The Cotswolds unfurl across five English counties in a quilt of sheep-dotted meadows, dry-stone walls, and villages built from warm, honey-colored limestone. Prosperous wool merchants bankrolled the exquisite churches here from the Middle Ages, and their legacy lingers in spired skylines, market squares, and coaching inns where you can still claim a fireside stool.

From Broadway Tower’s windswept panorama to Bibury’s Arlington Row, the region’s highlights are gracefully close together. Expect leisurely drives, garden rambles (Hidcote, Snowshill, Painswick), and riverside picnics in places that feel plucked from an illustrated book. Food is quietly excellent—think farm shops like Daylesford, country pubs with serious kitchens, artisan bakeries, and local cheese.

Practical notes: trains from London reach the northern Cotswolds in about 1 hour 30 minutes, but rural buses are limited—especially on Sundays—so taxis or a rental car make life easy. Book popular restaurants and gardens in advance during spring and summer. The best months are April–June and September–October, when hedgerows glow and footpaths are firm underfoot.

Stow-on-the-Wold

Perched on a hill at the crossroads of ancient salt routes, Stow-on-the-Wold is a perfect base for the North Cotswolds. Wander its stone lanes to St. Edward’s Church, whose yew-framed door is said to have inspired Tolkien. From here, Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Broadway Tower, and Hidcote Manor Garden are all short, scenic hops.

Top nearby sights: St Edward’s yew door; Bourton’s riverside greens; the mill stream between the Slaughters; hilltop Broadway Tower; the arts-and-crafts marvels of Hidcote and Snowshill; Daylesford Farm’s food hall and kitchen garden. Evenings are for pub suppers and Cotswold ale by the fire.

• Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO in Stow-on-the-Wold or compare hotels on Hotels.com for Stow-on-the-Wold.
• Getting there: From London Paddington, take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh (about 1h35; advance fares often £25–£60; search on Omio (trains in Europe)). Taxi to Stow is ~15 minutes (£25–£35), or bus 801 runs to Stow (~25 minutes; see Omio (buses in Europe)). Flying into the UK? Compare flights via Omio (flights to/from Europe) or, if arriving from outside Europe, use Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com.
• Food & drink picks: The Hive for breakfast classics; Huffkins for cream tea; Bakery on the Water (Bourton) for warm sausage rolls and lemon drizzle; The Old Butchers (seafood bistro), The Old Stocks Inn (modern British), The Sheep on Sheep Street (wood-fired pizzas and grills), The Wild Rabbit in Kingham (hyper-seasonal, Daylesford-backed) for a treat.

Day 1: Arrive and settle into hilltop Stow

Morning: Travel to the Cotswolds by train to Moreton-in-Marsh and onward to Stow. If you’re driving, plan 2–2.5 hours from central London depending on traffic. Drop bags and stretch your legs around the Market Square.

Afternoon: Walk to St. Edward’s Church to see the famed yew-framed door, then browse antiques and indie shops. Coffee and a slab of Victoria sponge at The Hive or a scone at Huffkins will fix any travel lag.

Evening: Dinner at The Old Stocks Inn (think Cotswold lamb, garden vegetables, clever desserts). Nightcap at The Queen’s Head, a local’s pub with a low-beamed bar and proper cask ale.

Day 2: Private North Cotswolds tour (villages, viewpoints, gardens)

Let a local expert do the navigating while you soak up postcard villages and scenic lanes. This full-day private tour covers the North Cotswolds’ greatest hits with photo stops and insider stories.

Our Famous North Cotswold Tour

Expect stops in Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Broadway Tower, Snowshill, and more, with time for lunch at a characterful pub. Back in Stow, grab a relaxed supper at The Sheep on Sheep Street.

Day 3: E-bike countryside and palace parklands

Glide through lanes and the parkland where Winston Churchill was born, with a guide who knows the prettiest cut-throughs and view-filled climbs (your e-bike does the hard work).

Blenheim and Woodstock Ebike Tour

Getting there is easy by train via Moreton-in-Marsh to Hanborough or Oxford (check times on Omio). Reward yourself back in Stow with dinner at The Old Butchers—order the seafood specials or the rosemary-scented roast chicken.

Day 4: Broadway Tower, Hidcote’s gardens, and a sunset pub

Morning: Drive 25 minutes to Broadway Tower, a neo-Gothic folly with sweeping views over 16 counties. Stroll the deer park and, if you like, the nuclear bunker exhibit for a curious Cold War chapter.

Afternoon: Continue 15 minutes to Hidcote Manor Garden, where arts-and-crafts “garden rooms” reveal clever planting and topiary. If time allows, detour to Snowshill Manor to see one of the UK’s most eccentric collections.

