30 Best Things to Do in the Cotswolds With Kids
The Cotswolds is a dream destination – honey-coloured cottages, gentle countryside with idyllic vistas, rural charm and plenty of cosy pubs and hotels. If you’re planning a visit to the Cotswolds with kids, you might wonder if there anything to keep them entertained?
The answer is a resounding yes! The Cotswolds is a fabulous location for families. In this guide you’ll find the best family friendly days out, from historic castles and country estates to hikes with outstanding views, wildlife parks, adventures on the water, national trust properties, mind bending museums in Oxford and more.
After living in the area for 30 years, we’re confident that our insider knowledge will give you all the practical details you need to plan the perfect family stay or day out in the Cotswolds, whatever your budget.
How to use this guide
Chose your favourite activity for a day trip, or combine several into your own bespoke family approved North Cotswolds or East Cotswolds itinerary. We suggest using our map to find attractions near to one another so you can maximise your time. If you’re visiting during winter, make sure to check-out our guide to Christmas events in the Cotswolds. For even more ideas try our family guides to Castle Combe, Broadway and Lacock.
If you need any advice, feel free to reach out via email or find us on social media.
Map: Family-Friendly Things to Do in the Cotswolds
Best Things to Do in the Cotswolds With Kids
Top Family Days Out in the Cotswolds
1. Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of our top picks for a family day out in the Cotswolds – we’ve visited more than a dozen times with both toddlers and teens.
Not only can you see a huge range of incredible animals (the giraffes, giant tortoises, wolves, lemurs and rhinos are our favourites), but there’s also a mini farm where you can meet goats and rabbits, a cute miniature train that tours the park, and some of the most impressive gardens around.
Instead of traditional enclosures, the park uses careful landscaping to cleverly protect the resident animals, while giving visitors exceptional views.
The adventure playground is one of the best in the Cotswolds, with equipment for both toddlers and teens, including a huge wooden treetop maze and adventure trails.
Don’t miss: the reptile house; listening out for the astonishing calls of the Collubus monkeys; the Madagascar walkthrough (walk amongst inquisitive lemurs).
If you have a budding conservationist, the Junior Zookeeper Experience makes a fantastic gift. Our eldest daughter absolutely loved feeding giraffes and giant tortoises, meeting penguins and helping with the lemur talk — she still talks about it years later.
Tickets: Book online for best prices. Adults £17.50, Children £12.50.
Opening times: 10am–4pm (winter) or 6pm (summer).
Parking: On site, included in ticket price
2. Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle, just outside pretty Winchcombe, is a fantastic Cotswolds family day out, with something to appeal to every age.
Older children and adults enjoy discovering castle’s rich history, full of fascinating stories. Katherine Parr – Henry VIII’s 6th wife – lived here after his death . Her story and the later rediscovery of her coffin in the ruined chapel add layers of intrigue to the site.
Whilst large parts of the castle have been carefully restored, others remain romantically ruined, creating an atmospheric backdrop to the extensive gardens. I particularly love the restored chapel, where the stained glass windows cast colourful light across the interior.
Kids love exploring the formal gardens to discover giant wicker animal sculptures and towering yew hedges (great for hide and seek). The huge adventure playground is always the highlight — an enormous fort and assault course under the shade of huge oak trees.
Sudeley is magical at Christmas, with an affordable and beautifully themed light trail that makes the most of the castle ruins. If you’re visiting in winter, check out our full Cotswolds at Christmas guide.
Tickets: Adults £23, Children £10, Family £58
Opening times: End of March–early November, 10am–5pm.
Parking: On site, included in ticket price
3. Broadway Tower
Broadway Tower is a grand, eccentric 18th-century gothic tower perched high above Broadway, offering sweeping views across the Cotswolds. It’s one of the area’s most iconic landmarks and brilliant for kids.
The interior is often overlooked, but the family-friendly audio tour is excellent — full of stories about the tower’s famous visitors and Georgian life. Our children loved it as much as we did (the youngest was 5 at the time). The climb to the top reveals one of the best views in the Cotswolds.
On selected dates, you can also tour the Nuclear Bunker, a relic of the Cold War.
