The picture-postcard scenes scattered throughout the Cotswolds are utterly enchanting, featuring honey-coloured stone cottages and traditional shopfronts set along cobbled streets, with gentle rivers winding beneath centuries-old storybook bridges. Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and Bibury rank among the region’s most sought-after destinations, welcoming thousands of visitors each year, yet there remains far more to uncover.
The Cotswolds teems with hidden treasures, and having resided on the fringes of the area for several years, I’ve dedicated countless weekends to exploring these very spots, particularly throughout Gloucestershire. Secluded towns remain blissfully quiet, their high streets filled with independent retailers and welcoming coffee shops, while overlooked villages provide peaceful retreats amid winding lanes and striking historic landmarks, reports Gloucestershire Live.
While I’ve visited many of the Cotswolds’ busier locations, the more tranquil and underappreciated towns have consistently remained my preference. After all, why would I spend my Saturday navigating the throngs at Bourton-on-the-Water or dodging endless coach parties in Bibury, when I can stroll the picturesque streets of the Cotswolds’ quieter treasures without compromising whatsoever…
3. Cirencester
It always surprises me when people say they’ve never visited Cirencester, particularly as the beautiful market town is known locally as the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’, yet it goes under the radar for tourists.
As one of the larger Cotswolds towns, sitting along the River Churn in the heart of Gloucestershire, it has an authentic charm without ghastly tourist attractions or overpriced souvenirs, and you feel welcomed like a local, whether that’s by discovering its celebrated markets or catching up with friends over a pint in one of the many traditional pubs. I’m also always in awe of the winding lanes flanked by honey-coloured stone buildings, many of which house a plethora of independent boutiques and coffee houses.
(Image: Getty Images)
4. Tetbury
Nestled within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Gloucestershire market town of Tetbury is another favourite of mine, and it goes largely unnoticed. Georgian frontages and warm honey-coloured stone line the high street, with no shortage of shops to explore across the four principal areas: Market Place, Chipping Street, Church Street, and Long Street.
Equally, there’s no lack of spots to enjoy a leisurely lunch or a warming coffee for those relaxed weekend visits in the quieter Cotswolds town, with the wool merchants’ houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries ranked as one of the town’s most celebrated landmarks.
(Image: Getty Images)
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
