A weekend spent discovering the most charming and quaint little villages one could only picture in a fairy-tale book.
It is fair to say, The Cotswold’s will truly exceed all expectations.
Getting Around The Cotswolds
Travelling by car is the best and easiest way to get around the Cotswolds. If you do not have your own you can easily rent one from Oxford (just 45 mins out of Cotswolds) or from London (1.5-2 hours out). When mapping out the travel route and realising how spaced out the Cotswolds is it was a given we would drive so we could enjoy each village at our own leisurely pace.
Driving/Parking: We left early Saturday morning and drove approximately 2 hours from London to Castle Combe, the first village of our Cotswolds Weekend Away. If you are also doing this route you can click here for directions, it will take you to the free visitor’s carpark at the top of the village which is only a 5 minute walk away.
Day 1: Visiting 4 Villages
Stop 1: Castlecombe
Castle Combe, ‘The Prettiest Village in England’ which I would happily back up after our visit. This town is truly stunning. Little touches from the locals make it that much more special, we found freshly baked goods outside the houses with honesty boxes and fresh fruit in baskets free to take, so lovely! It really is a small village, which you could easily walk through in around 5-10 minutes.
- Visit St Andrew’s Church.
- Stop in at The Stables Cafe for breakfast and order a traditional bacon butty (YUM).
- Pop into the Craft Fair Market (this runs the second Saturday of each month and is filled with home made crafts from the locals, beautiful handmade soaps, knitted clothing, antique jewellery, baked goods and wooden toys.
- Walk the length of the narrow village which you will see is extremely picturesque.
- Take a snap at the most ‘photographed spot in Castlecombe’. I was specifically determined to get one without anyone in my photo which yes I did of course but it did prove to be quite difficult so in saying that, make sure you have a patient photographer as you could be waiting a while (thanks Jarrod!)
- Enjoy the surroundings with a cold beer outside The Castle Inn Bar.I
- If youc hoose to stay here later on in the day, treat yourself to a lunch or dinner at The Manor House. It has amazing 5 and 8 course meals in such an elegant restaurant.
Stop 2: Bibury
Drive Time: Bibury is just a short 55 minute drive from Castle Combe.
This town and it’s surroundings embodied everything I had imagined The Cotswold’s to be so get excited!!!
As you come into the town stopover at the popular Catherine Wheel Pub for lunch and/or another beverage (I must recommend their pies)! From here the town is just a 2 minute drive away with lots of public parking available down the main strip. Everything to do here is of course in walking distance.
- Visit St Mary’s Church
- Arlington Row is a strip of iconic English cottages built in the 1300’s and is one of the most famous streets in The Cotswold’s so is well worth the stopover for this alone.
- Walk along the river to Bibury Trout Farm for an ice cream and coffee break. You can even go through here for a fish for some trout here.
Stop 3. Burford
Drive Time: approx a 15 minute drive from Bibury to Burford
- Walk up to the top of the main Street and get a snap of the town below
- Take a stroll down main street and check out all the local shops
- Treat yourself to an afternoon of high tea at one of the many high tea cafe’s on offer
Stop 4. Burton on the Water
Drive Time: approx a 20 minute drive from Burford to Burton on The Water
- Visit the Cotswolds Motoring Museum
- Take a relaxing evening walk around the town and along the river (the kids can have a paddle in the river too!)
- Find a picnic spot for a wine and dinner. We popped into the corner store and grabbed some wine and had the local fish and chops (which I can recommend). There are lots of restaurants and bars along the river which all looked lovely so take your pick!
Day 2: Visiting 4 Villages
Stop 1: Broadway Tower
Drive Time: Approx 20min drive from Burton on The Water to Broadway Tower
We were so glad we made Broadway Tower our first stop for the day as we not only beat the hurdles of tourists but also managed to capture the sun rising and was able to have a beautiful breakfast at the cafe on site.
- Breakfast stop at Morris and Brown Cafe, if it isn’t cold then sit outside and make the most of the sunrise views.
- Follow the circle trek around to Broadway Tower (approx a 5-10 minute walk)
- Enter the tower have a look around the little shop and climb the stairs to the top of the tower for views of Broadway Village. You can purchase tickets from the tower for £5 they accept cash and cards.
- If you have time, follow the trek down to Broadway Village for a look.
Stop 2. Moreton on Marsh
Drive Time: Approx 10 minute drive from Broadway Tower to Moreton-in-Marsh.
This little village had the best antique shops we have come across so you bet we were going to make the most of it.
- Check out the local craft fair/markets if you are visiting over a weekend
- Vintage shopping – stroll through the shops, we were able to purchase some pretty cool artwork for our home!
- Are you a fan of cheese? Don’t miss the Cotswolds Cheese shop
- Visit Chastleton House, see the pleasant grounds and what it would have been like to live her in previous years. It’s a wonderful National Trust gem.
- Take a visit to the Cotswold Falconry Centre which runs daily flying displays. The presenters are very knowledgeable with an aim of giving people an understanding of the ancient art of falconry. Family tickets are £25, adults £10 and children £5 p/p.
Stop 3. Stow on the Wold
Drive Time: Approx 10 minute drive from Moreton-in-Marsh to Stow on the Wold
Stow on the Wold is another charming town, did you expect anything less so far?
- Walk the loop of the town peeking into all the local stores
- Have an afternoon tea at Lucy’s Tearoom. Such an elegant space with a lovely indoor outdoor flow.
Whether you like sweets, cholcolate or fudge you are in luck because this place has it all!
- Treat yourself and get a takeaway bag of sweets from Cotswolds Sweet Company (I can also vouch for the delicious gelato they sell here!)
- Stop in at the Cotswolds Chocolate Shop, the smell alone takes over all your senses. it is here you can even see them making the treats at the back of their shop through the window, how cool.
- Who doesn’t love fudge? Roly’s Fudge Pantry is worth the stop (my mouth seriously waters just hit
Stop 4. Lower Slaughter
Drive Time: Approx 5 – 10 minute drive from Stow on the Wold.
This was our last stop on our Cotswolds adventure before the drive back to London Town and what a village it was!
- Get a snap on the iconic bridge with the windmill in the background (be patient if you don’t waant others in the photo)
- Visit the Old Mill Museum and grab a coffee and/or icecream at the cafe
- Go into the Church of St Mary
- Go on a horse back riding experience through the Cotswolds Burton Vale Equestrian Centre, this is through Lower Slaughter with Burton Vale
- Enjoy an evening meaal at Lower Slaughter Manor
& That’s A Wrap
If you haven’t realised by now, The Cotswold’s is a photographers dream. The villages are even more picturesque in person and you easily get lost in the cobble-stoned streets and stone houses which take you a step back in time. Add this to your weekend bucket list, it is well worth it!
P&J xx