There are two cafés on site, both making the most of the panoramic views.
Use our full Things to do in Broadway guide to plan your visit, including our favourite walks.
Tickets: Tower + grounds — Adults £14.67; Children (11–16) £6.29; Children (6–10) £3.14; Under 5s free.
Grounds-only and walk-up options also available.
Parking: On site or park in Broadway
Opening times: Vary — see the Broadway Tower website.
4. Take a Harry Potter Tour
The Cotswolds are full of Harry Potter film locations. Try a guided tour in Oxford, including Christchurch Collge, New College and the Bodelian library. If you’re in Oxford make sure to check out our detailed Oxford family guide.
Alternatively, try Lacock (just outside the Cotswolds AONB) which is a wonderful village which feels frozen in time. Lacock has multiple Harry Potter film locations, including Hogwart’s corridors, Professor Slughorn’s house and the Potters’ house. We have a full guide to visiting Lacock, including details of all the film locations.
5. Blenheim Palace
Located between Oxford and Chipping Norton, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Entry isn’t cheap, but the annual pass is good value if you are able to visit several times across the year.
There’s a lot for families to do here — we have a full review coming soon. Highlights include:
- Exploring the opulent palace rooms
- Strolling the formal Capability Brown gardens
- Taking the lakeside walk to the Boathouse and Cascades
- Riding the miniature train to the Walled Garden
- Getting lost in the enormous Yew Maze
- Visiting the Butterfly House
Blenheim at Christmas is truly magical, with changing themes each year. 2025 features a spectacular Wizard of Oz theme. The estate also hosts seasonal events including Easter trails, a food festival, triathlon, flower festival and more.
Tickets: Adults from £31; Season ticket £41 (includes Christmas house entry).
Opening times: Vary — check Blenheim’s current schedule.
6. Cotswold Farm Park
Otherwise known as Adam’s Farm, Cotswold Farm Park is (in our opinion) the best visitor farm in the Cotswolds. With a real commitment to education and conservation, the farm specialises in rare breeds including Hebridean Sheep, Pygmy Goats and over 50 other traditional breeds.
There are multiple indoor and outdoor play areas (don’t miss the jumping pillow!) and a large café. When our kids were younger, they loved the barn encounters — and we would spend a full day alternating between animals and play spaces.
You can also stay on the farm camping or glamping, with farm admission included.
Tickets: From £9.50 per adult (online prices vary).
Opening times: Check the website, as dates and times vary.
7. Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Slimbridge is a fantastic family experience, with a strong emphasis on conservation. There are countless species of wetland birds to admire, including the iconic bright-pink flamingos.
What Slimbridge does brilliantly is creating imaginative play and learning spaces to keep the entire family enagaged. Spot birds from the hides, splash in Welly Boot Land, feed the ducks, explore the amphibian exhibits and enjoy several outdoor play zones. This is a fantastic place to evoke curiosity and get a little closer to nature.
The biggest highlight for us is the Canoe Safari (additional £10 per canoe). Paddling along the waterways and getting close to birds in their natural habitat is unforgettable — highly recommended (ages 3+).
Tickets: Adults from £17.06. Children £11.25 (online prices vary).
Opening times: 9:30am–4:30/5/5:30pm depending on the month. Closed Christmas Day.
8. Westonbirt Arboretum
Magical Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, is home to an extraordinary tree collection from around the world. Play spaces are cleverly woven into the forest. Walking underneath the ever-changing canopy of thousands of trees never fails to bring a sense of calm to our family.
Westonbirt has two distinct areas, linked by a spectacular treetop walkway.
Silk Wood: Den-building, woodland sculptures, miles of trails and space to roam.
The Old Arboretum: Visitor centre, café, shop, main play areas including the popular Gruffalo trail.
Throughout the year you’ll find outdoor concerts, family activity trails and family activities.
In winter, the forest hosts a hugely popular Christmas lights trail.
Tickets: Adults £13–£21, Children £4–£5.
Opening times: 9am–4:30pm every day except Christmas Day.
9. Cotswold Lavender (Seasonal)
Just outside Broadway, and only open for a few weeks when the lavender blooms, Cotswold Lavender is a wonderful summer activity. Our kids love exploring the wildflower meadows, roaming between rows of lavender alive with pollinators, and playing in the woodland. The family trail is great for younger children, and the fields are perfect for photos and picnics.
