The Most Beautiful Places in the Cotswolds

Picture the ultimate, sleepy, traditional Cotswold village and you’ve got Lower and Upper Slaughter. Despite the less-than romantic names (derived from the old English for muddy place; nothing to do with butchery!) these twin villages are as charming and quintessentially Cotswolds as you’ll find. Enjoy a leisurely one-mile stroll along the gentle river that connects the two villages to take in the beautiful scenery. Complete your trip to this quaint English village with an overnight stay in a 19th-century methodist chapel.

The Cotswolds is an area spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful and historic gardens, and the grounds of Hidcote Manor are among the best in the country. This Arts and Crafts garden is made up of a series of outdoor “rooms” for you to explore. The maze of pathways will lead you to dreamy secret gardens, alive with colour and teaming with wildlife. Prepare to fall in love. Then stay locally at a traditional timber-framed cottage that dates back over 300 years.

Boasting some of the best views in the Cotswolds, Crickley Hill looks out across the Severn Vale, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. The rich plant life and wildflowers make this a haven for butterflies and a real treat for nature lovers. The hill also has a fascinating history, with evidence of human activity going back to 4,000 BCE. A café sits at the top of the hill and provides the perfect spot for a cup of tea with some serious views. There’s even an all-terrain mobility scooter available to hire so that the views are accessible to everyone. Treat yourself to a night in a quirky modern barn conversion after a long day of exploring.

Set on the banks of the Rive Coln, this exquisite Cotswolds village is a hugely popular stop-off on the tourist trail – and with good reason. With an interesting history and spectacular views, Bibury has a lot to offer sightseers. Take a step back in time and stroll along Arlington Row, the picturesque row of 17thcentury weavers’ cottages that make up one of the UK’s most-photographed streets, then wander along the river bank, taking in the sights of the scenic Rack Isle water meadow. Hunker down for the night in a charming, Grade II-listed, stone Cotswold cottage.

This stunning 600-acre Arboretum is home to over 2,500 different species of tree and is widely regarded as the one of the finest in the world. Lose yourself in the Silk Wood, take in a different perspective along the treetop walk and let the kids have fun with the interactive displays, as well as the ever-popular Gruffalo trail which pops up throughout the year. Westonbirt is a joy whatever the season, from the magnolias in spring to the snowy landscapes of winter. But it’s in autumn that the trees explode with colour, and the Arboretum truly dazzles.

Broadway is another chocolate-box village that’s bursting with Cotswolds charm. The elegant High Street lined with horse chestnut trees is home to grand period houses, golden stone cottages and cosy pubs. There’s even a traditional village green that hosts the annual village fete, a perfect opportunity to experience a real slice of traditional English country life. Take a walk up Fish Hill to Broadway Tower for fantastic views of the village and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse at the elusive red deer that graze there. Sleep under a traditional thatched roof at the Orchard Cottage in the village.

Cranham is the starting point for some fantastic walks through some of the prettiest woodland in the Cotswolds. Explore the stillness and calm of the ancient beech forests of Buckholt Wood – even more picturesque in May when the ground is carpeted in fragrant bluebells – then through Cooper’s Hill Wood, which takes you to the foot of the infamous Cooper’s Hill – home to the annual cheese rolling competition, one of the Cotswolds’ strangest traditions. For spectacular, uninterrupted views of the woods, spend the night in a luxury barn.

For stunning panoramic Cotswolds views, take a trip up to Cam Peak. Just a short walk from Cam Long Down, it’s well worth making the effort, as you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Cotswold Escarpment, as well as a landscape of green rolling hills that is so typical of the area. Pack a picnic, make a day of it, then rest up at a lovely restored coach house in Dursley.