Your guide to the most picturesque Cotswolds villages

As one of England’s most popular Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds is home to countless charming villages encompassing quintessential English country living. And it's only a 30 minute drive from Beechfield House. But, with the area spanning five counties, it can be hard to pinpoint the most picturesque Cotswolds villages to visit. We’ve rounded up our favourite villages for you to ensure you can make the most of your stay near the Cotswolds.

A charming village street lined with stone cottages, blooming flower gardens, and greenery, with a backdrop of lush, wooded hills under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Broadway

Often referred to as ‘the jewel of the Cotswolds’, Broadway ranks as one of the most picturesque Cotswolds villages. Located in Worcestershire, it’s a pleasant hour and forty minutes drive from Beechfield House.

This charming village has been attracting visitors since Victorian times, with famed artists like William Morris, John Singer Sargent, Francis D Millet, and Mary Anderson all having visited.

Nowadays, the bucolic village high street is lined with horse chestnut trees and honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages, as well as a mix of art galleries, covetable interior shops, and stylish gift boutiques.

It has plenty for history lovers, from the Design Museum to the GWSR heritage railway station, where you can hop on a train to Cheltenham Racecourse.

A quaint village street with stone cottages featuring timber frames and ivy-covered walls, nestled against a backdrop of dense green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Castle Combe

You may already be familiar with the picturesque Cotswolds village of Castle Combe, as it has starred in some of the most iconic period dramas and films from Downton Abbey to War Horse.

Often named the ‘prettiest village in England’, as well as traditional Cotswold stone houses, the village is home to a couple of pubs and a church with a faceless clock, reputed to be one of the oldest working clocks in the country.

As you head out of the village, you’ll find locals selling homemade treats and flowers from their houses, while for the best photo opportunity, stop at the bottom of the village near the bridge and capture the beauty of this rural idyll.

A traditional stone cottage with a sloped roof and multiple chimneys, adorned with climbing plants and surrounded by a low stone wall, set under a clear blue sky.

Asthall

This honey-hued village sits on the river Windrush and is brimming with natural beauty and history, having been a former Roman settlement linking Cirencester with St Albans.

The village is perhaps most notable for Asthall Manor, which was once the home of the Mitford sisters and said to be where Nancy Mitford penned most of Love in a Cold Climate.

A charming village scene with stone cottages featuring sloped roofs, a narrow bridge crossing a small stream, and lush greenery surrounding the idyllic setting under a partly cloudy sky.

Bibury

A village much-loved by artist William Morris and featured in the romantic fantasy film ‘Stardust’, Bibury deserves a place on our round-up of the most picturesque Cotswolds villages.

The village is best known for Arlington Row, a row of quintessential Cotswold stone cottages originally constructed in 1380 as a monastic wool store before being converted into weaver’s cottages in the 17th Century. But the village is home to other special sights, like the stained-glass window of the North Chancel church wall, designed in 1927 by Karl Parsons and featured in the 1992 Christmas stamp collection.

With a plentiful choice of tearooms and coffee shops, you can also indulge in a range of homemade treats or browse the village’s small independent shops during your visit.

For nature lovers, the expanse of boggy water meadow known as Rack Isle is home to an array of fauna.

Bibury is just a short drive from the capital of the Cotswold ‘Cirencester’, making it the perfect place to find some peace after exploring the town.

A quiet village lane bordered by stone cottages and lush greenery, where a woman and child walk along the road with a small dog under a bright, clear sky in a serene rural setting.

Snowshill

This picturesque Cotswolds village is perhaps best known for its unspoilt beauty. A hilltop village, it sits on sweeping gentle peaks and offers impressive views across the Severn Vale, with Broadway Tower visible in the north.

No visit to this village is complete without visiting Snowshill Manor and Garden, a National Trust treasure filled with the eclectic collections of architect Charles Wade. The Arts and Crafts gardens are filled with curious doorways, hidden vistas and unexpected delights.

A charming stone footbridge spans a calm river in a park-like setting, surrounded by lush green grass and trees with autumn foliage, under a clear blue sky.

Bourton-on-the-water

Bourton-on-the-water is a popular and thriving Cotswold village. In the warmer months, it is famous for traditional river football, where locals take to the stream in a custom that dates back over a century. Every year, this event sees the village welcome hundreds of spectators keen to be part of this unique English village tradition.

For a more relaxing pastime, explore the riverfront, where many of the traditional cottages have been turned into antique shops, cafes and pubs serving the many people who flock to enjoy the beauty of this Cotswold village.

...and relax

If you’re keen to experience the beauty of the Cotswolds for yourself, why not base yourself at our exclusive Beechfield House? Our luxurious accommodation is situated in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, only 30 minutes from the Cotswolds, and offers a welcome retreat after a busy day exploring the sights of some of the most picturesque villages.

Easily accessible from London via car or train, book a rural retreat at Beechfield House and swap cityscapes for country charm.