Evening: Back in Stow, grab a casual bite at The Bell at Stow (ale-battered fish, hearty pies). If you’re up for a short drive, The Wild Rabbit in Kingham is a candlelit, produce-led splurge worth booking ahead.

Cirencester

Roman “Corinium” grew rich on wool, and today Cirencester hums with a handsome market square, the superb Corinium Museum, and lanes threaded with cafés and boutiques. It’s a great launchpad for Bibury, the Coln Valley, Chedworth Roman Villa, and the upper reaches of the Thames near Lechlade.

Expect a different rhythm from the north: beech woods, old coaching roads, and water meadows—plus some of the region’s best pubs-to-walks combos. Come for Roman history, stay for excellent bakeries and gin-and-tonics in leafy courtyards.

• Where to stay: Compare places on VRBO in Cirencester or book hotels via Hotels.com for Cirencester.
• Getting from Stow (Day 5 morning): Drive ~35 minutes via the A429 (the old Fosse Way). Without a car, a taxi takes ~35–45 minutes, or combine buses (around 1.5–2 hours; check Omio (buses in Europe)).
• Food & drink picks: Lynwood & Co (superb coffee and sourdough), Jack’s (brunch), Made By Bob (seasonal plates and counter seating), The Bear Inn (ale and comfort food), Teatro (pre-theatre menus and cocktails), The Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach and The Bell at Sapperton for destination pub dining nearby.

Day 5: Transfer to Cirencester, Roman roots, and cozy courtyards

Morning: Depart Stow for Cirencester. Drop your bags, then fuel up with flat whites and pastries at Lynwood & Co.

Afternoon: Tour the Corinium Museum for mosaics and everyday Roman life, then amble to the Cirencester Amphitheatre earthworks. If the weather’s fine, take a loop through Cirencester Park’s grand avenues.

Evening: Dinner at Made By Bob (counter seats are fun for watching the kitchen) or Teatro for a polished night out. Nightcap at The Bear Inn under centuries-old timbers.

Day 6: Bibury and the Coln Valley

Morning: Drive 20 minutes to Bibury. Start with a gentle, story-rich walk that peels back a thousand years of village life and architecture.

The Bibury Self-Guided Tour: A Thousand Years of Village Life

Afternoon: Photograph Arlington Row’s 17th-century weavers’ cottages in the softest light. Lunch at The Catherine Wheel (ask about the day’s pies) or afternoon tea at The Swan Hotel. Continue to Chedworth Roman Villa (mosaics, bathhouse) for another time hop.

Evening: Back in Cirencester, keep it easy with wood-fired sourdough pizzas and salads at Jack’s, or go rural-chic at The Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach—fireside if it’s cool, garden tables if it’s warm.

Day 7: Thames source waters and a gentle paddle

Morning: Head to Lechlade-on-Thames (25 minutes). Canoe a serene stretch of the infant River Thames to Kelmscott Manor, once William Morris’s country home, with cream tea on the itinerary.

Thames Canoe Trip to Kelmscott Manor with Cream Tea & Return

Afternoon: Early lunch in Lechlade—Lynwood & Co’s branch here does excellent seasonal soups and toasties—then return to Cirencester to pack. Depart mid-to-late afternoon by train (via Kemble Station for London Paddington—usually ~1h15 to 1h30; check Omio (trains)) or by car.

Evening: If you’re lingering, celebrate the week with dinner at Teatro or a country drive to The Bell at Sapperton for roasts, local beers, and a walk under big skies.

Optional extras and local gems (fit as time allows)

• Cotswolds Distillery (near Stourton): book a guided tasting to explore English whisky, gin, and liqueurs at one of the country’s pioneering distilleries.
• Gloucester Cathedral and historic docks: soaring fan vaulting and a maritime heritage hub, about 35–45 minutes from Cirencester.
• Painswick Rococo Garden: whimsical 18th-century follies and seasonal snowdrops (late winter), ~35 minutes from Cirencester.

Good to know: Many attractions are closed or have shorter hours Mondays and in winter—always check opening times. Lanes are narrow; drive unhurriedly and use passing places. Card payments are widely accepted, but a few coins help with pay-and-display parking in villages.

Another great day tour pick if you want a driver-guide from the north:

Our Famous North Cotswold Tour is already in Day 2, but if it’s sold out, consider keeping the structure and swapping in an alternative private day tour from the list when booking.

Summary: In one easy week you’ll taste the Cotswolds at its best—two lovely bases, golden villages, garden artistry, and heartfelt cooking. With short drives and scenic walks stitched between, it’s the rare itinerary that feels both rich and unhurried.