The Prettiest Cotswolds Villages we visited

It has been a few months and I’m still reminiscing on our few days away in the Cotswolds. Maybe it is because we are in yet another lockdown but I can’t help but daydream of the British countryside. I started writing about the prettiest Cotswolds villages we visited and realised that every village made my list! Mr E drove so that meant we were able to hop into the car at anytime and drive to any village. It did help that we had the car as we were able to maximise our time and explore a lot of the Cotswolds.

For each of the villages, we made sure to find out what we thought was unique. The common theme was the buildings with the Cotswold stone. The Cotswolds in general looks like something out of a fairytale. It is very Disney-esque and it is very easy to forget real life when pottering around its villages.

Bourton on the Water

We stayed in Bourton on the Water because it just felt like the village that had the most to do in it. It was also a great base to travel to other villages from.

Often tagged “The Venice of the Cotswolds” due to little bridges perched over the long stretch of River Windrush; it is the most popular of all the villages.

A visit to its model village is a must. The model village is the only grade II listed model village in the UK. A few other fun things to do include visiting the Cotswolds Distillery for a lesson in gin and spirits, Cotswolds Perfumery to learn how to make your own perfume and the Cotswold Motoring museum for Vintage Car lovers.

The best time to see Bourton on the Water in all its prettiness is in the morning before the tourists arrive. I also loved sitting perched on the little bridge to watch the sunset. It is just so picturesque and peaceful as the tourists would have left for the day.

Read More: Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds 

Stow on the Wold

Stow on the Wold is home to Porch House, England’s oldest Inn built in 947AD. How cool is that? Why is this village on my list of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds we visited? I think most of the town is just like any other Cotswolds town or village. But what changed it for me was a visit to the famous doors in St Edward’s Church. It was really the most magical experience even though I had not seen Lord of the Rings.

You see, the doors are rumoured to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings’ secret “doors of Durin”. Of course, this has never been confirmed but diehard fans swear it’s true. I haven’t watched any of the Lord of the Rings trilogies but my mind loves fantasies and I believe it! The Yew Trees, which sit on either side of the door, give it a mysterious and magical vibe. It does feel like you’re about to enter into a world of elves and fairies!

St Edward’s church is a beauty on its own. It’s a Grade I listed building, a Cotswold stone Norman church that dates back to the 11th century with the prettiest stained glass.

Bibury

Artist, Mr William Morris boldly declared that Bibury was the most beautiful village in England and this tag has stuck. The residents are convinced it is the most beautiful but I’m sure other pretty villages in England might disagree.

When Mr E and I got to Bibury on that sunshiny afternoon, even though it was a little busy, I could totally see why Mr Morris said this. Bibury is stunning AF.

Arlington Row is in the pretty Bibury village in Gloucestershire and is one of the most visited locations in England. Owned by the National Trust, this row of cottages was built in 1380 and is Grade I listed. Today, they are the oldest inhabited houses in all of Britain.

There is a full review on Bibury, as it deserved a post on its own.

Read More: The most beautiful village in England: Bibury

Naunton

Naunton came with the most serene vibes of all the Cotswolds villages we visited. The river windrush runs through it and there are large patches of greenery for a picnic or a scenic walk. I could literally hear myself think and I’ll say it is where you go to switch off totally.

Naunton is a very tiny village and farming is at the heart of its community. It felt very untouched and special. We saw a few friendly faces and I had the feeling that while you’re welcome to see their village, they are not ready for the number of tourists their neighbours, Stow on the Wold and Bourton on the Water see daily!

What to see in Naunton? Not much. The Black Horse Inn with its dovecote is a must visit. We had a wander to St Andrew’s Church, which is a medieval, church restored in 1878.

One thing I will say about Naunton is that I cannot explain why I fell in love with this village. It was just one of them ones you’d most likely have to visit to hopefully, feel what I felt.

Lower Slaughter

Lower Slaughter was one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, which we visited. Ok, I will let you in on a secret. It was my favourite of all the Cotswolds villages. In my opinion, the prettiest too! There was a romantic vibe that came with Lower Slaughter.

In 2011, Copse Hill road in Lower Slaughter won the google street view award as the most romantic street in the UK. There was no way I’d go to the Cotswolds and not visit the most romantic street in the country. We had the area to ourselves the whole time and it was so beautiful, serene and romantic.

We wandered into The Slaughters Country Inn for a mooch around and stopped by the Parish Church of St Mary. I really wanted to visit Upper Slaughter, which is supposedly equally stunning, but we had run out of time. I loved Lower Slaughter a lot. It was very much my vibe – Whimsical, magical and very pretty.

The next time we visit the Cotswolds, we’ll most likely stay in one of the Slaughters.

Castle Combe

Oh Castle Combe, the prettiest of them all? Castle Combe has often been tagged the prettiest village in England but Bibury has been tagged the same too lol. It does look like the fairytale town in Beauty and the Beast and you might have seen it in movies like War Horse and Stardust. That’s because some scenes from both movies were filmed in Castle Combe. It also happens to be the most visited of all the Cotswolds villages!

We got to Castle Combe just as the sun was setting, parked our car in a spot that we probably should not have. Then we walked to the famous bridge and watched the sun set just behind the trees. It was possibly one of the most perfect evenings I had ever witnessed. We did not spend too much time there so it is one I’d like to visit again.

The next time I’m in Castle Combe, I’ll be sure to stop at Manor House hotel to walk its grounds and dine at its Michelin star restaurant, The Bybrook.

Related Staycation Posts:

• Staycation at the Rectory Hotel, Cotswolds
• Luxury Staycation at Cliveden House
• Staycation at The Pigsty, Winchester
• Cirencester, Cotswolds

The Prettiest Cotswolds Villages we visited: My thoughts

It was so lovely spending a few days away in the countryside and visiting all these pretty villages. A few others that I wished we were able to visit are Chipping Campden, Burford and Broadway.

However, this means there is an excuse to go back to the Cotswolds in the nearest future. I’d love to visit deep in Autumn when the leaves completely change so I’m excited for that. I’d also love to see more of Castle Combe and the Slaughters.

But until then, London will just have to do haha!

Bisous, Bugo x