Know Before You Go | The Cotswolds
Sometimes, nature travel is more refined than rugged. That’s the case with our rural sojourn in the Cotswold Hills—it’s filled with wild discoveries, yet decidedly genteel. Delve into a landscape that offers an idyllic vision of traditional England and explore hidden byways and unspoiled villages most visitors miss. We've rounded up an array of helpful resources for your journey to the Cotswolds, including nature guides, packing tips and travel stories to inspire your wanderlust.
Travel Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the Cotswolds? We've got answers! We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about the natural wonders you'll see, weather and more.
Places We Visit
Places We Visit
From the Arts and Crafts Movement-inspired Hidcote Gardens to Highgrove House, the royal estate of King Charles III, learn about the places you’ll go in the Cotswolds.
Wildlife & Flora
Wildlife & Flora
From hedgehogs to harebells, the Cotswolds’ forests, meadows, hills and hedgerows are a haven for numerous mammals, birds and wildflower species.
WWF Conservation
WWF Conservation
WWF recognizes that England’s rivers not only help make the British landscape so picturesque and vibrant—they’re also a vital source of fresh water for people, industry, agriculture, recreation and wildlife.
Reading List
Reading List
From Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds to A Little English Book of Teas, browse our helpful list of reading recommendations to fuel your excitement for your exploration of Britain’s classic countryside.
Farm-to-Table Fare
Farm-to-Table Fare
From picnic lunches and pints at local pubs to elegant dinners at historic estates, Nat Hab’s dining experiences in the Cotswolds highlight sustainable farm-to-table fare.
Adventure Details
Adventure Details
Our travel advice will leave you feeling prepared for a trip to the Cotswolds, with tips on currency, electricity and more.
Weather & Climate
Weather & Climate
Find out the typical weather conditions in the Cotswolds in this month-by-month breakdown of average temperatures and rainfall.
Packing List
Packing List
We’ve made a comprehensive list of all the clothing and gear you’ll want to pack so you'll be well prepared for your Cotswolds adventure.
Travel Stories & Articles
English Wildlife: Intriguing Animals of Great Britain
English Wildlife: Intriguing Animals of Great Britain
—By Michelle Peters
Sometimes even the most pastoral landscapes can reveal some of nature’s wildest secrets. Case in point: the refined Cotswolds Hills in England. Amidst tidy country homes and winding lanes, grand country estates and traditional pubs...
Sometimes even the most pastoral landscapes can reveal some of nature’s wildest secrets. Case in point: the refined Cotswolds Hills in England. Amidst tidy country homes and winding lanes, grand country estates and traditional pubs...
Why the Cotswolds Is an English Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Why the Cotswolds Is an English Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
—By Cathy Brown
Daydreaming of a trip to England quickly conjures up the image of sheep grazing in rolling green hills, quaint villages with quiet lanes dotted with thatched cottages and local cozy pubs, medieval churches, and lazy, winding rivers. Nowhere...
Daydreaming of a trip to England quickly conjures up the image of sheep grazing in rolling green hills, quaint villages with quiet lanes dotted with thatched cottages and local cozy pubs, medieval churches, and lazy, winding rivers. Nowhere...
Healthy Soil, Food & People: Nurturing Biodiversity and Community in the Cotswolds
Healthy Soil, Food & People: Nurturing Biodiversity and Community in the Cotswolds
—By Rebecca Self
In the northeast corner of England’s Cotswolds, Henry Astor’s family have lived on, farmed and managed over 1,000 acres for three generations. I wanted to talk to Henry about three things: how he’s transforming his family’s estate from...
In the northeast corner of England’s Cotswolds, Henry Astor’s family have lived on, farmed and managed over 1,000 acres for three generations. I wanted to talk to Henry about three things: how he’s transforming his family’s estate from...
Rewilding the UK: Recovering Lost Species and Regenerating Large Landscapes
Rewilding the UK: Recovering Lost Species and Regenerating Large Landscapes
—By Megan Brief
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror imposed ‘Forest Law’ on the Anglo-Saxons to defend the king’s sovereign rights to all wild animals. The Forest Law applied to all the land used by fauna, as well as any...
After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror imposed ‘Forest Law’ on the Anglo-Saxons to defend the king’s sovereign rights to all wild animals. The Forest Law applied to all the land used by fauna, as well as any...
Why the Cotswolds?
Why the Cotswolds?
—By Ben Forbes
Why visit the Cotswolds? Well, I live here, so let me try and answer that question. I moved to the area when I was nine. My grandparents had raised their own children on the very edge of the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire, attracted...
Why visit the Cotswolds? Well, I live here, so let me try and answer that question. I moved to the area when I was nine. My grandparents had raised their own children on the very edge of the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire, attracted...
Visit the Avian Serengeti in the Heart of the Cotswolds: Slimbridge Wetland Center
Visit the Avian Serengeti in the Heart of the Cotswolds: Slimbridge Wetland Center
—By Samantha Miller
The Cotswolds stands as one of the world’s most pristine nature enclaves, providing for both people and wildlife for generations. In 1966, the Cotswolds became internationally recognized as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
The Cotswolds stands as one of the world’s most pristine nature enclaves, providing for both people and wildlife for generations. In 1966, the Cotswolds became internationally recognized as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
Pubs, an Englishman’s Natural Habitat
Pubs, an Englishman’s Natural Habitat
—By Ben Forbes
Let’s be honest; the great British pub is as much a defining symbol of the country as the monarchy, Rolls Royce and Monty Python. In rural communities, the village inn is often one of the oldest purpose-built stone buildings with hundreds...
Let’s be honest; the great British pub is as much a defining symbol of the country as the monarchy, Rolls Royce and Monty Python. In rural communities, the village inn is often one of the oldest purpose-built stone buildings with hundreds...
Know Before You Go
