No visit to England is complete without a day trip to Cotswolds. The Cotswolds are a famously beautiful collection of villages and gardens about 80 miles west of London.
It’s a more rural area, so there’s not really anything in particular to do except walk around, explore, take photos, and enjoy the pretty villages. It’s fun to see what’s around the corner, pop into the shops, or try out a cafe.
I’ll note some things I ended up doing in the Cotswolds, but know that anything you do in the Cotswolds will be magical. Every village is beautiful. Be open minded and ready to explore this enchanting place.
Why Visit the Cotswolds?
It’s historic. The Cotswolds has been so well preserved over the centuries that it almost seems like a time capsule. Visiting the Cotswolds is like stepping into another time and place, where life is slower, calmer, and much more beautiful.
It’s beautiful. The Cotswolds are a sight to behold, a treat for the eyes tired of modernity. Gardens, greenery, hills, and flowers — there’s just so much beauty everywhere you look.
It’s a huge area (a lot to explore). The Cotswolds are also just massive — I mean, 800 square miles is a lot of ground. There’s so much to explore as you drive from village to village.
It’s quintessentially English. If you’re coming to England, you must come to the Cotswolds. I would say your trip wouldn’t be complete without seeing some of the English countryside, especially The Cotswolds.
Interesting Facts About the Cotswolds
- The Cotswolds is a large area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) between Bath and Oxford, covering about 800 square miles.
- The area of the Cotswolds is protected, and new construction is rare and very restricted.
- The Cotswolds is full of villages, manor houses, cottages from the 1500s, gardens, and fields of sheep.
- The Cotswolds is very quaint and picturesque.
What Does the “Cotswolds” Mean?
If you’re wondering where the word “Cotswolds” came from or what it means, it is an olde English word meaning “hills of sheep.” You’ll see a lot of those as you drive around.
Where to Start Your Day Trip to Cotswolds
Start from Oxford
Oxford is very close to the Cotswolds, almost like a gateway city, and I’d definitely recommend staying here if you’re also planning to visit both Oxford and the Cotswolds.
We stayed in Oxford an extra day in order to travel to the Cotswolds and back easily in a day.
How do you get from Oxford to Cotswolds by train?
There’s a direct train route from Oxford to the Cotswolds, which passes through Combe, Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Kingham, and finally Moreton-in-Marsh, which are all in the Cotswolds.
The train ride from Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds was only 30 minutes.
Start from London
Many people stay in London during their trip to the UK and are looking for easy day trips to the Cotswolds area. London is farther away from the Cotswolds than Oxford, so expect a longer travel time.
How do you get from London to Cotswolds by train?
There’s a direct train route from London Paddington Station to Oxford (and then through to the Cotswolds) and another train route to Stroud, where you can then take buses to nearby Cotswolds villages.
The train from London to Stroud takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes whereas the train from London to Moreton-in-Marsh takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
How to save money on train tickets: I booked our train tickets via the Trainline app and used our Two Together Railcard for 33% off. Since we did a lot of train travel on our trip to the UK, this railcard was 100% worth it. I was traveling with my mom so the Two Together Railcard made sense for us (see all other railcards).
Cotswolds Villages Accessible by Train
- Combe
- Charlbury
- Ascott-under-Wychwood
- Shipton-under-Wychwood
- Kingham
- Moreton-in-Marsh
Take a Group Tour to the Cotswolds
If you have limited time, don’t have a car, and want to make the most of your day trip to the Cotswolds, consider joining one of the many group tours to the Cotswolds.
We decided to take a group tour to visit Cotswolds for the day. We went with Cotswolds Guided Tours for our day-trip in the Cotswolds. They are a small, family-run business passionate about the Cotswolds.
Richard was our tour guide, and he was great. He gave us lots of information about each village and showed us the best spots to check out.
We met our tour group at the Moreton-in-Marsh train station (about 30 minutes from Oxford). Our group was small, only five of us in their van that fit seven. And we set out to explore six villages in the northern Cotswolds.
