Is there a destination more quintessentially English than the Cotswolds? The prettiest Cotswolds villages hold all the essential ingredients we crave from a countryside escape, from rickety bookstores to historic churches and cozy pubs where flat cap-wearing punters (and their dogs) sample local ale beside the fire.
For a car-free weekend from the capital, Broadway is home to one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds and surrounding villages, reachable on a bracing walk. Smaller corners can be navigated in the space of a day, such as Upper and Lower Slaughter, while it’ll take return visits to experience all the tasty spots in towns such as Chipping Campden. Whether you’re seeking a whistlestop tour of these beautiful landscapes or somewhere within reach of an adorable cottage for pub garden sipping and delicious suppers, our guide has you covered.
Asthall
The quaint village and civil parish of Asthall, found in West Oxfordshire, is a quintessentially English countryside hideout. Once a Roman settlement that linked Cirencester with St Albans, the town is best recognized today for its striking 12th-century church. The village also houses Asthall Manor, a Jacobean manor house surrounded by manicured gardens, which hosts occasional open days for tours.
Snowshill
From whichever way you approach Snowshill Manor and Gardens, stop by—or roll slowly through—the charming Cotswolds village. The architect and artist Charles Paget Wade spent years restoring the historic manor as he envisioned it, and it’s now a popular day trip destination thanks to its sense of fun and theater.