Tickets: Approximately £20 for a family
Opening times: Mid-June until the first week of August.
Parking: On site, free.
10. Oxford’s Free Museums
We have a full guide to things to do in Oxford with kids. However if you’re short or time, or it’s a rainy day, our favourite museums (not just in Oxford but in the world) are the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum (OX1 3PW), which share a beautiful building on Parks Road. Best of all, they are absolutely free.
Tickets: £32 per punt (5 people)
Opening times: February – November. 9:30am until one hour before sunset.
11. Crocodiles of the World
Our kids love Crocodiles of the World — and we’re confident yours will too. The attraction is home to an impressive collection of crocodiles, alligators and reptiles, plus several mammals and birds.
My favourites are the giant tortoises, while our boys gravitate towards the biggest, scariest-looking alligators! There are daily keeper talks and feeding times, and because the whole attraction is indoors in a warm, tropical climate, it’s perfect for a winter visit or a rainy day in the Cotswolds.
Zookeeper experiences are available for real reptile fans (additional cost).
Tickets: Family tickets from £48.50.
Opening times: Daily except Christmas Day, 10am–5pm (may close earlier in winter).
12. Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a heritage railway running between Cheltenham and Broadway, with both diesel and steam locomotives. You can book full routes or shorter round trips such as Broadway–Winchcombe.
Check out The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway website for tickets and opening dates.
Their Christmas experience comes very highly recommended too.
13. Painswick Rococo Garden
This beautiful garden is high on our list for next spring — we’ll update with full details after our visit. The gardens promise a lot for families, including follies, a woodland play area, hillside maze and scenic woodland walks, all within walking distance of charming Painswick. We can’t wait to visit.
Tickets: Family from £33 (up to 4 children).
Opening times: Usually 10am–5pm. Closed for several weeks in winter except for the Christmas light trail.
Best National Trust Properties for Families in the Cotswolds
One of the best family things to do in the Cotswolds with kids is visit one of the region’s spectacular National Trust sites. The area is packed with brilliant properties — from grand gardens to wild woodlands and quirky historic homes. Here are the very best for families, extensively tested by our own children. If you plan on visiting more than one, a National Trust membership might be worth purchasing. A full in-depth guide is coming soon.
14. Snowshill Manor
Best for: The Cotswolds quirkiest house and immersive gardens
A wonderfully eccentric manor filled with the extraordinary collections of Charles Wade, surrounded by beautiful terraced gardens. Kids love exploring the secret corners and outdoor spaces, while the eclectic collection inside appeals to both young children and teenagers.
15. Prior Park, Bath
Best for: Picnics and Views
Prior Park is perfect for families planning a Cotswolds itinerary with kids, especially if you want a peaceful stop with space to run and a break from the busyness of Bath. Roam the gardens, enjoy a picnic, and soak up the stunning views across the city.
16. Dyrham Park
Best for: Deer spotting, play and escaping the city
Just outside Bath, Dyrham Park is a large deer park with a historic house and plenty of space to play. The formal gardens are particularly lovely in spring when the tulips are in full bloom.
17. Woodchester Park
Best for: Adventurous kids
A hidden valley with lakes, woodland, and an adventure play trail — perfect for active families who love wild adventures. Woodchester Park is a little off the beaten track and can be a great stop when planning a Cotswolds family itinerary, especially if you want to build in some time away from the crowds.
18. Newark Park
Best for: Great views, a grand mansion and peaceful walks
A quirky Tudor hunting lodge that later became a home, Newark Park has huge appeal for children and doesn’t feel overwhelming in size. The grounds include beautiful gardens, a small play area, and amazing views. There are good walking trails around the grounds and surrounding countryside.
19. Chedworth Roman Villa
Best for: Hands-On History
If you’re wondering what to do in the Cotswolds with teenagers, this Roman site is a hit. Set in a beautiful valley and surrounded by peaceful countryside, this exceptionally grand villa brings Roman history to life. It’s best suited to older children and teens, who will find the free guided tours eye-opening. Predictably, our kids always love seeing the Roman toilets!
