The Cotswolds is known around the world for its honey-coloured cottages, historic market towns and rolling countryside. But to truly understand what makes this area special, it helps to experience it with someone who knows it personally.
Our local driver-guides do far more than take guests between the famous Cotswold villages. They know which country lanes offer the best views, when the popular locations are at their quietest, which footpaths are worth exploring and where to find a proper pub lunch at the end of the day. They also know the stories that rarely make it into the guidebooks.
We asked five members of our guiding team what the Cotswolds means to them, how they spend their own time here and where they would take someone who had just one hour to experience the area.
Their answers reveal five different sides of the Cotswolds, shaped by their own interests, experiences and sense of humour.
“The incredible landscape.”
Steve particularly enjoys the way the scenery changes as you travel through the area. Open farmland gives way to wooded valleys, historic villages and long views across the surrounding countryside.
“Exploring the gorgeous villages.”
While places such as Broadway, Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water receive much of the attention, the Cotswolds contains dozens of smaller villages, many of which see relatively few visitors. These quieter places often provide the most authentic glimpse of everyday Cotswold life.
Read about the Cotswold villages that large tour buses rarely reach
“Chipping Campden.”
With its historic High Street, elegant market hall, old wool merchants’ houses and honey-coloured stone buildings, Chipping Campden brings together many of the features people hope to see during a visit to the Cotswolds.
It is also a place that rewards a slower visit. Small details, hidden courtyards and historic buildings can easily be missed when someone rushes through.
“I like talking about the fulling mills and explaining how important they were to the Cotswold wool trade.”
Fulling was part of the traditional process used to clean and thicken woollen cloth. Mills powered by the Cotswold rivers played an important role in the local wool industry, helping to create the wealth that funded many of the grand churches and historic buildings visitors see today.
“Toad in the hole.”
This traditional British dish combines sausages with Yorkshire pudding batter and is normally served with gravy and vegetables. It may have a slightly unusual name, but it is proper English comfort food.
“I love the beauty of the rolling hills, all the colours of the flowers in the fields and the massive skies from the highest part of the North Cotswolds. Each season is just amazing.”
The elevated countryside around the northern Cotswolds produces some of the area’s most extensive views. On a clear day, the landscape seems to continue for miles beyond the boundaries of the Cotswolds itself.
“I play golf, go fly fishing and walk the many footpaths. I am also a full-time grandad.”
Rob’s answer reflects the pace of life that many visitors hope to discover here. The Cotswolds is not only a collection of beautiful villages; it is a living rural landscape filled with walking routes, rivers, farms, golf courses and places where families have lived for generations.
Discover our Cotswold walking tours, countryside experiences and pub lunch tours.
“I would take them to Broadway Tower because it shows how high we are in the Cotswolds. On a clear day, we can see into Wales, with views of around 50 miles. I would then take them to one of the many old pubs for a glass of Hawkstone Lager. Maybe The Porch House, which dates back to 975 AD.”
Broadway Tower stands on one of the highest points in the Cotswolds and provides a dramatic introduction to the scale of the surrounding countryside. Combining the view with a historic pub captures two very different parts of the area: the open landscape and the warmth of a traditional Cotswold inn.
Explore our Famous Cotswold Tour, including Broadway and the North Cotswolds.
“I always let my guests know where the name ‘Cotswolds’ is thought to come from. ‘Cots’ refers to stone walls or sheep enclosures, while ‘wolds’ generally refers to rolling hills. I also explain that the Cotswolds is roughly 90 miles long and 40 miles wide. And, of course, I always tell them about the Cotswold cheese rolling.”
The annual cheese-rolling event at Cooper’s Hill has become one of the area’s most unusual traditions. Competitors chase a round of cheese down an extremely steep hill, often reaching the bottom in a far less controlled manner than they intended.
“Definitely have a cream tea: a scone, butter, strawberry jam with whole strawberries and then as much clotted cream as you can put on top. It should come with a china pot of tea, and you must always hold your cup with your little finger sticking out.”
Rob’s final instruction may not be strictly required, but it certainly completes the occasion.
Learn about our Cotswold Cottage afternoon tea baking experience.
“The unspoiled rural landscape and the beautiful vernacular architecture.”
Vernacular architecture describes buildings created using local materials and traditional regional methods. In the Cotswolds, that usually means limestone cottages, stone-tiled roofs, historic farmhouses and buildings that appear to have grown naturally from the landscape around them. The colour of the stone varies as you travel across the region, creating subtle differences between the villages of the northern and southern Cotswolds.
“I enjoy roaming the many public footpaths with good company and my dog.”
Thousands of miles of public footpaths cross the Cotswolds, connecting villages, farmland, woodland and historic sites. Walking allows visitors to notice details that can easily be missed from the road: an old stone stile, the remains of a medieval field system, a hidden church or a view across a valley that suddenly appears between two hedgerows.
Explore our Villages by Foot and Pub Lunch tour.
“Broadway Tower and Broadway.”
The combination offers an excellent introduction to the North Cotswolds. Broadway Tower provides the countryside views, while the village below offers historic architecture, independent shops, cafés and traditional inns.
“Sheep fleece was once as valuable as gold. It was prized for its warmth, its importance in trade and its status as a luxury material in ancient economies.”
Wool shaped the history of the Cotswolds for centuries. The wealth it generated can still be seen in the large churches, manor houses and impressive merchants’ properties found throughout the region.
Learn more about our Cotswold private farm experiences and why guests love them.
“A sausage roll, a ploughman’s lunch and a Bakewell tart.”
It is a thoroughly British combination.
