Whether you are a hiker, a foodie, or a cute village junky, the Cotswolds is the epicentre of exquisite stays in England. Narrow down the perfect accommodation with our guide to the best places to stay in the Cotswolds.

By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions

Combining the rustic charm of village life with the English countryside, the Cotswolds is a great option for your England trip planning.

With a broad selection of hotels, huts, and resort-style digs there are superb places to stay in the Cotswolds for every budget and traveller.

Cosy up in a honeypot hamlet. Wake up in a majestic manor house. Book a hip weekend in a designer pad complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant.

We lived in the Cotswolds for a few years so we know the area well. This guide covers the main areas with a few accommodation options to help you decide where to stay.

For more inspiration read about our favourite things to do in the Cotswolds.

IN THIS GUIDE

WHERE TO STAY IN THE COTSWOLDS?

Use these links to navigate to the sections in this article. Click the arrow in the bottom left to jump back to the top. Questions? Leave them in the comments.



Here are our overall picks for the best Cotswolds accommodation. Further down in the guide, we break down each region and explain why you should stay there.

BEST FORPLACESWHERE
Best old-world pubThe Fox (£££)Oddington
Best boutique B&BNo. 38 The Park (££)Cheltenham
Best spa & wellness hotelDormy House Hotel (£££)Broadway
Best self-catering family stayLilly Bee Cottage (££)Tetbury
Best hot tub staySwan Hotel (££)Bibury
Best cool quirky stayBantam House (£££)Cheltenham
Best glampingCherry Tree (££)Stroud
Best dog-friendly stayMousetrap Inn (£)Bourton
Best for special occasionsThyme (££££)Lechlade
Best with a Michelin-star restaurantManor House (£££)Castle Combe
Best country havenFish Hotel (£££)Broadway
heythrop park golf and spa hotel cotswolds

COTSWOLDS REGION MAP

All the properties we’ve listed in this guide are on the map below.

Before you decide where to stay, read our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds. This will help you find the activities that interest you, so you’ll have a good idea of where to base yourself.

USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.  

1. BOURTON & CENTRAL COTSWOLDS

Best for? —  Seeing a variety of the most beautiful villages.

The Central Cotswolds is the best place to stay to visit many of the most picturesque villages. Here honey-coloured cottages with steeply pitched roofs circle village greens or sit on the banks of a river.

Stay in pretty Bourton-on-the-Water where a canal runs down the high street with handsome stone bridges connecting either side of the road.

Visit the iconic weaver cottages at Bibury. Stroll the antique shops in Stow-on-the-Wold. Soak up the quaint beauty of Upper and Lower Slaughter.

OUR PICK

NORTHLEACH | £

WHEATSHEAF INN

Warm, friendly country-style inn with traditional touches and stylish modern finishings. The restaurant is a hit with customers.


BOURTON | £

THE OLD NEW INN

The Old New Inn is in a perfect location to explore the Cotswolds. It’s set in a beautifully decorated old building with a top-notch breakfast.


UPPER SLAUGHTER | £££

LORDS OF THE MANOR

Elegant manor house situated in the idyllic village of Upper Slaughter. This is a grand old stay with helpful staff and a quirky traditional style.


2. BATH & CASTLE COMBE

Best for? — Blending city convenience with country living.

Bath is one of our favourite cities in the UK. Cutting a niche between refined elegance and confident independence.

Loaded with Roman history, great architecture, a thriving coffee scene, and excellent restaurants there are plenty of great things to do in Bath.

Just outside Bath, Castle Combe is nestled between forested hills and a meandering river. It’s regularly regarded as one of the most picturesque villages in the country and a great spot to base yourself for a weekend in the Cotswolds.

Read more on our guide to spending one day in Bath.

Skyline of Bath, UK across the river through the trees
BATH

BATH | £££

ROYAL CRESCENT

Stay in the best address in town on the Royal Crescent. The fully appointed spa, landscaped gardens, and award-winning restaurants will make this a stay to remember.


OUR PICK

DIDMARTON | £

THE KING’S ARMS

Smart and cosy country pub set in stunning countryside. Original features have been maintained alongside a modern upgrade.


CASTLE COMBE | £££

MANOR HOUSE

It’s a luxurious stay in the Manor House at Castle Combe with award-winning dining, elegant country surroundings and a full spa treatment.


3. BROADWAY & THE ESCARPMENT

Best for? —  Exploring the Cotswolds are scene before enjoying a scenic walk.

In the northwest of the Cotswolds, an escarpment cuts a divide between the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Severn Valley.

Here, the most dramatic sections of the Cotswolds Way provide some of the best rural walks in England.

If you’re looking to spend more time in the outdoors, surrounded by excellent views, this is a great place to stay in the Cotswolds.

After getting some mud on your walking boots, slip into your elegant footwear to visit two charming towns.

