A MAGICAL COTSWOLDS ITINERARY: LONG WEEKEND GUIDE & BEST THINGS TO DO!

LOOKING TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE COTSWOLDS ITINERARY?

Check out our blog post below to plan a wonderful Cotswolds itinerary for a long weekend!

It includes the full 2 to 3 days in the Cotswolds guide, the best things to do in the Cotswolds, where to stay in the Cotswolds, getting around and more!

COTSWOLDS ITINERARY:
THE ULTIMATE LONG WEEKEND GUIDE!

For our long weekend in the Cotswolds itinerary, we predominantly explore the North of the Cotswolds, in the Gloucestershire district. We visit all of the best Cotswolds villages that we truly believe are worth seeing.

Shop independent stores, indulge in cream teas, breathe in the fresh countryside air and visit key sights such as Broadway Tower, a movie location and a charming Lavender Farm.

DAY 1: COLN ST ALDWYNS COUNTRYSIDE WALK (OPTIONAL) TO BIBURY VILLAGE

MORNING: COUNTRYSIDE WALK FROM COLN ST ALDWYNS
If you stay at our recommended hotel of New Inn at Coln in Coln St Aldwyns village, there is the option to walk 2 miles across scenic countryside to Bibury village this morning.

This well-signposted route, starting here, is idyllic. It passes through farmers fields and canopied woodland before trailing along the River Coln. It’s the perfect way to embrace the morning with calming sounds of nature, picturesque sights and the invigorating fresh Cotswolds air!

Note: If you are not staying in Coln St Aldwyns village, then skip this step and simply drive to Bibury. It’s best to get here early, Bibury is one of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds and can be difficult to park at.

Top Tip: Be sure to wear suitable, waterproof footwear! Though the trail starts on soft grass, the trail takes you through very muddy fields (especially if it has been raining). Everyone in the Cotswolds seemed to be wearing wellington boots.

Top tip: This is a very popular walk for dog walkers!

cotswolds-itinerary — Pictured: The signpost in Bibury gesturing the direction back to Coln St Aldwyns village.

AFTERNOON: EXPLORE BIBURY VILLAGE
Spend a few hours in Bibury, one of the best and most popular villages in the Cotswolds. It may be small, but it is bursting with British charm!

First head to Bibury’s most popular sight, Arlington Row. Arlington Row is a collection of seriously photogenic terraced cottages. This spot is usually overrun with tourists during the afternoon, so do try and get here early to see it without a load of other people.

While you’re in Bibury, you can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at William Morris Tea Rooms or if it’s a warm sunny day, have lunch or even just a few drinks in the The Swan Hotel courtyard.

Top Tip: It is best to visit Bibury early morning or late evening if you want a more peaceful experience and tourist-free photos. It is the most popular village to visit, thus crawling with bus-loads of people throughout the day.

Fun Fact: Built in the 14th century (1380!), Arlington Row’s original purpose was a monastic wool store, however later converted to ‘weaver’s cottages’ in the 17th century. Today, they are still fully occupied houses!

One of the best villages to visit on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary is Bibury! It is the most famous and popular Cotswolds, and the key sight to see is Arlington Row (pictured) — Pictured: Arlington Row, Bibury. One of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds!

One of the best villages to visit on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary is Bibury! It is the most famous and popular Cotswolds village to visit. Head to the Swan Hotel and have afternoon tea or drinks in the sun in the courtyard. — Pictured: An idyllic seating area set on the River Coln next the to Swan Hotel (left), having drinks in the Swan Hotel outside courtyard (right).

DAY 2: STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER AND THE SLAUGHTERS

MORNING: STOP AT STOW-ON-THE-WOLD (OPTIONAL)
Optional: If you wanted to, this morning first head for a quick stop at Stow-On-The-Wold for a quick snap with this enchanting door found at St Edward’s Church.

If you fancied to stay a while, there are lots of eateries perfect for Breakfast or Brunch in Stow On The Wold, such as The Hive or The Old Bakery Tea Rooms.

MORNING – AFTERNOON: BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER
Known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds”, Bourton-On-The-Water village is a must on your Cotswolds itinerary. It is one of largest in the Cotswolds, charmingly centred around the gentle babbling River Windrush, which cuts directly through the village.

TOP THINGS TO DO IN BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER:

Visit the Motoring Museum and Toy Collection (To all you 1990’s UK babies – remember the small little yellow car Brum on TV, he is in there!)

Walk around the ‘Model Village‘, a scale model replica of the full Bourton-On-The-Water village.

Buy unique pieces at the Cotswolds Pottery shop.

