Cotswolds

The Cotswolds mix elegant towns with quiet villages across gentle countryside. Cheltenham offers Regency architecture, festivals and a lively cafe scene, while Gloucester brings a historic cathedral and working docks. Cirencester, often called the capital of the Cotswolds, has fine shopping and Roman remains. For classic honey-stone charm, Chipping Campden and Bourton-on-the-Water are hard to beat, the latter drawing crowds to its ornamental bridges over the River Windrush, while Moreton-in-Marsh suits those wanting a good market town base with easy transport links.

Quieter corners reward travellers seeking a slower pace. Minchinhampton has a breezy common and independent shops, and Bitton offers a peaceful spot near Bristol with a heritage railway. To the west, Coleford, Drybrook and Lydney sit close to the Forest of Dean, ideal for walking and cycling amid woodland rather than rolling wolds. Gorsley remains a small, restful village for those wanting rural calm away from the busier tourist routes.

The Cotswolds has been welcoming overnight guests for centuries, and the choice of hotels and B&Bs reflects that long history of hospitality. In Cheltenham, expect a more urban mix, from townhouse guest rooms like Number 8 Cheltenham to grander properties such as Manor by The Lake, suited to visitors combining the town's Regency streets with countryside days out.

Away from Cheltenham, smaller family-run B&Bs dominate, often set in converted farmhouses or period cottages. Places like Pardon Hill Farm B&B and Guiting Guest House give a genuine sense of rural Cotswold life, while Chipping Campden's options put you within walking distance of one of the region's best-preserved high streets.

With over 300 places to choose from, it is worth deciding first whether you want a base for exploring by car, in which case a farmhouse B&B such as Cornerways or Laurel House works well, or somewhere to stay on foot in a market town, where Crossways Guest House or College View offer easy access to shops and pubs.

The Cotswolds offers rather more than honey-coloured villages and country walks, though there's plenty of that too. Around Gloucester and Cheltenham you'll find indoor pursuits like The Warehouse Climbing Centre and VRXPerience, along with the Jet Age Museum for a slower afternoon, while smaller towns such as Longford and Newnham keep things more outdoorsy with fishing at Lakeland Fishery or paddling with SUP Gloucester.

Families are well catered for, from riding lessons at The Playmate Childrens Riding School to falconry displays at the Cotswold Falconry Centre near Moreton-in-Marsh, and there's no shortage of ways to fill a wet-weather day either, whether that's an escape room challenge or a go at pottery painting.

Chipping Campden and Wotton-under-Edge tend to suit those wanting a gentler pace, with attractions dotted around rather than clustered together, so it's worth planning a route that takes in a couple of stops rather than trying to do it all in one visit.

Eating out in the Cotswolds ranges from honey-stone pubs with log fires to city dining in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Cheltenham carries the widest spread, with everything from smart bistros to relaxed cafes and pizza spots, while Gloucester offers a more everyday mix suited to a quick lunch or family meal. Berkeley and the smaller Gloucestershire villages tend to centre on a single pub, often the natural stop after visiting a nearby castle or stretch of countryside.

Choosing where to eat usually comes down to pace. A market town pub suits a slow afternoon, whereas Cheltenham's cafes and cocktail bars work better for an evening out or a stop between shops. Anyone touring the wider region will find village pubs are often the most convenient option, simply because they are the only place open.

Camping and glamping around the Cotswolds ranges from simple farm pitches to well-equipped shepherd's huts and woodland hideaways. The western fringes, around Coleford, Drybrook and Lydney, sit close to the Forest of Dean, where sites like Forest of Dean Camping and Cadora Woods Glamping make the most of the tree cover and trails. Further south towards Dursley and Westbury-on-Severn, farm-based stays such as Hunts Court Huts and Ashley's Meadow offer a quieter, more rural base.

Elsewhere, Gloucester, Stonehouse and Tewkesbury provide easy access to the Severn Vale and its towns, useful if you want camping within reach of shops and pubs, while Moreton-in-Marsh sits well for exploring the northern Cotswold villages. Small Certificated Locations such as Whitmore Way suit those touring with a caravan or campervan, whereas Rivers View Holidays and Spittle Farm Campsite show the pull towards riverside and open countryside settings. Choice often comes down to whether you want forest, farmland or village proximity.

Self-catering in the Cotswolds tends to conjure images of honey-stone cottages down quiet lanes, but a good number of properties sit in the region's larger towns, giving you a base with easy access to shops, restaurants and transport links. Cheltenham offers smart apartments such as Hamilton Apartment and The Cheltenham Apartment, well suited to those wanting a stylish stay within walking distance of the town's Regency terraces and festivals.

Gloucester and Tewkesbury bring a different flavour, with options like the Gloucester Quays apartments placing you near the shopping outlet and docks, while Tewkesbury's riverside setting suits those keen to explore the Severn and Avon on foot. Houses such as Robinswood House and Priory Place work well for families or groups wanting more space and privacy than an apartment allows.

Choosing between them often comes down to whether you want town-centre convenience or something quieter on the outskirts, and how many you're travelling with.