Immediately I wish to carry you my Cotswolds itinerary for 3 days within the English countryside. This Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence is a well-liked place to go to for its fairly villages and bucolic surroundings. From nation pubs to lovely walks, there are many thrilling issues to do and see. I’m right here now and I can’t wait to indicate you find out how to spend 3 days within the Cotswolds with out a automobile. I’ve included a map, too.
Cotswolds Itinerary for 3 Days
My 3-day Cotswolds itinerary will present you the sightseeing highlights of the realm and provide the freedom to discover with out wheels. From thatched-roof cottages to native landmarks, it covers all of the issues I really like about this a part of the UK.
3 days is an effective period of time to go to the Cotswolds. It’s going to mean you can see the primary sights and expertise a spread of issues to do within the space.
Whether or not you wish to give attention to exploring villages, visiting Nationwide Belief properties, strolling, or one thing else, you’re certain to be entertained.
That’s as a result of there’s no proper or improper method to spend your time within the Cotswolds. My itinerary has a mixture of the primary points of interest and the locations locals love (not least as a result of I’m assembly up with a neighborhood whereas I’m right here).
You’ll be able to alter my Cotswolds itinerary to suit your pursuits and journey model, however I hope it offers you a strong overview of how a lot you are able to do within the space if in case you have just a few days.
I spent a LOT of time planning this itinerary, and I hope all of the work I put into it helps you intend an ideal journey of your personal. You can too do a guided tour with Rabbie’s. You’ll be able to e-book their Cotswolds tour right here.
The place to Keep within the Cotswolds
There are many choices for lodging within the Cotswolds. Whether or not you wish to keep in a resort, self-catering cottage, B&B, or pub with rooms, the realm has all kinds of locations to select from.
On this journey I’ve booked a room at The Kingham Plough. This lovely property is in a reasonably village with direct rail entry from London. It’s my second time staying on the town, and I’m excited to be again.
I really like the The Kingham Plough’s trendy decor, buzzing pub, and exquisite visitor rooms. It’s every part I’d hoped for, and it makes a terrific base for exploring the Cotswolds.
If you’d like extra concepts, you may also discover offers and e-book lodging within the space right here. With so many decisions, you’re certain to search out the proper match on your journey.
Day 1
I begin my Cotswolds itinerary for 3 days at Paddington station in London. From right here it’s lower than 1 hour and quarter-hour by rail to the primary cease on my journey: Charlbury.
Charlbury
This city within the Evenlode Valley in Oxfordshire was recognized for being a glove-making hub in 18th and nineteenth centuries. Immediately it’s a peaceable place in style with guests who come to admire its magnificence and stroll within the surrounding space.
I alight at Charlbury station and stroll the brief distance into the middle of city. The Cotswold stone homes listed here are the stuff of English countryside goals, and I can’t wait to discover.
That’s not least as a result of a neighborhood buddy who lives in Moreton-in-Marsh has taken the prepare to satisfy me right here. He and I spend an hour wandering round and photographing every part in sight.
From quintessential cottages to cozy pubs and a church, there’s so much to like about this place.
Lunch
We’ve booked lunch at a neighborhood pub known as The Bull on Sheep Road. It’s been round for the reason that early 1500s, and the inside highlights its historic roots whereas bringing the decor into the fashionable age. Add to {that a} attractive backyard, and I’m smitten.
My buddy and I tuck into heaping plates of roasted greens, native lamb, trout with inexperienced tomatoes, and potatoes. All of it goes down a deal with subsequent to the open hearth.
Charlbury Round Stroll
I’m glad I’ve eaten effectively, as a result of the subsequent exercise on my Cotswolds itinerary for 3 days is a stroll within the countryside.
I say goodbye to my buddy, then set off by way of fields and over streams to burn off the energy and take within the countryside across the historic Wychwood Forest.
The stroll is formally known as “Round Stroll: Charlbury No.2 (Oxon Method)“, but it surely’s rather more thrilling than the relatively medical identify suggests. Actually, it rapidly turns into considered one of my favourite Cotswolds walks.
