Are you asking: Which is the prettiest Cotswold village? We provide Self Catering Luxury Holiday Cottages in the Cotswolds. Find out more about the local villages for you to visit during your stay.
Prettiest Villages to visit in the Cotswolds
With an easy 2-hour journey west of London, you can find yourself amidst some of the most beautiful and quintessentially English pieces of the countryside.
The beautiful towns and tiny villages of the Cotswolds are some of the best-preserved locations in England, allowing visitors to be transported into the past.
Surrounding by rolling green hills, the Cotswolds encompasses areas in several southern counties, including Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset counties.
However, with so much choice, and so much beauty, it is almost an impossible task to pick the prettiest Cotswold villages.
However, that's just what we're going to try and do so visitors can have a better idea of where to go for the most spectacular views. But don't feel limited to just one place. All the locations in our list are easily reached from one to the next.
Therefore, there's no reason why you can't visit the majority of these stunning locations on single day trips.
Naturally, there isn't one place to suit everyone, and everyone has their own individual tastes. But, however subjective a list like this might be, we know that there is no escaping the sense of awe you feel when journeying through some of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds.
Prettiest Cotswolds villages
Even if you've never been to the Cotswolds, when you close your eyes and picture an idyllic rural village in the English countryside, the chances are you'll be picturing one of the entries on our list. The region covers much of the southwest, south-central, and the West Midlands of England, with no shortage of gorgeous hamlets hidden away in lush river valleys.
Every location has its own historic charm that exudes Englishness. So, without further ado, here is our list of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. We're sure you'd enjoy visiting any of the locations in this list, and why not tie a few of them together in a road trip through England's past?
Stratford-Upon-Avon
What better place to introduce you to the beautiful Cotswolds villages than the former home of William Shakespeare on the River Avon?
There's plenty for fans of the Bard to see, including the very house he was born in on Henley Street. After that, you can get a true feel for how Shakespeare would have lived over at the Tudor World Museum and New Place.
Though his original house was demolished in 1759, it has been inventively reimagined to allow us into his world. You can even visit the place where the young Shakespeare would have first learned to write through an interactive tour of his old schoolroom.
The Slaughters
One of the contenders for the crown of "Prettiest Village in the Cotswolds" is Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter. Along the banks of the River Eye, which feeds in from the River Windrush, you'll find the golden Cotswold stone cottages the Cotswolds are famous for. With the stream trickling under the quaint stone bridges, there's no better place to take a relaxing stroll in beautiful surroundings.
The Old Mill at Lower Slaughter is definitely worth the name, given that there has been a mill on the site since the 11th century, according to the Domesday Book. While the work of the mill has passed into history, the location is now the site of a museum, tearooms, a craft shop and an ice cream parlour. You can easily spend an afternoon exploring a truly historic part of the English countryside in one of the prettiest Cotswold villages.
Castle Combe
Yet another location contending the crown for the most beautiful Cotswold villages is Castle Combe. You can find this sleepy village nestled away in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of northwest Wiltshire. Consisting of a single romantic street of quaint cottages, walking through the adorable village will feel more like you've travelled into the past than a simple stroll.
Most of the village was built during the 17th century, with nothing in the way of new houses built or modern buildings to spoil the aesthetic of one of the best Cotswolds villages. If ever there was a fairytale photo opportunity, it's here. The village is so photogenic that numerous TV shows and feature films have been shot there, including Bridgerton, Stardust and War Horse.
Burford
Known as the "Gateway to the Cotswolds", Burford is another of the pretty Cotswold villages you won't miss. Found in the Oxfordshire portion of the Cotswolds, the place is lined with elegant and stunningly beautiful 17th and 18th-century buildings.
As one of the many medieval villages in the Cotswolds, there's naturally the Tolsey Museum for history fans to peruse. You can also find the oldest pharmacy in England in Burford, just down the rolling hills, known as Reavley's.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Of all the best Cotswold villages, Bourton-on-the-Water is the only one to have the moniker "The Venice of the Cotswolds". Granted, there's only one bridge crossing the River Windrush, but it's beautifully quaint.
