This iconic AONB is formed from rolling hills, embedded with honey-coloured towns and villages. Gloucester Cathedral is a big draw, as is strolling the longest high street in Britain at Broadway. Bustling Cheltenham and picturesque Bath, Stratford Upon Avon and ancient villages such as Bibury and Bourton are plentiful. Campsites in the Cotswolds are famed for The Cotswold Way, diving through miles of stunning countryside past Neolithic remains.
Chippenham, Wiltshire
A small, family-run park situated in the countryside, a ten minute walk from the National Trust village of Lacock.
4.79 /5
Minchinhampton, Stroud, Gloucestershire
A family-run Cotswolds AONB site, dog friendly and in walking distance of a pretty market town. Adult only.
4.88 /5
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
A friendly adult-only park with excellent public transport, within ten minutes of both Cheltenham and Gloucester!
4.72 /5
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
A peaceful, year-round camping and touring site set in beautiful, open countryside at the edge of the Cotswolds.
4.8 /5
Faulkland, Bath, Somerset
Camping alongside the oldest cider pub in Somerset welcoming families, couples, groups, solo travellers and dogs.
4.74 /5
Norton, Evesham, Worcestershire
Eco, family friendly camping, touring and glamping with panoramic rural views, 15 minutes to the Cotswolds!
4.9 /5
Elmstone Hardwicke, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Award-winning farm campsite with spacious pitches! Enjoy tractor tours of the animals and the on site cafe.
4.89 /5
Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Friendly camping and glamping site situated at the edge of the Cotswolds. Wild, idyllic and peaceful.
4.55 /5
Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wiltshire
Family friendly lakeside holiday park with an onsite cafe, fishing and play areas. Just 15 minutes from Longleat.
4.6 /5
Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
Family and dog friendly camping and glamping with an onsite farm shop, a 15 minute walk from Bourton-on-the-Water.
4.87 /5
Whichford, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
A magical space in the rolling Cotswolds, for quiet camping surrounded by nature. Airstream and yurt on site.
4.7 /5
Hunscote, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire
Peaceful camping in Warwickshire near Stratford-upon-Avon with pitches, yurts, bell tents and a shepherd's hut.
4.98 /5
Brackley, Northamptonshire
Countryside camping and bell tent glamping in a charming setting surrounded by nature. Next to Hinton Airfield.
4.79 /5
Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Country pub with camping and scenic views on the edge of the Cotswolds. Serving locally sourced foods and ales!
4.35 /5
Braydon , Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Working farm with back-to-basic pitches and a bell tent, boasting countryside views. 15 minutes from the Cotswolds.
4.77 /5
Oxhill, Warwick, Warwickshire
A peaceful rural Cotswold site within 30 mins of Warwick and Shakespeare's Stratford. Family run and dog friendly.
4.78 /5
Notgrove, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Luxury heated, ensuite glamping pods and safari tents on a stunning 1,500 acre Cotswold estate with tennis courts.
4.75 /5
Farthinghoe, Brackley, Northamptonshire
Glamping in luxury, dog and family friendly yurts near the Cotswolds. Tearoom, petting farm and playpark nearby.
4.88 /5
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Small family and dog friendly camping and glamping site in The Cotswolds. Set on The Cotswolds Way walking route!
Bitton, Bristol, Gloucestershire
A secluded base with a fishing lake. Situated between Bath and Bristol, perfect for exploring.
4.23 /5
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
Two family friendly yurts with private bathrooms on a smallholding in the North Cotswolds. One dog friendly.
5 /5
Adderbury, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Adult-only site on a pig farm on the banks of the Oxford Canal. Onsite farm shop, bar/cafe and firepit areas!
4.58 /5
Snitterfield, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Small, camping and glampsite in beautiful countryside just ten minutes from Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon.
4.62 /5
Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Family friendly glamping with pods, yurts and safari tents. A ten minute walk to Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds!
Pershore, Worcestershire
Award-winning glamping on an ancient orchard! Choose from bell tents, a yurt, and a 1930s converted railway wagon.
Trowbridge, Wiltshire
A riverside campsite on a family farm with the backdrop of a 15th century farmhouse, edging the Cotwolds and Bath.
Hidcote Bartrim, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
Family glamping lodges with en-suite facilities surrounded by National Trust gardens, in the Cotswold AONB.
Fairford, Gloucestershire
Quirky and secluded glamping for couples and families with private hot tubs, right by the Cotswolds AONB.
4.6 /5
Broad Town, Wiltshire
Small, peaceful campsite with luxury tipis and tent pitches. On an organic farm by the scenic Marlborough Downs.
Lower Boddington, Daventry, Northamptonshire
Small touring and bell tent site with countryside views. A five minute walk to a pub and 30 minutes to Warwick.
With their soft rolling hills and enchanting villages, the Cotswolds are a perfect English archetype. This wonderful Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 800 square miles, is perfect for exploring on foot, by bike or on cantering horseback. Aside from enjoying the gorgeous landscapes and villages, there are many superb attractions to be found here, from castles and stately homes to wildlife parks and mazes.
