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The Cotswolds is one of the most picturesque regions in England with its quaint cottages, historic villages and rolling countryside. But with so many beautiful places to explore, planning a day trip can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve put together this 1-day Cotswolds itinerary, highlighting four of the most stunning villages, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford. This route showcases the best of the Cotswolds in a short amount of time, so you can see everything this region has to offer.

Overview of the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a beautiful region in central south west England that spans across several counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. Since the area is vast and there are hundreds of small picturesque villages, exploring the entire Cotswolds in just one day isn’t possible.

River and old stone houses surrounded by trees in Bibury, Cotswolds

Instead, this itinerary focuses on four of the most charming villages that offer a perfect mix of history, photogenic spots and cosy places to eat and shop.

Stop 1: Bibury

The first stop in this Cotswolds Itinerary is Bibury, a village so picturesque that it’s often called the most beautiful in England.

The most famous sight here is Arlington Row, a row of quaint cottages built in the 14th century as a monastic wool store and later converted into cottages in the 17th century. These cottages have become one of the most photographed spots in the entire Cotswolds and it's easy to see why!

Woman walking along old stone cottages of Arlington Row in Bibury

We’d recommend arriving as early as possible, before the crowds and tour buses, to fully enjoy the quaint streets and peaceful morning atmosphere. We arrived at 8:30 AM and it was very quiet and peaceful with hardly anyone there. Large groups of people started arriving at around 9:30 AM!

Old stone cottages of Arlington Row in Bibury, cotswolds

You can also visit Bibury Trout Farm, one of England’s oldest working trout farms!

If you're looking for somewhere to grab a coffee or a bite to eat, we'd highly recommend The Twig Café, they had great coffee and affordable pasties, cakes and sandwiches!

photo of cafe called the twig in bibury
yellow cafe with seating called the twig in bibury
latte art

Stop 2: Bourton-on-the-Water

The next stop on this Cotswolds day trip is Bourton-on-the-Water, one of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds. It's around a 20 minute drive from Bibury, but can take longer with traffic.

old stone bridge over River Windrush in Bourton-on-the-Water

It's often called the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' because of the shallow River Windrush that flows through its centre with low stone bridges and riverside walking paths. It really is one of the most picturesque spots in the Cotswolds.

There are plenty of shops, cafés and attractions to explore, you can visit the Birdland Park & Gardens, Cotswold Motoring and Toy Museum or even a Model Village. Personally, we preferred to just walk around and photograph the charming village.

old stone buildings and bridge in bourton on the water
sweet shop in bourton on the water

While there are several places to eat, it tends to be one of the more touristy spots in the Cotswolds, so we’d recommend eating in the next village and just enjoying the atmosphere here. Instead, explore the independent shops and take a walk along the river. 

Stop 3: Stow-on-the-Wold

After exploring Bourton-on-the-Water, drive 8 minutes to Stow-on-the-Wold, a historic market town that has a more relaxed feel. Sitting at the highest point in the Cotswolds, this town is known for its wide market square used for trading and sheep fairs.

buildings and shops with fairy lights in stow on the wold

Now, Stow-on-the-Wold is known for its independent boutiques, antique shops and cosy cafés and is an ideal spot to wander and explore the quaint streets and historic buildings.

One of the town’s most enchanting spots is the ancient yew tree-framed doorway of St. Edward’s Church, which looks like something straight out of a fairy-tale - and apparently was J.R.R Tolkien's inspiration for the Doors of Durin in the Lord of the Rings!

ancient yew tree-framed doorway of St. Edward’s Church with woman standing in middle

For lunch or a sweet treat, we highly recommend checking out Otis & Belle, an artisan bakery and cafe with incredible pastries and sandwiches. We both had a Turkish pide (flatbread meets pizza) and a cube croissant and cinnamon bun - which was all delicious!

outside of cafe and seating at otis & belle in stow on the wold
chocolate croissant cube at otis & belle

Stop 4: Burford

The final stop of the day is Burford, which is a 20 minute drive from Stow. Burford is a charming village that sits on a hill with a sloping high street lined with historic terraced buildings, shops and cafes.

row of old stone houses in burford, cotswolds

Take a walk down the hill to spot old stone cottages, historic pubs and medieval churches, and make sure to check out the shops and deli's along the way.

