The prettiest Cotswolds villages: 14 enchanting hideouts to visit in 2026

The UK is not lacking in beautiful corners – but however far and wide you search, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere as enchanting as a Cotswold village. Each cobbled town you come across, with honey-hued houses, perfectly pruned rose gardens and cosy countryside pubs, feels quintessentially English. Plus, you’ve still got plenty of choice when it comes to curating the perfect weekender. Those looking for a comfortable, car-free, fresh-air-aplenty escape should head for the likes of Broadway, home to country pile The Lygon Arms, with its pampering spa and proximity to Cotswold Way walking routes. For more of a spoiling retreat, try Thyme for home-grown foodie delights, perfectly placed to explore multiple villages nearby, or for a pub-centric, dog-friendly weekend, try Chipping Campden for dog boutiques, antique stores and ancient pubs galore. Smaller corners can be navigated in the space of a day, such as Upper and Lower Slaughter, while it’ll take return visits to experience all the tasty spots in towns such as Burford. Whether you’re seeking a whistlestop tour of these beautiful landscapes or somewhere within reach of an incredible holiday cottage for pub garden sipping and delicious suppers, our guide has you covered.

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Asthall

The quaint village and civil parish of Asthall, found in West Oxfordshire, is a quintessentially English countryside hideout. Once a Roman settlement linking Cirencester to St Albans, the town is best known today for its striking 12th-century church. The village also houses Asthall Manor, a Jacobean manor house surrounded by manicured gardens, which hosts occasional open days for tours.

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Snowshill

From whichever way you approach the National Trust gem of Snowshill Manor and Gardens, stop off – or roll slowly through – the charming Cotswolds village. It’s about as picture-perfect as you’ll get in the area; think higgledy piggledy golden houses, spilling down to the local watering hole, The Snowshill Arms, and the pretty village church sat in the centre of it all. The architect and artist Charles Paget Wade spent years restoring the historic manor as he envisioned it, and it’s now a popular day trip destination thanks to its sense of fun and theatre.