We really loved our tour of the Cotswolds. We had anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes at each stop to explore on our own. The drive was just as nice! As our guide navigated the tiny streets, he told us interesting tidbits about the region. We loved admiring all of the cottages and thatched roofs. The six-hour tour flew by!
Note that Cotswolds Guided Tours now runs only private tours, where you have to pay per vehicle. There are a lot of other group tours to the Cotswolds, though, if you want to search around.
If you do decide to go on a group tour, find out the meeting spot for your group tour and take that into account as you select your lodgings.
Types of Villages in the Cotswolds
Small Villages
- Lower Slaughter
- Upper Slaughter
- Snowshill
- Stanton
Large Villages
- Bourton-on-the-Water
- Broadway
- Moreton-in-Marsh
Which Villages to Visit During a Day Trip to Cotswolds?
With only one day in the Cotswolds, stick to one area and see a few nearby villages. Mix it up with both large and small villages to get a variety of life in the Cotswolds.
Copy our group trip itinerary, and head from London/Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh and then on to Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter, Snowshill, Broadway, and Stanton.
Cotswolds Village 1: Lower Slaughter
Our first stop of the morning was to Lower Slaughter. In Lower Slaughter, we walked to the watermill, through the neighborhoods, and around a manor. It was a lovely village to begin our tour.
Why is it called “Lower Slaughter”? Our tour guide told us that “slaughter” is an olde English word meaning “muddy place.” There’s an Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter village, which are about a mile apart, one is north and the other south. Both surround the River Eye.
And when I say these villages are small, I mean it. Both have a population of about 200.
Highlights of Lower Slaughter:
- A watermill
- Quaint neighborhoods
- Quiet village
- A manor house
Cotswolds Village 2: Bourton-on-the-Water
Our next stop was to Bourton-on-the-Water, a much larger village with a river running through it. A lot of people were here, milling about, picnicking, or walking around the shops.
We ourselves popped into a bakery for sweets (it was called Bakery on the Water) and also smelled some of the perfumes in the Cotswolds Perfumery.
Our tour guide also pointed out the Mousetrap Inn, where Agatha Christie stayed as a guest and wrote her mystery novels.
This village was a lot more crowded, especially near High Street, but it was interesting to see some variety in the Cotswolds (both large and small towns). Bourton-on-the-Water has a population of about 4,000.
Highlights of Bourton-on-the-Water:
- Near the River Windrush
- The Dragonfly Maze
- Bakeries, such as Bakery on the Water
- Shops, such as Cotswolds Perfumery
- Mousetrap Inn, famous for hosting Agatha Christie
Cotswolds Village 3: Upper Slaughter
We next ventured into Upper Slaughter where we explored a pretty church and walked over the hill to the stream below.
This village really wasn’t crowded until we turned the corner and saw this group of people down by the stream — you can see them in our photo below.
We didn’t stay here too long until we were back in the van, headed to the next stop.
Highlights of Upper Slaughter:
- St. Peter’s Church, which you can tour
- Pretty houses
- Near the River Eye
Cotswolds Village 4: Snowshill
Snowshill was one of my favorite villages we visited. There were pretty houses (like everywhere in the Cotswolds) but also great views of the surrounding hills. It was also one of the least crowded villages we visited that day.
There’s a gorgeous cemetery here as well as a manor house with gardens. The population of Snowshill is less than 200 people.
Highlights of Snowshill:
- Snowshill Manor and Gardens
- Nearby lavender fields
- St. Barnabas Church
- A filming location — Bridget Jones’s Diary and Father Brown were filmed in Snowshill
Cotswolds Village 5: Broadway
We stopped for lunch in Broadway, a larger village like Bourton-on-the-Water.
We had 90 minutes here, and my mom and I ate at Broadway Deli, which had beautiful patio seating in the back and delicious salads and sandwiches.
After lunch, we walked around the shops on High Street, exploring Blandford Books and a few bakeries. One of the bakeries was selling ice cream that day, one of the hottest days on record in England, so of course we had to get some to cool off.
