A Brief History Of The Cotswolds

Regularly topping the list of the most beautiful places to visit in England, the Cotswolds are renowned for glorious countryside, chocolate-box villages and a rich history. Here is everything you need to know about this picturesque region.

What are the Cotswolds?

The Cotswolds is a large area in the South of England, covering almost 800 square miles. The boundaries are open to debate, with every local having their own opinion on where the Cotswolds begins and ends, but they mainly cover the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, extending into parts of Wiltshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Somerset. The region was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966 – the largest in England and Wales – thanks to its rare limestone grassland habitats and ancient beech woodlands, and home to some of the most endangered of British wildlife.

Where did the name come from?

The Wool Trade

The Cotswolds was well known throughout Medieval Europe as the source of some of the best wool available. The rolling hills of the region were, and still are, perfect grazing for sheep, and the area became famous for the Cotswold Lion – a native breed of sheep with a distinctive long golden fleece. Market towns such as Tetbury and Chipping Campden thrived under the wool trade, and the success of the age is still visible today through the grand architecture and fine houses wealthy merchants built as a result.

A distinctive landscape

It’s impossible to think of the Cotswolds without picturing the pretty honey-hued cottages and churches that characterise the charming small towns and villages of the region. This is all thanks to the famous Cotswold stone, a yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone, rich in fossils and unique to the area.

The Cotswolds today

Home to some of the most idyllic villages, elegant manor houses, romantic gardens, grand palaces and breathtaking scenery, the Cotswolds is a very special area of the UK with a lot to offer. With a thriving foodie scene, the region celebrates locally-grown and reared produce. Whether it’s fine dining you’re after, or a cosy pub to while away an afternoon, you’ll be spoilt for choice here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.