A great option with kids is the Birdland Park & Gardens, a small birdlife centre with 500+ bird species to see plus a discovery centre for children, located in the heart of the village.

You can easily spend a good full afternoon here exploring the main street, criss-crossing the idyllic small river bridges and venturing into the hidden shops on the residential outskirts of the main high street.

TOP PLACES TO EAT IN BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER:

The Croft (British grub) – Closed on Wednesdays
The Den (Premium café, deli)
The Mouse Trap Inn (British grub)

Fun Fact: Bourton-On-The-Water is thought to be one of the most visited villages in The Cotswolds!

Top Tip: While there is ‘Pay & Display’ parking in Bourton-On-The-Water, if you don’t mind walking an additional 5 to 10 minutes, we found a secret parking spot down a residential street to park for free here.

One of the best and most prettiest villages to visit on your Cotswolds itinerary is Bourton On The Water! — It’s easy to see why Bourton-On-The-Water is one of the most visited villages in the Cotswolds, you must add seeing its beauty for yourself on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary!

Pictured is the Model Village in Bourton-On-The-Water, a must do on your Cotswolds Itinerary! — Pictured: The Model Village is a 1/9th scale replica of Bourton-On-The-Water, a super fun thing and unique thing to do and see in the Cotswolds.

Pictured is the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, a super fun place to visit in Bourton-On-The-Water on your Cotswolds Itinerary! — Pictured: The Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection featuring the original little yellow car from the famous 1990’s British TV show.

Be sure to check out our list of ‘Bloody brilliant British slang and sayings‘!

AFTERNOON: LOWER SLAUGHTER VILLAGE
Lower Slaughter is the slightly larger of the two Slaughter villages. Contrary to its rather hostile-sounding name, the idyllic village of Lower Slaughter is quite the opposite!

Just a 4 minute drive from Bourton-On-The-Water, in Lower Slaughter you will find a quaint village divided by the gently flowing River Eye. It is home to a humble Old Mill, a majestic Manor House and surrounding charming cottages.

Pop into the Lower Slaughter Museum & craft shop (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), or if you haven’t eaten at Bourton-On-The-Water, grab lunch at the The Slaughters Country Inn pub!

Fun Fact: The name ‘Lower Slaughter’ actually means ‘slough’, meaning a muddy area or wetlands! The wetland in question is the gentle River Eye, which runs through the village.

Top Tip: The Lower Slaughter Manor House is actually a wonderful 5* star dog friendly hotel you can stay at overnight! Click to book your stay.

Top Tip: The Slaughters Country Inn in Lower Slaughter is actually a wonderful 5* star hotel you can stay at overnight! Click to book your stay.

A hidden gem to visit on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary is the small village of Lower Slaughter! — Pictured: The historical Old Mill in the fairytale village of Lower Slaughter, Cotswolds

AFTERNOON: UPPER SLAUGHTER VILLAGE
Drive 5-minutes up the road to the neighbouring village – Upper Slaughter. This tiny hidden gem purely remains a quiet, residential village with no specific catering to tourism or official things to do or places to eat.

Park up for free along the roadside in the village before heading to Upper Slaughters main draw: The “picture perfect” Ford, where the gentle River Eye envelopes the road at the bottom of a gentle hill.

Spending 30 to 45 minutes just wandering this tranquil, unspoiled village is enough. An absolute must-see during your long weekend in the Cotswolds itinerary.

Fun Fact: Upper Slaughter has been named a ‘Double Thankful village’, as it lost no men resident to the village during World Wars 1 and 2!

Fun Fact: Upper Slaughter usually hosts an annual Summer fete around July along the River Eye ford, a free bustling afternoon full of river races, bouncy castles, BBQ food, drinks, live music, ice creams, games and a prize raffle! it has been nicknamed “The Most Quintessential of Village Fetes”.

A hidden gem to visit on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary is the small village of Upper Slaughter to see its picturesque Ford — Pictured: The picturesque Ford at Upper Slaughter, one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds!

DAY 3: BROADWAY TOWER, BROADWAY VILLAGE, SNOWSHILL & LAVENDER FARM (SEASONAL)

MORNING: BROADWAY TOWER
A hidden gem in the Cotswolds is the Broadway Tower, a grand iconic landmark sat proudly upon Beacon Hill, and the second highest point of The Cotswolds!

Rich in heritage and history, make your way into the Tower itself for three levels of enthralling exhibitions (additional cost) and see the best view of The Cotswolds at the tower’s top! Or, roam the grounds to spot the resident red deer.