Home to the country's first Agricultural College, this rural region is famed for its bowling and has many stunning churches such as the Church of St John in Elkstone, or Hailes Church where you can admire the intricate wall paintings and stained glass windows.
• The Cotswold Way National Trail
• Sudeley Castle
• The Cotwolds Water Park
• Kelmscott Manor
If you love architecture, you’ll be enchanted by the delightful stately homes and castles in the Cotswolds. The beautiful Snowshill Manor and Garden in Gloucestershire offers an incredible collection of objects, from samurai armour to instruments and toys.
In addition to the stunning house, you can explore the hillside garden and even ride a penny farthing, which would make the older generation proud! It’s an area for blissful nostalgia, in lovely surroundings.
Kelmscott Manor is a fantastic farmhouse and former home of William Morris. You can see Morris’s works here and explore the gardens in full bloom, with easy access to the Thames Pathway.
If history gets you in the mood, you’ll be glad to hear the Cotswolds are well-populated with castles. Sudeley Castle is spectacular and sure to impress. Then head to Berkeley Castle, built in the 12th century and now hosting superb theatre theatre productions in its vaulted great hall. The World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace is another magnificent building and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, so a must-see for history lovers.
Beautiful gardens such as Hidcote, Bourton House, Snowshill Manor and Chasleton House are the best in the region. Visit in the spring to see some amazing colours.
Tewkesbury Abbey boasts the largest Norman Tower in the world and a trip to look at the Romanesque Sculptures at Malmesbury Abbey will lead you even further through this maze of history.
If you’re bonkers about the Bard, then William Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon is definitely worth a visit. You can explore all the details of his world including the houses and buildings which were significant in his life here. He left his ‘second best bed’ in his will, so this was a man who cared about furniture! Before you leave, grab a matinee at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
There are some absolutely gorgeous towns and villages to be found in the Cotswolds. Bourton-on-the-Water is regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England, but likes to show its grittier side with walking tours of its bloody and intrigue filled past. The village is home, also, to the Cotswold Brewing Company, so don’t leave without a tour and a tipple. Bibury is your next stop for wandering among the honey coloured Cotswold stone buildings- the perfect Cotswold experience.
If you’re keen for outdoor activities in the Cotswolds, there are thousands of miles of footpaths and bridleways to be found here, making walking, cycling and horse-riding a no-brainer.
There are a host of nature reserves in the Cotswolds offering diverse scenery from woodlands to meadows and hills. The highest point in the region is found at Cleeve Common - ideal for a laidback picnic from on high.
The Westonbirt Arboretum is breathtaking with its collection of over 16,000 trees and is sure to be a hit with nature lovers.
Do not miss walking some (or all, if you’re hardy) of the Cotswold Way National Trail. This fantastic trail takes in 100 miles of beautiful scenery, picturesque villages and intriguing ancient sites. The walk up to Broadway Tower at the beginning of the trail is a sweat, but the views from the top are worth the climb. You can look down on an expanse around 62 miles in radius and peek at 16 counties.
The Cotswold Water Park is not an amusement park as the name suggests, but a beautiful region of wetland and lakes covering 40 square miles. Make a day of it for walking, cycling, and bird watching. Watersports, wakeboarding, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing are all on the menu, if there's more time. Or if you’re feeling less adventurous, go for boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing on the numerous pretty lakes and rivers in the region.
If you fancy some fine foods, enjoy the wonderful selection of local produce sold in the various Cotswold villages and towns as well as the farmers’ markets held throughout the region.
There’s nothing quite like giving your feet a rest after a busy morning of exploring. That means you’ve earnt a delicious afternoon tea at one of the many tearooms found in the Cotswolds.
For animal antics, you can’t beat Longleat. The magnificent Longleat House can be explored via guided tour, while the safari and adventure park will have kids not wanting to go home.
There's the chance to go wild for the Cotswold Wildlife Park, which is full of animals your kids may never have seen such as tapirs, meerkats and wolverines. It also has a children’s farmyard, where animals can be stroked, and an elegant manor house. Stroll the peaceful manor gardens and forget all about city life! Cotswold Farm Park is another good choice for animal lovers. There are a lot of fun and educational things to do here which will teach kids about animal handling and care.
The brilliant Dragonfly Maze, just one of Bourton-on-the-Water’s many attractions should not be missed. The maze is fun to solve for adults and children- you collect clues on the way to solve a puzzle at the end.
Warwick Castle is the only stop you need if you feel like a little spinetingling fear. You’ll be treated to scary explorations of the 14th century castle dungeon and a visit to the Princess Tower for regal fun.
A tour of Gloucester Cathedral will leave both adults and children spellbound by the stunning architecture and the chance to walk in the wizarding world, as the cathedral featured in the first two Harry Potter films.