Beyond the Postcard: Cotswolds Hidden Villages
The Cotswolds is famous for its honey-coloured stone villages, and for good reason—places like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Broadway are genuinely beautiful. But they’re also crowded, overpriced, and can feel like theme park versions of English villages. The real Cotswolds is found in its lesser-known settlements—the villages where locals actually live and work.
This guide takes you to 10 Cotswold villages that most visitors never discover. These aren’t tourist honeypots but authentic communities with centuries of history, excellent pubs, and proper village life. They’re quieter, cheaper, and more rewarding than the famous spots.
1. Blockley, Gloucestershire
Blockley is perhaps the Cotswolds’ most perfectly preserved village, yet it receives a fraction of the visitors that nearby places get. The village centre is a cluster of beautiful stone cottages gathered around the church, with no through traffic to disturb the peace. What makes Blockley special is its authenticity—no souvenir shops, no tourist trappings, just a working village with genuine character.
The village has two excellent pubs. The Crown Inn offers traditional pub food and real ale, while the Great Western Arms serves more modern dishes. Both are reasonably priced and used by locals as well as visitors. The village also has a village shop, post office, and even a working mill—everything a proper English village needs.
Hidden gem: Blockley was the filming location for the BBC’s “Father Brown” series (as Kembleford). You can spot familiar locations while walking around, but the village is never overrun because it doesn’t publicise the connection.
How to find: 4 miles north of Moreton-in-Marsh. No direct public transport—drive or cycle.
What to do: Walk through the village centre, visit the church (notable for its Norman tower), and walk to the nearby mill. Allow 1-2 hours.
2. Snowshill, Gloucestershire
Snowshill is a village that time forgot. Perched on a hillside above Broadway, it consists of a handful of stone cottages, a medieval church, and a famous manor house. What makes Snowshill extraordinary is its preservation—almost every building dates from the 17th century or earlier, and the village feels unchanged in centuries.
The highlight is Snowshill Manor (National Trust, £10 entry), but even without visiting, the village itself is worth the trip. The views across the Vale of Evesham are spectacular, especially at sunset. The Manor’s garden (free entry with National Trust membership) is particularly beautiful in spring when the orchard is in blossom.
Local secret: The village has no pub, no shop, no amenities. That’s precisely what makes it special. It’s a village that exists because people want to live here, not because it caters to tourists. That rare authenticity makes it worth seeking out.
How to find: 2 miles from Broadway. Park in Broadway and walk (20 minutes uphill) or drive up.
What to do: Wander the village, admire the view, visit the church. The Manor is worth the entry fee if you enjoy eccentric collections.
3. Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Upper Slaughter is one of the “Slaughter” twin villages (the other being Lower Slaughter) but receives far fewer visitors than its lower counterpart. The village is strung along a single street, lined with beautiful stone cottages and a stream running alongside. It’s impossibly picturesque, yet surprisingly quiet.
What makes Upper Slaughter special is its complete preservation. There are no modern intrusions, no ugly extensions, no signs of commercialisation. The village’s name comes from the Old English “sclohtre,” meaning muddy place, referring to the wet land nearby—not from any violent history, despite what visitors often assume.
Walking connection: A pleasant walk along the River Eye connects Upper and Lower Slaughter (15 minutes each way). It’s one of the Cotswolds’ most beautiful short walks, taking you through water meadows with swans and wildlife.
How to find: 3 miles north of Bourton-on-the-Water. Walkable from Bourton (45 minutes) or drive.
What to do: Walk the village, follow the river to Lower Slaughter, visit the church. Allow 1-2 hours.
4. Stanway, Gloucestershire
Stanway is home to one of England’s most remarkable hidden treasures—a Jacobean manor house with the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world. The fountain, restored in recent years, reaches over 90 feet, powered by a system of reservoirs and pipes that date from the 17th century. It’s an extraordinary engineering achievement hidden in an unassuming village.
The village itself is small but perfectly formed, with the manor house, church, and a cluster of cottages. The church contains the Stanway pew, a remarkable carved wooden pew dating from the 16th century. The village shop and pub are genuine local facilities, not tourist venues.
Insider knowledge: The fountain runs on specific days (usually Tuesday and Friday afternoons). Check before visiting—if you catch it running, it’s genuinely spectacular. Even if it’s not, the village and gardens are still worth visiting.
How to find: 2 miles east of Broadway. No direct public transport—drive.
What to do: Visit the manor and gardens (£12 entry), see the fountain if running, walk the village. Allow 2-3 hours including the manor.
5. Naunton, Gloucestershire
Naunton is the Cotswolds’ answer to a chocolate box village, yet it remains stubbornly undiscovered. The village is built around a large village green, with stone cottages clustered around it and the river Windrush running through. The Green is one of the largest and most beautiful in the Cotswolds, perfect for picnics.
