If England ever had a stage set for charm it would be the Cotswolds. Honey-coloured cottages with roses climbing their walls, villages with names that sound like they belong in fairy tales, and roads that never seem to go in a straight line. This is a place where driving slowly is not just encouraged, it is essential, because you never know when a flock of sheep, a thatched pub, or a sudden glorious view of rolling hills will appear.
This road trip takes you through leafy lanes and storybook villages, across high commons and into quiet valleys. It works nicely as a three day jaunt but if you linger with gardens, castles, and long pub lunches it will happily stretch to five.
Day 1 – Broadway, Chipping Campden and Hidcote
Start in Broadway, one of those villages that looks as though it has been brushed down for a postcard shoot. The wide main street is lined with golden stone houses, antique shops, and tearooms that are very good at convincing you to stay longer than planned. A short drive or walk takes you up to Broadway Tower, a folly perched on a hill with views that stretch across sixteen counties on a clear day.
From here follow the winding lane to Chipping Campden. Its High Street is one of the most handsome in the Cotswolds, an elegant sweep of seventeenth century houses and shops. At one end stands St James’ Church, at the other the old Market Hall, and in between the sort of place where every step feels like a stroll through English history. Do not miss Hidcote Manor Garden, a few miles out of town, which is a masterpiece of arts and crafts garden design with little outdoor rooms and endless surprises.
Stay the night in Broadway or Chipping Campden where inns come with oak beams, roaring fires, and the odd creaky floorboard that adds to the charm.
Day 2 – Stow-on-the-Wold and the Slaughters
Stow-on-the-Wold sits high on a hill and has been a market town for centuries. The square still holds markets, the shops still peddle antiques and curiosities, and St Edward’s Church has the famous Yew Tree Door that looks like something out of Tolkien.
From here follow the narrow leafy lane to Upper and Lower Slaughter. The names are unfortunate but the villages are exquisite. Stone cottages and bridges straddle the River Eye, and the walk between the two villages is short, easy, and heart stoppingly pretty.
Just down the road lies Bourton-on-the-Water. It is often called the Venice of the Cotswolds though that is pushing it a bit. What it does have are low arched bridges across the River Windrush, and when the day trippers leave in the evening the village becomes especially lovely. Overnight options around Stow or Bourton are plentiful.
Day 3 – Burford, Bibury and the Coln Valley
Burford greets you with a High Street that sweeps down to the River Windrush. There are coaching inns that have been there since travellers first rattled along in horse drawn carts, a fine medieval church, and the Tolsey Museum tucked into a half timbered building.
From here continue to Bibury, famously described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England. Arlington Row, a clutch of seventeenth century weavers’ cottages, is one of the most photographed scenes in the Cotswolds. Arrive in the late afternoon when the light softens and the coaches have gone.
Carry on through the Coln Valley to discover quieter villages like Coln St Aldwyns and Quenington. These tucked away places are a reminder that the Cotswolds are not just about crowds and cameras but also about peaceful lanes and riverside walks.
Stay overnight in Burford or Bibury and you may find that the evening calm is the best part of the day.
Day 4 – Cirencester and Chedworth
Cirencester, once one of the most important Roman towns in Britain, now calls itself the capital of the Cotswolds. Its lively market square, handsome church, and the excellent Corinium Museum are worth a morning.
Drive the back lanes to Chedworth Roman Villa, hidden in the woods. This was one of the grandest villas in Roman Britain, with mosaics, bathhouses, and a fascinating glimpse into life nearly two thousand years ago.
On the way back stop at Northleach, a small market town with a superb wool church and a smattering of antique shops. Overnight in Cirencester, which has plenty of inns and a lively restaurant scene.
Day 5 – Painswick, Minchinhampton and Stroud Valleys
Painswick is known as the Queen of the Cotswolds, and one look at its narrow streets and the churchyard filled with ninety nine clipped yews shows why. The climb up to Painswick Beacon rewards you with views across to the Severn Valley.
From here meander into the Slad Valley, immortalised in Laurie Lee’s book Cider with Rosie. It is still a place of steep lanes, hedgerows, and pubs that feel unchanged. Then on to Minchinhampton Common, an open sweep of grassland where cows and horses roam free.
End in Stroud, a town with a creative buzz, canalside walks, and a food scene that feels thoroughly modern Cotswolds. It makes a lively finale before the drive home.
Optional extras
If you have time there are plenty of detours. Snowshill Manor is a treasure chest of oddities, Sudeley Castle mixes gardens with Tudor history, and Westonbirt Arboretum is one of the finest collections of trees in Europe, particularly glorious in autumn.
Cotswolds Leafy Lanes road trip quick guide
Getting here
- Easy to reach from London, Birmingham or Bristol. Trains run to Moreton-in-Marsh, Cheltenham and Stroud where you can pick up a car.
Where to stay
- Broadway and Chipping Campden for traditional inns
- Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold for central bases
- Cirencester for a bigger town with variety
- Bibury or Burford for quieter charm
Where to eat
- Country pubs in the Slaughters or Burford
- Farmers’ markets in Stroud and Cirencester
- Tea and cakes in Broadway or Stow
- Fine dining options in Painswick and Barnsley
What to do
- Explore gardens at Hidcote and Snowshill
- Visit Roman remains at Chedworth and Cirencester
- Wander Arlington Row in Bibury
- Climb Broadway Tower for sweeping views
Nearby gems
- Blenheim Palace near Woodstock
- Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s home town
- Cheltenham with its regency terraces and festivals
Best time to visit
- Spring for blossom and gardens
- Summer for long days and village fêtes
- Autumn for the colours at Westonbirt and along the leafy lanes
- Winter for roaring pub fires and peaceful villages
