Often referred to as the 'Heart of England', the Cotswolds is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations with a huge choice of cottages to rent. Attracting visitors from all over the world, all year round, this beautiful part of Central England is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and Wales and renowned for its beautiful rolling landscape, fantastic gastropubs, historic market towns and honey-coloured pretty villages. Its close proximity to London makes the Cotswolds a perfect destination for weekend breaks. Read more
This welcoming holiday cottage has a wealth of features including an inglenook with wood burner and walled garden for enjoying a glass of your favourite tipple in the sunshine, giving it all year round appeal. With a choice of three pubs, as well an a Victorian Brewery in the village, Rose Cottage in Hook Norton is perfect for exploring Central England including the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire and Shakespeare's very own Stratford-upon-Avon. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Pretty inside and out, this Cotswolds stone 18th Century cottage has lots of original character and provides a welcoming holiday retreat ideally placed in the village of Middle Barton in Oxfordshire. The vibrant town of Chipping Norton is close by with a good range of shops, pubs and restaurants, and an abundance of attractions are within easy reach including nearby Blenheim Palace in Woodstock and Oxford City centre.
A holiday in the Cotswolds is a thing of joy. The Old Chapel is a beautifully converted period chapel in the quiet village of Cleveley and only a few miles from Chipping Norton and Soho Farm House. It sleeps five people in three bedrooms and suits couples, families or friends. Perfect for a country escape and beautiful walks from the doorstep. Enjoy sitting on the desk surrounded by a large private garden. The area is wonderfully rural yet within easy reach of Blenheim Palace, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bicester Village, Shakespeare's Stratford-on-Avon, and the spires of Oxford. It's perfect for a holiday in any season.
Lantern House is exceptionally family-friendly and offers spacious holiday accommodation for five adults/children plus two babies/toddlers under two years in the Wiltshire village of Sherston within the Cotswolds AONB. Close to Westonbirt National Arboretum and the areas many attractions (including Tetbury), this well presented character Cotswolds house provides a good base for exploring Central England.
On the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds, this self catering holiday cottage offers a comfy affordable base to explore this lovely area and sits in the village of Chadlington with good village pub and butcher. Between Woodstock and Chipping Norton, the areas many attractions are within easy reach of Stable Cottage.
This pretty stone holiday cottage sits on the edge of Minchinhampton Common in the Cotswold village of Amberley. Perfect for couples looking for a slice of paradise in this beautiful part of the world, Bread Cottage offers contemporary self-catering accommodation in a building full of character and charm. If you aren’t wowed by the gorgeous countryside views then the stunning glass staircase spanning three floors is guaranteed to impress! If you can tear yourself away from this charming cottage there is plenty to keep you entertained from beautiful walks, impressive mansions and castles or even a day on the water at Cotswold Water Park.
A stylish Cotswold holiday home ideally placed behind Chipping Campden's delightful historic high street with shops, pubs and restaurants on the doorstep. Perfect for simply relaxing and exploring the areas many attractions with lovely walks from the front door.
Stylish, quirky and comfortable, this pretty thatched holiday cottage oozes character and charm. With a king size bed, free standing bath, wood burning stove and beautiful gardens, Goose Green Cottage offers plenty of extra indulgent touches. Located in the picturesque village of Ebrington in the heart of the Cotswolds, with stunning walks from the front door and beautiful towns and villages to explore, this fabulous self-catering cottage is the perfect romantic retreat at any time of the year.
Beautifully presented throughout, this stylish barn conversion is the perfect Cotswolds retreat at any time of the year with plenty of outside space for relaxing in the summer months, and a wood burning stove for winter breaks. Sitting in the village of Paxford, you can enjoy drinks and meals at the award winning pub (just a short stroll away), wonderful countryside walks from the front door and an abundance of attractions for day trips out. A great base for exploring or simply relaxing and recharging!
Silkmill Cottage is everything you could wish for in a Cotswolds retreat. Perfectly located in the market town of Chipping Campden, this delightful holiday cottage is just a short stroll from the High Street with its shops, pubs and restaurants. A fantastic base for exploring the Cotswolds in one of the Cotswolds most photographed holiday destinations.
A fabulous Cotswolds House just a short walk from the many shops and eating establishments on the historic High Street of Chipping Campden - perfect for a weekend away with friends or family and as a base for exploring the Cotswolds many attractions.
Sitting in a highly desirable peaceful position on the outskirts of the small Cotswolds market town of Chipping Campden, this impressive holiday home offers the best of both worlds - a peaceful retreat within easy walking distance (under ten minutes) of a great choice of pubs, restaurants and shops.
A cosy Cotswolds cottage for four in an idyllic position in the charming Cotswolds village of Ebrington with an excellent pub and superb walks on the doorstep and an abundance of attractions close by including Chipping Campden and Hidcote Manor just a short drive away.
The Honeypot is a charming romantic old Cotswold stone holiday cottage packed full of traditional character, perfectly positioned in the historic town of Chipping Campden. An ideal base for exploring the Cotswolds with excellent eateries and shops on the doorstep.
