Holiday rentals and lettings in the Cotswolds

• Classic stone cottages: Choose from honey-coloured cottages, spacious holiday homes and cosy log cabins, many with gardens, open fires and pet-friendly touches.
• Where to base yourself: Bourton-on-the-Water suits first-timers, Stow-on-the-Wold antiques hunters, and Bibury photographers looking for perfect villages.
• Trusted by guests: Travellers return year after year for the storybook charm of Cotswolds cottages.
• Best time to visit: Come in late spring for blooming gardens or September for golden hills and quieter villages.
• Things to do: Wander Bibury, explore Harry Potter locations in Lacock and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.

Honey-coloured cottages in the Cotswolds are the classic choice for couples and families, whilst spacious holiday homes are perfect for large groups. For something a little different, look for cosy log cabins tucked into the countryside, while luxury rentals make any trip extra special. Many Cotswolds lettings come with homely touches for a self-catering holiday:

• A traditional wood-burning stove or open fire for cosy evenings
• A lush, walled English garden, often with a barbecue
• Pet-friendly spaces and amenities
• Hot tubs at many cottages with a hot tub

You'll also find wifi at almost every property, and cosy bed and breakfasts if you'd prefer a host on hand.

What are the best areas to stay in the Cotswolds?

For first-time visitors, Bourton-on-the-Water is the most popular base, but the right area really depends on what you're after. Here are some popular choices:

What do our guests say?

Guests consistently rate Cotswolds lettings 9.5+, praising their spotless interiors, welcoming hosts and that unmistakable storybook charm. Cottages with private gardens and pet-friendly touches score especially well with families.

Here are our top-rated holiday lettings from the past year:

1. Capp Mill - 10.0: A beautifully kept cottage for four with its own garden in Stroud, close to the hills and surrounding villages.
2. All Souls Cottage - 10.0: A welcoming, pet-friendly cottage in the heart of the Cotswolds, with a private garden and room for four.
3. Temple Mews - 10.0: A cottage for four with a sunny garden in the South West Cotswolds, ideal for exploring the storybook villages nearby.

The Cotswolds lie in south-west England, spread across a range of gentle, rolling hills. The area is easily reached from London, Bristol and Birmingham.

✈️What is the best way to get to the Cotswolds?

Getting to the Cotswolds is straightforward, with options by car, rail and air:

• Car: Driving is the easiest way to get around. From London it is roughly a two-hour drive west along the M40 or M4, whilst Birmingham and Bristol are around an hour away. A car lets you reach tucked-away hamlets, country pubs and walking trails that public transport does not serve.
• Train: Direct services from London Paddington reach Moreton-in-Marsh, Kemble and Cheltenham Spa in around 90 minutes to two hours. From these stations, local buses and taxis connect to the smaller villages, but you won't have the flexibility of a car.
• Plane: The nearest airports are Bristol and Birmingham, both around an hour's drive from the western and northern Cotswolds; London's airports are a little further. From any of them, hiring a car at arrivals is the simplest way to continue on into the countryside.

🍽️Where to eat in the Cotswolds?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, The Wild Rabbit in Kingham is among the best-rated restaurants in the Cotswolds. Here are five highly-rated places hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Emma and James recommend The Bell at Sapperton: a welcoming country pub with a roaring fire, hearty seasonal plates and a lovely garden for sunny afternoons.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

There is no bad time to visit the Cotswolds, but late spring and early autumn are arguably the loveliest. May and June bring blooming gardens and long, light evenings, whilst September and October dress the hills in gold and quieten the crowds. Summer is the busiest and most festive season; winter is wonderfully cosy by the fire.

Spring

• Best for: Garden lovers and walkers
• Weather: Mild and fresh with occasional showers, around 12-17°C by day
• Atmosphere: Calm and blossoming, before the summer crowds arrive

Summer

• Best for: Families and festival-goers
• Weather: Warm and largely dry, often reaching 20-25°C
• Atmosphere: Lively and busy, with village fetes and packed beer gardens

Autumn

• Best for: Couples and photographers
• Weather: Crisp and cooler, with golden light and the odd misty morning
• Atmosphere: Peaceful and romantic, with the woodlands turning amber

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our Cotswolds local expert, Eleanor of Capp Mill, recommends a slow morning ramble along the Stroudwater canals before heading up to Minchinhampton Common to watch the cattle graze. You can read more about local tips on Eleanor's page.

1. Wander the storybook village of Bibury
2. Explore the gardens at Hidcote Manor
3. Discover Harry Potter locations in Lacock
4. Step back 2,000 years in Gloucester
5. Enjoy a traditional Cotswolds afternoon tea

1. Wander the storybook village of Bibury

   Often called England's most beautiful village, Bibury sits on the banks of the River Coln and is home to Arlington Row — a line of 17th-century weavers' cottages and the most photographed street in the Cotswolds. Wander past the old water meadow, watch the trout drift in the crystal-clear river, and stop for tea at one of the village's riverside tearooms.

2. Explore the gardens at Hidcote Manor

   Hidcote Manor Garden is one of England's finest Arts and Crafts gardens, surrounding a golden Cotswolds-stone house near Chipping Campden. Each garden has its own colour and character — from the fiery Red Borders to the tranquil Stilt Garden. In summer the borders are awash with colour and scent.

3. Discover Harry Potter locations in Lacock

   The beautifully preserved village of Lacock is like a step back in time, with barely a modern building in sight. Fans will recognise it from several Harry Potter scenes, including the fan-vaulted cloisters of Lacock Abbey that appeared in the Chamber of Secrets.

4. Step back 2,000 years in Gloucester

   The largest town in the area, Gloucester packs in 2,000 years of history. Marvel at the soaring medieval Gloucester Cathedral — another Harry Potter backdrop — explore Roman remains beneath the streets, and wander the beautifully restored Victorian Docks. Stop for lunch in a galleried coaching inn, browse the antiques quarter, or take the children to the National Waterways Museum.

5. Enjoy a traditional Cotswolds afternoon tea

   No Cotswolds holiday is complete without a proper afternoon tea. Settle into a thatched tearoom or cosy country café for warm scones with clotted cream and jam, dainty sandwiches and a pot of tea beside an open fire. Spots in Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway do it beautifully.