The Cotswolds are full of the villages and honey-coloured cottages you’d expect to find on a postcard. But stay for a few days and there’s plenty more to discover beyond the prettiest high streets.
At Boutique Luxury Retreats, we’re particularly fond of the areas around Bredon Hill, Kemerton and Tewkesbury, as well as Chipping Campden, Broadway and the northern Cotswolds. These are the places we’d suggest exploring if you’re staying in one of our retreats.
So rather than give you a list of every Cotswold attraction worth visiting, we’ve picked some of the things we’d actually do with a few days here. There are walks, historic towns, gardens and a few ideas for days when you fancy doing something a little different.
Walk a Stretch of the Cotswold Way
You certainly don’t need to walk all 102 miles of the Cotswold Way to enjoy it. One of the best things about the trail is being able to dip into individual sections, combining a few hours of walking with one of the towns, villages or viewpoints you’re already planning to visit.
The trail begins in Chipping Campden, making the North Cotswolds particularly good territory for a walking break. From here, one of our favourite options is the six-mile stretch to Broadway, taking you over Dover’s Hill and along the escarpment towards Broadway Tower before dropping down into the village. We’ve included more details below.
Further south, the Cotswold Way passes through the countryside around Winchcombe, close to Hailes Abbey and Sudeley Castle, so it’s easy to combine part of the trail with a day exploring this area too.
If you’re staying around Bredon Hill, Kemerton or Tewkesbury, the Cotswold Way itself sits a little further east, so we wouldn’t suggest driving simply to say you’ve walked it. Bredon Hill has some excellent walks of its own – including the route from Kemerton below – and gives you many of the same ingredients: open countryside, far-reaching views and a proper Cotswolds walk straight from your doorstep.
Our tip: Don’t become too fixated on completing a particular section. Pick the walk that works best from where you’re staying. One of the pleasures of a Cotswolds break is being able to head out for a few hours, find somewhere good for lunch and still have plenty of the day left to enjoy your retreat.
Bredon Hill, Kemerton & Tewkesbury
Walk Bredon Hill from Kemerton
If you’re staying around Kemerton, this is the walk we’d put near the top of the list. The route from the village climbs onto Bredon Hill, passing through woodland and open fields before reaching the Banbury Stone and the remains of Kemerton Camp.
It’s around 5.2 miles and takes roughly three hours, with a climb of about 800ft. It’s enough of a walk to earn that post-walk lunch without taking up your entire day, and the views from the top stretch across the Vale of Evesham, the Cotswolds, the Severn Valley and towards the Malvern Hills.
Our tip: Don’t rush the top. Take a picnic, find a spot near the Banbury Stone and give yourself time to enjoy the views before heading back down to Kemerton.
Spend an afternoon exploring Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a good place to spend a few hours without needing much of a plan. Start at the Norman Abbey, then head into the medieval centre and explore some of the narrow alleyways between the town’s timber-framed buildings. There are around 30 of them, leading to independent shops, galleries, cafés and pubs.
When you’ve had enough of the town centre, head towards the rivers. The Avon and Severn meet here, and the Riverside Walk takes you out towards the open water meadows of the Severn Ham.
Our tip: Give yourself a few hours rather than treating Tewkesbury as a quick stop. We’d start with the Abbey, wander the alleyways, stop for lunch and finish with a riverside walk.
Chipping Campden & Broadway
Explore Chipping Campden, then stop for lunch
Chipping Campden is a good place to spend a morning simply wandering. Follow the High Street past the 17th-century Market Hall and the old wool merchants’ buildings, then make your way to St James’ Church.
The town also has a strong Arts and Crafts connection. If that interests you, the Court Barn Museum tells the story of the designers and craftspeople who worked here in the early 20th century.
When you’re ready for lunch, we’d head to The Lygon Arms. Right in the heart of Chipping Campden, it’s an easy place to stop for lunch before carrying on with your afternoon.
Our tip: If you fancy a walk after lunch, head towards Dover’s Hill. You don’t need to tackle the full Cotswold Way – there are shorter routes around the hill if you simply want to stretch your legs and take in the views.
Walk from Chipping Campden to Broadway
If you’re looking for a proper walking day, this is one of the Cotswold Way sections we’d choose. The Cotswold Way begins in Chipping Campden and the first stretch takes you around six miles to Broadway, over Dover’s Hill and along the escarpment towards Broadway Tower before dropping down into the village.
It’s a lovely way to experience the North Cotswolds on foot, with the added bonus of finishing in Broadway where you can stop for lunch or a drink rather than immediately getting back into the car.
Our tip: You don’t need to walk the route both ways. Arrange a lift or taxi back from Broadway, or check the local transport options before you set off.
Spend some time in Broadway
If you’re not doing the full walk, Broadway is still worth a few hours of your time. Wander along the High Street, browse the independent shops and galleries, then head up to Broadway Tower.
