A Quintessential English Countryside Journey

Spanning 120 km through the heart of rural England, the Cotswolds Drive winds through honey-stone villages, rolling green hills, and historic market towns. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) offers timeless charm and bucolic vistas. Here’s your guide:

Begin in Chipping Campden, a medieval market town famed for its 17th-century market hall and High Street lined with limestone cottages. Fuel up here, narrow lanes lie ahead!

Key Stops & Highlights

1. Broadway Tower. A whimsical 18th-century folly atop the Cotswold Escarpment. Hike for panoramic views of 16 counties.
2. Stow-on-the-Wold. A historic wool-trading town with cobbled alleys and the iconic St Edward’s Church (door flanked by ancient yew trees).
3. Bourton-on-the-Water. The “Venice of the Cotswolds,” with stone bridges over the River Windrush. Visit the Model Village (1:9 scale replica) and Cotswold Motoring Museum.
4. Bibury. Postcard-perfect Arlington Row, a 14th-century weaver’s cottage row. Walk the water meadows of the River Coln.
5. Cirencester. The “Capital of the Cotswolds.” Explore the Corinium Museum (Roman artifacts) and Cirencester Park (3,000-acre estate).
6. Castle Combe. A film-set village with no streetlamps or overhead wires. Stop at the Market Cross and St Andrew’s Church.

Conclude in Tetbury, a regal town known for its antique shops and proximity to Highgrove House (King Charles III’s private residence).

Tips for the Drive

• Roads: Narrow lanes with occasional livestock—drive slowly!
• Parking: Use village car parks (often £2–4/day).
• Season: May–Sept for wildflowers; Dec for Christmas markets.
• Detours: Add Hidcote Manor Gardens (Arts & Crafts gardens) or Westonbirt Arboretum.

For events, walking trails, and accommodation: www.cotswolds.com