Weather in Cotswolds

About Cotswolds

The Cotswolds roll with honey-coloured stone villages so picturesque they seem invented. Dry-stone walls pattern emerald hills; manor houses anchor sleepy greens; woolly sheep outnumber residents. This is the England of cream teas and country walks—thoroughly civilised, utterly charming.

Country

United Kingdom

Best months to visit

Year-round

Currency

GBP

Language

English

Things to do in Cotswolds

Explore Bibury's Arlington Row (England's most photographed cottages) Walk the Cotswold Way long-distance path Tour Bourton-on-the-Water's riverside village Browse Chipping Campden's high street antiques Visit Sudeley Castle and gardens Cycle quiet lanes between villages

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

Cold, with some rainy days.

February

Cold, with some rainy days.

March

Cold, with some rainy days.

April

12C

Cool, with some rainy days.

May

15C

Cool, with some rainy days.

June

19C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

July

21C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

August

20C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

September

18C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

October

14C

Cool, with some rainy days.

November

10C

Cool, with some rainy days.

December

Cold, with some rainy days.

The Cotswolds is England's chocolate-box countryside made real — honey-coloured stone villages, church spires rising above sheep-dotted hills, and tearooms that seem to exist purely for scones with clotted cream. It rewards slow travel: pick a couple of villages, walk the footpaths between them, and let the pace drop to match the landscape.

Best areas to stay in Cotswolds

Bibury & Arlington Row

Home to the iconic row of 17th-century weavers' cottages beside the River Coln, often called England's prettiest village.

Bourton-on-the-Water

A larger village with the River Windrush running through its centre, crossed by several low stone bridges.

Chipping Campden

A handsome wool-trade market town with a striking high street and access to Cotswold Way walks.

Castle Combe

An impossibly photogenic village of stone cottages clustered around a market cross and stream.

Getting to Cotswolds

✈

Flights

Birmingham, Bristol and London airports are all within roughly 1.5-2 hours by car.

⏱

From London

~1.5-2 hours by train from London to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham, then taxi or local bus to the villages.

🚕

Getting around

A car is the most practical option for hopping between villages; some are connected by infrequent local buses.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit the Cotswolds?

Late spring (May-June) brings wildflowers and lambs in the fields, while September offers golden light and harvest scenes; summer is prettiest but busiest, especially in Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Do I need a car?

Strongly recommended — the villages are spread across the hills and public transport between them is limited, though a few are reachable by train (Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham) with onward taxis.

Which villages are unmissable?

Bibury for its famous Arlington Row cottages, Castle Combe for its picture-perfect high street, Bourton-on-the-Water for the river running through it, and Chipping Campden for its market hall and gentle walking trails.

Is the Cotswolds good for walking?

Yes — the Cotswold Way is a 102-mile waymarked trail, but countless shorter sections link villages through fields and woodland, often just a few hours between stops.

How many days should I spend there?

Two to three days covers a handful of villages comfortably; longer trips allow for walking sections of the Cotswold Way and visiting market towns like Stow-on-the-Wold.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

Stayed in Chipping Campden and walked a section of the Cotswold Way each day — quiet lanes, lambs in the fields, and a proper pub lunch waiting at the end.

Sarah W. · May 2024

★★★★☆

Bibury and Castle Combe are every bit as pretty as the photos, though both get crowded with day-trippers by late morning — go early.

Mark E. · September 2023

★★★★★

Hired a car and pottered between villages over a long weekend. Bourton-on-the-Water was lovely for the kids to paddle in the river.

Jenny L. · July 2024