Cottages in the Cotswolds

• Choosing your cottage: From rustic honey-coloured stone barns to snug village boltholes, most cottages sleep four to six and come with a private garden, off-street parking and a well-equipped kitchen.
• Best areas to stay: Base yourself in Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold for villages and walks, or quieter Tetbury and Winchcombe for antiques, markets and a slower pace.
• What guests rate: Our top-reviewed Cotswolds cottages score a perfect 10.0, with visitors praising the gardens, easy parking and walkable village settings.
• Where to eat: The region is a food-lover's haven, from farm-to-table kitchens at Daylesford to historic coaching inns serving Gloucestershire lamb and local ales.
• Things to do: Wander Bibury and Castle Combe, walk the Cotswold Way, or browse the antique shops of Tetbury, all within easy reach of your cottage.

Cottages in the Cotswolds come in many guises: snug one-bedroom boltholes for couples, converted stone barns with beamed ceilings for rural charm, and roomy cottages with enclosed gardens for families. Most are built from the region's signature honey-coloured limestone and sit within walking distance of a village pub. If a cottage isn't quite right, you'll also find holiday homes in the Cotswolds and charming bed and breakfasts dotted across the same villages. Whichever you choose, certain comforts crop up again and again across our Cotswolds cottages:

• A private garden or enclosed yard, ideal for families and dog owners
• Off-street parking, useful for reaching the surrounding villages
• Wifi and a fully equipped kitchen for relaxed self-catering
• A wood-burning stove or open fire for cosy autumn and winter evenings
• A washing machine and plenty of space, with most cottages sleeping four to six

Prefer something different? Try cottages with a hot tub, log cabins or glamping sites for a stay closer to nature.

What are the best areas to stay in the Cotswolds?

The best base depends on your plans, but Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold are favourites for first-time visitors, with holiday lettings across the Cotswolds clustered around their central villages. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Holidu collects verified reviews from guests who have actually stayed, so the scores reflect real visits rather than marketing copy. Cottages in the Cotswolds review especially well for their private gardens, cosy interiors and quiet village settings, the details that turn a weekend away into a proper escape. Ratings use a ten-point scale, where anything above 9.0 marks an exceptional stay.

Here are our top-rated cottages from the past year:

1. The Plough - 10.0: A spacious cottage sleeping five on the Oxfordshire edge of the Cotswolds, with private parking and a garden, rated perfectly by recent guests.
2. High Cogges Farm Holiday Cottages – The Cart Shed - 10.0: A converted farm cottage for six with wifi, parking and a garden, praised for its peaceful rural setting near Witney.
3. All Souls Cottage - 10.0: A charming, rural three-bedroom cottage in the heart of the Cotswolds, with a private garden and parking, ideal for a family escape.

The Cotswolds spread across south-central England, taking in parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, roughly between Bath in the south and Stratford-upon-Avon in the north. The region is known for its delightful rural charm, with its chocolate box English countryside cottages and slower pace of life.

🥗 Where to eat in the Cotswolds?

Gastropubs with local produce, farm-to-table restaurants and old-fashioned tea rooms are all waiting for diners in the Cotswolds. Our travel experts have tried a number of eateries in the area, singling out these five for their consistently good food and atmosphere:

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Emma and James recommend Made by Bob in Cirencester: a relaxed all-day brasserie and deli where they lingered over weekend brunches before browsing for regional cheeses and oils to take back to their cottage as an edible souvenir.

1. Wander the lanes of Bibury
2. Step back in time at Castle Combe
3. Walk a stretch of the Cotswold Way
4. Explore Bourton-on-the-Water
5. Browse the antiques in Tetbury
6. Discover Chipping Campden and Broadway
7. Visit the village of Lacock

1. Wander the lanes of Bibury

   Bibury is often called England's most beautiful village, and Arlington Row, a terrace of 17th-century weavers' cottages, is its star attraction. Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to enjoy the honey-coloured stone and the trout-filled River Coln without the crowds. The nearby Bibury Trout Farm makes an easy add-on for families.

2. Step back in time at Castle Combe

   Tucked into a wooded valley, Castle Combe regularly tops lists of England's prettiest villages and has stood in for period film sets. With only a few hundred residents, its single street of honey-coloured stone houses, medieval market cross and ancient church reward a slow, relaxed stroll. There are no shops or street lights to break the spell.

3. Walk a stretch of the Cotswold Way

   The Cotswold Way runs for around 100 miles along the escarpment between Chipping Campden and Bath. You don't need to tackle it all: shorter sections from villages such as Broadway or Winchcombe deliver sweeping views, beech woods and scattered hilltop monuments.

4. Explore Bourton-on-the-Water

   Known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds', Bourton-on-the-Water is split by the gentle River Windrush, crossed by a series of low stone footbridges. It's a favourite for families and weekenders, with riverside picnics, a model village and traditional tea rooms all within a short walk.

5. Browse the antiques in Tetbury

   Tetbury has earned a reputation as the antiques capital of the Cotswolds, its streets lined with dealers, galleries and smart cafés. The 17th-century Market House, raised on stone pillars, anchors the town centre, and the surrounding honey-coloured buildings make for an unhurried afternoon.

6. Discover Chipping Campden and Broadway

   In the northern Cotswolds, Chipping Campden boasts one of England's finest high streets, lined with thatched and stone cottages preserved in remarkable condition. A short drive away, Broadway, the self-styled gateway to the Cotswolds, offers smart shops and the hilltop folly of Broadway Tower, with views said to stretch across sixteen counties on a clear day.

7. Visit the village of Lacock

   Owned largely by the National Trust, Lacock feels like a film set, and frequently is, having featured in period dramas and fantasy films. Wander its timber-framed and stone streets, visit Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum of early photography, and round things off with tea and cake. Combine your outing with a visit to nearby Bath.