There's also plenty of activities to do in this area, from countryside walks to the cotswold wildlife park and gardens and crocodiles of the world. Just outside the village is the Burford Garden Company, a beautifully curated home and garden store with everything from plants to artisan food products.

woman walking down narrow street with old stone cottages in burford

If you’re in need of a coffee or sweet treat, Lynwood & Co and Hunters Cake Company are two of our top recommendations! Lynwood & Co has amazing toasties and coffee and you can't find better cakes than Hunter’s Cake Company.

woman sitting outside of cafe called lynwood & co in burford
brownie with marshmellows at hunters cake compnay in burford

Burford is a great place to enjoy dinner before leaving, for a traditional countryside pub experience, we recommend The Shilton Rose & Crown, a cosy inn that dates back to the 17th century with its original beams and log fires. The pub has a lively, inviting atmosphere and the locally sourced food is absolutely delicious.

Alternatively, located just 5 minutes outside of Burford is The Farmer’s Dog, also known as Jeremy Clarkson’s pub! Although we haven't tried the food (yet!), it's a popular spot and has beautiful views of the countryside.

You'll also find Diddly Squat Farm Shop (Jeremy's farm & farm shop), 25 minutes away in Chadlington, so you can definitely add this to the itinerary if it's of interest, just beware that it's extremely busy at weekends!

How to get around the Cotswolds on a day trip

As the Cotswolds is a rural region, the best way to get around is by car as it gives you the most flexibility. Public transport does exist throughout the Cotswolds, but it's not the most efficient way to explore multiple villages in a single day and some spots in this itinerary are difficult to reach.

Therefore, we'd highly recommend hiring a car for this one day trip to the Cotswolds, or alternatively join a guided tour.

Hire a car from London

How to get to the Cotswolds from London

As I mentioned before, driving is the easiest and most flexible way to explore the cotswolds, so driving from London is the best option. The drive from London takes around 2 hours, depending on traffic and follows the M40 or M4 motorways.

You can take a train from London Paddington to one of the Cotswold stations like Moreton-in-Marsh or Kemble (Cirencester), but getting around once you're here is more difficult, as you'll either have to use public buses or taxis.

old stone house and woman sitting on bench in burford

Is it possible to see the Cotswolds in one day?

Yes! While you won’t be able to see everything, you can see a number of villages that give you a great introduction to the Cotswolds without feeling too rushed.

What’s the best time of year to visit the Cotswolds?

The Cotswolds are busiest in late spring, summer and christmas, so i'd recommend visiting outside of those times. Spring (April - June) and Autumn (September–November) are great times to visit as the weather is usually pleasant and the villages are less crowded compared to the peak summer months.

Are the villages within walking distance of each other?

No, the villages are spread out, so you’ll need a car or organised transport to get between them efficiently.

Should I drive or take a tour?

Driving gives you the most flexibility, allowing you to explore at your own pace. However, if you’re not comfortable driving, there are plenty of guided tours that cover multiple villages in one day.

Where to stay in the Cotswolds?

If you're planning on spending the night in the cotswolds, there are plenty of villages and cosy accommodations to choose from. We'd recommend staying in one of the villages we've mentioned in this itinerary. Some great options are:

  • Bull In Burford (Burford) - Cosy and luxurious hotel in a historic coaching inn from the 16th century. 
  • The Old Stocks Inn (Stow-on-the-wold) - Beautiful 17th-century coaching inn.
  • Halford House (Bourton-on-the-Water) - Adults only boutique Georgian guest house.

Final Thoughts

While the Cotswolds is home to countless villages, this route gives you a taste of its most scenic and iconic spots without feeling too rushed. We personally loved Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford the most. Although Bourton-on-the-water is stunning, we did find it to be quite touristy so we wouldn't spend the most time there.