Are you planning a trip to the English countryside and wondering what the best things to do in the Cotswolds are? This charming region is packed with beautiful villages and postcard-perfect scenery! It really is like something out of a movie! It’s also a surprisingly brilliant destination for families. Whether you’re travelling with toddlers, school-age kids, or teens, the Cotswolds offers plenty to keep everyone happy, from wildlife parks and miniature villages to scenic walks and cosy tearooms.
We visited the Cotswolds with our kids; however, most of the activities we did weren’t specifically geared towards them (although I will include a list of kid-friendly things at the bottom of the post). So, in this guide, I’ll share our favourite family-friendly things to do in the Cotswolds, based on our own recent stay. Plus lots of practical tips for making the most of your visit with little ones in tow.
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Is the Cotswolds Good for Kids?
The Cotswolds are an extremely family-friendly destination. We live in London and, as the Cotswolds are only a 2-hour drive away, it’s the perfect place to escape the city. We found it to be a very wholesome few days that we could all enjoy.
On this trip, we found that there are plenty of things to do in the Cotswolds, which I will talk more about below. Although many people visit as a day trip, you could easily fill a week! Two or three full days are perfect to see the best of the Cotswolds as a family without being rushed!
Family-Friendly Things to Do in the Cotswolds
As I mentioned, there are plenty of things to do in the Cotswolds. During this trip, we focused on family-friendly activities rather than things such as the farm, which are specifically aimed at children. So if you’re wondering, what is there to do in the Cotswolds, read on!
Explore the Prettiest Villages in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are known for their charming towns and villages. I was most excited just to wander through all the little towns!
We were lucky enough to explore some of the Cotswolds’ most iconic towns, plus some that were a little less touristy. I will list them below and talk more about the things to do in each place:
Best Towns and Villages in the Cotswolds to Visit:
- Bourton-on-the-Water – known as the Venice of the Cotswolds. This beautiful town is one of the larger ones. It is set around a series of canals and beautiful bridges. There are a lot of things to do in Bourton-on-the-Water, especially for families, but it was also the most crowded of all the places we visited.
- Stow-on-the-Wold – this is another of the most iconic towns in the Cotswolds. It’s also beautiful with lots of shops, cute cafes and tea rooms.
- Bibury – this was my favourite of all the Cotswolds villages we visited. While it’s not quite a hidden gem, it wasn’t as touristy and crowded as some of the other places we visited.
- Castle Combe – claimed to be the most beautiful village in England. There isn’t too much to do there, but it certainly was beautiful.
- Burford – this is a lovely market town, set on a hill. It is quite similar to Stow-on-the-Wold, with lots of shops and cafes. We didnt stop at Burford during this trip, but we did drive through it!
- Broadway – Not one of the most well-known of the Cotswolds destinations, but it is quite a large village and is just as beautiful. Here you’ll find lots of picturesque shops, resteraunts and cafes. It is also a close location to some of the things to do that I will talk more about below.
- Upper and Lower Slaughter – we didnt visit either of these on this trip, but I remember them both being beautiful from a previous (pre-kids) visit.
READ MORE: OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST TOWNS & VILLAGES IN THE COTSWOLDS TO VISIT
Castle Coombe & Burford, two of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds.
Go On A Family Hike
The Cotswolds are full of rolling hills and beautiful countryside, so, of course, they have many walking trails and hiking options. We found a family-friendly hike starting from the village of Bibury on an app called Gloucestershire Walks (you can download a free 30-day trial and have access to hundreds of Cotswolds walk options).
This route has two options, an almost 2-mile (called Walk 1) and an almost 4-mile route (called Walk 2 on the app.). We did the longer one, and enjoyed it, but in all honesty, it is a bit too long for toddlers or young children (our boys are aged 5 and 2 years old). They both needed to be carried some of the way. If you’re more seasoned hikers, you’ll probably have a baby carrier, which would have been useful!
This is a circular route which starts or finishes at Arlington Row, one of the most photographed streets in the Cotswolds. If you’re looking to take photos here, I would recommend doing it first while it’s quieter!
After our hike, we went for a well-earned lunch at The Swan Hotel, which is one of the few places to eat in Bibury. This is a lovely hotel and restaurant. The food was great, and they were running a kids eat free with an adult meal promotion!
Explore Broadway Tower
Set on a hill, which is the second-highest point in the Cotswolds, is Broadway Tower, an old Saxon tower surrounded by beautiful countryside.
We didnt, but you have the option to climb Broadway Tower for even better views. There is also an old bunker you can explore inside. This is not suitable for children under 11, so we didnt go in there either. See more information and Tower entry prices here.
Deers live in the grounds of the Tower, and there is a short, circular walk that goes around the grounds. We did the walk and it was perfect for families, especially those with young children. It is a bit of a hill, but our kids managed it well.
There are two cafes in the grounds of the Tower, we only got an ice cream, but the other food looked delicious!
There are two car parks at Broadway Tower. One is £5 for the day and the other is £3 for up to 4 hours.
Cotswold Lavender & the Beachwood Nature Trail
Located a short drive from Broadway Tower are the Cotswolds Lavender fields. If you’re visiting at the right time of year (usually June to July), Cotswold Lavender is a beautiful place to explore. There are rows and rows of beautiful lavender and also a meadow of wildflowers. I wanted to visit here and get some cute family photos!
We visited on July 30th, and although some of the plants had wilted, there were still plenty to take photos with.
