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Not every Cotswolds village rewards the detour. These ones do.
Some Cotswolds villages are worth an early start. Others are worth planning an entire trip around. These guides help you tell the difference.
Bibury is the Cotswolds at its most photographed. Arlington Row, the River Coln and a working trout farm, all in a small village. It is free to walk at your own pace, but it is small, well known and often crowded, so timing makes a real difference.
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Bourton-on-the-Water has more going on than any other village in the Cotswolds. The River Windrush runs through the centre under five low stone bridges, and within a short walk you have Birdland, the Cotswold Motoring Museum, the Model Village and Greystones Farm. With all of its perks, it's no surprise that it's the busiest village in the area, and on a summer weekend, the bridges and central street fill up fast.
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Burford is a working market town, not a village. The High Street runs steeply downhill toward the River Windrush and a medieval bridge, with independent shops, pubs, cafes and St John the Baptist church spread along the way. It has more substance than a single-view stop, and free parking makes it one of the more practical Cotswolds bases.
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Castle Combe is a small residential village of around 50 people. The Market Cross, By Brook, St Andrew's Church and the lower village street are the core of any visit, a short but worthy stop on a Cotswolds visit. It is one of the most recognised villages in England, which means it is also one of the most crowded in summer.
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Snowshill is a small hill village with three things that draw visitors in different seasons: Snowshill Manor and Garden, the seasonal Cotswold Lavender fields, and a walking route linking Snowshill, Stanton and The Edge. It is quieter than Broadway and better suited to visitors who have a specific reason to go rather than those looking for shops and cafes.
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