Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re sharing some of the don’ts of visiting the Cotswolds; one of the most beautiful destinations in England, with some of the prettiest villages you’ll ever see. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in the Cotswolds, we also want to share what you should NOT do!
Don’t Be Shocked by Weekend Crowds
The Cotswolds villages are a popular day trip from London, so weekends and holidays can be very crowded. Try to plan your visits to the most popular villages during the week so you can avoid crowds. Bibury is the most-hyped village in the Cotswolds, but there are other villages that are just as nice and less crowded.
Fortunately, visiting the Cotswolds is great in any season. Spring is beautiful and lush, summer brings longer days for more exploring, fall has changing leaves, and Christmas in the Cotswolds is full of Christmas markets!
If you are driving through the Cotswolds, be aware that most other drivers are also tourists, so be on high alert. Make sure you pull over if you’re going slow, and watch out for tourists wandering into the roads.
Don’t Feel Like You Have to Rent a Car
While having your own car offers more flexibility, there are other ways to visit the Cotswolds. There are plenty of tours that bus you through the different villages, and you can even use public transportation to many of the Cotswolds villages. You can take the train to the area, then use local buses to get between villages.
Don’t let fear of driving on the left keep you from visiting the Cotswolds; they are spectacular no matter how you get there. Even if you can only visit on a day trip from London, it’s well worth it! You can really see a lot in one day. There are also day trips from Birmingham, Manchester, Bath, and other towns.
However you tour the Cotswolds, if you are prone to car sickness, be prepared. The roads are hilly and winding, and you will be spending a lot of time in the car between villages.
Don’t Be Afraid to Explore Lesser Known Areas
There are almost 100 villages that make up the Cotswolds, so you don’t have to stick to Bibury and Chipping Campden. There are plenty of other places to explore, and you just might avoid some of the crowds in the more popular villages.
That said, Chipping Campden is worth the visit as it’s a beautifully preserved market town.
Don’t Be Surprised by the Large Churches
For such small towns, you will see some very large churches in the Cotswolds. Many of these are “wool churches,” built with profits from the medieval wool trade. Meant to show off the success and wealth of the merchants, these churches are quite elaborate and well worth visiting a few during your trip to the Cotswolds.
Don’t Forget to Bring the Right Shoes
You will most likely be doing a lot of walking in the Cotswolds, so it’s important to have good shoes that are comfortable for walking. The Cotswold Way is a 100-mile trail that stops in several villages along the way. There are lots of other trails too, and you can easily spend your whole trip walking. (Just don’t forget to close any gates behind you along the path!)
Tips for Choosing Shoes to Pack for Europe
Don’t Miss the Festivals
There are tons of fun festivals in the Cotswolds, especially in summer. There are food festivals, drinking festivals, literary festivals, and the Cotswolds Olympics. They get a bit crazy with their competitions; you can see everything from sheep tossing to shin kicking.
Don’t Forget to Make Reservations
Many of the restaurants in the Cotswolds are small, and they can fill up quickly, especially on the weekends. You can make reservations for both lunch and dinner; we highly recommend doing so, especially if there is a particular place you really want to try.
If you plan to join a tour or hire a driver, you should also arrange that in advance.
If you want to stay in the Cotswolds, that also needs to be planned in advance. However, there are larger cities nearby, like Bath, that have more accommodation options.
Don’t Expect Late Nights
The Cotswolds villages are not nightlife destinations. The pubs and shops close early, so if you are staying overnight in one of the villages, make sure you get dinner before everything closes!
Don’t Miss Out on Local Treats
A few things you should eat in the Cotswolds are the cheese and the bread. You can make a meal just out of these two things, but there are also lots of lamb dishes, given that this is sheep country. The pork here is usually really good, too.
Don’t Think Visiting the Cotswolds is Expensive
You might assume that visiting the Cotswolds will be expensive because it’s such a popular tourist destination. However, most of the things to see in the Cotswolds are free, as a lot of it is just walking around looking at buildings and scenery. If you’re coming from London, you’ll notice the prices are much more palatable here, even for accommodation.
Don’t Invade Locals’ Privacy
Part of the allure of the Cotswolds are the darling homes and cottages with thatched roofs. People still live in these homes, so don’t go peeking in the windows and trampling in their yards.
Don’t Pass Up a Parking Spot
Parking in these small villages can be tricky, so if you see a parking spot, take it! Often, you will park on the edge of the village and walk in. Each village is quite small, so you can see a lot of them in one day. It’s not like other areas where you might spend an entire day in the village. This means you’ll probably be in and out of the car a lot, so stay organized and have what you need at your fingertips.
Don’t Think London is Your Only Airport Option
If you’re coming from the US, then Heathrow or Gatwick will likely be your arrival airport, but if you’re traveling within the UK or Europe, you can fly into Bristol which is at the southern end of the Cotswolds. Birmingham is at the north end of the Cotswolds. London is still just 90 minutes away, but make sure you explore all your options before booking a flight.
Visiting the Cotswolds is truly an amazing experience. These quaint villages feel like a step back in time. A tour of the Cotswolds can be a great day trip from London or a destination on its own.
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