The Cotswolds

Complete 5-Day Road Trip Itinerary for The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds are an area in southwest England brimming with quintessential charming towns, honey-colored stone buildings, and pastoral countryside. Located within easy driving distance from London or Bath, the region has long been a favorite get-away destination for city folk.

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This timeless landscape is dotted with manor houses, ancient churches, and market squares, most of which grew out of the wool trade in medieval times. Even though the industries that put these villages on the map have long since faded, the historic stone buildings and landmarks have been carefully preserved providing a glimpse into the past and some of the most photogenic scenes you’ve ever seen. Plus, the revitalized village centers are havens for art galleries and antiques shopping.

For me, a rushed visit to the countryside is counter-intuitive. These places are meant to be enjoyed at a slower-pace. So, while there is a lot to see, spreading it out over several days seems only fitting. Hence, we decided on a 5-day road trip from London, bookended by a couple days in Oxford.

This post is a complete overview of our itinerary. Of course, if you have more or less time, this can certainly be modified according to whatever places interest you most.

Cotswolds 5-Day Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: London to Castle Combe

Naturally, the beginning of our drive through The Cotswolds started out with some logistics, e.g., checking out of our hotel in London, picking up the rental car, etc. There are numerous attractions between London and Castle Combe. The hard part was deciding which ones we wanted to see the most. A few options to consider are listed below. We decided on Highclere Castle and Lacock Abbey.

• Windsor Castle: Windsor, UK | Website
• Greys Court: Rotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4PG | Website
• Basildon Park: Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9NR | Website
• Highclere Castle: Newbury RG20 9RN | Website
• Stonehendge: Salisbury SP4 7DE | Website
• Lacock Abbey: Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG | Website
• Corsham Court: Church Street, Wiltshire, Corsham SN13 0BZ | Website
• Dyrham Park: Bath SN14 8HY | Website

Highclere Castle

Highclere doubles as the film set for Downtown Abbey in the acclaimed British drama series. The castle is privately owned, but has a handful of public opening days throughout the year. As luck would have it, our travel dates aligned with their Spring Opening. For any Downton fan, visiting the castle in real life is a dream come true. It is every bit as grand and glamorous as you’d expect.

Check here for future Highclere Castle public opening and events.

Above photos: Highclere Castle

Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey is a 13th-century Augustinian abbey that was converted into a Tudor family home in the 16th-century, passing through generations of the Talbot family. Numerous additions, renovations, and changes have been made over the course of 800 years, but most of what can be seen today is the same as it was when William Henry Fox Talbot and his family lived here in the 19th-century.

Above photo: Lacock Abbey

William is credited with inventing the photographic negative in 1835, which paved the way for modern photography. There are multiple displays about William’s discovery throughout the abbey that enrich all the other history here, especially if you are a photophile.

Lacock Abbey and much of the surrounding village are under the care of the National Trust, which means that modern commercial buildings and tv satellite dishes are no where to be seen. Such unaltered architecture makes for a perfect backdrop for filming and may look a bit familiar for Harry Potter fans;)

Above photos: Lacock Abbey

Castle Combe

Our final Day 1 stop and overnight stay was at Castle Combe, often touted as the most beautiful village in The Cotswolds. It is a pretty popular tourist draw and can be a little crowded during the day. But, by late afternoon and into the evening, the streets are empty. We stayed the night at The Manor House, which was our favorite hotel stay during our entire time in The Cotswolds.

Above photo: The Street, Castle Combe

Read my complete post on the top things to do in Castle Combe here.

Above photos: Castle Combe Market Cross (left); ByBrook River (right)

Day 2: Newark Park to Ellenborough Park

The driving route from Castle Combe up to Ellenborough Park is another attraction-rich stretch, with many options to fill up the day. We found out during our planning that a lot of these decisions were made for us purely due to limited opening hours and ticket availability. A very unfortunate miss for us was Highgrove Gardens at the country home of HRH King Charles and Queen Camilla. Even if your travel dates do align with the garden tours, tickets are competitive. Thankfully, there are plenty of backup plan options.

• Westonbirt National Arboretum: Tetbury GL8 8QS | Website
• Village of Tetbury
• Chavenage House: Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8XP | Website
• Woodchester Park: Tinkley Lane, near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL10 3UH | Website
• Newark Park: Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PZ | Website
• Coaley Peak: 21 Rock Road, Dursley GL10 3TP | Website
• Uley Long Barrow: Dursley GL11 5AR | Website
• Village of Painswick

We boiled our stops down to Newark Park, Coaley Peak, and Painswick. We could have fit more into the day, but purposely didn’t. Also, we wanted to arrive at Ellenborough Park (our hotel) early to be able to enjoy the property.