20. Buscot Park (Afternoons only)
Best for: Tranquil gardens with hidden surprises.
A wonderful and unusual garden with soothing water features, a stunning walled garden, sculptures, and wonderful views. This is a garden with a surprise around every corner. It’s only open in the afternoons during summer, but it’s a lovely place to spend a quiet few hours or enjoy a picnic.
We always stop at the café for a cream tea.
21. Buscot and Colehill Estates
Best for: River walks and Exploring the countryside
The Buscot estate sits right on the River Thames, offering peaceful walks along the Thames Path with stops at Buscot Weir and Cheese Wharf — both lovely picnic spots. Local residents often swim here (although it’s discouraged and potentially risky, so please avoid swimming with children).
The Coleshill estate is perched on the Cotswold hills outside Highworth, with wonderful walking opportunities for active families.
Two highlights make it especially worth a visit.
First is Blake’s Kitchen, a local café in the farmyard serving the best cinnamon buns I have ever tasted (they’re enormous) alongside a delicious brunch menu.
Second is a secret WWII bunker, part of the remarkable story of the Auxiliers — a clandestine underground army trained here in case of invasion. The bunker is only open on selected days. If you’re visiting the Cotswolds with teenagers, I highly recommend trying to book a guided tour. These are sporadically scheduled, so keep checking the events page.
22. Hidcote Garden
Best for: Getting lost in a world-renowned garden
One of the most famous Arts and Crafts gardens in England, perfect for peaceful wanders. The garden is made up of interconnected outdoor “rooms” and is extremely popular with visitors. Kids love the tennis court lawn and playing hide-and-seek among the hedges and borders.
Family-friendly Outdoor & Adventurous Activities in the Cotswolds
23. Cotswold Country Park & Beach (Seasonal)
A beach in the Cotswolds? Surprisingly, the UK’s largest inland beach can be found at Cotswold Country Park. There are two main lakes and a man-made beach, perfect for cooling off on hot days. This is one of the best places to visit with teenagers in the Cotswolds, thanks to a huge AquaVenture park, a multitude of adventurous activities and plenty of space to roam.
There’s loads to do here and we visit a few times a year. Our boys love the swan pedalos and splashing about on the beach. Our teenager prefers to rent a paddleboard and head off to explore.
If the weather forecast is good be sure to book as far in advance as possible – we’ve been caught out by this before.
Free activities
- Enjoy a swim in the lake and play on the beach
- Take a stroll on the shaded paths around the lakes
- Picnic under the shade of the trees
- Enjoy the playpark
- Bring bats and balls for a family games afternoon
Activities with an additional Cost
- Rent a swan pedalo for an hour and explore the lake
- Hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard
- Try out the climbing wall
- Hire a BBQ (disposable BBQs are prohibited)
- Get adventurous at the huge inflatable aquaventure park
- Play mini golf
Tickets: Access to the park is either per pedestrian (around £5) or for your vehicle. Cars with up to 5 people costs between £9 in low season and £18.18 in high season.
Opening times: Selected dates from March – September. 10am – 5pm
24. Cirencester Open Air Pool (Seasonal)
For over 150 years residents and visitors to Cirencester have enjoyed swimming in the open air pools, tucked away on Riverside Walk, Cirencester (GL7 2EF). This is one of our favourite, affordable summer activities in the area.
There is a full sized adult pool and a smaller children’s pool, both heated by natural springs to about 26oC.
Tickets: Available online from Cirencester Open Air Pool. Adult £6.90 and Child £3.50. Family ticket (2adults +3children) £17
Opening times: Mid-May – Mid-September. Weekdays 7am – 7pm. Weekends from 8am or 8:45am.
Parking: There is no on-site parking. Instead use Sheep Street Car Park (GL7 1HN), Abbey Grounds (GL7 2DA) or Old Station Car Park (GL7 1US), all of which are a short walk away.
25. Lake 86 (SUP, Kayaks, Rafts)
This is one of my favourite spots for a relaxing afternoon (either with or without kids) in the Cotswolds. Lake 86 is conveniently located just off the A419 road and close to the Cotswold Gateway Centre. The Lake is long and calm, suttounded by willow trees and with a few friendly ducks for company.
