Cosy Cotswold cottages: 10 winter escapes with wood-burners

Looking for a cosy Cotswold cottage for a winter weekend? These 10 self-catering cottages all have wood-burning stoves or open fires, characterful interiors and great locations for exploring the Cotswolds in the quieter months – think frosty walks, Sunday roasts in the pub and evenings by the fire. I’ve picked out cottages for couples, families and groups, with details of nearby pubs, attractions and car-free travel information, so you can choose the winter escape that best suits you.

Each cottage was chosen based on its character, winter-friendly features and location. Every cottage has a wood-burner or open fire, and I’ve looked for properties where there’s something worth exploring nearby – whether that’s a village pub, countryside walks or a Cotswold town.

Prices shown are for a three-night weekend stay in January 2027. Links with an asterisk indicate I may get a small commission on any bookings at no extra change to you (more info).

Why stay in a Cotswold cottage in winter?

Winter in the Cotswolds means shorter, colder days and often rain, but there are plenty of benefits too – fewer crowds, easier parking, low-season prices and lots of pubs to warm up in. Christmas in the Cotswolds can be busy with many festive markets and events. But before and after Christmas the region is a lot more peaceful, perfect for winter walks through frosty landscapes, late autumn colour and early snowdrops, long pub lunches and curling up on the sofa by the wood-burner.

1. Inglenook Cottage, Broad Campden

Best for traditional thatched cottage charm

Live out your The Holiday Christmas fantasies at Inglenook Cottage* this winter. This cosy Cotswold cottage dates back over 300 years and was once the village blacksmiths. Today it’s a picture-perfect holiday let for two with a thatched roof, stone staircase, exposed beams and courtyard garden, set in the village of Broad Campden close to Chipping Campden in the north Cotswolds.

The heart of the cottage is an open plan sitting and dining room, which has a wood-burning stove to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night. There’s also a well-equipped wooden kitchen, and upstairs there’s a bedroom with a wrought-iron king-sized bed and en-suite shower room. The property is beautifully presented, mixing up character features and a stylish, country décor.

Things to do nearby: Broad Campden’s village pub, The Bakers’ Arms, is a short walk from the cottage. It’s also just over a mile to the market town of Chipping Campden, where you can visit the Court Barn Museum and warm up in one of its many pubs. There are plenty of great winter walks nearby too, including one from Chipping Campden to the viewpoint at Dover’s Hill.

Get there: It’s useful to have a car to get to Broad Campden, but you can also get there by catching a train to Moreton-in-Marsh and then booking a taxi to the cottage.

The details: Sleeps 2 | Prices from £457 for three nights | One dog allowed

2. Field Cottage, Elmley Castle

Best for a romantic winter escape off the beaten track

Get away from it all this winter this winter with a stay in this quaint thatched cottage in the northwest Cotswolds. Field Cottage* is located in a peaceful spot on the slopes of Bredon Hill, surrounded by walking and cycling routes through tranquil countryside. The cottage is a romantic escape for two – or rent the adjacent Garden Room too and bring friends along.

The cottage is packed with period features. Downstairs you’ll find a cosy lounge where you can sink into the sofa with a glass of wine by the inglenook fireplace with its wood-burning stove. There’s also a kitchen and dining room with a gas range cooker. And upstairs the bedroom, which has stunning rural views, comes with a king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom with roll-top bath.

Things to do nearby: The Queen Elizabeth Inn in Elmley Castle is within walking distance. It’s also a short drive to Pershore and Evesham (where you’ll find the nearest train stations). Broadway is a 20-minute drive for great shops and restaurants as well as the Broadway Tower. Or it’s 20 minutes to Winchcombe and historic Sudeley Castle, which has a festive light trail.

Get there: It’s useful to have a car to get to Elmley Castle, but you can also get there by catching a train to Pershore or Evesham and then booking a taxi to the cottage.

The details: Sleeps 2 | Prices from £585 for three nights | Dogs not permitted

3. Jasmine Cottage, Windrush

Best for peaceful countryside walks and wildlife spotting

Jasmine Cottage* is a beautiful Cotswold stone property surrounded by National Trust land in the quiet village of Windrush to the west of Burford. This cosy cottage is an ideal countryside escape for two, or a family with a young child, with miles of footpaths through the Windrush Valley right on the doorstep, where you can see birds and wildlife including badgers, hares and deer.

Downstairs there’s a comfortable sitting room with a stone inglenook fireplace and mullion windows with window seats to curl up on with a book, as well as a compact kitchen and breakfast room. There are two bedrooms upstairs, one king-size and one single, plus a family bathroom with rolltop bath. There’s also a patio area in the garden where you can soak up the winter sunshine.

Things to do nearby: It’s a 20-minute walk to award-winning gastro pub The Fox at Barrington, or two miles along the valley to the National Trust village of Sherborne with its shop, deli and café. Burford is less than five miles away with a wide selection of places to eat. And two of the Cotswolds’ most popular spots, Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water, are within a 15-minute drive.