Newark Park

Newark Park is a 16th-century hunting lodge that sits on 725-acres of pristine English countryside, overlooking the Severn Valley to the Severn Estuary. In other words, come for the house tour, but stay for the views.

Above photo: Newark Park

The lodge was remodeled into a family home in the late 18th-century for the Clutterbuck family. Probably the most notable addition was a stone staircase with a mullioned bay stained glass window, known as the Clutterbuck Window. Eventually, the house was abandoned and left to the National Trust, who nearly let it go to the elements. Thankfully, an American architect by the name of Robert Parsons negotiated an arrangement with the National Trust to take on the restoration of Newark Park in exchange for nominal rent. Everybody won.

Above photos: Interior rooms at Newark Park; Clutterbuck Window (center)

Today, Newark Park is a quiet respite. Visitors come to relax and read from benches overlooking the escarpment after a quick walk-through the house. Families often will make a picnic on a sunny day from one of the great lawns where peacocks roam the grounds. This is also a wonderful place to come if you are traveling with your dogs, as there are plenty of walking paths and dog-friendly areas.

Above photo: Newark Park Gardens

Coaley Peak

Our next stop off was at Coaley Peak. Its essentially a road stop pull over with views, but you can make much more of it if you decide to take the walk down to the Uley Long Barrow. We came here to enjoy our boxed picnic lunches that we had picked up earlier in the morning from The Little Picnic Shop in Castle Combe. There is a large, grassy area and plenty of picnic tables — or you can just munch your lunch in your car while looking out over the spectacular vista!

Above photo: Coaley Peak

Painswick

As tempted as we were to visit some of the larger cities in The Cotswolds, such as Gloucester and Cheltenham, we intentionally focused on the smaller villages. Painswick was probably the most surprising of these villages due to its vibrant artist community and relatively uncrowded attractions.

Painswick is another village that grew out of the wool trade and has since been dubbed “Queen of the Cotswolds” due to its authenticity and unspoiled architecture. The highlight of any visit is St. Mary’s Parish Church with its memorable churchyard planted with 99 yew trees. From the church, the Painswick Heritage Trail walks visitors through its historic streets and buildings.

Above photos: St. Mary’s Parish Church, Painswick

And then there is the Painswick Rococo Garden, the only surviving, complete Rococo Garden in the UK that has been lovingly restored to its former glory. It is a must-see place just a short drive from the village center.

Read my complete post on the top things to do in Painswick here.

Above photo: Painswick Rococo Garden

Ellenborough Park

We capped our day at Ellenborough Park, a hotel property that was once a baronial hall and afterwards became a girls’ boarding school. If you enjoy a luxe hotel stay that is a historical attraction itself, put this one on your radar. The 16th-century manor house, once known as Southam House, was built in Tudor-style with later Gothic additions and renovations. The grounds are extensive and we also loved the on-site restaurant. Check current rates and availability here.

Day 3: Sudeley Castle, Hidcote Manor Gardens, and Broadway Tower

Our 3rd day in The Cotwolds may have been my favorite. We were outdoors nearly all day except for a few short drives between attractions. We truly could not have lined up a better sequence, and we were massively lucky with the weather.

Sudeley Castle

Sudeley Castle is a very special place that has played an important role in England’s history. It is one of the few remaining privately owned castles in England and the only one to have a Queen buried on its grounds – Katherine Parr, the 6th wife of Henry VIII.

Above photo: The Queen’s Garden, Sudeley Castle

The castle sits on 1,200 acres, which includes ten formal gardens. We probably spent an equal amount of time exploring the gardens as we did the opulent interiors of the castle, followed by a visit to the the beautiful 15th-century St. Mary’s Church where Katherine Parr lies entombed.

For more photos of Sudeley Castle, visit my Gallery page here.

Above photos: Sudeley Castle & Gardens

Hidcote Manor Garden

Next, we drove to our northernmost point on our trip, Hidcote Manor Garden, one of the best-known and most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in Britain. Since it was a Sunday, there we many families who were taking advantage of the gorgeous spring day. The grounds consist of many garden “rooms”, but there are also grassy fields for picnic-ing and lawn games.

Above photo: Hidcote Manor Garden

Hidcote comprises about 10 acres of gardens. It was designed and planted in the early 20th-century by Major Lawrence Johnston, who sought out rare and exotic plants during his travels around the world. The only catch — it is only open on weekends (Friday – Sunday) from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, so you’ll need to take some timing into consideration. Well worth it though — especially when the flowers are in full bloom.

Above photos: Hidcote Manor Garden

Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower is an 18th-century folly built for the 6th Earl of Coventry near the village of Broadway that has become emblematic of the Cotswolds. It is located on Beacon Hill, the second highest point in the Cotswolds, and offers breathtaking views from its roof viewing platform.