The village has two excellent pubs—the Black Horse Inn and the Naunton Hotel. Both serve good food and are reasonably priced for the Cotswolds. The village also has a cricket field—watching a summer game on the Green is quintessential English village life.
Hidden gem: Naunton is the start/finish point for the Naunton circular walk, a beautiful 5-mile route through the surrounding countryside. The walk takes in stunning views, passes through fields and woods, and returns through the village. It’s one of the Cotswolds’ best lesser-known walks.
How to find: 6 miles south-west of Stow-on-the-Wold. No direct public transport—drive.
What to do: Picnic on the Green, visit the pubs, walk the circular route. Allow 1-2 hours in the village, 3-4 hours if doing the full walk.
6. Upper Tyning, Gloucestershire
Upper Tyning is barely a village—more a scattered collection of farmsteads and cottages on the side of the Cotswold escarpment. What makes it worth visiting is the spectacular view across the Severn Vale towards Wales. On a clear day, you can see the Welsh mountains, the Bristol Channel, and everything in between.
The village has no amenities—no pub, no shop, not even a church in the immediate vicinity. That’s what makes it special. It’s pure countryside, preserved not for tourists but because it’s somewhere people have lived and farmed for generations. The silence and solitude are rare in the crowded Cotswolds.
Viewpoint detail: Park at the top of the hill near Upper Tyning Farm (free, no facilities). Walk along the public footpath for about 5 minutes to reach the viewpoint. There’s no formal spot—just the edge of a field with the most spectacular view in the Cotswolds.
How to find: 3 miles south-west of Stow-on-the-Wold. Drive or cycle—the nearest bus is in Stow.
What to do: Admire the view, enjoy the solitude. Allow 30 minutes.
7. Kelmscott, Oxfordshire
Kelmscott is the Cotswolds’ most literary village, famous as the home of William Morris—the father of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris lived here at Kelmscott Manor, a beautiful 16th-century house that inspired his designs. The village itself is a cluster of stone cottages along the Thames, peaceful and beautiful.
Kelmscott Manor is now run by the Society of Antiquaries of London and is open to the public (entry fee applies, booking recommended). The house is extraordinary—preserved as it was in Morris’s time, with his designs, textiles, and furniture throughout. The garden is also beautiful, designed to complement the Arts and Crafts aesthetic.
Literary connection: Morris wrote “News from Nowhere” while living here. The village that inspired his utopian vision of simple, beautiful living is still remarkably unspoilt. Walking around, you can understand how this landscape shaped his vision of a better society.
How to find: 8 miles south-west of Witney. No public transport—drive or cycle.
What to do: Visit the manor (£12 entry), walk the village, walk along the Thames towpath. Allow 3-4 hours including the manor.
8. Sezincote, Gloucestershire
Sezincote is the Cotswolds’ most eccentric village—a cluster of Indian-influenced buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in Rajasthan rather than Gloucestershire. At its heart is Sezincote House, a remarkable mansion built in the Indian Mogul style in the early 19th century, with a temple-like façade and Islamic gardens.
The house and gardens are privately owned but open to the public on certain days (check website for opening times and entry fees). The grounds are particularly beautiful—formal gardens with Indian temples, a bridge over a lake, and mature trees. It’s unlike anything else in the Cotswolds.
Historical context: The house was built by Charles Cockerell, who travelled extensively in India and brought back architectural inspiration. It’s a remarkable example of how British tastes in the early 19th century were shaped by empire and global exploration. It feels exotic, yet is perfectly at home in the Cotswolds landscape.
How to find: 5 miles north-west of Moreton-in-Marsh. No public transport—drive.
What to do: Visit the house and gardens when open (check dates), admire the architecture. Allow 2-3 hours if open, 30 minutes to walk past otherwise.
9. Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire
Coln St Aldwyns is one of the Cotswolds’ most beautiful villages, yet it remains surprisingly quiet. The village is strung along the River Coln, with a humpbacked bridge, a Norman church, and a collection of beautiful stone cottages. What makes it special is its completeness—there are no modern eyesores, no tourist shops, just a perfectly preserved village.
The village has one excellent pub—the New Inn—serving good food and local ales. The pub has been operating continuously for over 400 years and the building dates from the 16th century. It’s a proper Cotswold pub—low ceilings, flagstone floors, and a log fire in winter.
Walking connection: Coln St Aldwyns is connected by footpaths to nearby Quenington and Fairford, making a pleasant circular walk of about 6 miles. The walk takes you through typical Cotswolds countryside—fields, woods, and villages.
How to find: 4 miles east of Cirencester. No direct public transport—drive or cycle.
