The Best 2-Day North Cotswolds Itinerary (with or without kids)

Map of 2 day North cotswolds itinerary

Brief overview of the North Cotswolds itinerary

If this is your first time in the North Cotswolds we think you’ll love this itinerary. Here’s a brief overview:

• Day 1: Broadway High Street, Broadway Tower (optional walk) and Snowshill Manor and Gardens or Cotswold Lavender Farm
• Day 2: Bourton-on-the-Water (optional walk to the Slaughters), Sudeley Castle

Day 1: Broadway Tower, Snowshill and Lavender Fields

Broadway High Street

If you’re planning a picnic later, pick up supplies from the stylish Broadway Deli.

Walk to Broadway Tower

If you’re feeling energetic, it’s a 4-mile round trip walk up to iconic Broadway Tower. The hill is fairly steep, but the views from the top (the second highest point in the Cotswolds) are worth the effort.

Once there, you can refuel at the Morris & Brown café, take the excellent audio tour, explore the tower (£14.67 adult, £6.29 child), or simply soak up the views.

If walking isn’t an option, it’s a very short drive up to the tower (car park WR12 7LB, from £3 for 4 hours).

Snowshill Manor or Cotswold Lavender

Spend the afternoon at either Snowshill Manor and Gardens (open March to November – check the website for times) or, in summer, visit the idyllic Cotswold Lavender farm for a slice of Cotswolds tranquility.

Snowshill Manor and Garden

Inside the manor, discover the vast collections of Charles Wade, an eccentric English gentleman who filled the house with objects from around the world. Discover rooms filled with musical instruments, vintage toys or exquisite costumes and an attic bursting with wheels — and much more besides.

Outside, the surprises continue. The garden unfolds as a series of interconnecting rooms, each with something new to explore.

Allow a couple of hours to explore, then finish in the tea room or head to the Snowshill Arms for refreshments in a traditional pub with a lovely beer garden.

Cotswold Lavender (seasonal)

Wander among neat rows of lavender alive with pollinators, seek shade in the surrounding woodland, or explore the wildflower meadows. Our children loved this beautiful spot. Keep an eye out for their evening opening (just once a year) as the fields are particularly beautiful at sunset.

In the evening head back to Broadway to eat. Kids love Flipside Gastroburgers, or try the excellent menu at The Broadway Hotel.

Day 2: Bourton-on-the-Water and Sudeley Castle

Bourton-on-the-Water

Start early and head to Bourton-on-the-Water, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. It gets extremely busy in summer, but if you arrive early you’ll find parking (either on Station Road, GL54 2EN or Rissington Road, GL54 2BN) and avoid the worst of the crowds.

After strolling through the village and crossing each and every low bridge over the River Windrush, we’d recommend taking the lovely walk out to Lower and Upper Slaughter — one of our favourite walks in the Cotswolds. These two picture-perfect villages can be reached on a 5.5-mile round-trip walk, which takes a couple of hours to complete.

You can also drive to the villages, but we wouldn’t recommend doing this in the height of summer. The narrow lanes are busy, and the tiny villages aren’t built to cope with many vehicles.

Other options in Bourton-on-the-water

If you don’t fancy the walk, there are lots of options in Bourton on the Water.

Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Spend the afternoon at Sudeley Castle, just outside Winchcombe. With over 1,000 years of history, this is one of the most interesting castles to visit in the Cotswolds, yet it still feels relaxed and very family-friendly.

The gardens are a real highlight, with ten separate garden areas to explore: peaceful knot gardens, atmospheric ruin, towering hedges, giant wicker sculptures and sumptuous planting, all with sweeping views across the countryside.

History fans will also appreciate the castle’s royal connections and fascinating exhibitions. If you’re visiting with children, be sure to leave plenty of time for the excellent adventure play park.

Allow at least 2 – 3 hours here to make the most of your visit.

Rainy Day and Winter itinerary options

In winter, when Cotswold Lavender and Snowshill Manor are closed, visit the Broadway Museum instead.

At Bourton-on-the-Water, the Motor Museum is a good place to warm up on a cold day, with plenty to interest all ages.

Winter can be a great time for a weekend in the Cotswolds. There tend to be fewer visitors, and the towns look festive. Visit the famous floating Christmas tree in Bourton-on-the-Water (best viewed at twilight or later). There are late-night shopping events throughout the season in Broadway, and the high street looks especially magical dressed in twinkling lights.

Sudeley Castle spectacle of light is a magical light trail through the grounds of the castle. The theme changes every year and the ruined walls of parts of the castle make a spectacular backdrop. This is one of the more reasonably light trails in the area and we love seeing the new theme each year. You can find out all about visiting the Cotswolds at Christmas.

Best places to eat on the North Cotswolds Itinerary

Broadway

• Otis & Belle Bakery – Coffee and pastries for a great start to the day
• Broadway Deli – Ideal for picnic supplies
• Flipside Gastroburgers – Relaxed and kid-friendly for dinner
• Tattershall’s at The Broadway Hotel – Excellent dining or afternoon tea
• The Broadbean – Tapas with great atmosphere and rave reviews
• Morris & Brown Café – Great cafe at Broadway tower with the best views

Snowshill

• The Snowshill Arms – Classic pub with a lovely beer garden
• Snowshill National Trust Café – Cafe in the grounds of Snowshill with indoor and outdoor seating in the orchard.

Bourton-on-the-Water

• Box Bush Gelato – Gelato so good we visit in winter as well as summer
• Bakery on the Water – Breakfast, sandwiches, soup and sweet treats with a great vibe
• The Chip Shed – Take away fish and chips to eat at the river on sunny evenings
• The Mouse Trap Inn – A local favourite serving a varied menu of pub classics

Winchcombe (next to Sudeley Castle)

• The Old Bakery Coffee and Wine Bar – Coffee and delicious food. Open late Thursday – saturday for tapas and grazing boards.
• The Lion Inn – Pubfood done perfectly and a highly recommended Sunday Roast
• The Corner Cupboard Inn – Pub food in a pretty 16th Century coaching inn.

Practical tips for visiting the North Cotswolds

Visiting with Toddlers and Pushchairs

The villages and attractions on this itinerary are generally easy to navigate with a pushchair or stroller.

You might want to check out Cotswold Farm Park rather than tackling one of the longer walks.

• Sudeley Castle and Snoshill Manor are largely pushchair friendly
• The walk between Bourton-on-the-Water and the Slaughters is best tackled with a child carrier, as it includes fields, gates and can be muddy
• Likewise, the walk up to Broadway Tower isn’t suitable for pushchairs

Best Cotswold activities for teenagers