Highlights of Broadway:
- Bustling High Street
- Restaurants, such as Broadway Deli
- Shops, such as Blandford Books
- Broadway Tower
Cotswolds Village 6: Stanton
Stanton and a few other Cotswolds villages are often a site for filming. It makes sense that film crews would head down here to shoot historical shows/movies as the Cotswolds are so beautiful and historic-looking. For example, Emma, Downton Abbey, and Father Brown have all been filmed here.
Seeing actors from Sister Boniface Mysteries: Not too long after walking around in Stanton, we actually stumbled right onto a film set. Actors from the show Sister Boniface Mysteries were coming back from lunch. A lady in our group was a fan of the show and recognized the actors. She walked right up to them and started chatting. She said, at her age (80), there’s no time to be shy. The actors were really friendly, and this was definitely one of the highlights of the day (even though I hadn’t yet seen their show!).
Highlights of Stanton:
- Hilly, with great views
- A filming location
- Beautiful cottages
FAQs about a Day Trip to Cotswolds
How many days do you need in the Cotswolds?
You can spend one day to one month in the Cotswolds. I think a three-day weekend would be lovely spent exploring various villages and staying in manor houses that have been turned into B&Bs. I was content with our one day, but I definitely would want to come back. It’s just a lovely place to be and there’s so much more to see.
If you have the extra time, plan to stay in the Cotswolds for a few nights. Figure out a few villages you’d like to visit and find lodgings nearby those or nearby a train station.
Are the Cotswolds worth visiting for one day?
Yes, the Cotswolds are definitely worth visiting for a day. You can do and see so much in a day because many of the Cotswolds villages are only a few miles apart. Even if you only visit one village, it is still worth it as the area is just gorgeous.
Can you visit the Cotswolds without a car?
Yes! You can take a group tour or travel around the Cotswolds via public transportation.
It is more limiting using public transportation as you’re only able to travel to villages that have train stations and bus routes, and you’d have more time constraints. It would probably take 2-3 days to visit via public transport all of the villages we visited in one day on our group tour.
Should you do a group tour to the Cotswolds?
YES, absolutely, yes. A car is definitely helpful to explore the Cotswolds, and if you’re not comfortable driving the small English country roads, a tour group is a great way to go. I loved our day in the Cotswolds, and I actually wish it had been longer!
What are some filming locations in the Cotswolds?
There have been so many movies and TV shows filmed in the Cotswolds, so I’ll just list a few of the most popular ones.
| Cotswolds Village | TV Show or Movie |
| Snowshill | Bridget Jones’s Diary, Father Brown |
| Lower Slaughter | Emma (2020) |
| Stanton | Sister Boniface Mysteries |
| Bibury | Stardust |
| Bampton | Downton Abbey |
| Lacock | Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice (2005), Harry Potter |
What is the closest Cotswold village to Oxford?
The closest Cotswolds villages to Oxford would probably be Hanborough, Combe, or Bleinheim Palace, which is in Woodstock.
Is Oxford part of the Cotswolds?
No, Oxford isn’t part of the Cotswolds, but it is very close to it, less than 10 miles away.
How far is Oxford from the Cotswolds?
Oxford is only about 10 miles from the closest Cotswold village, less than a 20 minute drive or train ride.
Which is the most beautiful part of the Cotswolds?
Literally all of it. The entire Cotswolds is beautiful. I mean, it’s not called an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” for nothing.
What are some must-see attractions in the Cotswolds?
Bleinham Palace, Broadway Tower, The Dragonfly Maze in Bourton-on-the-Water, Mousetrap Inn.
Can you do a day trip from London to the Cotswolds?
Yes, you definitely can do a day trip from London to the Cotswolds. Expect your total round-trip travel time to be about 3-4 hours, so try to wake up early and stick to one area in the Cotswolds to make the most of your time.
Map of Villages to Visit on a Day Trip to Cotswolds
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Day Trip from London to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton
Day Trip to Windsor Castle from London
Day Trip to Highclere Castle from London (Downton Abbey)
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