Chipping Campden and Broadway are where you’ll find artists in their galleries and the well-heeled in their antique shops.

snowshill cotswolds villages 1
SNOWSHILL

OUR PICK

GUITING POWER | £

GUITING GUEST HOUSE

Warm friendly country style in a charming village, The Guiting Guest House is a relaxed, spotlessly clean stay with hosts who care about their business.


BROADWAY | £

STADDLESTONES BROADWAY

Fully equipped with a kitchen, laundry facilities and free wifi, the apartments are Saddlestones are perfect for a self-catered stay in the Cotswolds.


BROADWAY | ££££

BUCKLAND MANOR

Lush picturesque setting with individually designed rooms, Buckland Manor is a stylish stay where every detail is considered. The restaurant features local farm produce.


4. KINGHAM, DAYLESFORD & SOUTHROP 

Best for? — The region’s quality food scene.

Over the last 20 years, the food scene has well and truly made its mark on the Cotswolds.

Gone are the days of drab pub lunches and soggy sandwiches. Innovative creations appear on pub menus. Quality local produce is available in hipster farm shops and local market stalls.

The best place to stay in the Cotswolds for a foodie weekend is in or around Kingham – a great destination to include on a UK road trip.

The nearby Daylesford Organic does a decent brunch. They also offer cooking courses and the farm shop is stocked with local produce.

A little further north, the Hook Norton Brewery has been churning out ales for centuries. The Cotswolds Distillery brings a touch of modern sheen to gin and whiskey production.

Brick facade saying "WILD RABBIT" with wisteria growing between windows
WILD RABBIT, KINGHAM

OUR PICK

KINGHAM | £

THE KINGHAM PLOUGH

Fresh, clean stylings in this traditional Cotswolds pub. The food has an excellent reputation for being some of the best in the area.


KINGHAM | £££

THE WILD RABBIT

As chic as it gets in the Cotswolds, the Wild Rabbit is a stylish, yet relaxed stay. The restaurant once had a Michelin star but lost it, so it might be a good time to get great food at a reasonable price.


SOUTHROP | ££££

THYME

Thyme is a beautiful historic manor farm located in a country estate. With a passion for high-quality food, this is a memorable stay in the Cotswolds. In 2023, they received a Michelin star.


5. OXFORD & BLENHEIM

Best for? — Getting your fix of grand palaces and stunning architecture.

To experience the imposing architecture built on the early wealth and power of the wool industry, head to the eastern edge of the Cotswolds.

Few places conjure up more majesty and glory than Oxford. Meander the quads of the colleges and stroll wonky laneways providing intermittent views of Oxford’s dreaming spires. Explore what is possibly the finest library in the world. Read our one-day Oxford itinerary for some ideas.

A few miles away visit Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Marlboroughs and the one-time home of Winston Churchill. It’s one of the finest stately homes in the country. It’s teeming with aristocratic history and surrounded by landscaped gardens.

Read more in our curated guide to the best things to do in Oxford.

GREW TEW | £

FALKLAND ARMS

One of our favourite pubs in the UK, the rustic Falkland Arms never fails to create that charming country pub atmosphere. The menu is all pub classics.


OXFORD | £££

OLD PARSONAGE

The chic country house feel of the Old Parsonage has a warm and friendly vibe that hits the spot with visitors looking for a blend of luxury and character.


OUR PICK

OXFORD | £

THE GALAXIE

The Galaxie is a friendly, family-run guesthouse in a leafy suburb just outside the centre of Oxford. There’s a hearty breakfast every day and facilities include parking and free wifi.


6. PAINSWICK, STROUD & CHELTENHAM

Best for? — Elegant towns and English style.

On the western edge of the Cotswolds these three charming towns from an excellent base for exploring the numerous festivals in the area.

Painswick is an elegant Cotswolds town. Its former prosperity is evident in grand 17th-century architecture and handsome limestone buildings. The main attraction is the church and immaculate grounds which have been featured in several TV programmes.

Cheltenham is an old Roman town and the most complete Regency town in England; an architectural style from the early 19th century. It’s a vibrant town with wellness spas and well-renowned literary and jazz festivals.

Stroud is an underrated town in the Cotswolds with narrow streets, markets, and an independent shopping scene surrounded by green slopes and fine walks.

painswick cotswolds

OUR PICK

CHELTENHAM | £££

BANTAM HOUSE

This trendy cabin is an architectural gem on an acclaimed Cotswolds farm. It has the luxury of a hotel suite with the romance of a cabin.


COWLEY | ££

COWLEY MANOR HOTEL

This contemporary country house is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland. Flamboyant details include a full-service spa with Ayurvedic treatments and an outdoor pool.


CHELTENHAM | ££

NO. 38 THE PARK

Luxurious accommodation in a Georgian Townhouse. The decor is beautiful and the team are friendly and attentive.


MORE COTSWOLDS GUIDES

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Paul Healy

Paul is an experienced travel writer with a collection of prestigious industry awards, including the title of Blogger of the Year at both the British Guild of Travel Writers and the TravMedia Awards.

His expertise lies in crafting engaging content, focusing on city breaks, comprehensive country-wide guides, and useful travel tips.

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