A lot of the route follows the well-known Oxfordshire Method, a long-distance stroll from Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire to the Thames in Henley. Alongside the way in which it crosses over the River Evenlode and passes by wooded groves and copses.
The 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) stroll takes me 2 hours and quarter-hour to finish. On the finish I make my method to the prepare station for the subsequent leg of my Cotswolds itinerary: Kingham.
Kingham
The prepare journey from Charlbury to Kingham is lower than 10 minutes, and shortly I’m strolling into the village.
Like Charlbury, this place is within the Evenlode Valley in Oxfordshire. It’s recognized for its Seventeenth and 18th-century Cotswold stone cottages, elegant resorts, and nation pubs. It’s considered one of my favourite villages within the Cotswolds.
After I attain the center of city, I verify into my room at The Kingham Plough. Filled with traditional nation attraction, it has a stupendous view of the cottages throughout the road. It’s the proper base for my keep.
After getting settled in, I take a stroll across the village. The cottages, thatched roofs, and pub gardens are the stuff of my interior photographer’s goals, and I preserve snapping photos till the solar goes down.
When it does, I’m off to dinner at a spot down the street known as The Wild Rabbit. I had a terrific meal on the restaurant right here on my final go to, and as quickly as I stroll in I do know this time goes to be simply nearly as good.
A captivating pub offers method to a spacious eating room, and I sit down for a dinner of seasonal squash salad and miso cauliflower. It’s the proper method to finish my the primary of my 3 days within the Cotswolds.
Day 2
The following morning my itinerary continues with breakfast within the eating room at The Kingham Plough. With darkish partitions and wood tables, it’s as atmospheric as nation pubs get. My dish of eggs Florentine goes down a deal with and units me up effectively for the day.
Daylesford Farm
Mentioned day begins with a 40-minute stroll down a broad path to Daylesford Farm. This well-known advanced within the Cotswolds is thought for its upscale outlets, which promote every part from backyard provides to residence items, clothes, wine, and meals.
Add to {that a} luxurious spa, cafe, restaurant, and bar, and one may transfer proper in.
I spend half-hour exploring the grounds, searching the too-beautiful-for-words boutiques, and taking within the scene on the restaurant earlier than strolling again to Kingham to prepare for the day’s primary occasion: a giant Cotswolds stroll.
Round Stroll to Chipping Norton
I make a fast cease at The Kingham Plough earlier than heading off on a round stroll to Chipping Norton and again.
The stroll is my very own mixture of two separate routes. On the way in which out I observe the Cotswolds Conservation Board’s “Stroll Eight: Kingham and Churchill“.
After a 35-minute stroll by way of fields filled with sheep, I attain the village of Churchill. This hilltop quantity is thought for its fairly homes and the gorgeous type of All Saints Church.
I’ve booked myself lunch at The Chequers, a beloved conventional pub with a menu providing trendy British delicacies. It’s attractive inside, with excessive ceilings and old-meets-modern decor.
A heaping plate of risotto satisfies my urge for food, and shortly I’m off to Chipping Norton.
The route takes me up mild hills, over culverts, by way of stiles, and previous ha-has as I wave hi there to sheep and stroll in the direction of the excessive church steeple that guides me to my vacation spot.
After I attain Chipping Norton, I spend an hour exploring. This market city had its heyday within the peak of the wool commerce centuries in the past, but it surely’s nonetheless price visiting as we speak.
From native outlets and pubs to a row of gorgeous Seventeenth-century almshouses and a historic church, there’s loads to see.
On my manner again to Kingham, I observe the Cotswolds Conservation Board’s “Stroll Eleven: Mills and Meadows” route backwards. It takes me previous the eye-catching Bliss Tweed Mill, a historic constructing that appears like a cross between a stately residence and a manufacturing facility.
I bear in mind it grabbing my consideration as soon as out the window of a bus whereas I used to be on a Cotswolds day tour, and I’m comfortable to have the ability to see it up shut this time.
