by Checkered fields stretch over soft hills, tall church spiers dot villages of honey-coloured stone and wildflower meadows adorn gently rolling valleys. Stretching from Chipping Campden in the north to the outskirts of Bath in the south, the Cotswolds are 800 square miles or so of near perfect pastoral England. The bucolic landscape reflects centuries of interaction between man and nature: ancient sheep-grazed pastures, well-managed beech and oak woodland, 4,000 miles (ish) of skillfully crafted dry stone walls. In many ways, visitors could be forgiven for thinking they have stepped back to a kinder and gentler era here.
This is, of course, a great location for families, with plenty of campsites, glamping sites, imaginative hotels and safe activities to choose from. There’s also plenty of outdoor action for all ages, as lively or as relaxed as you like. The Cotswolds present very rewarding cycling terrain on quiet roads and lanes that provide a mix of easy undulations and energetic bracing contours. There are many walks, with around 3,000 miles of public footpaths, some offering undemanding walks, others with steep stretches and breathtaking panoramas (you’ll experience all the variations on the long Cotswold Way) .
Home to William Morris and other members of the Arts and Crafts movement, the Cotswolds also have an artistic heartbeat. You can explore this amazingly rich heritage in its galleries, gardens and architecture, and tap into a lasting sense of creativity by mastering new skills: there’s a range of world-class workshops and classes to enjoy, from photography to to cooking and floristry.
Whether you’re after inspiration for outdoor pursuits, family adventures, aesthetic adventures or exciting masterclasses, here’s our pick of the best experiences to enjoy in the Cotswolds.
Walk the Cotswold Way
A strong contender as the nation’s most scenic long-distance trail, the Cotswold Way can be walked in parts or completed in its entirety within five to 10 days. The 102 mile path passes through honey-stone villages, woodland and meadows and climbs steep hills with spectacular views. The Cotswold Walking Co organizes walking holidays to suit fitness levels and time constraints, arranging itineraries, luggage transfers and accommodation (they are well known for attractive guesthouses). The eight-day journey that takes up the entire trail is a non-stop effort: the shortest distance per day is nine miles, and the longest 15 miles.
How to do it: The Cotswold Walking Co (cotswoldwalkingco.com) offers an eight-day tour from £1,015 per person (based on two people sharing a room).
Go glamping on a farm
Between handsome Northleach and Bourton-on-the-Water lies the arcaded retreat of Notgrove. It is a farm and holiday resort with houses, pods and large safari tents with three bedrooms, a wood burner and flush loo, making them ideal for families. The view is an attractive rural scene, with extensive views over rolling fields. The setting is fantastic: there are farm walks to enjoy and safe cycling routes to follow (with bikes on site for use), and the animals here – alpacas, goats and donkeys – are pleasant and seem they are more than happy to be huggable.
How to do it: Notgrove Holidays (07760 33744, notgroveholidays.com) offers sleeper safari tents from £300 for two nights.
Improve your camera skills
Walk through stunningly beautiful parts of the central and northern Cotswolds while learning how to capture compelling images. Cotswold Photography Tours tailors tours for individuals or small groups, with previous skill sets ranging from beginner’s enthusiasm to advanced expertise. Tours can be arranged by car but the best are on foot. Walks can be of any length, although three to seven hours a day are recommended, giving you time to take in the stunning countryside, improve your camera techniques and take a circular route. finish.
How to do it: Cotswold Photography Tours (cotswoldphotographytours.co.uk) offers walking tours from £115 per person or £75 pp for groups of up to five people. Stay in the northern Cotswolds at the handsome Seagrave Arms (01386 840192, theseagravearms.co.uk) with doubles from £120 a night.
Eat, sleep and stretch at a yoga retreat
Recharge body, mind and soul at a tranquil country retreat near Chipping Norton. With years of experience in running health holidays, Jiva Healing has put together a package of holistic wellness, Creative Cooking, Conscious Eating and Yoga, which will take place over selected weekends at Brock Cottage next to a nature reserve Foxholes. “Cottage” is a bit of a dare, though, as Brock’s is a seven-bedroom house with a yoga studio. Here guests enjoy twice-daily yoga and meditation sessions, forest walks, massages and cooking demonstrations. The food is plant-based and guests receive recipes at the end of the break.
How to do it: Jiva Healing (jivahealing.com) offers two-night Cotswold retreats from £420 per person, based on two people sharing a room.
