Cotswold Towns:
Must-See Places In England

There’s no doubt about it: Cotswold towns are must-see places in all of England, perhaps even of the entire United Kingdom – and for great reasons, too.

Each town in England’s Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty has its own distinctive character, appeal and attractions while still evoking the quintessential English countryside experience. Such a mix of uniqueness and classicism is truly enthralling as evidenced by the millions of tourists visiting the area at all seasons of the year.

Bourton-On-The-Water

Among the Cotswolds towns, Bourton-on-the-Water is known as the most beautiful village in the entire area. Considering that all of Cotswold is beautiful, such a reputation can be difficult to live up to but the village is more than able to meet the challenge, as it continues to do so until the present.

Known as the Venice of the Cotswold because the River Windrush runs along its main street, the village is the starting point for several trails including the Oxford Way, the Heart of England Way, and the Gloucestershire Way. We also suggest visiting the Model Village, Birdland, and the Dragonfly Maze. Better yet, just walk around the old-fashioned English town and discover for yourself why it is, indeed, the most beautiful in the Cotswolds.

Winchcombe

No list of must-see Cotswolds towns is complete without mentioning Winchcombe, a tiny village north of Cheltenham. Its most famous attraction is the Sudeley Castle, which Lord and Lady Ashcombe filled with fascinating Tudor memorabilia. The castle also has spectacular gardens with the bonus of equally spectacular views of the countryside while the activities inside the castle grounds include jousting and Shakespearian shows.

Stow-On-The-Wold

If you want to get to the heart of the Cotswolds we suggest the Stow-on-the-Wold town. Its must-so activity is enjoying the fresh produce at the traditional farmers’ market every second Thursday of the month; it’s an excellent opportunity to stock up on food supplies for your stay.

Broadway

Certainly, Broadway deserves a special mention here. Its main street is bordered on both sides by pubs, specialty shops and other establishments that maintain their English charm despite the commercialization of tourism in the area.

Tetbury

A beautiful market town,housing two famous churches-St.Mary’s and St.Saviours.St. Mary’s is the original church and the box pews were used by the rich inhabitants who took up so much room that St.Saviours was built for the poorer people of the town.

Westonbirt Arboretum is close by and is beautiful to see in all seasons.

Gloucester

Gloucester, a vibrant Cotswold town lies at the edge of the Cotswolds in the Severn Vale, eight miles south-west of Cheltenham Spa.

The historic cathedral was one of the settings for the movie “Harry Potter and the Philosophers’ Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”

Shopping, lovely eateries, friendly pubs and a variety of accommodation makes it a very appealing Cotswolds town to visit.

Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden is a very scenic Cotswolds town and with its central location in the North Cotswolds it's ideal to visit stately homes with incredible gardens,ancient churches and historic castles.

Look at a map of Cotswold towns and you are sure to identify several places that you will want to visit, too. Explore the area today and build memories of a lifetime for yourself.

If you have any questions visiting Cotswolds and would like to ask Dianne, the owner of this site, you can contact her.

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