Afterwards I am going by way of fields and down a protracted monitor within the countryside to get again to Kingham. It begins to drizzle by the top, and I narrowly escape a downpour that erupts proper as I attain The Kingham Plough.
The ten.5-mile (17-kilometer) stroll has taken me simply over 5.5 hours, together with all my stops. It’s been an incredible method to see the countryside, go to the native space, and work up an urge for food for dinner.
Dinner
Conveniently, dinner is true downstairs. I’ve a drink and a few olives within the energetic pub at The Kingham Plough, then head by way of to the eating room for my meal.
I tuck right into a warming squash pithivier with flaky puff pastry and scrumptious filling as I recount my day and all of the wonderful surroundings I’ve loved.
Day 3
The following morning my Cotswolds itinerary for 3 days sees me waving goodbye to Kingham.
After spending the early morning taking extra pictures within the village, I hop on a prepare to Hanborough. Simply over quarter-hour later, I alight on the station, stroll as much as the street, and board a bus to Woodstock.
Blenheim Palace
After a bit greater than 20 minutes, the bus drops me off on the gates of Blenheim Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage Web site is an English Baroque nation home on the sting of the Cotswolds. It’s recognized for its connections to Winston Churchill.
The seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace was constructed within the 18th century on royal land given to the first Duke of Marlborough by Queen Anne after his victory within the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
It’s the one non-royal, non-episcopal stately residence in England to carry the title of palace, and it’s a formidable sight to behold.
Winston Churchill was born right here (and bought engaged to his spouse within the gardens), and guests come from everywhere in the world to tour the State Rooms, discover the in depth grounds, and admire the views.
I present my pre-booked ticket on the entrance and spend 4 hours discovering every part from the carriages to the finely adorned interiors and number of gardens.
It’s a formidable place, full with a hedge maze, world-class artwork, a bit prepare, and water options.
I may spend all day right here (this place is large), however my Cotswolds itinerary has extra in retailer for me.
Woodstock
I stroll from the palace grounds into the market city of Woodstock, which is true subsequent door. On the jap fringe of the Cotswolds, this place bought its begin as a coach cease close to the Royal Looking Lodge (now the positioning of Blenheim Palace).
I spend 45 minutes strolling by way of the gorgeous streets, admiring the historic church, and meandering down little lanes. With elegant Georgian structure, unbiased outlets, and native pubs, there’s loads to see right here.
After I’m accomplished exploring, I head to the ultimate cease on my Cotswolds itinerary for 3 days: Oxford. I hop on a bus in Woodstock and experience it by way of the countryside earlier than alighting within the coronary heart of the town round half-hour later.
Oxford
One of the vital well-known college cities within the UK, Oxford is stuffed with gorgeous structure, buzzing markets, and enjoyable outlets.
I seize a late lunch on the town, then spend the subsequent three hours following the route of my free self-guided strolling tour of Oxford.
From Christ Church school to the Lined Market, the Radcliffe Digicam to the colourful homes in Jericho, I discover the town till the solar goes down.
Alongside the way in which I take within the gorgeous Bridge of Sighs, stroll down quiet lanes by Oriel School, and admire the facades that make this metropolis so lovely.
Because the setting solar begins to color the sky orange, I stroll to the prepare station for my journey again to London.
Cotswolds Itinerary for 3 Days
Slightly below an hour later, I arrive at Paddington station filled with recollections of all of the cities, walks, pubs, and locations I’ve visited throughout my 3 days within the Cotswolds.
It was an incredible journey, and effectively price all the trouble it took to plan the itinerary. If you wish to observe in my footsteps, I hope this weblog put up will provide help to get pleasure from visiting the Cotswolds as a lot as I’ve.
Cotswolds Itinerary Map
As promised, I created an interactive map of all of the locations I listed in my Cotswolds itinerary. Yow will discover it right here. I hope it helps you intend the proper 3-day journey!
If you’d like extra concepts, my broader Cotswolds map can assist.
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