Get there: It’s useful to have a car to get to Windrush, but you can also get there by taking the Pulhams X52 bus (every day) to Burford from Cheltenham or Oxford, then taking a taxi.

The details: Sleeps 3 | Prices from £561 for three nights | One dog allowed

4. 39 Foxtail Cottage, Blockley

Best for a village with pubs, a café and shop on the doorstep

39 Foxtail Cottage* is part of a charming row of terraced cottages built for workers at the nearby silk mills in the mid 19th-century. It lies on the edge of the pretty Cotswold village of Blockley – which is the main filming location for TV series Father Brown. The cottage has been refurbished and modernised to a high standard, and sleeps four people across its three-storey building.

On the ground floor there’s a dual aspect living/dining room with Cotswold stone inglenook fireplace and open fire. Go down one floor and you’ll find a homely kitchen with Aga, which leads onto a light and airy garden room with views out onto a deer park. Then on the top floor there are two bedrooms with wrought iron-framed king-sized and double beds, as well as a family bathroom.

Things to do nearby: Blockley has a café, shop and two pubs within walking distance of the cottage. It’s four miles to Moreton-in-Marsh for a wider selection of shops plus a popular market on Tuesday mornings. You can walk to Moreton via Batsford Arboretum, which is open year round, on a 6.9-mile circular route. It’s also 10–15 minutes’ drive to Chipping Campden and Broadway.

Get there: The nearest train station is in Moreton-in-Marsh. Stagecoach 1 and 2 buses (Monday–Saturday) run from Moreton train station to Blockley, taking 13 minutes.

The details: Sleeps 4 | Prices from £656 for three nights | One dog allowed

5. Corner Cottage, Malmesbury

Best for quirky character and a town centre location

Go back in time with a winter Cotswold cottage escape to the market town of Malmesbury and Corner Cottage.* This 17th-century, end-terrace property is full of original features, with thick stone walls and a wood-burning stove which will keep you warm however cold it gets outside. The cottage sleeps up to four people and has a quirky layout which is spread across four floors.

On the ground floor there’s a lounge with sofas and a dining area, then head down the rustic stone steps and you’ll reach the kitchen, which has all the mod cons you need including a dishwasher, and leads onto a courtyard garden. On the first floor is a king-sized bedroom and bathroom, and on the top floor there’s a second double bedroom in the eaves with sloping ceilings.

Things to do nearby: Malmesbury is right on your doorstep with the Benedictine Abbey, walks along the River Avon and shops and restaurants a few minutes’ walk away. Don’t miss The Old Bell Hotel if you’re visiting over Christmas when it’s beautifully decorated. Tetbury and Westonbirt Arboretum are just five miles to the north, and Castle Combe is 13 miles to the south.

Get there: The Coachstyle 99 bus (Monday–Saturday) connects Malmesbury with the train stations in Chippenham (35 minutes) and Swindon (1 hour).

The details: Sleeps 4 | Prices from £391 for three nights | Dogs not permitted

6. 1 Chestnut Corner, Stanton

Best for walks along the Cotswold Way

1 Chestnut Corner* is a traditional golden stone property which sleeps four in the village of Stanton. Located a few miles to the south of Broadway, Stanton is right on the route of the Cotswold Way, making it an ideal base for walkers. This stylish property combines an inglenook fireplace with woodburner and original beams with modern furnishings and rich jewel fabrics.

The ground floor features a comfortable living room and a separate rustic-chic style kitchen and dining area. There’s also a useful extra shower room downstairs. Then upstairs there are a two similar sized super-king bedrooms, which share a dressing area and a bathroom with rolltop bath and separate shower. Restful tones of green and blue throughout give it a tranquil feel.

Things to do nearby: Stanton has a village pub, The Mount Inn, within walking distance. Snowshill is just a few miles away or you can get there on a scenic 6-mile circular walk from Stanton, with a stop off at the Snowshill Arms pub. Or Broadway is 3.5 miles to the north, with the Broadway Tower, Gordon Russell Design Museum, Broadway Museum and boutique shopping.

Get there: It’s useful to have a car to get to Stanton, but you can also get there on the Pulhams 606 bus (Monday–Saturday) from Cheltenham, which stops at Stanton West Turn on the B462, an 18-minute walk away. The journey from Cheltenham takes 1 hour 20 minutes.

The details: Sleeps 4 | Prices from £771 for three nights | Two dogs allowed

8. Old Stable Cottage, Kingham

Best for great food and an easy car-free Cotswold escape

Old meets new at the Old Stable Cottage* in the village of Kingham in the east of the Cotswolds. Kingham is known as a foodie hub, and as it’s on a mainline train route from London it makes an easy weekend break in the Cotswolds without needing a car. This charmingly renovated former farm building sleeps four people and makes a great winter escape for families or couples.