An elegant stylish Cotswolds retreat for large groups of up to eight in the quiet village of Ebrington (with award winning pub within walking distance), just a couple of miles from Chipping Campden - an ideal base for exploring the Cotswolds.
Located on the outskirts, and within walking distance of the Gloucestershire village of Bledington with a traditional pub serving good food on the green, this welcoming holiday home provides an ideal self-catering retreat for exploring the Cotswolds be it by foot, bike or car. Just two miles from Stow-on-the-Wold and within easy reach of the areas many attractions.
A relaxing holiday in rural Oxfordshire is the perfect balance to a busy, stressful life. The Artist's House is a gorgeous space where you can slow down, unwind and indulge in the luxury of time - time to do the things you enjoy with people you love in a setting that is inspirational beautiful. The cottage is five miles from the Cotswolds, 12 miles from the M40 and 20 miles from Oxford, and within easy reach of Soho Farmhouse, Bicester Village and Blenheim Palace. It sleeps up to eight people in four bedrooms with a flexible layout that makes it ideal for families or friends.
The Mews is a secluded holiday apartment tucked away in a Quiet Private Mews in the exclusive 'Old Town' Conservation area, just a two minute stroll along the river to the Iconic RSC Theatre, and 'Waterside'. This charming bolthole has a sunny private courtyard with private entrance and parking space directly outside - a rarity in Stratford, especially near the river.
Indulge in 5-Star Gold luxury within walking distance of famous sights and fantastic amenities at Heritage Mews. The modern holiday cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon is only a 10-15 minutes walk from places like Shakespeare's Birthplace, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and the River Avon, offering a very high standard of accommodation for three people in two bedrooms. The cottage has a beautiful private courtyard garden, off-street parking for two cars, and lots of touches that will ensure you're very comfortable in every season. It's a perfect choice for exploring Stratford-upon-Avon and the wider Warwickshire countryside and the nearby Cotswolds. Tourist board rating: 5 Star Gold
A spacious and modern lakeside holiday house located on the highly desirable Lower Mill Estate on The Cotswold Water Park close to the market town of Cirencester. Sleeping 10 guests in 5 bedrooms, and with a large decking area overlooking the water for sundowners in the summer and a log burner for cosy winter nights in, Sorrel House is the perfect self-catering retreat for extended family celebrations and special get togethers. This fabulous holiday house also welcomes up to three dogs and has access to an on-site spa as well as children's play areas, two tennis courts and a 450-acre nature reserve.
Popular towns in and around The Cotswolds:
Bourton-on-the-WaterBroadwayBurfordChipping CampdenStow-on-the-WoldStratford-upon-AvonTewkesburySome local suggestions:
Dog friendly Cotswolds cottagesLuxury Cotswolds holiday cottagesLast minute Cotswolds cottagesRomantic Cotswolds cottagesOr search further afield:
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The Cotswolds represent 'quintessential England' and encompasses six counties, namely Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, along with Wiltshire, Somerset and Worcestershire.
Steeped in history, the Cotswolds gained many of its qualities from its medieval sheep trade. Its long history in the wool trade generated much wealth which resulted in building the many fine houses that the Cotswolds is so famous for today. Its landscape still holds much evidence of its history in the wool trade with its dry stone walls that once formed enclosures for the sheep, buildings that were formerly factories for processing wool and market squares approached by narrow little alleyways where the sheep were once driven through to market.
Whatever the weather, the Cotswolds has plenty of great days out with its fine architecture, National Trust properties and gardens, arboretums, museums and pretty villages. There are fantastic, historic towns and cities including the Roman City of Bath, Oxford, Cheltenham and Stratford-Upon-Avon – the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The Cotswolds puts the fun back into shopping with its local farmers markets, antique shops, boutiques, gift shops, old fashioned tea rooms and stylish coffee houses. It is also an incredibly dog-friendly area with plenty of pubs, restaurants, cottages and attractions welcoming dogs.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to keep you occupied too, including walking and cycling the numerous paths and trails, shooting, fishing, golf and hot air ballooning. Horse racing is a popular past time in the Cotswolds with the famous Cheltenham festival, along with other famous equestrian events including Badminton, Blenheim Palace and Gatcombe.
With a wide range of self catering accommodation centrally located in the country, the Cotswolds is perfect for a short break, weekend break or longer holiday at any time of the year.
If you want to stay in one of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds then consider Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water and Broadway. However, if you want to be a little off the beaten tourist trail but still in the heart of the Cotswolds, consider Oddington, Kingham, The Slaughters, Bibury, Bruern or the Cotswolds Water Park for those who love water-based outdoor activities..
Many of our Cotswolds cottages are within easy driving distance of Cheltenham Races. Use our map facility to find the closest locations.
There is a regular train service from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham. Many parts of the Cotswolds are also covered by a regular bus service for travelling to your holiday cottage or exploring the area. The cottage owner should be able to help provide local public transport and taxi details.
Every season delivers its own magic. The sparkle of winter frosts are accompanied by the smell of log fires providing a warm welcome in cottages and pubs; or visit in the spring and summer when a myriad of footpaths like the Cotswolds Way beckon. Autumn is also pretty special with places like Westonbirt National Arboretum showcasing a dazzling array of colour.