The Tower is an 18th-century folly on the Cotswold escarpment, surrounded by parkland and walking routes. You can climb the Tower itself for the views, or simply enjoy the walk around it before heading back into Broadway.
Our tip: Allow more time than you think you’ll need for Broadway Tower. It’s easy to combine the Tower and a walk around the surrounding parkland rather than treating it as a quick stop for a photograph.
Explore the North Cotswolds
If you’re staying in the northern part of the Cotswolds, we’d make time for Winchcombe, the surrounding countryside and the heritage railway. This is a good area to explore at a slightly slower pace, with plenty of options depending on whether you fancy walking, history or simply getting out for the day.
Spend a day around Winchcombe
Start with a wander around Winchcombe itself, then choose what you fancy doing next. Sudeley Castle is just outside the town if you’re interested in gardens and history, while Hailes Abbey offers something a little quieter. The ruins of the 13th-century Cistercian abbey sit just outside Winchcombe, with countryside walks around them and the Cotswold Way passing nearby.
You could spend the morning at one of them, have lunch in Winchcombe and then head out for a walk in the afternoon. Or, if walking is more your thing, skip the attractions altogether and explore some of the routes through the surrounding hills.
Our tip: Don’t feel you need to fit Sudeley Castle and Hailes Abbey into the same day. We’d pick one, then leave plenty of time for lunch and a wander around Winchcombe.
Take a trip on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
If you fancy doing something a little different, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway is a good way to see this part of the Cotswolds without spending the day driving. The heritage line runs between Broadway and Cheltenham Racecourse, with stations including Winchcombe and Hailes Abbey on selected services.
You could travel from Broadway to Winchcombe, spend a few hours exploring the town and catch the train back. Alternatively, use the Hailes Abbey stop as part of a walk through the surrounding countryside.
Our tip: Check the timetable before you plan your day. Services are seasonal and don’t run every day, so it’s much easier to build your plans around the railway than turn up and hope there’s a train.
Walk from Moreton-in-Marsh to Batsford Arboretum
If you fancy a day that combines some walking with a wander around gardens, Moreton-in-Marsh and Batsford Arboretum work well together. Batsford is around a mile and a half from Moreton, and you can walk there along the Monarch’s Way rather than driving.
Once you arrive, you can spend a couple of hours exploring the gardens and trees before stopping at the café. The arboretum changes with the seasons, so there’s always something different to see, from spring flowers to the autumn colour it’s particularly known for.
If you want a longer walk, there’s also a circular route from Moreton-in-Marsh to Blockley, taking in woodland and countryside along the way.
Our tip: This is one we’d save for a dry day if you’re planning to walk from Moreton. If the weather isn’t playing ball, drive to Batsford instead and enjoy the arboretum without committing to the walk there and back. Check opening arrangements before you go, particularly outside the main season.
Enjoy a day out in Cheltenham
If you’re staying in the Cotswolds and fancy a change of pace, Cheltenham makes an easy day out. Spend some time around the Promenade and Montpellier, browse the independent shops, and have lunch before exploring The Wilson, Cheltenham’s art gallery and museum.
It’s also worth checking what’s happening while you’re staying. Cheltenham’s calendar is particularly good for festivals, with the Literature Festival in October and Jazz Festival in spring, alongside the famous Cheltenham Festival at the racecourse.
Our tip: If you’re visiting during a major festival or race meeting, book ahead and allow extra time for getting into town. If there’s nothing specific on, we’d treat Cheltenham as a flexible day out rather than trying to fill every hour.
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds
Where you stay can make quite a difference to a Cotswolds break. Rather than trying to cover the whole region from one base, we’d choose somewhere that puts you close to the things you actually want to do.
If Bredon Hill and Kemerton are on your list, Upper Court is a large country manor house in the village itself, surrounded by extensive grounds. With footpaths leading from the village onto Bredon Hill, it’s particularly well placed if walking is high on your list, while the house and grounds give larger groups plenty of space to enjoy the stay itself.
For something quite different, Bredon Hill Treehouses offer a more secluded stay at the foot of the hill. The treehouses are designed for couples, with private hot tubs and the countryside close by – a good option if you want to combine days out with plenty of time doing very little.
Nearby in Little Comberton, Well Furlong is a large characterful Cotswold cottage with its own heated pool, hot tub and outdoor bath. It’s another option where the accommodation can be as much a part of the break as the places you visit.
Just outside Tewkesbury, Orchard View at The Coach House is an adults-only stay with its own orchard, private hot tub, sauna, fire pit and outdoor cinema. It’s well placed for exploring Tewkesbury and the surrounding countryside, but gives you plenty to come back to at the end of the day.
Explore our Cotswolds retreats and find somewhere that suits the kind of break you’re planning.
