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If you’re visiting England, be sure not to miss the Cotswolds. Go beyond the hustle and bustle that is London by getting a taste of the country’s quiet and beautiful English countryside.
A good place to start is the famed Cotswolds region, an area of outstanding beauty located in south central England. It is around an hour and a half train ride from London.
Cotswolds is quintessentially English in that it is peppered with ancient limestone villages with thatched roofed cottages. Set amidst the rolling wolds countryside, it boasts grand historic castles, elegant homes, and lush gardens. A visit to England would not be complete without a glimpse of the Cotswolds villages.
Here are some of Cotswolds’s prettiest villages to help you start planning your trip.
1. Castle Combe
This tiny village in the county of Wiltshire is perhaps my favorite Cotswolds village in all.
With thatched roof cottages, a quiet stream, and a 14th-century market cross, among others, Castle Combe is very picturesque and every photographer’s dream. That must be why it has been made the setting of movies such as Stardust, The Wolfman, and Steven Spielberg’s War Horse.
Related Reading: Castle Combe: The Prettiest Village in England
2. Bibury
Bibury is another lovely traditional rural village in the Cotswolds, this time in Gloucestershire county in southwest England. It boasts of Arlington Row, a line of honey-colored 17th-century cottages with sharply pitched roofs. They were once inhabited by weavers supplying cloth to nearby Arlington Mill, which has long been closed and now serves as a private residence.
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Arlington Row is now a popular tourist attraction and perhaps one of the most photographed Cotswolds scenes. Also found in the village are quaint tea shops, where you can take your afternoon tea. Don’t forget to try the scones with clotted cream and jam while there as well as visit the lovely little gift shops.
3. Bourton-on-the-Water
Another favorite Cotswolds village of mine is Bourton-on-the-Water. Just a few minutes’ drive from Bibury, it is another famous tourist destination. Also a part of Gloucestershire county, it’s larger than Bibury. In fact, it is larger than other market towns in the area.
It is called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of the River Windrush that runs through its picturesque high street and a large expanse of greens. The many low-arched stone bridges crossing it complete the whole Venetian look. The quaint little shops peppered across town that one can duck into while sightseeing is my personal favorites.
Related Reading: Bourton-on-the-Water: The Venice of the Cotswolds
Guided Activities in Cotswolds
4. Burford
Burford, considered the gateway to the Cotswolds, is a market town in West Oxfordshire, just 18 miles from the City of Oxford. It’s a medieval town and you can see traces of that in its buildings’ architecture.
A small tidbit: it’s said to be Kate Moss’s hometown.
Burford: Beautiful Gateway to the Cotswolds gives you a better look at this charming village.
5. Lacock
Lacock, the setting of several movies, including the Harry Potter films, BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, and Downton Abbey, among others, is a village in Wiltshire.
Most of Lacock is owned by the National Trust and is visited often because of its preserved and unspoiled beauty. Being there is like going back in time.
Related Reading: Lacock, England: A Bewitching Harry Potter Location
Activities in the area
Wrap Up
So there you have it, the five prettiest villages in the Cotswolds! I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at these lovely villages. Now, which of these villages would you love to visit?
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