While the other entries on our list of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds comprise narrow streets and rows of quaint cottages, there's more to do in Bourton than you might have thought. The model village, showing Bourton as it was in the 1930s, is particularly popular with families.
Blockley
Blockley is another pretty Cotswold village that you've likely seen in a period drama or two. Set in the verdant, sheep-spotted pastures of the English countryside, this quaint village was once a hub for the wool industry.
Flocks of sheep from the surrounding farms were once shorn in the village, with the wool being sent down the valley to the mills and woven into cloth. As times changed, the wool mills were converted to silk production, as you'll be able to see at the Old Silk Mill and Ribbon Mill premises still standing there today.
Stow-on-the-Wold
The geographically highest of our pretty Cotswold villages, Stow-on-the-Wold is the perfect place for shoppers looking to pick up a few things on their way through the region. And it seems this was always the case since Stow has been an important trading location in southwest England since the Romans were in town.
Evidence of this is clearly seen in the large market square at the centre of the village, where sheep have been traded since the 12th century. Today, Stow's trading caters more to antique fans, with charming antique shops and galleries to peruse. There are also plenty of delis, coffee shops and independent boutiques selling one-of-a-kind pieces to adventurous high street shoppers.
Aviary enthusiasts are also well-catered for in Stow. You can find both the Cotswold Falconry Centre and the Owl Experience here, with acres of woodland to explore with your family.
Stanton
If you want historic cottages with thatched roofs and quaint old-English charm, Stanton is the village for you. Another of the prettiest Cotswold villages, it truly outranks rural villages in other regions of the UK. You can find Stanton in the Tewkesbury Borough of the Gloucestershire portion of the region.
The narrow lanes and streets bordered by impossibly beautiful thatched cottages are a dream. The Mount Inn, built in the 1600s, offers visitors locally brewed pints and fantastic views of the Malvern Hills over in Worcestershire and the Welsh mountains to the west. Amateur artists will also enjoy the summer schools held at the Stanton Guildhouse, where experts lead classes on stained glass making, woodturning, watercolour painting and pottery.
Cirencester
A little bigger than the top Cotswold villages on our list, the market town of Cirencester in the southern Cotswolds is known as "The Capital of the Cotswolds" and has been a feature on the map ever since the Romans built the city in the 1st century AD.
Given this history, it isn't surprising to find that the locals are almost constantly unearthing Roman archaeological finds in their gardens, with the Corinium Museum housing many of the finds, some of which date back over 12,000 years! A visit here is a must for any history fans and families, even though it is not a village. There are plenty of cosy pubs with relaxing charm to choose from as well.
Chipping Campden
Like the previous entry, Chipping Campden can't technically be one of the prettiest Cotswold villages since it is a small market town. However, the place is so stunning we couldn't leave it off our list. Forming the start of the famous Cotswold Way Trail, Chipping Campden has everything the Cotswolds is famous for.
From fantastically preserved cottages and historic buildings (all thanks to the Camped Trust) to boutiques, many shops and plenty of other opportunities for some retail therapy. Interestingly, all the phone and power lines in the town are buried underground in an effort to preserve the town's gorgeous aesthetics.
Naunton
Near two other Gloucestershire entries on our list, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, is Naunton, yet another of the prettiest Cotswold villages. Founded in the Norman era, in the 11th century, Naunton also has plenty of history for visitors to wonder about.
The inimitable Cotswold cottages, alongside St. Andrew's Church, form the majority of the village. If you're feeling a little peckish, there's nowhere better for a roast dinner than The Black Horse Inn.
Sherborne
This isn't the Sherborne in Dorset or the Sherbourne in Warwickshire; this is the Sherborne in the Cotswolds, a short journey away from Burford. While exploring one of the most picturesque villages in the region, keep an eye out for the micro library hidden away in an old red phone box.
If you want to take a book out, just remember to replace it with another. From the sleepy village, you can take a circular walking trail through the watermeadows, with plenty of gorgeous scenery and picnic spots to relax in and take a break.
