I'd seen the photos.
Photos of charming stone buildings with overflowing flower boxes. Of adorable city squares with old wells at the center. Of crumbly church steeples and ivy-covered stuccoed walls.
And I thought to myself: Surely these places aren't actually REAL. They're made to look that way for movie sets and television productions. … Right?
Well, actually no. The small villages in the Cotswolds in south central England are not movies sets – they're real villages that just happen to look like they were plucked straight out of the 1400s.
I got to visit a couple Cotswolds villages with my mom as part of a day tour we took from London with City Wonders. The tour had us visiting Bath, Stonehenge, and some Cotswolds villages for lunch and sightseeing.
While it's difficult to pick a favorite part of that day trip, I'd have to say that the Cotswolds were certainly a pleasant surprise.
Our first stop was in Castle Combe, a village built from yellow Cotswold stone that dates back to the 1400s. We had a delicious hot lunch at a tiny pub and then a short time to stroll down the village's singular main street and pop in to the old church.
In the center of “town,” the old market cross (dating back to the 13th century) can still be found next to water pumps and an old mounting block – you know, just in case you brought your horse.
If you saw the 2007 movie “Stardust,” then you saw Castle Combe – it was the village that stood in for “Wall,” and they surprisingly didn't have to do much other than cover the paved road in order to prepare it for filming.
Castle Combe literally feels like something removed from the past and placed in the present. While I don't think I could ever live in such a small village, there was something about it that made me want to stay longer.
Our second stop in the Cotswolds was in the slightly larger town of Lacock, which also dates back hundreds of years.
Lacock is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust, and draws quite a few more people than some of the other villages in the Cotswolds. It's still bursting with charm, though, with old stone and brick buildings and lots of little touches that just scream “Cotswolds.”
My conclusion after wandering around both villages?
The Cotswolds are just stupid pretty.
IF YOU GO
The best way to explore the Cotswolds (which covers an area of about 25×90 miles) is by car. BUT, if you don't have your own wheels, there are a few tours that will get you to this part of England, too.
I visited on a day trip from London with City Wonders (booked through Viator) that also included stops in Bath and at Stonehenge. This was a fantastic small-group tour that took in a lot but yet didn't feel too rushed. Both my mom and I really enjoyed it!
Have you ever been to the Cotswolds? If not, would you like to visit?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Worth spending a week or more in the Cotswold. A lot to see and do, Stratford Upon Avon because of Shakespeare, Warwick Castle is a great day out and numerous pretty places and wonderful scenery. Bourton On The Water is my favourite place to stay although it does get very busy during the day, especially during school holidays. Would move there if I could afford it as houses are way above what they are where I live.
Fantastic pictures and a great guide here! I´m visiting The Cotswolds in a week and am over the moon with excitement. My main point of interest is Bibury.
Enjoy! It’s such a beautiful part of England!
Wow ! I could easily lose myself in one of those villages. You said that you could not live in a small plce like Casgtle Combe, my word, I would relish such a luxury.
And, such beautiful surrounding scenery, Trees and streams are my dream places. I am a landscape artist and if you should go into my Home page you will see why.
I just felt like knocking on the door of every cottage and I am sure there will be someone to open it, and they will be kind and willing to exchage a few words. I could easily make Castle Combe my home town.
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I grew up living basically in the middle of nowhere, so these days I crave being close to certain things (and other people). But it’s certainly a beautiful part of England to visit!