Excellence Luxury Villas · Cotswolds
Luxury Holiday Houses in the Cotswolds
Stone cottages, converted barns and manor houses in the hills between Chipping Campden, Burford and Cirencester
As featured in
Wool churches, stone villages and a pub at the end of every walk
The Cotswolds made their fortune on sheep. Medieval wool money built the great churches at Northleach and Chipping Campden, and the same honey-coloured limestone went into every barn, cottage and manor that followed. Since 1966 the hills have been protected, and at around 790 square miles they now form the largest National Landscape in England and Wales.
Our Cotswolds collection runs to 70+ properties, from three-bedroom cottages in villages such as Oddington and Kingham to converted barns, mill houses and manor estates, some with hot tubs, gardens or tennis courts, and the grandest sleeping up to 34 guests.
Below is a guide to the different corners of the hills, and the best times to come.
The Cotswolds at a glance
- Properties
- 70+ cottages, barns and manor houses, with up to 17 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,400 to £6,500 a week, from around £1,100
- Best areas
- Broadway, Chipping Campden and Stow in the north; Kingham and Burford to the east; Cirencester and the Water Park in the south
- Best time
- May to September for gardens and long evenings; October for autumn colour; December for log fires
- Getting there
- Trains from London Paddington to Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh in around 90 minutes
Browse all 70+ properties in the Cotswolds
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Cotswold Manor Estate United Kingdom11 bedrooms
Wilfred Manor & The Country Stables United Kingdom17 bedrooms
River Severn Mansion Estate United Kingdom12 bedrooms
Cotswold Barn United Kingdom5 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Cotswolds
Broadway, Chipping Campden and Temple Guiting for the high northern wolds, Kingham and Bruern for the Oxfordshire side and its farm shops, and Somerford Keynes and Cirencester for the lakes and Roman history of the south.
High wolds, market towns and a tower on the edge
The northern hills are the Cotswolds of the postcards. Chipping Campden has a curving high street of golden stone and marks the start of the Cotswold Way, the 102-mile National Trail that runs south along the escarpment to Bath. Broadway lies just below, with Broadway Tower on the ridge above it and long views west over the Vale of Evesham.
Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh are the market towns here, and quieter villages such as Temple Guiting, on the young River Windrush, make good bases for walking. Hidcote, the National Trust garden near Mickleton, is worth a morning in June.
Browse houses in Temple Guiting
Farm shops, good pubs and the Evenlode valley
The eastern side of the hills, where Gloucestershire gives way to Oxfordshire, has become the most fashionable corner of the Cotswolds. Kingham has its own railway station and two well-regarded pubs, and Daylesford's organic farm shop is just outside the village.
Bruern, in the countryside towards the old Wychwood Forest, is a quiet base within easy reach of Burford, whose steep high street runs down to the Windrush. Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes an easy day out.
Browse houses in Bruern
Roman Cirencester and a landscape of lakes
Cirencester was Corinium in Roman times, one of the largest towns in Roman Britain, and the Corinium Museum tells the story well. Nearby Bibury, with its row of weavers' cottages at Arlington Row, was described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England.
To the south, Somerford Keynes sits among the lakes of the Cotswold Water Park, which are good for sailing, paddleboarding and birdwatching. Westonbirt Arboretum is a short drive away. Further east, Chimney lies on the upper Thames, beside the wildflower meadows of the Chimney Meadows nature reserve.
Browse houses in Somerford Keynes
Gold Cup week, lavender fields and a fire in the grate
The Cotswold calendar is full of sport. The Cheltenham Festival brings the Gold Cup in March, the Badminton Horse Trials come in May, and on the late May bank holiday the cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill draws crowds who mostly come to watch others fall over. From June to August the lavender at Snowshill is in flower, and in October Westonbirt turns red and gold.
Winter has its own pleasures: a long walk, a pub lunch and an afternoon by the fire. Our concierge can book restaurant and pub tables, Cheltenham tickets, private chefs and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in the Cotswolds
Cotswold Manor United Kingdom5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £12,793 a week
River Severn Mansion United Kingdom9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £11,222 a week
House Windrush Moreton: Charming 5-Bedroom Luxury House with Private Garden – The Cotswolds5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £10,472 a week
House Cotswold Weston: Spacious 7-Bedroom House with Hot Tub – The Cotswolds7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £10,262 a week
Stroud Country Manor Cotswolds5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £8,000 a week
House Withington Gloucestershire: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Garden & BBQ – The Cotswolds4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,021 a week
Stone Hall Gloucestershire England16 bedrooms · sleeps 32From £7,000 a week
House Glyme Woodstock: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with BBQ & Family Amenities – Oxfordshire5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,853 a weekWhy book your house in the Cotswolds with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The Cotswolds spread across six counties and the character changes from valley to valley, and we know which houses are within a walk of a good pub, a station or the Cotswold Way. With 70+ properties in the Cotswolds, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Pub and restaurant reservations, Cheltenham Festival and Badminton tickets, private chefs, guided walks, drivers for days out and transfers from London and the airports. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Cotswolds?
Broadway, Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold suit those who want the classic northern villages and the Cotswold Way. Kingham and Bruern are best for good pubs, farm shops and easy trains to London. Cirencester and Somerford Keynes suit families who want the lakes of the Cotswold Water Park.
When is the best time to visit the Cotswolds?
May to September brings gardens in flower, long evenings and the lavender season. October is lovely for autumn colour, and the winter months are quieter, with log fires and empty footpaths. Cheltenham Festival week in March is very busy, so book early.
Do I need a car in the Cotswolds?
For most stays, yes. Buses between villages are infrequent, and many of the best walks, pubs and gardens are reached by country lanes. Some villages, such as Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, have stations, and our concierge can arrange drivers for days out.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in the Cotswolds?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in the Cotswolds cost?
Across our 70+ properties in the Cotswolds, weekly rates typically range from £1,400 to £6,500, with the most affordable from around £1,100 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Cotswolds?
Trains from London Paddington reach Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh in around 90 minutes, and Kemble serves the southern Cotswolds. By road, much of the area is within around an hour of Birmingham and Bristol airports. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in the Cotswolds for large groups?
Yes. Our Cotswolds collection includes properties with up to 17 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in the Cotswolds
70+ cottages, barns and manor houses in the Cotswolds, booked direct with our concierge on hand