Above photo: Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower changed hands several times and was used as a workspace for manuscript printing, a country retreat during the Arts and Crafts movement, and even a family farm. It was purchased by Hans-Eugen Will in the 1980s and converted into a museum and visitor attraction.

Above photos: Broadway Tower Interior

In addition to the tower, visitors can encounter the resident herd of Red Deer that roam the estate, visit the nuclear bunker that was created during the Cold War, or enjoy one of the circular walks from the Tower Barn.

Above photos: Broadway Tower

Day 4: Broadway

Broadway

Broadway is one of the larger villages in the Cotswolds and is a great place to base yourself if you plan on spending a lot of time in the region. It is within close driving proximity to a lot of the top attractions in the Cotswolds and offers a good selection of accommodations, restaurants, and shops. We spent two nights here at The Lygon Arms hotel, a former coaching inn dating to the 14th-century. Check current rates and availability here.

Above photo: The Lygon Arms, Broadway

The best thing to do in Broadway is shop and explore along High Street. There are antique shops, art galleries, and quite a few design shops. It is a great place to find home decor items, especially if you like the refined country aesthetic. After exploring High Street, we had a fun day visiting Snowshill Manor and St. Eadburgha’s Church.

Above photos: High Street, Broadway

Some of the surrounding attractions that you might want to consider while staying in Broadway include:

• Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway | Website
• Sezincote House: Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9AW | Website
• Snowshill Manor: Broadway WR12 7JU | Website
• St. Eadburgha’s Church: 47 Snowshill Road, Broadway WR12 7JS | Website
• Cotswold Lavender: Hill Barn Farm Cottage, Snowshill WR12 7JY | Website
• Dover’s Hill: Weston Subedge, Chipping Campden GL55 6UW | Website
• Village of Chipping Campden
• Village of Moreton-in-Marsh

Snowshill Manor

Snowshill Manor the is a 16th-century manor house that achieved notarity through its most recent 20th-century owner, Charles Paget Wade. Charles was a collector of everything and anything that he found colorful, amusing, or interesting. He utilized Snowshill Manor as a place to display his collections, while he and his wife lived in a small cottage adjacent to the main house.

Above photos: Snowshill Manor

Snowshill Manor is a stately home with many interesting architectural features, but the real draw is all of the things Charles collected and the manner in which he wanted them to be displayed. It is a cross between a hoarder’s stash and a museum, which makes sense given Charles’ motto, “Let nothing perish.”

Above photos: Snowshill Manor

We enjoyed the gardens and countryside views at Snowshill most. Charles transformed his overgrown farm into a series of garden rooms and courts with multi-level terraces, ponds, and even a little miniature village.

Above photos: Snowshill Manor Garden

St. Eadburgha’s Church

St. Eadburgha’s Church is an 11th-century (Saxon) church located on Snowshill Road on the way back to Broadway. We pulled in to the parking area and had a walk through the churchyard. Unfortunately, the church was not open, but we managed to get a look inside through one of the windows. St. Eadburgha’s was the original parish church of Broadway and still has most of its ancient medieval features including the chancel and other woodwork.

Above photos: St. Eadburgha’s Church

Day 5: Four Villages

On our last full-day in The Cotswolds, we visited a slew of little villages, including Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford, Bibury, Burton-on-the-Water, and finally Upper Slaughter where we spent the night. The order in which we visited these villages was based on having to circle back to Upper Slaughter by the end of the day. Otherwise, it would make more sense to visit Bibury last since it is the farthest away (nearly to Cirencester).

Four villages (not including our accommodations in Upper Slaughter) might seem like a lot of ground to cover in one day. In actuality, these village are super small and close in proximity to each other. Each of them has a star attraction in addition to their lovely honey-colored village centers that can be fully walked in an hour or less. So, very do-able to see them all!

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is a hill-top village at the junction of several major Cotswolds roads. It has one of the larger market squares that we visited, lined with coffee shops, quaint hotels, and boutique shopping. It is also home to The Porch House, one of the oldest inns in England where you can still book one of their 13 rooms. Stow’s primary draw and claim to fame is St. Edwards Church and its medieval North Door flanked by ancient yew trees, said to have inspired the Doors of Durin in Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings.

Above photos: St. Edward’s Church North Doors (left); The Porch House Inn (right)

Burford

Burford is a popular Cotswold village, located on the River Windrush. It is known for its picturesque Tudor and Georgian shops and homes that line The Hill, the main street that runs through the center of the village. We walked up as far as the War Memorial and then came down the other side of the street.

Above photo: The Hill, Burford

Above photo: VE Day Decoration (left); Tolsey Museum (right)

I was most impressed by Burford’s St. John the Baptist Church, one of the top 10 visited churches in England. The tomb of Sir Lawrence and Lady Tanfield in the old St Katherine’s Chapel, along with the pre-Reformation stained glass windows, were the most memorable parts of our visit.

