Thinking of visiting the Cotswolds? You can skim the surface on a day trip from London, but a lot of that time will be spent in the car. We highly recommend extending that to a weekend to really enjoy it. The Cotswolds, famous for its honey-coloured stone cottages and rolling hills, occupies 800 square miles from just below Stratford-upon-Avon to just above Bath. If it was ever in any doubt, the Cotswolds is officially beautiful – the whole area was granted AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) status in 1966. Don’t expect a weekend of riotous nightlife – most shops close at 5 pm, and the atmosphere is decidedly chilled. Think of the Cotswolds more as a place to de-stress as you wander around, gazing at peaceful water flowing under low stone bridges and eating your way through generous cakey afternoon teas. There’s a lot to see, but as you’ve got a car, you’ll be able to pack quite a lot into a couple days.
Distance/journey time from London
Around 90 miles/under 3 hours.
The route:
Take the M40 out of London. If you’ve got time, visit the wonderful Waterperry Gardens just off Junction 8 for a coffee and to stretch your legs. Then, keep on the A40 (depending on where in the Cotswolds you’re going). If you’re staying in a cottage or AirBnB and want to stock up on provisions, Diddly Squat Farm Shop of Clarkson’s Farm fame in Chipping Norton is worth a visit – although get there early.
Where to visit in the Cotswolds
North Cotswolds
Bourton-on-the-Water
Known as “The Venice of the Cotswolds” because of its five low stone bridges spanning the River Windrush. Again, get here early – it’s busy in summer. Our favourite attraction is its Model Village – a 1/9th scale replica of Bourton-on-the-Water… with a scale, scale model of the model village within it. The Old New Inn is just across the car park and a great place to regain your sense of proportion. Nearby is the Cotswolds Motoring (and Toy) Museum, which is perfect for a rainy day out with children.
Bibury
Nothing much happens in Bibury. To give you an idea of how slow life is here, in 2015, a yellow Vauxhall Corsa caused a local outcry when it was left in front of its most famous attraction – Arlington Row. Arlington Row is a picturesque row of cottages built in the 14th century – so picturesque that they visually sum up England on the inside page of all UK passports.
South Cotswolds
Castle Combe
Unofficially named “prettiest village in England.” For petrolheads, the nearby Castle Combe Circuit often hosts a weekend of motorsport – and you’ll get a better close-up view of the action than at any Formula 1 event.
Lacock Abbey
Harry Potter fans will love this 13th-century abbey – it’s famous for its film locations like Harry’s parents’ house, Professor Snape’s classroom, and Hogwarts interiors. It was once owned by Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of modern photography – and there’s also a photography museum on-site.
What to do in the Cotswolds
Stay
Mr & Mrs Smith has a wide selection of great places to stay in the Cotswolds, from luxury townhouses in the centre of cobbled market town squares to elegant country inns. They even have deals on the wonderful Double Red Duke (see below under “Eat”).
Luxury Cotswold Rentals are, as the name implies, specialists who really know the area. It’s a deliberately small and niche luxury private house rental agency, initially created by Nigel and Maria Stengard-Green for their own property. Over the years, it has slowly grown as like-minded owners with amazing properties to rent have joined their select portfolio.
Lords of the Manor Hotel in Upper Slaughter is one of the few privately owned hotels in The Cotswolds. The Slaughter family bought the building from Henry VIII. Now owned by the Munir family, it’s a living piece of Cotswolds history.
Eat
The Cotswolds is where great chefs go when they’re tired of London. Charlie Hibbert, ex-of Quo Vadis, is now chef at the Ox Barn at Thyme, on the Southrop Manor Estate, his family home. The menu is bursting with seasonal fresh herbs and vegetables from the estate.
Meanwhile, the Double Red Duke is the place for steak – with Richard Turner and Richard Sandiford from Hawksmoor on the grill.
Walk
The Warden’s Way
The Warden’s Way starts at Bourton-on-the-Water and is a pleasant half-hour amble into Lower, and then Upper Slaughter. If you’re feeling energetic, you can carry on to Naunton (a total of 5 1⁄2 miles) or even all the way to Winchcombe (a further 8 miles).
London to Cotswolds day trip
In short, if you’re planning a day trip London to Cotswolds then leave early to make the most of your time, although we highly recommend you extend your timeline, if possible. With so many picturesque villages and scenic routes, it’s a great escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
So, what car should you drive there? Plenty of people love to head over in a Defender 110. After all, the countryside is the birthplace of these once-farmhand-motors. It also doesn’t fear gravel roads! The high chassis will ensure you stay nice and clean inside. Just two of you? Go for the more compact Defender 90.