It's hard to go wrong with any town you visit in the Cotswolds - an area of England where literally every next street is home to some of the cutest thatched roof cottages or stone bridges you've ever seen. Though it's difficult to narrow it down, these are my favourite Cotswold Villages - the ones you absolutely must put on your bucket list!
1. Castle Combe
Easily the most famous of all of the villages in the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is an iconic location for a very good reason. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the adorable village's buildings have all been standing since at least the early 1600s. In 2010, the movie War Horse was set in the village, as it's so well preserved and could easily be mistaken for the movie's World War I setting. Make sure to check out Water Lane, which is easily one of the most photographed spots in the Cotswolds.
2. Lower Slaughter
Lower Slaughter, built on the River Eye, is a beautiful small village, notable for its working 19th-century water mill and the museum that accompanies it, as well as its mention in the Domesday book. Amble around looking at the beautiful cottages, and stop in at the Slaughters Country Inn for a pub lunch on your walk around the surrounding villages.
3. Upper Slaughter
Like Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter is an adorable small village on the River Eye. Upper Slaughter is notably home to the Upper Slaughter Manor, which is a beautiful and imposing manor house surrounded by the village and rolling countryside. Interestingly, Upper Slaughter is also one of only very few "Thankful Villages" in England - which means they lost no residents during either World War I or World War II.
4. Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton is perhaps one of the more famous Cotswold villages, largely in part to the popular Cotswold Motoring Museum and the quirky Model Village which are within the town limits. It's also a perfect spot for a picnic on a summer's day, as the town is known for bridging the River Windrush. Come early to grab a pastry and a coffee at one of the town's several cafes and bakeries, then amble along the circular walk to the Slaughters - it's a lovely loop trail that takes about 2.5 hours and is great for dogs!
5. Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a must-see due to the gorgeous St. Edward's Church, which has parts that date back to the 11th Century, but also because the market town has a beautiful main square, adorable tea shops, and is home to the delicious Cotswold Sweet Company!
6. Bibury
Bibury is one of the most beautiful towns in England, and is home to some of the most photographed spots in the country. The main street has a beautiful view over Bibury Village, and the iconic Swan Hotel is both a beautiful spot to photograph, and a great place to grab a bite to eat.
Have you ever been to the Cotswolds? Are they on your list of places to go? I would love to hear about it! In the meantime, keep up with my travels and adventures at @elise.abroad on Instagram.