There are 4 activities to choose from, and an excellent coffee van for post-water refreshments.
Instructors run a short safety briefing and instruction lesson before the session to get you out on the water safely. Life-jackets are included in hire charges, or bring your own for self-launch.
Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your session for the briefing
- Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) – either hire from Lake 86 or bring your own and pay the launch fee. Age 8+
- Kayaking – Single (age 8+) and double kayaks. I always take my youngest out in a double kayak.
- Inflatable Raft – Fits 6 people and amazing fun. Our kids absolutely loved leaping into the lake and ‘rescuing’ each other. Only available during the summer months.
- Open water swimming (adult only). Check out the full moon swims too.
Changing rooms and toilets are available on site. Free parking on site.
Tickets: 1 hour bookings. Kayak £16. Double Kayak £26 SUP £16
Opening times: Open all year. Times vary.
26. Disc Golf at Cotswold View Campsite
Just outside the charming town of Charlbury, you’ll find Cotswold View tucked away down a country lane. Whilst primarily an excellent campsite, they have a great disc golf course. We have tried out the course several times and love the wholesome family fun. Basically this involves throwing a soft frisbee from your starting point to the ‘hole’ (a wire basket). This results in plenty of laughter and time searching for your frisbee in a bush.
In our experience most children from over the age of 6 enjoy the course.
Start with the 9 hole beginners version. If you’re not sure what to expect, check out the videos on the disc golf page.
After your exertions, we highly recommend stopping by the on site Old Shed Cafe for brunch, lunch or coffee and cake.
Tickets: Family pass £25 available from The Old Shed Cafe or campsite reception
Opening times: Daily 9am – 4pm (last entry 3pm). Free on-site parking.
27. Punting on the Cherwell in Oxford
One of the nicest things to do in Oxford, is to hire a punt from Magdalen Bridge Boat house next to Magdalen College (pronounced ‘maudlin’). Spend an hour leisurely travelling along the river Cherwell, past the botanic gardens and waving to the resident ducks. This is a real highlight of any visit to Oxford.
We chose the pedal version of the boat, but you could be brave and try punting, or opt for the chauffer service.
Tickets: £32 per punt (5 people)
Opening times: February – November. 9:30am until one hour before sunset.
Other family activities in the Cotswolds
28. Giffords Circus
Gifford’s Circus is a Cotswolds institution. Visiting is always a highlight of our year. This isn’t your ordinary circus, but a spectacle of artistry, music and magic that delights everyone from toddlers to pensioners.
The circus tours across the Cotswolds and surrounding areas from April to September, with locations including Sudeley Castle and Blenheim Palace.
Tickets: Check out the Gifford’s Circus website for details.
29. Bath Skyline
Bath skyline is a 6 mile circular walk above the city of Bath. For families, there is a shorter ‘family discovery trail‘ which passes through a wonderful natural woodland play area and a fairy door trail which our children adore. The walk passes through woods and meadows along the way and is fairly easy to navigate using the map on the National Trust website.
Parking: Sulis Club Car Park on Claverton Down (BA2 7AU)
30. Family Walks in the Cotswolds
There are so many family-friendly walks to choose from in the Cotswolds. After many years of exploring what works with kids, here are a few of our favourites that we’ve tested many times. All these walks have plenty of variety and points of interest to keep the whole family engaged.
- Start in Castle Combe and walk through the beech woods to find the fairy door.
- Hike from Broadway tower into elegant Broadway, or vice versa. This walk involves a steep hill and possibly the best view in the Cotswolds.
- Walk from Bourton on the Water to Upper and Lower Slaughter for some of the best village scenery in the Cotswolds.
- Walk the Thames path either from Lechalde, a vibrant market town on the edge of the Cotswolds, or from Buscot Weir.
- Start at the Cotswold Gateway Centre and follow the path to find a perfect roundhouse, then continue around the Cotswold Lakes and through quiet villages. Don’t miss Pizzeria 720 when you return.
We hope you enjoy exploring the Cotswolds as much as we do! If you try out any of the places in our guide we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