Above photo: St. John the Baptist Church

Bibury

The village of Bibury, which is anchored by River Coln, was described by poet William Morris as the most beautiful village in England. Most people come here to take photos in front of the charming cottages of Arlington Row. The cottages date to the late 14th-centry and were originally used for wool stores by monks from the Osney Augustian Abbey. Today, the cottages are owned by the National Trust, but are leased out to private tenants.

Bibury also has a famous trout farm where you can actually fish for your lunch, as well as a wildfowl reserve, countryside walking trails, and its 11th-centry St. Mary’s Church just outside of the village center.

Above photos: Arlington Row, Bibury

Burton-on-the-Water

Burton-on-the-Water straddles the River Windrush and is known for its low, pedestrian bridges. I’ve heard it referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” but I think that is misleading. It is nothing like Venice aside from having the footbridges. Burton-on-the Water is a popular tour bus stop and can be flooded with droves of people rather suddenly. If you happen to be there on a crowded day, it really doesn’t take away from its charm. It just feels like a lively park, full of people eating ice cream and walking their dogs. We enjoyed it:)

Above photo: Burton-on-the-Water

Above photos: War Memorial (left); Antique Shop (center); Motoring Museum (right)

Once again, the village parish seemed to be the main historic landmark and architectural highlight. The oldest part of the current St. Lawrence Church dates to the 13th-century, but most of it has been re-built and/or expanded over the years. Still, it has some really wonderful features, such as the painted ceiling in the chancel and the oak room screen near the front of the nave.

Above photos: St. Lawrence Church, Burton-on-the-Water

Upper Slaughter

Upper Slaughter (slaughter = ‘muddy place’) is a small village by the River Eye, a few miles north of Burton-on-the-Water. There is a 12th-centry church, St. Peter’s, a town square, pretty houses, and the nearby village of Lower Slaughter. The most popular thing to do here is the 1-mile walk along the river to the Lower Slaughter footbridge and old mill.

We spent our last night in the Cotswolds at the Lords of the Manor hotel, a 17th-century manor house the was purchased from King Henry VIII by the Slaughter family, and later conveyed to Ferdinando Tracy Travell (whose portrait still hangs in the front hall). All the rich history aside, the hotel overlooks acres of gorgeous countryside and has an award-winning restaurant on-site. Check current rates and availability here.

Above photos: Lords of the Manor (top); St. Peter’s Church (left); Lords of the Manor Garden (right)

Day 6: Upper Slaughter to Oxford

Daylesford Organic Farm Shop

As we left the Cotswolds, we made a couple smaller stops on our way to Blenheim Palace and Oxford that are worth a mention. Our first stop was at Daylesford Organic in Morten-on-Marsh, a huge farm shop with a restaurant, home furnishings, garden nursery, and cooking school. In addition to this complex, Daylesford also operates the Bamford Wellness Spa, cottages, and multiple restaurants in The Cotswolds and London.

The farm shop and home goods are great fun to browse. I came away with some strawberries to eat in the car and a whole lot of inspiration for my next garden party;)

Above photos: Daylesford Organic

Rollright Stones

We also made a quick stop at the Rollright Stones, an ancient site for Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monuments located near Long Compton. There are several stone circles and monuments — Whispering Knights dolmen, is early Neolithic, from around 3,800-3,500 BC and the King’s Men stone circle is late Neolithic, from around 2,500 BC. It is a fascinating place and well worth the stop if you are close by.

Above photo: Rollright Stones

And then we were off to Blenheim, which a lot of people include in their visit from Oxford or the Cotswolds. I’ve created a separate post about our visit to this amazing palace, which can be read here (link coming soon!).

Travel tips

National Trust Landmarks

The entire English countryside is littered National Trust properties. Most of these properties have opening hours during the day (e.g., 10 am – 4 pm), but are not necessarily open 7-days a week. We meticulously planned our itinerary to include as many of these as possible as we made our way around the Cotswolds.

If you are a UK resident, the National Trust annual membership is such a great deal. If you are a US resident, the Royal Oak annual membership will provide the same benefits as the National Trust, and also includes other historic properties in the United States. Purchase well in advance so your membership materials arrive prior to your departure.

There are a couple other historic preservation societies with similar programs, such as Historic Houses. I recommend doing some research to see if any of these memberships will help save you money on admission fees during your stay. We found the Royal Oak annual membership to be the best fit for us and it saved us quite a bit of money over the course of our week-long tour.

Tours

Below are a few private tour offerings that are highly rated. These are so great for groups and individuals who want the guidance of a local expert, an authentic experience, and/or would prefer to leave the details to someone else.

Thank you for reading my post! Please feel free to add friendly comments or questions below!