Posted on May 23, 2024
With the days lasting longer and the sun's warmth becoming consistent, it's officially time to start planning our summers. Few places in the world or across the UK rival The Cotswolds as a holiday destination. Don't just take our word for it—listen to the 35 million visitors who choose The Cotswolds each year. And why wouldn't they? From picturesque villages and rolling hills to lively events, there's always something to fill your trip.
Here's how and where you can spend your summer.
Postcard villages you won’t want to miss
Broadway
On the edge of an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ Broadway is this quintessential Cotswolds’ village – quaint, pretty and steeped in history. Full of independent shops and eateries and brimming with community events, its picture worthy High Street is lined with horse chestnut trees and includes a mixture of period houses as well as the classic Cotswold honey coloured stone cottages which have lured visitors for centuries. Not to mention the famous Broadway Tower, a must visit destination even if you’re not visiting the village for its unparalleled views and to see the pack of deers.
Castle Combe
Surrounded by Cotswolds National Landscape, Castle Combe offers plenty of picturesque walks and quaint village streets perfect for exploration. Castle Combe’s beauty has caught the eye of film makers far and wide and was even used in Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse.Like most Cotswold villages, Castle Combe has a rich history and the houses are made up of the honey coloured Cotswold stone. You’ll also find a couple of pubs and a luxury hotel with a golf course within the village, but the main highlight is the bridge in the lower town, one you’d recognise from postcards and social media posts.
These are just two of the gorgeously quaint villages from across the cotswolds, if you want a longer list of the ones you won’t want to miss on your travels this summer, we’ve previously compiled a list for you here.
Looking for a town to get lost in?
Stow-on-the-Wold
Quintessential honey stone buildings, cosy cafes and thriving independent stores, from artisan crafts to antique coves, all set among beautiful rolling hills. The market town of Stow on the Wold epitomises everything we love at The Cotswolds. In the 19th century it was the go-to destination for farmers and its mediaeval fairs could see up to 20,000 sheep traded in one day. The farmers market still thrives today with locals and tourists flocking to the town to pick up locally grown or made treats.
Cirencester
Cirencester is the largest, and most quintessentially Cotswolds’ town - sitting on the banks of the river Churn, the ‘capital’ of the Cotswolds is rich in Roman heritage and charm. With its golden stone properties, thriving independent shops and restaurants, this bustling market town should not be overlooked for its flashier neighbour, Cheltenham. A hub of Gloucestershire life, from its weekly market to beautiful green spaces, Cirencester is a fantastic town with lots to offer families and young retirees.
There’s plenty of beautiful towns you will want to spend time in. But with a long list, it can be somewhat overwhelming, for this reason, we’ve composed a list of the ones we’d recommend not missing on your travels here.
How to spend your summer days
Take the cinema dates outside
Summer brings with it warmer evenings and there’s perhaps no better way to take advantage of the heat than spending your evenings outside. And a great way to do that is enjoying a movie under the stars with The Alfresco Film Company, with a range of fantastic on show such as: Grease, E.T., Top Gun and Barbie. Spread across some of the most beautiful settings across The Cotswolds.
Frollicking through flower fields
There’s truly no better postcard moment than wandering through a field of blossoming flowers and there’s no better place to visit other the summer than Cotswolds Lavender, open from the 14th on June, this family farm has been open for over 30 years now and with almost 70 acres of lavender, spending a day in the sun is truly a uniquely joyous experience.
Walking towards a great day
Walking is perhaps overlooked as an activity whilst on holiday, but it’s truly one of the greatest ways to soak in the rolling hills and picture perfect villages and towns. From the famous Cotswold Way, a 102 mile, multi day hike through the heart of The Cotswold, circular walks that can last the day or just a short route which you can picnic across. We’d recommend looking on sites such as AllTrails for all the info you’d need. If you want your walks to have a nice pit-stop for food and a nice drink, we’ve got a couple of recommendations for you in a previous blog we’ve done.
For more things you can fill your summer that you wouldn’t want to miss, we put together a list of ten must-attend events this summer. And if you’re booked for over the weekend and looking to enjoy a classical English Sunday roast, there’s a few places we’d love to recommend to you here. Or if you’re looking for some summery outdoor eating we’ve got a list of places for that too!
More info on where to stay and more in-depth guides across The Cotswolds
If you’re looking to book but still unsure exactly where to stay, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite hotels to stay in and if you’re even more unsure about exactly where you’re wanting to holiday, we’ve written some comprehensive area guides that go into more detail into the most popular town and villages in The Cotswolds.