A good sausage roll makes an ideal snack while exploring, while a traditional ploughman’s lunch usually combines cheese, bread, chutney, pickles and salad. A Bakewell tart provides something sweet to finish.
“The endless beauty of the rolling hills and little villages. Regardless of the time of year, it is beautiful, and there is always something different to see. Plus, my family is here!”
That family connection gives Jeanette a personal relationship with the area that goes beyond its scenery. She also appreciates how much the landscape changes throughout the year. A village surrounded by spring blossom feels entirely different when visited during the golden colours of autumn or on a quiet winter morning.
“I enjoy driving out and exploring the area, then having a drink or lunch at a different country pub.”
Even for someone who knows the Cotswolds well, there is always another country lane, village or pub to discover. The best local pubs are often destinations in their own right, particularly those combining historic interiors, local drinks and food made with ingredients from nearby farms and producers.
Read our guide to the Cotswold pub lunches we recommend most often.
“It would depend on the day of the week and the time of year, but probably Upper and Lower Slaughter, followed by Donnington Brewery and an ice cream in Stow-on-the-Wold.”
This is an ambitious plan for one hour, but Upper and Lower Slaughter are two of the most picturesque villages in the North Cotswolds. Donnington Brewery sits in a peaceful rural setting near Stow-on-the-Wold, while Stow itself provides historic streets, independent shops and plenty of opportunities for ice cream.
“I love telling guests about the time my running group bribed the security guards with jelly sweets so that we could still run through the film set in Lower Slaughter while they were filming Emma.
“We did not run through during an actual take!”
The 2020 adaptation of Emma used several locations in the Cotswolds, with Lower Slaughter providing a suitably timeless English village setting. Jeanette and her running group were able to continue along their normal route, assisted by a strategically offered supply of sweets.
Discover Cotswold film and television locations on a bespoke private tour.
“A flapjack from The Flapjackery in Stow. They are so good.”
Flapjacks are a classic British treat made primarily from oats, butter and golden syrup. Modern versions can include chocolate, fruit, caramel and many other toppings.
Robin has spent his life in and around the Cotswolds. His view of the area is shaped by farming, local characters, country life and a large collection of stories.
“The untold beauty.”
For him, the beauty of the Cotswolds is not limited to a single village or famous viewpoint. It is found throughout the countryside, in the farms, fields, communities and people who live here.
“I lead a full life.”
Anyone who has spent time with Robin will understand that there is rarely a quiet day. Between farming, driving, meeting people, and spending time with his family, he is normally involved in something.
“Burford or they could spend an hour with me.”
Burford is one of the historic gateways to the Cotswolds. Its sloping High Street leads towards the River Windrush and is lined with old inns, independent shops, antique stores and buildings reflecting centuries of local history. An hour with Robin, however, would probably involve fewer architectural details and considerably more stories.
Discover Burford and the surrounding villages on a private Cotswold tour.
“When a sheep wakes up in the morning, its first thought is, ‘How do I get out of this field?’ After that, they show suicidal tendencies.’”
He also enjoys telling guests about the time he drove Barry Manilow.
“He asked me if I played golf. Then he told me that if he played me, he would beat me.
“I said, ‘Yes, whatever.’
“His reply was, ‘We will play at night.’”
Whether Robin and Barry Manilow ever arranged the match remains unknown.
“Local beer, toad in the hole and a Sunday roast lunch.”
A traditional Sunday roast is one of the best ways to experience a British country pub. It normally includes roasted meat, potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and plenty of gravy. For Robin, it should ideally be accompanied by a pint of locally brewed beer.
Explore our Cotswolds Sunday Tour and traditional pub lunch experiences.
There is no single correct way to experience the Cotswolds. Having the variety is exactly what makes travelling with a local guide so valuable.
A guide can adjust the day according to the weather, traffic, season and interests of the guests. A village that is peaceful at 9:00am may feel completely different by lunchtime. A viewpoint may be spectacular on a clear morning but less rewarding when the hills are covered by cloud.
Local guides also know when to depart from the original plan. They may suggest a quieter village, a scenic back road, a short countryside walk or a different pub because they understand what is happening locally that day.
Our private Cotswold tours are therefore not simply a fixed list of stops. They are shaped by the people travelling, the guide leading the day and the conditions across the area.
View our complete collection of private Cotswold tours.
A local guide can help you see more without making the day feel rushed. They understand the rural roads, seasonal traffic, parking restrictions and the best times to visit popular villages. They can also introduce you to quieter places, local stories and experiences that are difficult to discover independently.
The answer depends on the interests of the guest. Chipping Campden, Broadway, Burford, Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter are among the favourites chosen by our guides. However, many of the most memorable places are smaller villages selected on the day according to the route, weather and visitor numbers.
Visit popular villages earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, particularly during summer and on weekends. A local guide can plan the route to avoid arriving alongside large coach groups and can substitute quieter villages when necessary.
Our guides recommend a traditional cream tea, toad in the hole, a Sunday roast, a ploughman’s lunch, sausage rolls, locally brewed beer and a Cotswold flapjack. Country pubs and independent cafés are often the best places to try regional and traditional British food.
Yes. A private tour can be adapted around interests such as villages, walking, food, farming, gardens, history, architecture or film locations. The route can also be adjusted during the day according to the weather, local conditions and the pace of the guests.
A full day provides a good introduction to one part of the Cotswolds. Two or three days allow time to explore different areas at a more relaxed pace and may include the North Cotswolds, South Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford, Blenheim Palace or specialist countryside experiences.
Broadway, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford are convenient bases for exploring the North Cotswolds. The best location will depend on the villages, attractions and experiences you would most like to include.