The county of Gloucestershire is located in South West England, near the Welsh border and is well-known for its areas of preserved natural beauty. Visitors to Gloucestershire can visit the expansive hills of the Cotswolds or travel to more densely populated areas, such as Gloucester and Cheltenham, to experience ancient architecture, notable museums and galleries, prominent historic sites and locations seen in some of the UK’s most famous works of film and television. Read more
The Cotswold Water Park is a perennial favourite for its superb amenities and beautiful surroundings. You'll love this waterfront holiday home facing Isis Lake, with deck and outdoor hot tub, two man kayak and stylishly furnished rooms. Green Woodpecker Lodge sleeps six people in three bedrooms and has a versatile layout that suits families and friends. You can stroll to South Cerney village with its well-stocked village shop and friendly pubs or stay on-site and make the most of the park's restaurant, play areas, tennis courts, table tennis pavilion and games room. Walking, cycling, fishing, and other watersports are all easily accessible, with equipment hire locally. Free use of a kayak on Windrush Lake is included.
Why would you even consider going abroad for your holiday with the beautiful Cotswold Water Park as an option? The 40-square mile nature reserve boasts over 150 lakes and has been carefully developed to protect the natural habitat for birds and wildlife while still being superbly comfortable for holidaymakers. Grey Heron Lodge is a waterfront holiday home with ample space for up to six people, with three comfortable bedrooms, an open-plan living area and a huge wrap-around deck, with private jacuzzi. Guests have use of onsite facilities that include watersports, play areas, and a bar and restaurant. They can fish next to the lodge, and the owners have provided a two-person kayak for them to use on Windrush Lake. Dogs and children are very welcome, making Grey Heron Lodge a firm favourite with families and friends, as well as couples who appreciate a great location, pet friendly accommodation and extra space.
A romantic hideaway with wood-fired hot tub located centrally within the Cotswolds on a hill farm amongst beautiful scenery, offering a taste of country life and panoramic views over woodland and the countryside of Gloucestershire. A great base for exploring the area's many attractions or simply relaxing in a tranquil setting with plenty of fresh air, wonderful walks and a pub within walking distance for long lazy lunches.
Chiff Chaff is a beautiful family holiday cottage on the sought-after Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds Water Park. This spacious self-catering home accommodates up to eight guests across four bedrooms and features three bathrooms, direct lake access, and a waterfront deck. Enjoy nearby amenities such as the Ballihoo restaurant, tennis courts, and Spa. With dog-friendly policies, it's perfect for the whole family. Explore nature trails, paddleboarding, and local attractions like Cirencester's Roman ruins and boutiques. Book your idyllic getaway at Chiff Chaff and experience the beauty of the Cotswolds!
Minety Dawn, a luxurious lakeside Lower Mill Estate retreat, offers up to ten guests a blissful holiday experience. This family-friendly home features plush bedrooms, use of the Lower Mill Spa, and direct lake access for activities like paddleboarding. Nearby, Cirencester, the Capital of the Cotswolds, has a blend of historical sites, shopping, and dining. Local attractions are the famous Cotswold Wildlife Park and Cotswold Farm Park, Bowood House and Gardens, WWT Slimbridge, and outdoor activities at Cotswold Country Park. Minety Dawn is an ideal Cotswolds holiday home for those seeking relaxation and adventure in a picturesque setting.
Merlin House in the Cotswolds is perfect for big families and friends as this lakeside holiday home comfortably sleeps eight across four plush bedrooms. As part of the prestigious Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswold Water Park, it's perfect for families and friends seeking relaxation and adventure. Enjoy alfresco dining on the deck and indulge in the on-site pool and spa facilities - you have free access with your booking. With its pet-friendly policy, everyone can join in the fun. Lower Mill Estate is a nature lover's paradise, offering birdwatching, walking trails, and spa indulgence. Nearby Cirencester offers historic charm, while Cotswold attractions provide endless exploration. Merlin House promises magical moments in Gloucestershire.
