How to spend a weekend in the Cotswolds

The ​​Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – spanning 800 square miles – offering an extensive range of places to stay and things to do. If you want a relaxing weekend away in the country, filling your days with walks, pub trips and tranquillity, then the Cotswolds is the place to be! 

The area also offers an opportunity to do some unique activities – from dinner with a view, to learning something new. In fact, it’s no surprise that it’s just so popular with families, walkers, couples, and people who just want a break from routine.

With so much to choose from though, it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t worry, in this blog, we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do in the Cotswolds. 

Plan some long walks or hikes, or just go for a wander

The Cotswolds is definitely the place for walks. It’s famous for its stunning scenery and chocolate box market towns and villages like Bourton-on-the-Water (known as the Venice of the Cotswolds), Upper Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden. Here, your days can be spent wandering around, taking in the views of the River Windrush, adventuring through the parks and gardens and, of course, visiting the likes of Sudeley Castle, Blenheim Palace and Broadway Tower.

If you’re looking for more of a hike or a longer walk, there’s plenty to choose from. Get yourself a map app, or a good old-fashioned paper map, and get plotting. From tackling sections of the 100-mile ‘Cotswold Way’ – the full route takes 7-10 days, so not quite enough time in a weekend – to the shorter 8km ‘Rollright Stones Walk’ - the Cotswolds is perfect for avid walkers and weekend ramblers alike. Plus, you’ll be sure to work up an appetite for food and drink, and maybe even an ice cream pitstop!

Book yourself in for a unique experience

If walks aren’t up your street, there are some more unique experiences to be had. You can visit The Cotswold Perfumery to design your own perfume – they offer a one-day course on Thursdays and Saturdays. Or, you can book yourself a ‘scenic supper’ experience – a restaurant that provides dining in glass huts so you can eat your dinner with panoramic views of the Cotswolds. 

The area is also home to the UK’s only crocodile zoo, where you can get up close and personal with them, and even help out with feeding! Kids, and big kids alike, may even enjoy the Croc Keeper experience which gives you the opportunity to help out with croc care for the day. 

Of course, there are plenty of other options for a fun and family-friendly day trip - one of the most popular being a haunted tour of a Cotswold village.

Visit one of the many pubs

When you’re exhausted from your walks and activities, and crying out for a comfy chair, an open fire and a drink – you’ll be pleased to know that there’s an extensive range of award winning coaching inns and pubs. If you visit in the winter, you’ll want to find some pubs with real fires to warm up in or, if you visit in the summer, you’ll be keen to find some with outdoor seating.

One of the most popular choices is Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold. Known for being England’s oldest pub, dating back to 947 AD, the Porch House is ideal for warming up in the winter with a pint by the log burner or soaking up the sun on the terrace in the summer. There’s plenty more where that came from too and even better is when you stumble across a hidden bolthole that only the locals know about… 

 There’s also nothing better than a Sunday roast when you’re in the countryside – and what better way to finish off your weekend break in the Cotswolds? You’ll be spoilt for choice too as there are many pubs offering well-rated roasts. Although the Bell at Sapperton offers something a little bit special. You can choose to walk there or ride your horse there as they offer tethering posts! It also provides a chance to walk along the famous Sapperton Canal Tunnel – once the longest tunnel of any kind in England  – before stopping to fill up. Whether you choose to walk or trot there, they’ve got you covered.

Book a home away from home

You won’t want to be trudging back to a hotel covered in mud after walking through the stunning scenery all day. Instead, you’ll just want to get back, kick off your muddy shoes and sit down with a coffee or something stronger. If you’re looking for a Cotswolds holiday home to really put the cherry on top of your weekend, why not check out Newton Lodge Country House?

Ideal for family gatherings, birthdays, hen parties and more, it has enough space for 20 guests and sits within six acres of private grounds. For more information or to start planning your Cotswolds staycation, why not get in touch today and tick another thing off your to-do list?