Top Tip: On-site is a large, reasonably priced ‘Pay & Display’ car park to pay for on arrival . At the car park, there is a large café for refreshments and also public toilets inside.

Top Tip: After paying for parking, it is free to walk the grounds of Broadway Tower. However, to go inside the Tower itself, there is a £12 entry fee.

Fun Fact: If you go decide to enter the Tower, on a clear day you can see across almost 60 miles and across 16 counties!

One of the best things to do on your Cotswolds itinerary is to see the Broadway Tower! — Pictured: The spectacular Broadway Tower from above, perched perfectly to give the best views of the Cotswolds rolling hills!

Broadway Tower is a unique hidden gem to see on your long weekend Cotswolds itinerary! — Pictured: Liam jumping for joy at the magnificent Broadway Tower!

SPOTTED WILDLIFE!

Red Deer
Find this resident deer herd at Broadway Tower, established here since the early eighties. The main ‘stag’ (male) is called William, with 18 ‘hind’ (female) deers in the herd and growing. The red deer is one of the largest deer species – behind the moose and elk!

Pictured: The resident red deer herd that can be seen on the grounds of Broadway Tower!

AFTERNOON: BROADWAY VILLAGE
After Broadway Tower, head straight to nearby Broadway village, a larger Cotswolds village often referred to as “The Jewel of The Cotswolds”.

Broadway is absolutely the best place in the Cotswolds to go shopping. Brace your bank card as you work your way down the main high street, which is full of irresistible eateries, unique gift, health, home and clothing shops, art galleries and museums.

See the full visual map of all shops, places to eat and events.

Top Tip: Our favourite unique gift and homeware stores in Broadway were Cotswolds Trading, Whatever the Weather & The Man Cave.

One of the best villages to go shopping in the Cotswolds is the delightful Broadway village, which is always bustling with things to do and has the best unique stores to shop in! — Pictured: A section of the bustling shopping street of Broadway Village.

AFTERNOON: BRIDGET JONES MOVIE LOCATION IN SNOWSHILL (OPTIONAL)
Just a 5 minute drive from Broadway Tower is Snowshill, a teeny tiny Cotswolds village with a big claim to fame: It is an iconic movie location for one of Britain’s most iconic romantic comedy films: Bridget Jones Diary!

The scene shot here is right at the beginning of the first two movies, where Bridget drives in the snow to her parents house for the ‘Turkey Curry Buffet’!

You can find the exact filming spot here, and is pictured below. A bucket list item for any Bridget Jones fans’ Cotswolds itinerary!

Fun Fact: Whilst filming this Bridget Jones scene, the entire village of Snowshill was blanketed in fake snow, as it was filmed in the Summer month of July!

Pictured: A still of the iconic Snowshill movie location from Bridget Jones's Diary! — Pictured: A still of the iconic Snowshill movie location from Bridget Jones’ Diary!

A must do for any fan of the Bridget Jones Diary movies is to visit the Cotswolds village of Snowshill to see the filming location by the church! — Pictured: Jordie standing at the filming location shot in the Bridget Jones’ Diary!

AFTERNOON: COTSWOLDS LAVENDER FARM (SEASONAL)
Just outside of Snowshill village, you can (seasonally) visit the wonderfully unique Cotswold Lavender Farm. It usually reopens for Summer in June, though July is notably the best month to see and smell the lavender in full bloom!

On entry, you will discover a breathtaking display of lavender, stretching across 70 acres of idyllic Cotswold landscape. Walk in and amongst the lavender for a full sensual Summer experience.

On-site there are also wildflower meadows, a woodland walking trail and the ‘Lavender Cabin’ shop selling organic ‘lavender flavoured’ treats, including: lavender ice cream, lavender flapjacks, lavender tea and even lavender biscuits. Of course, there are non-lavender based treats too.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE COTSWOLDS

⭐ New Inn At Coln (Coln St Aldwyns)
⭐ The Swan Hotel (Bibury)
⭐ The Old Stocks Inn (Stow On The Wold)
⭐ The Manor House (Lower Slaughter)
⭐ Lansdowne GuestHouse (Bourton On The Water)

💎 Bourton Newly Remodeled Scandi Chic Authentic Charm & Character
(Bourton On The Water, Holiday Home x4 People)

COTSWOLDS PACKING LIST

IN THE WARMER MONTHS

Loose comfortable clothing. T-shirts, thin activewear leggings / shorts.
Refillable water bottle!
Comfortable (ideally waterproof) walking shoes that you don’t mind getting a bit muddy on those cross country walks.
Or alternatively, bring a pair of Wellington boots for countryside walks. You will fit right in with the locals.
High factor sun cream.
Additional sun protective clothing, including a sun cap and sunglasses.

