Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds | 5 Must-Visit Places with Map

Discover the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, England! These spots are beyond picturesque with historical sights, charming cafes, cozy pubs, and more!

The Cotswolds had been on my list of places to visit for quite some time. Rolling hills dotted with sheep, adorable villages, quaint bed and breakfasts, cozy pubs, outstanding Michelin Star restaurants…sounds like a perfect countryside getaway. And it was!

The Cotswolds lived up to all the hype and I highly recommend a visit to this delightful region.

Jake and I spent five days exploring the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. Most visitors spend a quick weekend here…which is completely doable to get a taste of the Cotswolds. Five days was the perfect amount of time to really see it all as well as slow down and revisit a few favorite places.

Five days in the Cotswolds allowed us to visit each of the main villages and decide which were the most beautiful and the best of the best. This was no easy feat as this region is jam-packed with beautiful spots. 

The villages listed below are the ones that really stood out to both Jake and me. Enough to warrant a second visit on our quick trip.

Each of these villages is beyond picturesque, charming, and ooze that English countryside charm.

Without further ado, let’s get into the five most beautiful and best villages in the Cotswolds!

This map shows the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds included in this post. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.

• Purple- TOP 5 prettiest villages in the Cotswolds
• Black - honorable mentions

1. Castle Combe

One of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds for scenic backdrops and THAT perfect INSTAGRAM SHOt

Castle Combe is one of those places where you arrive and think “is this even real”? This is by far one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds and my personal favorite.

If you’re looking to come home with some spectacular photos of your time in the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is a must. 

This charming Cotswold village has become extremely popular, so I highly recommend you visit early in the morning to get the best experience and bypass the crowds.

The first time, we arrived around 10:00 am. It was already crowded. We wisened up the second time and had our car parked just before sunrise. We had a good hour with no crowds and Castle Combe all to ourselves.

For a luxurious treat, book an afternoon tea at The Manor House. The manor and grounds are impressive.

2. Burton-on-the-Water

The best village in the Cotswolds for families

After visiting a number of laidback, sleepy villages in the Cotswolds, Burton-on-the-Water was a bit of a shock. It was packed and lively! 

I quickly learned this is the place to go for families when the weather is nice and the sun is out. River Windrush runs through this pretty Cotswold village. It’s only a few inches deep, which makes it the perfect activity for children. 

Parents sat on the edge and watched their kiddos play and splash, couples dangled their feet in the water while enjoying a refreshing drink or ice cream. It was nice to see locals and tourists gathered around the water and enjoying the outdoors.

Burton-on-the-Water would be a fantastic place to get photos outside of peak season (i.e. when it's warm). The combination of the shallow water, overhanging trees, and bordering shops makes for a picturesque spot. 

Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter are about five minutes from Burton-on-the-Water. These are two charming, but very small villages. Worth the visit if you have time after Burton-on-the-Water, but not worth going out of your way for.

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3. Stow-on-the-Wold

One of the most well-known villages in the Cotswolds

If there's one Cotswolds village you've heard of before, it's probably Stow-on-the-Wold. It’s located on the northern end of the Cotswolds and is the highest village at 800 feet in elevation.

Being conveniently located at the intersection of six main roads, Stow-on-the-Wold has a long history of being an important trade and market town. 

It also hosted some of the largest sheep fairs in the region. Up to 20,000 sheep would be for sale in one day. This created a thriving and prosperous town since Cotswold sheep were known to produce some of the finest wool in the world. 

As you walk through town, you’ll notice extremely narrow alleyways. Just wide enough for one sheep to fit. This was purposely done so sheep would walk in a single file line as they were led to the market square. It made counting the sheep quick and easy.

Today, Stow-on-the-Wold hosts a market on the first Thursday of the month. It's popular with both locals and tourists. 

Another claim to fame is the north door of St. Edward’s Church. This whimsical door bordered by two large yew trees is said to have inspired JRR Tolkien for the Door of Durin in Lord of the Rings. It’s very picturesque and makes for a good photo spot.

Stow-on-the-Wold is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing break with a cream tea. Huffkins and Lucy’s Tea Rooms are two very popular options for delicious scones and cakes. 

4. Chipping Campden

One of the best villages in Cotswolds if you're also visiting Stratford-upon-Avon

Chipping Camden’s picturesque High Street lined with the quintessential honey colored stone buildings makes this one of the prettiest Cotswolds villages. If you can get there early, you’ll be rewarded with some incredible pictures.

In fact, historian G.M. Trevelyan described this street as “the most beautiful village street now left on the island”.

Stop by the covered Market Hall. Built in 1627, this hall gave shelter to those selling cheese, poultry, and butter…not sheep or wool as many assume. The interior very much reminded me of the Hogwarts bridge in Harry Potter. Can you see the similarity?

Don’t leave without stopping at Badger’s Hall for a cozy afternoon tea!

If you have extra time, drive 10 minutes south to one of the larger Cotswolds villages, Broadway. Similar to Chipping Camden it boasts a long high street lined with pretty stone buildings. Or, drive 20 minutes north to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon.

5. Lacock

One of the best villages in the Cotswolds for Harry Potter fans

Lacock is easily one of the best villages in the Cotswolds not only because it’s absolutely adorable but because it’s a popular filming location. Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, Downtown Abbey, and The Other Boleyn Girl are a few names you might recognize.

The lack of phone lines and wires (they’re buried), bright signs, or painted traffic lines on the streets makes for a perfect historic setting with no clue that it’s the 21st century. All this just adds to the overall charm and experience.

Harry Potter fans will especially enjoy this pretty Cotswold village. Horace Slughorn’s hideaway house is here (the one where he disguised himself as a chair).  

You’ll also find Lily and James Potter’s home.

Lacock Abbey stood in for the hallways and corridors of Hogwarts, Snape and Quirrell’s classrooms in the first movie, and scenes with the Mirror of Erised. 

Visit Lacock after Castle Combe since it’s a quick 17-minute ride away.

Honorable Mention - Bibury

I can’t write a post about the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds without mentioning Bibury. Arlington Row, located in Bibury, is probably one of the most popular and photographed streets in the Cotswolds.

This isn’t really a spot to spend much time in as its tiny and the main thing to do is to view Arlington Row, snap a few pictures, and then be on your way.

Beware, Bibury gets very crowded, so if you want a picture without a million tourists, go as early as possible.

In Summary

The Cotswolds are a joy to visit and one of the most beautiful regions I’ve been to. It’s the idyllic countryside escape complete with rolling hills, quaint bed and breakfasts, cozy pubs, and friendly locals.

These five spots were easily my favorite and what I consider to be the best villages in the Cotswolds for a first-time visitor to explore. Have your camera out and ready because you’ll want to capture every moment in these beautiful Cotswold villages.

Short on time and looking for a tour that includes The Cotswolds? Check these out!

• Undiscovered Cotswolds Private Tour - 7 hours
• Cotswolds Experience - full day small group day tour from Bath - 9 hours with a maximum of 14 people.
• Small-Group Cotswolds Tour From London - 9.5 hours with a maximum of 16 people.
• Cotswolds Villages Full-Day Small-Group Tour from Oxford - 7 hours with a maximum of 7 travelers.

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5 Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds to Visit | Map Included

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Do you live in the UK or visit often? Which do you think are the prettiest and best villages in The Cotswolds? Let me know in the comments below.