Living in a tree house
It would be hard to find luxury family accommodation more magical and adventurous than the three beautiful treehouses at the innovative Fish Hotel near Broadway. Set in a small forest, these super-swish large wooden pods on stilts are accessed via rope bridges. They offer many delights, from outdoor wooden baths on large wrap-around decks with stunning views, to interiors with stylish underfloor heating panels. There is an open plan area with a double bed for parents and a separate children’s room with bunk beds.
How to do it: The Fish (01386 858000, thefishhotel.co.uk) offers tree houses sleeping two adults and two children from £595 a night.
Take part in a cooking master class
The best local ingredients combined with creative competition among the region’s renowned chefs (five with Michelin stars) give the Cotswolds a gourmet sheen. You can enjoy gastronomic excellence with grace by taking part in a cooking workshop at Daylesford, the famous retail haven of organic produce, recherché deli fare and chic homewares near Stow-on-the-Wold. Learn how to create amazing dishes with a wow-factor look in the Seasonal Dinner Party class or discover the art of fire pit cooking, bread making and more. Classes will include demonstrations, hands-on cooking, recipes and lunch.
How to do it: Daylesford (01608 731620, daylesford.com) offers day courses at £210 per person. Stay at joint venture, the epicurean wild rabbit (01608 692866, wildrabbit.co.uk) with doubles from £225 a night.
Make a wonderful bouquet
Bloomery, located in Broadway village, creates stunning floral designs that showcase the natural flowers of the British garden. This exciting venture was founded in 2019 by former fashion buyer Allyson Martin, who now runs flower workshops from the company’s studio. Here you can master the art of making wreaths or create elegant hand-tied bouquets, talking through the principles of flowers and learning about color contrasts and scents as you do so. Workshops are held in the morning or afternoon, leaving time to explore this particularly glorious part of the Cotswolds.
How to do it: Bloomery (07905 272644, bloomery.co.uk) offers bouquet workshops for £83 per person. Stay at the chic Broadway Hotel (01386 852401, broadway-hotel.co.uk), with doubles from £180 a night.
Go exploring by bike
Pedal along the back roads of the northern Cotswolds, taking in some of the region’s most exquisite landscapes and villages – including Ebrington, Chipping Campden and Snowshill. Cycle the Cotswolds has designed tours that can be car-free, arriving and departing by train and bring your own bike or hire one – hybrid bikes (road mountain bikes) or electric bikes will be delivered to your bed and breakfast. His four-night Classic Cotswold self-guided break starts at Moreton-in-Marsh (complete with mainline station) and offers options for gentler routes or more vertiginous ventures. Accommodation is in comfortable inns or guesthouses.
How to do it: Cycle the Cotswolds (07468 412201, cyclethecotswolds.com) offers four-night tours from £545 per person (based on two people sharing a room). Bike hire costs £120 (£165 for an electric bike).
Enjoy an Arts and Crafts tour
Discovering the heritage of the Arts and Crafts movement across the Cotswolds is like a treasure hunt – a journey that is thoroughly enjoyed along the way. Hidden Cotswold Tours arranges custom guided days out in an SUV; Trips include an Arts and Crafts day out which may include (depending on choice) Chipping Campden, a craft center that still exists; Page Tower, once the eccentric holiday home of William Morris; Rodmarton Manor, built by Ernest Barnsley; and (a must) Kelmscott Morris Manor which houses his amazing collections. The company’s other themes for tours include historic houses and picturesque villages.
How to do it: Hidden Cotswold Tours (07712 306690, hiddencotswoldtours.co.uk) offers full day tours from £495 for up to six people. For an Arts and Crafts break stay in Kelmscott at the charming Plow Inn (01367 253543, theploughkelmscott.com) with doubles from £155 a night.
Visit amazing gardens
Thanks to the rich history and lush nature of the Cotswolds, some of the best gardens in the nation are dotted around the region. Go to an attractive concentration in the north, establishing yourself at a main garden hotel. Lord of the Manor’s magnificent eight acres include a flower meadow, a walled garden and even a beautiful bog. From this sanctuary explore the gardens of Hidcote and Kiftsgate near Chipping Campden (with a stark contrast between the hillside designs), Snow Hill with terraces, ponds and a model village, and the impressively planted Bourton House Garden.
How to do it: Lords of the Manor (01451 820243, lordsofthemanor.com) offers double rooms from £180 a night; Summer garden tours with cream tea (£25 per person) take place on the last Tuesday of the month.