What to do: Walk the village, visit the church, eat at the New Inn. Allow 1-2 hours, 4-5 hours if doing the circular walk.
10. Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
Winchcombe is the largest village in this guide, but it’s still quiet compared to the famous Cotswolds tourist spots. The town has Saxon origins and was once the capital of Mercia, one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Today it’s a charming town with excellent medieval buildings and a proper sense of history.
The town has several notable buildings: Sudeley Castle (£15 entry, worth it for the gardens), a medieval almshouse, and a beautiful church. The town centre has several good pubs and independent shops, all reasonably priced for the Cotswolds. It feels like a real working town, not a tourist trap.
Hidden gem: The Hailes Abbey ruins (English Heritage, free for members, £6 otherwise) are just outside town. The Cistercian abbey was founded in the 13th century and was once one of England’s most important pilgrimage sites. The ruins are beautiful and atmospheric, particularly in evening light.
How to find: 8 miles north-east of Cheltenham. Regular buses from Cheltenham.
What to do: Visit the castle and abbey, walk the town, explore the independent shops. Allow 3-4 hours including castle and abbey.
Village Etiquette
The Cotswolds is a living region, not a museum. When visiting these villages:
- Respect residents’ privacy—don’t peer through windows
- Park considerately—don’t block drives or gateways
- Keep voices down—these are quiet communities
- Leave gates as you find them
- Take rubbish with you
Understanding Cotswolds Architecture
The Cotswolds’ distinctive stone comes from the Jurassic limestone that underlies the region. It varies in colour from the famous honey-gold to warmer orange tones depending on which quarry it came from. The stone ages beautifully, developing a patina that makes centuries-old buildings look as if they’ve always been part of the landscape.
Traditional Cotswolds buildings feature:
- Stone roofs (slate replaced stone in some areas in the 19th century)
- Small windows (before glass became cheap)
- Thick walls (for insulation in winter)
- Chimney stacks (often multiple, as rooms were heated individually)
- Dormer windows (adding space without altering the roofline)
Seasonal Visits
Spring: Orchards and gardens are in blossom. Villages feel fresh and alive after winter. Good for walking—days are lengthening but not too hot.
Summer: Longest days, best weather for outdoor activities. Villages are at their prettiest but also busiest. Visit early morning or late evening for quiet.
Autumn: Spectacular colours, especially in beech woods. Villages feel cosy as locals prepare for winter. Excellent walking weather—cool, clear air.
Winter: Quietest time, but many attractions and pubs close or have reduced hours. Some villages feel almost abandoned in winter. Beautiful in frost or snow, but plan carefully.
Practical Information
Transport: Public transport in the Cotswolds is limited. A car gives most flexibility. Buses serve some villages but infrequently. Cycling is excellent—quiet roads, short distances between villages.
Parking: Most villages have some parking, but it’s limited. Arrive early for better spaces. Don’t park on verges unless you’re sure it’s permitted.
Toilets: Few villages have public toilets. Plan stops at pubs, cafes, or larger towns.
Food: Most villages have a pub or at least a village shop. Opening hours vary—check before relying on facilities.
Photography Tips
The Cotswolds’ stone buildings are most photographic in:
- Early morning light (soft, golden)
- Late afternoon/evening light (warm, directional)
- After rain (wet stone reflects light beautifully)
- In frost or snow (extraordinary contrast)
Avoid harsh midday light—creates deep shadows that lose detail. Overcast days can be excellent for soft, even illumination.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Parking: Some popular villages charge for parking. Check signs carefully.
Attractions: Manor houses and castles typically charge £10-15 entry.
Food: Pubs are reasonably priced, but restaurants can be expensive. Set menus at lunchtime offer better value.
A Final Thought
The Cotswolds’ famous villages are famous for a reason—they’re beautiful. But the region’s real charm lies in its lesser-known settlements, where you can experience authentic village life without crowds. These villages have centuries of history, genuine character, and a sense of community that tourist spots sometimes lack.
Visiting them requires a bit more effort—you’ll need a car, you’ll need to research, and you’ll need to wander. But the rewards are substantial. You’ll find better pubs, cheaper food, more authentic experiences, and the satisfaction of discovering places that other visitors miss.
The Cotswolds isn’t just a postcard—it’s a living region of real communities, working farms, and genuine history. These hidden villages show that reality in all its beauty.
These 10 hidden Cotswolds villages offer authentic experiences away from the tourist crowds. From perfectly preserved stone villages to eccentric architectural curiosities, from Saxon towns to literary landscapes, they demonstrate the diversity and depth of this remarkable region. Visit them, support their businesses, and discover why the Cotswolds remains one of England’s most cherished landscapes.