Holiday Rental for Groups of Families and Friends. Cotswold Spa House, Badminton, Gloucestershire, sleeps 10-25 in 7 bedrooms.
Holiday Rental for Groups of Families and Friends. Cotswold Manor House, Badminton, Gloucestershire, sleeps 10-28 in 6 bedrooms.
Beaver Brook is in a terrace located just moments from the Spa and Ballihoo restaurant, overlooking a water garden with trout pool and beside one of the many streams that cross Lower Mill. Great family rental property, stocked full of baby/toddler equipment and games/books. Of course spa access is included for all the family. You can enjoy heated pools, a steam room, sauna and the gym.
Lagoon Villa is in the exclusive Somerford 'Nines' on the Lower Mill Estate overlooking Somerford Lagoon in the Cotswold Water Park. The contemporary holiday home has five bedrooms and three bathrooms and is ideal for families and friends. You couldn't plan a more relaxing self-catering holiday than here, with swimming pools, tennis courts, spa facilities, and watersports readily accessible. You have access to the exclusive 'Nines' outdoor heated pool during the warmer months (a facility shared by 9 houses), as well as the main Spa complex with heated pools, steam room, sauna and gym. The 450-acre park is a haven for birds and wildlife with nature trails and traffic-free cycling routes to make it easy to explore. A well-behaved dog is welcome and the property is child-friendly. Short breaks and extended stays are possible all year round.
The Studio is a gorgeous thatched Cotswold cottage in Broad Campden, just over a mile from Chipping Campden and within easy reach of Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, and Stratford-Upon-Avon. It's a traditional cottage sympathetically updated with modern features like smart lighting and underfloor heating. The holiday home has two ensuite bedrooms and comfortably accommodates four people, with an ideal layout for couples, families or friends. It's a fantastic location for a holiday in the Cotswolds, with excellent access to footpaths, cycling routes, picturesque towns and villages, and favourite attractions that make the Cotswolds one of the most popular places in England.
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 - with free access to the luxury on-site spa with heated pools, a steam room, sauna and gym! Sleeping 10 guests in 5 bedrooms (2 on the ground floor), 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 on-site you will find a wonderful field-to-fork restaurant Ballihoo, children's play areas, two tennis courts, table tennis facilities and a 450-acre nature reserve.
Serenity is a huge holiday home in The Nines, an exclusive gated part of the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswold Water Park. With four bedrooms, two of which are ensuite, the modern waterfront property is perfect for big families, multi-generational families or friends who love spending time outdoors in beautiful surroundings. Amenities include a hot tub, shared heated swimming pool and mini-gym, and access to a spa, bigger gym, outdoor tennis courts and play areas, bar, restaurant and village shop. You'll love starting and ending every day with uninterrupted views over Somerford Lagoon. Cirencester and Bourton-on-the-Water are nearby, while local attractions include Cotswold Beach and Country Park, Cotswold Farm Park, and Chedworth Roman Villa.
A spacious, contemporary family home in a sought after waterfront location on the Lower Mill Estate in Gloucestershire. Guests have direct access to tennis courts, play areas and a 450-acre nature reserve, as well as a luxurious spa with indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There is also a man-made beach within 2 minute drive. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is on the doorstep, while places like Cirencester and Westonbirt Arboretum are nearby. It's the perfect place where families can enjoy being together, relaxing and having fun.
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 self-catering base for exploring the Cotswolds many attractions.
A beautifully presented 18th Century Cotswold cottage ideally located within a short stroll of the pubs, restaurants and interesting shops in the popular picturesque medieval town of Chipping Campden. An ideal base for exploring the many attractions of the area or simply sampling a taste of Cotswolds life.
Formerly the stables this attractive, single level Cotswold-stone barn conversion offers a high standard of holiday accommodation in the heart of the Cotswolds in the peaceful hamlet of Maugersbury within walking distance of the popular market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Ideal for couples wanting to explore the areas many attractions. Tourist board rating: 4 Star Gold
A lovely bolthole for two in the beautiful popular Cotswolds market town of Tetbury with lovely shops, traditional inns and restaurants on the doorstep. Highgrove and Chavenage (better known as 'Trenwith' and the family home of the Poldarks!) are under two miles away, as are a host of other attractions just waiting to be discovered!
