A tour for multi-explorers: The Cotswolds are often referred to as the “heart of England” – a hilly landscape with very nice little towns and villages, which runs from southwest to northeast through six counties.
Overview
Trip duration: Allow about 8 days for this road trip. You will visit six counties or more, but the distances between the main stops are relatively short. |
Main regions and destinations: The Cotswolds extend across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. |
Does the route include beautiful coastal areas? Not on this route. Instead, you travel inland through the beautiful rolling countryside of the Cotswolds. |
Is it possible to get out and explore on foot? The Cotswolds offer a wide variety of walking opportunities, not least in the extensive gardens and at Westonbirt Arboretum. |
Is this road trip suitable for beginners travelling to England for the first time? This would not be our first choice for a first trip. We would describe it more as a wonderful road trip for experienced travellers who have already seen the coasts and other highlights of England. |
Do I need a car for this road trip? Absolutely – otherwise you will struggle to reach many of the smaller, more remote villages that make the Cotswolds so charming. |
I come from a country where they drive on the right. Is it difficult to drive on the left? No – the British would say. But seriously, driving on the left does take a little getting used to if you’re visiting from abroad. The good news is that, after leaving the airport, you’ll usually join a motorway almost immediately. Since the carriageways are physically separated, there’s virtually no chance of ending up on the wrong side of the road. That gives you plenty of time to settle in and realise that driving on the left isn’t actually difficult—it’s just unfamiliar. The first roundabout can feel a little daunting, and so can your first turn at a junction in a town or village. But after just a few days, it all starts to feel completely natural. |
Road Trip 6 – The Cotswolds
The journey is quite short in terms of mileage, but long on impressions. There are no coastal towns on this route; instead, you discover some of the most beautiful places in the English countryside. From London (usually Heathrow Airport) you can quickly reach the famous university city of Oxford. It’s worth visiting at least one of the colleges! The surrounding area is also stunning. There is also one of the many small canals that once crossed the whole country. Today, the adorable narrow boats are popular houseboats.
A short detour takes you to Woodstock, adjacent to Blenheim Palace, the family home of Winston Churchill. Another magnificent historic house is Kelmscott Manor.
A particularly charming place in the Cotswolds is Broadway with its houses of light stone and its huge chestnut trees which put on a wonderful display of white and red blossom, especially in spring.
Nearby, and no less attractive, is Chipping Campden.
At the far edge of the Cotswolds lies the city of Gloucester, which once had an important inland port, with old warehouses some beautifully preserved and others showing their age.
Further south, in the hillier part of the Cotswolds, lies the small town of Stroud, which is particularly known for its Farmers’ Market held once a week in the streets and market area.
In Tetbury, the Woolsack Race is held once a year – a spectacular event in which competitors carry a large woolsack up the steep road.
Not far away is Malmesbury, which is a pleasant town with an abbey ruin and is also home to the “Abbey House Gardens“. The gardens alone are worth the visit!
Somewhat secluded, very quiet and wonderfuly peaceful in the countryside is Newark Park, a small historic house with a beautiful garden and great views. Further south, we reach Castle Combe, a particularly delightful village that is also a major tourist attraction. Try to visit outside the busiest hours and you can almost feel as though you have been transported back centuries!
After a short stop at Lacock, the setting for many historical films, we arrive at Bath with its magnificent Roman baths. From here it is only a stone’s throw into the valley of the River Avon and Bradford-on-Avon. The Avoncliff Aqueduct, a bridge for the canal over the river, is well worth a stop before returning to London and the airport.
Allow at least 8 days for this road trip.
Here are some of the places along the route:
London Heathrow Airport
London from above
Oxford, Oxfordshire
Oxford – View of the city from the church tower
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock, a lovely little town in Oxfordshire
Minster Lovell (Oxfordshire)
Pub in Minster Lovell in the Cotswolds (Oxfordshire, England)
Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire
Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire
The Slaughters (Gloucestershire)
Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire)
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, England
Stratford-upon-Avon (Warwickshire)
Shakespeare’s town: Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire
Broadway, Worcestershire
Broadway, Worcestershire, England
Gloucester with its cathedral, Gloucestershire
Gloucester Cathedral
Painswick Rococo Garden (Gloucestershire)
The manor house in Painswick Rococo Garden in Gloucestershire
Stroud with Farmers’ Market, Gloucestershire
Stroud with Farmers’ Market, Gloucestershire, England
Tetbury on Woolsack Race Day, Gloucestershire
Tetbury on Woolsack Race Day, Gloucestershire, England
Newark Park, Gloucestershire
Newark Park House (Gloucestershire)
Westonbirt Arboretum (Gloucestershire)
Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire (England)
Malmesbury with its Abbey and Gardens, Wiltshire
Malmesbury with its Abbey and Gardens, Wiltshire, England
Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England
Bowood House & Garden (Wiltshire)
Bowood Rhododendron Garden – a garden only open briefly during the rhododendron bloom
Lacock, Wiltshire
Lacock, Wiltshire, England
Corsham (Gloucestershire)
Corsham Court in the Cotswolds (Wiltshire)
City of Bath with its Roman baths and abbey, Somerset
Roman Baths in Bath (Somerset)
Avoncliff Aqueduct, Wiltshire
The Avoncliff Aqueduct in Wiltshire
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
Devizes with its ship’s staircase over Caen Hill, Wiltshire
Caen Hill in Devizes (Wiltshire)
We have personally visited all the places, sights and gardens featured in our itineraries and have written about them in detail on this website. We hope that, after exploring Southern England for yourself, you will be just as captivated by this beautiful part of England as we are!