IN THE COLDER MONTHS

Lightweight day jacket, we love our Regatta jacket!
Lots of layers of loose clothing to take off / keep on dependant on how cold it is. We would recommend full-length leggings, t-shirts, fleece layer, thick socks, gloves, scarf, bobble hat, ear muffs etc.
A spare pair of normal shoes to walk around towns or change into when you get back to your car after a long walk! It is likely your walking boots will get very muddy here especially in the Winter months.

GETTING TO & AROUND THE COTSWOLDS

GETTING TO & AROUND THE COTSWOLDS BY CAR

For those who want full freedom and flexibility when exploring on their weekend in the Cotswolds, the best option is to self drive your own car. If you are visiting the UK and do not have your own car, you can rent a car for multiple days!

GETTING TO & AROUND THE COTSWOLDS BY BUS

If you cannot drive or rent your own vehicle, there is substantial public transport bus service links, that even connect to some of the smaller Cotswolds villages! Click here for full information.

GETTING TO THE COTSWOLDS BY ORGANISED DAY TOURS

If you’re visiting from overseas staying in London but want to visit the Cotswolds without hiring a car? No problem at all, there are plenty of Cotswolds day tours from London to choose from, which make a visit to the Cotswolds super easy and convenient.

VISITING THE COTSWOLDS:
“KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

WHAT AND WHERE ARE THE COTSWOLDS?

We hear so much about this UK region, simply blanketed as ‘The Cotswolds’ – but what actually are they?

The English term “Wolds” typically describes a range of gentle hills of open country. This is very fitting, as the Cotswolds is in fact a huge rural region in the South-West of England, 80% of which is countryside and farmland.

It stretches 800 square miles across parts of five English counties: Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Warwickshire!

A visual map showing the UK location of where we are undertaking our long weekend Cotswolds itinerary!

WHY SHOULD I VISIT THE COTSWOLDS?
WHAT MAKES THE COTSWOLDS SO SPECIAL?

The Cotswolds is the perfect destination for a short countryside escape. It is packed full of idyllic walking trails (over 3,000 miles to choose from!) for visitors to get out into nature, whether on the open rolling hills or in ancient woodland.

From the iconic honey coloured stone buildings, to the quaint tea rooms and independent shops, old school red post boxes and the countless fluffy sheep in the fields, the Cotswolds is just a beautiful place to spend a long weekend relaxing and enjoying the sights.

For International or non-resident visitors especially, the villages in the Cotswolds embody that picture perfect example of that fairytale British charm that you’ll see in the movies.

WHAT ARE THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT THE COTSWOLDS?

UK SUMMER = JUNE TO AUGUST
UK AUTUMN = SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER
UK WINTER = DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY
UK SPRING = MARCH TO MAY

From our experience, we believe the best months to visit the Cotswolds is between the two off-peak seasons, either late Spring in May or the start of Autumn months in September.

During these months, it will be far less busy and there is still a good chance for some mild and warmer weather. The UK’s Summer has a habit of starting late, with warm weather usually carrying on into September.

On the contrary, we would advise not to visit the Cotswolds during the Summer school holidays, between July and August. This is when it will be extremely busy with tourists and the hotel prices the highest!

WHAT ARE THE BEST VILLAGES TO SEE IN THE COTSWOLDS?

With the Cotswolds being such a vast region, there are dozens and dozens of market towns and sleepy villages to choose from – so how do you know which ones to visit in just a long weekend?!

As we are from the UK and have experienced many British destinations, we have only included the Cotswolds towns and villages in our itinerary below that we felt has that extra special quintessential charm and makes it worth seeing, rather than being a standard British high street.

THE COTSWOLDS FUN FACTS

The Cotswolds is the largest of 40 “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty” (AONB) in the UK!
The total length of Cotswolds stone walls is said to be greater than the Great Wall of China!
There are approximately 60,000 thatched roof cottages in England, the majority of which are found in the Cotswolds!

CONCLUSION: COTSWOLDS ITINERARY

In conclusion, we believe this 3 day long weekend Cotswolds itinerary gives a great glimpse into this beautiful region of the UK even in such a short amount of time.

It highlights all the Cotswolds villages that are worth seeing and full of true British charm (rather than a standard high street), plus including key sights such as Broadway Tower. It even throws in a movie location and a Lavender Farm!

We hope you have a reinvigorating, relaxing and wonderful trip to the Cotswolds!

A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!

Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com

A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.

Got a trip coming up? Look no further than:

Skyscanner for the best flight deals
Easy to compare, clean, uncluttered website.