish to. 

Did you know? – Since Jane Austen’s uncle was the church’s rector, she visited Adlestrop a couple of times. Therefore, many believe that her novel Mansfield Park was inspired by Adlestrop and its surroundings.

Additional things to do around the Cotswolds​

As I mentioned at the beginning, there is so much to do in and around the Cotswolds. So, if you have more time and would like to then definitely visit some of the buzzing towns. I prepared a blog post about 8 of the most beautiful ones which you can read by clicking here. 

There are some other amazing places you should put onto your bucket list such as Bath and Bristol. You can also climb Cheddar Gorge, visit Glastonbury – a famous festival destination – or the smallest city in England, Wells. I prepared a blog post about these places which you can read by clicking here. 

Lastly, make sure you put Bleinheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, onto your itinerary too.  I prepared a blog post about 10 things to do at Blenheim Palace which you can read by clicking here.  

Have you ever been to the Cotswolds before? How much of the area did you manage to explore? Which was your favourite place you visited? Let me know in the comments below.