Doverow Cottage is a charming two-bedroom Cotswold holiday cottage in Stonehouse, perfect for up to four guests and their dog. It was built in 1850 and has cosy features like wood beams and a log burner, offering easy access to beautiful countryside walks, nearby pubs, and Doverow Wood. Stonehouse boasts excellent amenities, including a farm shop, and is only three miles from Stroud. Village highlights include a great farm shop and a Norman-era church. The location is ideal for exploring the Cotswolds, with Slimbridge Wetlands, Painswick Gardens, Bath and Cheltenham nearby for fun days out.
Nestled in the idyllic Gloucestershire village of Apperley, Cricketers Cottage epitomises the quintessential country holiday cottage. This Grade 2 Listed guests love that it's comfortable, spacious and suitable for children and dogs. A stone's throw from the Farmers Arms pub, your stay at Cricketers Cottage will feature scenic landscapes, gorgeous walks, and fishing along the Severn and Avon rivers. Nearby, Tewkesbury entices with a bustling market and a vibrant food scene. Adventure awaits with Cheltenham's shopping and racing, Gloucester's majestic cathedral, and the enchanting Cotswolds AONB all only a short drive from the door.
Popular towns in and around The Cotswolds:
AndoversfordBadmintonBathBiburyBisleyBlockleyBourton On The WaterBourton-on-the-HillBourton-on-the-WaterBristolBroadwayBroadwellChalfordCheltenhamChipping CampdenChipping NortonChristchurchCirencesterColefordCotswold Water ParkCotswolds Water ParkDeerhurstDursleyEldersfieldForest Of DeanGloucesterGuiting PowerHartpuryIlmingtonLechladeLonghopeLydbrookLydneyLyndneyMiddle DuntisbourneMinchinhamptonMoreton In MarshMoreton-in-marshNailsworthNewentNewnhamNorthleachNr CirencesterOddingtonPainswickPitchcombeRoss-on-WyeSouth CerneyStow-on-the-WoldStroudTemple GuitingTetburyTewkesburyThe Forest Of DeanTown2UleyWinchcombeWotton-under-EdgeSearch within Central England
The Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are located mostly within Gloucestershire, although the entire area of the Cotswold Hills spans over six different counties and offers miles of almost untouched countryside. The area is also home to numerous small towns and villages, including Bourton-on-the-Water, a village which regularly hosts more tourists than locals due to its popular scenery and boutique shopping.
Aside from the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean is perhaps Gloucestershire’s best-known scenic attraction. The peaceful forest is said to have inspired many great artistic and literary works, including Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest. The Forest of Dean covers over 40 square miles and is a popular spot for hiking, cycling and other outdoor activities.
Gloucester, the county’s only city, offers numerous historic attractions, situated alongside all the convenient amenities one would expect from a city. Gloucester Cathedral, located near the River Severn, is an ancient example of Gothic architecture that has also been used as a filming location for modern British classics such as Harry Potter and Doctor Who. Gloucester’s faithfully restored 18th century docks also offer an interesting insight into the city’s history; here visitors can find the National Waterways Museum, as well as various shops and cafes. Travellers who visit Gloucester on a Friday can also visit the local farmers’ market and taste a wide range of local specialities and produce.
Historic sights outside of the city include Berkeley Castle, located in the small town of Berkeley, which was first built in the 11th century and is widely believed to be the location of the murder of King Edward II.
The town of Cheltenham also has plenty to offer travellers, including notable Regency architecture and several seasonal festivals. The town contains four theatres, as well as the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, which displays numerous antique works of art.
The attractions listed here are only a small selection of what Gloucestershire has to offer. Those visiting the county will also have the opportunity to visit many historic churches and royal manors, as well as examples of modern architecture, lakes and rivers where visitors can rent canoes and a diverse range of shops and restaurants.
