Known for its rustic charm, rolling hills, rural market towns, and idyllic villages, the Cotswolds offers nearly 800 square miles of the unspoiled English countryside. With this 6-day Cotswolds itinerary, you'll experience the best of the region with its iconic honey-hued Cotswold cottages, beautiful churches, and vast estates. Keep reading to learn more about one of England's most iconic regions.
Day 1: Getting to the Cotswolds
If you’re coming from London, I recommend renting a car and driving it to the Cotswolds. It took us approximately 3 hours, but it was a very scenic drive once you got outside the major cities. The other plus side is that once you actually get to the Cotswolds, having your own private car allows you to go anywhere, at any time, and can be more economical and time efficient than ordering an Uber and ride-sharing long distances.
We rented a compact 4x4 since we had a lot of luggage but definitely go with the smaller vehicle option if you can. Some country roads get quite narrow and can be tough to drive on if you’re not used to being on the left-hand side of the road or driving a manual with your left hand.
For the first day, we always use it to get ourselves set up and ready for the week, especially when working remotely. Once we arrived at the Old Dairy Airbnb, we unloaded the car, unpacked, and headed to the local grocery store, Waitrose, to pick up some groceries to cook throughout the week. Our Airbnb also had a clothes washer, so we tossed in some laundry while we ran errands.
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds, England
When planning your Cotswold itinerary, there are tons of excellent B&Bs and Airbnbs throughout the region. However, we found an absolutely wonderful Airbnb located in Painswick, that was perfect for our working holiday. We’re both fortunate to be able to work remotely at our full-time jobs, so we used the mornings to explore, and around 1 PM (which was 9 AM EST), we’d get back to our cottage and work for the afternoon and evening. It worked out perfectly since most pubs stopped serving food around 9 PM, so we used the kitchen to cook up dinner from our Waitrose groceries. We usually love to cook elaborate meals at home, but the store had absolutely excellent prepped meals that could be cooked in the oven — and they felt like such a treat!
Back to the Airbnb — it was located on a beautiful sprawling estate known as the Old Dairy Painswick against the Rococo Gardens. It sits on an extremely large estate and is adjoined to the mansion, however still felt extremely private and peaceful with a small and well kept-garden we could enjoy from the windows. We found the inside to be extremely spacious with a well-organized kitchen and any tool or utensil you would need, fresh tea, coffee, and plenty of cleaning supplies to maintain cleanliness during your stay. If you're a frequent traveler like us, it was a pleasant surprise to have a dishwasher and in-unit laundry washer. Moving to the living room, you'll find a fireplace to make those damp, chilly nights a little cozier, and a TV with comfortable couches. On the second level, a spacious bathroom with a powerful showerhead or huge bathtub begs you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the peacefulness of the English countryside. As for my favorite part? The bed! It literally felt like sleeping in a cloud. I was actually extremely sad on our last night because I knew the next destination could never compare.
If you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance to meet your wonderful host, Victoria, who welcomed us with freshly baked sourdough bread, local gin and jam, and great books to learn more about the area. One Sunday, she even dropped off a surprise of freshly baked (and warm!) scones at our doorstep. How sweet!
Day 2: Explore Painswick Village
The next day, we used the morning to explore the local town of Painswick where we were staying. Park your car at St. Mary’s Church (built in 1040AD— yes, you read that right!) and wander around the city square. There’s a great breakfast bistro called St. Michaels where you can enjoy a coffee or tea on the street-side patio. For the afternoon, stroll around Rococo Gardens, a picturesque garden inspired by the Rococo movement of the 1700s. If you enjoy beautiful vistas, walk across the street to the Painswick Beacon, a 45-minute hike to an excellent viewpoint. You can also drive up part of the way for a 20-minute walk if you’re strapped for time.
End the day at the Bell at Sapperton, a wonderful pub that is about a 20-minute drive from Painswick that has an excellent list of local beers and wines with classic English plates ranging from cider-battered fish and chips, hearty steaks, and even pork cheeks on fresh toast. Like most places in the area, the kitchen closes at 9 PM. Be sure to plan accordingly!
Day 3: Walk Around Bibury and Burton-on-the-Water
Bibury and Burton-on-the-Water are must-sees in my opinion. While locals said they are quite touristy, they are worth seeing if you visit for the first time. Bibury is a charming little town with Grade 1 Cottages. If a building is listed as Grade I, this is because the site is of exceptional national, architectural, or historical importance. It is rare to find a Grade 1 listed building compared to a Grade 2 listed site, simply because of the significance that is placed on such sites. Examples of Grade I listed buildings include Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and Tower Bridge. Only 2.5% of all listed buildings fall into the Grade I category. Stop by the 15th-century stone village pub, The Catherine Wheel for beers and appetizers (there’s a patron parking lot), or head over to The Swan Hotel for a more upscale pub and place to stay.
RBV Intel: Go on the weekdays as both places are less busy. You’ll have an easier time getting great photos without many people in them.
Day 4: Spend All Day at Soho Farmhouse
Soho Farmhouse was the highlight of our time in the English Countryside. For those of you who are new, you’ll quickly find that I’m a huge fan of Soho Houses and enjoy spending time at various locations around the world as we travel. It’s a member-only club, so it isn’t open to the public—unless you book a hotel stay on the property.
About a one-hour drive from Painswick, Soho Farmhouse is set across 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside with ten garden rooms, 40 cabins, a four-bedroom cottage, 40 piglets, and a seven-bedroom farmhouse. Club spaces include the Hay Barn, Main Barn, and Mill Room for eating and drinking, a Boathouse with outdoor and indoor heated pools, Cowshed Relax spa with Steam and Sauna Island, and Cowshed Active with gym and studio. There is also an Electric Barn cinema, tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, horse stables, clay pigeon shooting, and a Teeny Barn and Camp.
We actually made the trek out here twice because we loved it so much. We came for their Sunday Roast dinner and enjoyed drinks fireside once the sun set, then again later in the week to enjoy daytime activities and biking around the grounds until we needed to sign on for work at 1 PM.
Day 5: Enjoy the Cotswolds' Simple Pleasures
Wherever we travel, I love stopping by farmer's markets because they can tell you much about a local place, culture, and residents. Start your day at the Stroud Saturday Farmers Market and pick up some freshly made sourdough bread, local jams and honey, classic plates, and even local beers. Strike up a conversation with locals—you’ll find they are extremely friendly and welcoming to visitors.
One of the days you’re here in the Cotswolds, book an activity that is unique to the English Countryside! Below are my favorite recommendations:
Try your hand at throwing pottery at Honeybourne Pottery
Go for a horseback riding hack around the countryside at Barton Riding School
Give yourself a shot a clay-pigeon shooting with Cotswolds Clay Club
Experience the art of falconry at The Falconry School
Finish off the day at the Woolpack Stroud for traditional English plates and a fabulous wine selection.
Day 6: Spend Some Time at Thyme and Southrop
Our waitress at Woolpack recommended we check out Thyme Hotel during our stay in the Cotswolds. Even if you don’t stay here, it's a great spot to have lunch or book a spa service and enjoy the grounds. Stop by Gloucestershire Restaurant before you head back for light bites.
Other Local Approved Recommendations:
The Bell at Langford: Voted “Best Pub in the UK”
Butchers Arms: Local Pub in Stroud
Daylesford: Organic farm shop, restaurant, shop, yoga, etc.
Stow-on-the-Wold: for wandering
Upper and Lower Slaughter: for wandering
Gospel Pass: for beautiful scenery
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