Things to do in the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is not a single village to tick off, it is a rural stretch of several counties dotted with honey-stone settlements: Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and Castle Combe among the best known.

There is no single hub, so this is a road-trip or day-tour region rather than a one-stop attraction, in deliberate contrast to a monument-led excursion like Windsor or Stonehenge. 5 hours depending on the village mix, and a day tour typically runs £60 to £110.

Expect narrow lanes, limited parking in peak season, and villages that get crowded by late morning in summer.