Once you've made it back to Sherborne after your walk, head over to the Sherborne Village Shop and Tea Rooms for a slice of cake and a hot chocolate or cream tea. St Mary Magdalene Church is also worth visiting before you head out to your next Cotswold destination.
Bibury
It's impossible to make a list of the prettiest Cotswold villages without mentioning Bibury. Arlington Row, a set of iconic and quaint Cotswold cottages, is possibly the most famous landmark in the village. So famous, in fact, that they are featured in UK passports. And with the aesthetic genius and founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, having voted Bibury the most beautiful village in the whole of England, we're in no place to argue.
While most people simply snap a quick photo of Arlington Row before moving on, there are actually things to do in Bibury besides standing in awe of the beautiful surroundings. Why not take a scenic stroll across the bridges and along the River Coln? Alternatively, you can try and spot some of the local wildlife around the Rack Isle wetland and the Bibury Trout Farm.
Hatherop
Another picturesque Cotswold village that's easily missed is Hatherop. A short journey from Coln St Aldwyn, taking a stroll through this gorgeous countryside, is well worth the effort if you happen to be passing by. Notable local sights include Hatherop Castel and St Nicholas's Church, all of which can be found in this sleepy village on the banks of the River Coln.
Minster Lovell
If you want thatched cottages and historic ruins, then the village of Minster Lovell should be at the top of your list of places to visit. On the border of the Cotswolds region on the Oxfordshire side is Minster Lovell Hall and Dovecote, a ruined aristocratic hall dating back to the 12th century.
A picnic by the river in the shade of the historic ruins couldn't be more quintessentially British.After exploring the ruins, head through another of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds to the Old Swan hotel and pub. With a vast beer garden to relax in and enjoy the wide range of ales, gins and wines on offer, it's the perfect place to take a break. Why not try the food at their traditional pubs too, such as their fantastic roast dinners?
Broad Campden
Another hidden gem, sequestered between Chipping Campden and Blockley, Broad Campden gleams with quaint Cotswolds charm. The honey-hued Cotswold stone cottages and its distinctive parish church are well worth visiting.
If you want something to wet your whistle on the way, why not stop in at the Bakers Arms for a quick pint as you pass through?
Kingham
Kingham is another quaint village that should be on your list, only four miles down the road from Chipping Norton. While it's perhaps more interesting to live here than to visit, there's still plenty for folks to do, especially if you're a fan of fine dining.
Nathan Eades, head chef at the White Rabbit inn, serves up Michellin-starred cuisine to visitors, all of which is sourced from local farms according to the seasons. The Norman church is also worth visiting.
Adlestrop
While it may be one of the lesser-known Cotswolds villages, Adlestrop certainly ranks amongst the most beautiful. There's also a literary connection for book lovers, with Edward Thomas' 1914 poem putting the village on the map.
Sadly, the train line on which Thomas was travelling when he penned the poem no longer exists, though the small station has been preserved, with a copy of his poem emblazoned on a plaque there.
Church Enstone
Church Enstone is technically just outside of the Cotswolds area, though being one of the prettiest villages in the region, we feel we can sneak it onto our list.
The rose-garlanded cottages are beautiful to behold, while the nearby Hoar Stone Neolithic burial chamber will be of great interest to history lovers. The Artyard Cafe is also the perfect place for afternoon tea when you're done.
Snowshill
Snowshill is most famous for Snowshill Manor and Gardens. Built during the 16th century, the National Trust now oversees this fantastic manor house.
Other locations worth a visit are Barnabas Church and the Snowshill Arms. The latter is a dog-friendly public house offering affordable pub lunches. The Cotswold lavender fields are also not to be missed.
The Cotswolds is your perfect holiday destination if you're looking to explore English villages, lively market towns and visit some of greatest castles, palaces and country homes. This region receives unpredictable weather and four seasons a year with each offering unique events and sights that tourists can enjoy. With its breath-taking landscapes and acclaimed reserves, you may never want to go back home after a single visit to the Cotswolds.
We provide Self Catering Luxury Holiday Cottages in the Cotswolds. Find out more about booking your stay in the Cotswolds.