The lounge has an an open-plan dining area which comes with a sofa and comfy armchairs, exposed Cotswold stone walls, wooden beams and a stone fireplace. Next door is the well-equipped kitchen and there’s a handy utility room with a washer/dryer. The first floor has two king-sized bedrooms which are decorated in restful colours and there’s a shared family shower room.

Things to do nearby: Kingham has a shop, post office and two award-winning pubs just a short walk from the cottage – The Kingham Plough and The Wild Rabbit. Food lovers will also want to check out nearby Daylesford Farm, a 40-minute direct walk or 5.9-mile circular walk from Kingham. Chipping Norton is five miles away, with several different walking routes between them.

Get there: Kingham train station is around a 25-minute walk south of the cottage.

The details: Sleeps 4 | Prices from £736 for three nights | One dog allowed

5. The Gates, Castle Combe

Best for a historic stay in one of the Cotswolds’ most picturesque villages

Step back in time at The Gates,* located opposite the Market Cross in the heart of Castle Combe. Castle Combe is a conservation area with no TV aerials or telegraph poles, so has bags of historic charm, making it a popular film location. The oldest parts of the cottage are medieval, with traditional beams and brickwork alongside a mix of antique and contemporary furnishings.

The Gates sleeps six people, with a twin and two double bedrooms upstairs, one of which is extra romantic with its Gothic stained-glass window, originally from the church next door, and freestanding rolltop bath. Downstairs there’s a comfortable sitting room with an inglenook fireplace and wood-burner, a well-equipped Scandi-style kitchen/dining room and a cloakroom.

Things to do nearby: Castle Combe has several pubs and cafés, as well as the Michelin-starred Bybrook restaurant. There’s also golf at the Manor House hotel and motor racing at Castle Combe Circuit. You can take a 6.2-mile circular walk through the surrounding countryside. And National Trust sites Dyrham Park and Lacock are within 10 miles, or it’s 12 miles to Bath.

Get there: The nearest train station is in Chippenham. Faresaver 95/95A buses (Monday–Saturday only in winter) run from Chippenham train station to Castle Combe, taking 20 minutes.

The details: Sleeps 6 | Prices from £974 for three nights | Dogs not permitted

9. Archers, Winchcombe

Best for a luxurious group getaway in the grounds of a castle

Made of traditional Cotswold stone, Archers* is part of the Sudeley Castle estate on the edge of Winchcombe. It was created by combining two cottages from the 18th and 19th century, with the décor and artworks chosen by estate owner Lady Ashcombe. Archers sleeps up to eight people in four bedrooms – and if there’s more of you there are several more properties on the estate.

The elegant, comfortable lounge has a wood-burner and plenty of sofa space, the dining room comes with original flagstone floors and another fire, and the spacious kitchen includes a smart range cooker. Upstairs two of the four bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. And the cottage is also surrounded by gardens, with the Beesmoor Brook running through them.

Things to do nearby: Sudeley Castle is right outside your door, though it’s closed from November to March except during the Spectacle of Light illuminated trail. Winchcombe is 15 minutes’ walk away with shops, restaurants and historic pubs. You can also take a ride on the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway from nearby Greet, which has a range of seasonal events.

Get there: The nearest train station is in Cheltenham. Stagecoach W buses (Monday–Saturday) run from Cheltenham Royal Well bus station to Winchcombe, taking 25 minutes.

The details: Sleeps 8 | Prices from £1459 for three nights | Two dogs allowed

10. Millstone Cottage, Bourton-on-the-Water

Best for large families or groups and off-season visits to Bourton-on-the-Water

If you’re looking for a Cotswold cottage suitable for gathering family or friends together this winter, Millstone Cottage* is perfectly located in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water. The cottage sleeps 11 and has a generous lounge with wood-burner and plenty of sofa space, an open plan kitchen and dining room, and a cosy snug where you can watch Netflix or relax with a book.

Millstone Cottage has six bedrooms spread across the two upper floors – one with a king-size bed, three doubles, a twin and a single. As well as three en-suite bathrooms there’s a spacious family bathroom which has a bath and double shower. There’s also a games room in the garage with a table tennis tables, and parking outside the property which is suitable for up to five cars.

Things to do nearby: One of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages, Bourton-on-the-Water sits on the River Windrush, which features an illuminated tree in the water at Christmas. It’s also home to the Cotswold Motoring Museum and Birdland. There’s a wide selection of walks from Bourton, including a short walk to Lower Slaughter which you can extend on to neighbouring Upper Slaughter.

Get there: The nearest train station is in Moreton-in-Marsh. Pulhams 801 buses (every day) run from Moreton train station to Bourton-on-the-Water, taking 30 minutes.

The details: Sleeps 11 | Prices from £1299 for three nights | Two dogs allowed

* This site contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

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