The Cotswolds
Go to the Cotswolds for honey-colored stone villages and walks across its hills, and rent a car if you want to link them without relying on infrequent buses.
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The Cotswolds is a region of hills and farmland in central southern England, spread across several counties west and northwest of Oxford. Its houses and walls are built from local limestone that turns honey-colored in sunlight. Villages such as Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Castle Combe keep their old streets and low cottages, and the countryside is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Most visitors come for the villages and walks. The Cotswold Way is a national trail of about 102 miles (164 km) from Chipping Campden to Bath, and shorter footpaths link villages and country pubs. Bus services between villages are infrequent, so a car or a planned walking route sets how much you can see. Oxford and Bath are the usual city add-ons. Spring and early autumn suit walking best. Two or three days covers the main villages, and a week lets you walk a section of the Cotswold Way.
The Cotswolds in five
- Rent a car or plan around busesRail stations sit at the edges, at Moreton-in-Marsh, Kemble and Kingham. Buses between villages run a few times a day, and less on Sundays.
- Walk between villagesFootpaths link many villages in an hour or two. The Cotswold Way runs 102 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath.
- See the famous villages earlyBibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Castle Combe are busy from late morning in summer. Go early and walk on to a smaller village.
- Book pubs for Sunday lunchCountry pubs fill for Sunday lunch, and many stop serving food mid afternoon.
Things to do in The Cotswolds
See all attractions in The Cotswolds
Need to know
- Airport
- Heathrow (LHR) or Birmingham (BHX), about 1.5–2 hours by car
- Getting there
- Train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh about 1.5 hours
- Getting around
- Car, walking or limited local buses
- Best base
- Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold or Cirencester
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, muddy pathsJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, muddy paths
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, snowdropsFebruaryCloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snowdrops
- MarchRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Cool, lambsMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, lambs
- AprilCloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Blossom, mildAprilCloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom, mild
- MayCloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Green, walksMayCloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, walks
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busiestJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busiest
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, busiestAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busiest
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Cold, pubs cozyDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, pubs cozy
Average daily high and low in Cirencester, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Mar Cheltenham Festival
Right now in The Cotswolds
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 83%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
The Cotswolds
08:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°6°2%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue10°7°2%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed9°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu7°5°2%Thursday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri7°5°6%Friday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat8°5°8%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun8°4°7%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 7%.
Updated 05:07 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarCheltenham FestivalThe Cotswolds
- Jun–JulGarsington OperaOxford, a day trip
- AugBristol International Balloon FiestaBristol, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Oxfordabout 1 hour by car or train from the north CotswoldsColleges and museums in the university city.
- Bathabout 1 hour by car from the south CotswoldsRoman baths and Georgian streets.Read the guide
- Blenheim Palaceabout 30–45 minutes by carThe palace and park at Woodstock, near the eastern edge.
Before you go to The Cotswolds
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Rules for The Cotswolds, checked
- Many nationalities need an ETA or a visa to enter the UK. Check the requirement for your passport on GOV.UK before you book.Source
- Customs limits meat, dairy and plant products brought in from outside the UK. Declare anything you carry on arrival.
- Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in England.
- Drive on the left. If you hire a car and need an automatic, ask for one when you book.
Plan around The Cotswolds
Cities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideBathRoman baths and Georgian streets to the south
Read the guideLondonPaddington to Moreton-in-Marsh in about 1.5 hours
Read the guideUK ETA explainedWho needs one, what it costs, how to apply
Read the guideCars, trains and busesReaching villages without a rental
Read the guideThe Cotswolds FAQ
Can I visit the Cotswolds without a car?
Yes, with planning. Take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kemble, then use buses and footpaths. You will see fewer villages per day.
Which Cotswold village should I stay in?
Chipping Campden for walking and the Cotswold Way, Stow-on-the-Wold for buses and a central spot, Cirencester for more services.
Can I do the Cotswolds as a day trip from London?
A long day is possible by train to Moreton-in-Marsh or on a tour. A night or two lets you walk and see villages early.
When is the best time to visit the Cotswolds?
May, June and September have green fields, long days and fewer visitors than July and August. Spring brings lambs and blossom, while winter paths are muddy and some pubs keep short hours.
Is Bourton-on-the-Water worth visiting?
It is pretty but crowded by late morning in summer. Go early or in the evening, and follow the river footpath to Lower Slaughter, about a mile away, for a quieter village.