3 days in the Cotswolds

3 days in the Cotswolds is the perfect way to welcome spring in the UK.  Glorious at any time of year, the Cotswolds in spring has the advantage of vibrant blossom, newborn lambs and noticeably fewer crowds.  As a result, it’s an ideal choice for a relaxed family break or a long weekend exploring some of England’s prettiest villages.

Because the Cotswolds covers such a vast area (nearly 800 square miles across five counties), it’s impossible to see everything in one visit.  A well-planned Cotswold itinerary is essential.  That said, this itinerary focuses on a carefully chosen mix of postcard-perfect villages, gentle countryside walks and family-friendly attractions, allowing you to experience the region without spending all your time in the car.

This 3-day Cotswold itinerary will help you plan an unforgettable trip, whether you are visiting as a family or looking for the best places to visit in the Cotswolds.  If you have more time to explore, you may like our 5-days in the Cotswolds itinerary, which includes more villages, longer walks and more places to visit in the Cotswolds.

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The easiest way to get to the Cotswolds is by car.  It has excellent links to the M4, M5 and M40, providing easy access to and from London, Birmingham and the national motorway network.

You could get a train directly from London Paddington to Gloucester or to Moreton-upon-Marsh.  Alternatively, you could take a bus or train to one of the big local cities, such as Bath or Bristol and then hire a car from there.

Of course, you won’t be able to see all of the Cotswolds in one go, so plan your itinerary carefully.  Work out what you most want to see and do and pick somewhere to stay that makes this all accessible.

Upper Slaughter is one of the prettiest and least touristy villages in the Cotswolds, making it an ideal base for a short break.

We booked a charming cottage in the heart of the village, which was perfect for our visit to the Cotswolds.  If you don’t fancy self-catering, the Lords of the Manor is an impressive 17th century manor house with an award-winning restaurant.

The Slaughters consist of two idyllic twin villages, which straddle the River Eye in Gloucestershire; Upper Slaughter & Lower Slaughter.  Although rather sinister-sounding, the name of these quintessential English villages actually derives from the Old English, meaning “muddy place”.

The Slaughters have retained their classic Cotswold look and original chocolate-box village charm, as no building work has been done there for over a hundred years.  However, they don’t have the hordes of tourists that some of the local villages attract, as the only attraction is themselves.

On the first day we followed The Warden’s Way walking route to the neighbouring village of Lower Slaughter.

The Warden’s Way is an easy route of just over mile and took about 20 minutes.  This picturesque walk took us across a ford and 3 fields until we reached Lower Slaughter.

Lower Slaughter sits on a stream and is picture-box pretty, with its unspoilt limestone cottages and traditional Cotswold style.  The main attraction is The Old Mill, a 19^th Century converted mill with its original water mill.

You can stop at the Old Mill for a coffee, ice-cream or visit the museum inside the mill.

We continued our walk along the Warden’s Way until we arrived at Bourton-on-the-Water.  It’s a fairly flat walk and mostly through fields, so ideal for families.

Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most visited and photographed villages in the Cotswolds and it’s easy to see why.   The River Windrush flows through the village and is spanned by six low, 18th century stone bridges.  This has earned Bourton-on-the-Water the grand title of “Venice of the Cotswolds”.

However, Bourton-on-the-Water is more than just a pretty village and is packed with family-friendly attractions and things to do.  It also has several country pubs, cafés, and gift shops.

Opposite the model village is The Dragonfly Maze, a rather quirky maze made of a Yew Tree hedge.

It’s great fun, as you have to solve riddles to get to the Golden Dragonfly’s hiding place in the centre.  There are 14 clues in total, which are etched in the stonework on the ground.

Another of the top attractions in Bourton-on-the-Water is the wildlife park,  Birdland.  

Birdland is home to over 500 birds and has more than 140 different species, from around the world.  Located at the end of Bourton-on-Water, the park is in a very natural setting on the River Windrush.

Plus, if you are travelling with younger kids, they will love the 30 life-size dinosaurs too.  Jurassic Journey is a dinosaur experience, taking you back millions of years to the time of dinosaurs.

Transport lovers might enjoy the Cotswolds Motoring Museum or the Model Railway Exhibition, a toy shop with an extensive display of indoor model railways.

In theory, we should have just retraced our steps along the Warden’s Way.  Unfortunately, we took a wrong turning.  After about a mile in the wrong direction we decided to call it a day.

We headed back to Bourton, called a taxi and made the most of the time to have an ice-cream on one of the bridges.  Not a bad end to the day!

On Day 2 of our 3-day visit to the Cotswolds, we went to The Cotswold Farm Park.  It is in Guiting Power, Cheltenham, which is only 7 miles from Upper Slaughter.

The Cotswold Farm Park is one of the top things to do in the Cotswolds with kids, especially in spring when it’s lambing season.

The park is the home of Adam Henson, presenter of BBC’s Countryfile.  It opened its gates to the public in 1971 and now has over 50 breeds of animals, many of which are rare breeds.  It’s a great day out for all ages.

The Discovery Barn offers visitors the chance to meet and pet some of the smaller animals, such as rabbits and chicks.  You can also see eggs hatching in the incubators.

Take a ride on one of the farm’s tractors.

Enjoy the local nature on a circular walk around the Cotswold Farm Park.  This 2-mile walk will give you stunning views of the Cotswold countryside and will lead you past a Bronze-age burial mound.

There are plenty of different zones for playing at the Cotswold Farm Park.  It has bouncing pillows, a sand pit and a zip wire.  There is also a maze and a woodland adventure area.  Inside, children can play in the 3 themed areas of the adventure barn.

Day 3 of our visit to the Cotswolds started with a circular walk to the nearby village of Naunton.  Naunton is another pretty Cotswold village, with history dating back to the Domesday Book.

We began our walk on the Warden’s Way, taking the opposite direction from the previous hike to Bourton-on-the-Water.  This route will eventually join the Windrush Way and later the Windrush River.

In Naunton, we stopped for lunch at The Black Horse Inn, which has been serving ale since the 1870s.  Other historic sights to look out for are the famous 17th Century dovecote and 15th Century village church.

If you’re extending your visit to the Cotswolds or planning a return visit, you may also enjoy exploring the Cotswold Water Park, visiting Arlington Row in Bibury, or discovering more family-friendly attractions across the region.  Other places we’ve enjoyed on different trips are Broadway, Snowshill, and Chipping Campden.

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