There is also a children’s nature trail included in the admission price. This is an adorable little trail. Kids are given an activity book to fill in as they walk around, and there are lots of cute things to discover, plus things to climb on! This trail is perfect for toddlers and young children!
Admission to Cotswolds Lavender in 2025 was £7.75 (until July 28th) / £5.75 (from July 29th) for adults. Children (5-15 years): £3.75 (until July 28th) / £3.00 (from July 29th) and under 5’s visit for free.
Visit The Model Village
I mentioned Bourton-on-the-Water as one of the prettiest places in the Cotswolds to explore. A great thing to do while you’re there is to discover the 1/9th scale replica of the village itself. Complete with tiny stores and little canals!
This is a cool activity that both adults and kids can enjoy! It was very crowded when we visited, but we still enjoyed it!
Entry tickets cost: £4.75 for adults, £3.75 for children aged 3 – 13 years, and toddlers under 3’s visit for free.
Discover the Hobbit Door
In Stow-on-the-Wold, you’ll be able to find St Edward’s Church. One of the doors to the church is quite unusual. It has two large yew trees framing it. It is rumoured to be the inspiration for the Doors of Durin in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien studied and was a professor at Oxford University, and was known to visit the Cotswolds, so this rumour is very believable.
While our kids are too young to know these books, it was of interest to my husband. Interested or not, it is a cute place for a photo!
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace looks fantastic. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it there on this trip as the weather was rubbish and it’s quite an expensive outing. We thought it would be best to save it for our next visit to the Cotswolds!
Blenheim Palace is a grand Palace with gorgeous gardens and historic stately home rooms to explore.
It is also very family-focused and a great place to go if you’re visiting the Cotswolds with kids. There is a huge adventure playground that children of all ages will love. They also put on lots of other family-friendly events. Especially in the school holidays.
Tickets need to be booked in advance. Adults start from £31 and children from £15. Under 3’s visit for free.
Things to Do in the Cotswolds with Kids
There are a few other things to do in the Cotswolds with kids. While adults, of course, could enjoy these places without children if they wish, in my opinion, they are more child-focused.
Cotswolds Wildlife Park
Cotswolds Wildlife Park is a zoo, set in beautiful grounds and has been designed to look more like a safari park. As you explore the grounds, you’ll experience a walking style safari.
Entry is slightly cheaper if you book in advance on their website: Adults are £17.50. Children 3-16 years are £12.50 and toddlers 2 and under visit for free.
Fairytale Farm
A farm with a fairytale theme located in Chipping Norton. There are classic farm animals and a large fairytale-inspired playground. We decided not to visit here as we visit the farm quite often at home!
Adult and child tickets both start from £8.99, with under 2’s visiting for free. You can book tickets on their website.
Birdland Park and Gardens
In Bourton-on-the-Water, you’ll find Birdland and its Jurassic Gardens. It holds a large selection of exotic birds and also a Jurassic dinosaur trail. I’m pretty sure my kids would have loved this, but we ran out of time.
Admission is slightly cheaper if booked on their website: Adult tickets are £13.95 and children are £10.50, with under 3’s going free.
Dragonfly Maze
Another fun thing for families in Bourton-on-the-Water is the Dragonfly Maze. A traditional maze, but with added clues as you go around. Crack all the clues to find the golden dragonfly in the centre!
We had planned ot do this, but at the time of our visit, there was a big sign outside warning it was extremely busy, so we decided against it.
Adults are £4.50 and kids £3.50 with under 4’s visiting for free.
Cotswolds Motoring Museum
Also located in Bourton-on-the-Water is the Cotswold Motoring Museum. This is a museum about the history of cars and other motor vehicles in the Cotswolds. Most famous for showcasing Brum, the popular 90s children’s show car.
They are very family-focused; however, if you have a particular interest in motor vehicles, you may still like to visit this one, even without kids!
Adult tickets are £9.50. Children (ages 5-16) £6.50 and kids under 5 are free. They don’t take advance bookings, so pay at the door!
Where to Stay in The Cotswolds with Kids
Public transport in the Cotswolds is limited, so it is best to explore by car. We hired a car for this trip (compare car hire prices here). Being able to get around by car will mean you have a wider choice of areas to stay in. We stayed in a tiny village called Filkins. There was not much there, but it was a convenient location for exploring Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford. It was also nice to stay somewhere that wasn’t so crowded with tourists.
As I mentioned, my favourite town we visited was Bibury; we ate at The Swan Hotel there, and it was beautiful and very family-friendly. I also had a look at The Manor House Hotel in Caste Coombe, and it looks perfect for a luxury stay!
On a previous trip, we stayed in Witney. This is on the border of Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, and was a perfect location if you also want to explore Oxford.
The Manor House Hotel & The Swan Hotel
The Best Time of Year to Visit the Cotswolds
I thought the summer would be the perfect time to explore the Cotswolds as it’s the time of year, you should get the best weather; however, we had a day and a half of rain during our 3-night stay! We actually had better weather when we visited Cambridge in October!
As you can never guarantee the weather in England, if you have school-aged children, the summer probably still is the best time to visit the Cotswolds; however, I do think the autumn or fall would also be a perfect time to go. The colourful leaves would look picture perfect, and you could be lucky with the weather!
Thank you for reading my guide on the best things to do in the Cotswolds as a family. We hope you enjoy the beautiful English countryside!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN THE COTSWOLDS
A PERFECT 2 DAY COTSWOLDS ITINERARY
WALKING THE ASHDOWN FOREST WINNIE THE POOH TRAIL
Happy Exploring,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.