Sunshine, honey-stone villages, lush gardens, trickling rivers and a cold drink in a pub beer garden – there aren’t many places better than the Cotswolds to spend your summer. And whether the weather is sunny or not there’s plenty to do in the Cotswolds in summer – from festivals and events to day trips, walking trails, outdoor film screenings and even a day on the beach. So to help to help you plan your visit, here are my favourite things to do in the Cotswolds in summer 2026.
When to visit the Cotswolds in summer
June has the longest days of the year, with average daytime highs of 20°C (68°F) and nighttime lows of 11°C (52°F). It’s generally quieter than July and August, particularly before the schools break up, while gardens and wildflowers are at their best and the lavender fields open mid-month. It’s a great time for walking, although showers are possible and evenings can feel cool.
July is normally the sunniest month, with average highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F). It’s peak season for flower fields, outdoor cinema, theatre and music festivals. Visitor numbers increase once the school holidays start, so book accommodation and popular attractions well in advance, and try to visit popular villages early in the morning or late in the afternoon if you can.
August stays warm, with average highs of 21°C (70°F) and lows of 12°C (54°F), though thundery downpours become more likely. The school holidays make it one of the busiest times to visit, with lots going on, and the countryside starts to take on golden harvest colours later in the month.
25 things to do in the Cotswolds in summer
The great outdoors
1. Photograph a flower field
With their rows of colourful blooms stretching as far as the eye can see, flower fields are one of the top photo opportunities in the Cotswolds in summer. The best known are the purple-hued fields of Cotswold Lavender near Snowshill, which are open from 17 June–5 August in 2026. Depending on the weather, the flowers are usually at their best in mid-July, or earlier if it’s been hot.
There are also the confetti fields in Worcestershire (20 June–5 July) for rows of multicoloured delphiniums, cornflowers and wildflowers. Or the Summer Flower Fields at Cotswold Farm Park (18 July–31 August). These begin with wildflowers in July then move on to sunflowers in August, with food trucks and live music on Wednesday evenings for their Sunflower Sessions.
2. Take a walk on the Cotswold Way
The 102-mile (164km) route of the Cotswold Way National Trail is one of the most beautiful long-distance walking paths in the country, running between Chipping Campden and Bath past castles and country houses, churches and abbey ruins, scenic viewpoints and historic towns.
You don’t have to commit to the full distance though, as there are plenty of shorter stretches available to give you a taste of the Cotswold Way. We picked eight of our favourite circular walks along the Cotswold Way from 2.5 to 6 miles, but you can also choose a linear stretch between two towns or villages and then take public transport or a taxi back to your starting point.
3. Explore a Cotswold garden
The Cotswolds is full of beautiful historic properties, and summer is a great time to visit to see their gardens in full bloom. Among my favourites are the Arts and Crafts-inspired Hidcote Manor Garden and Kiftsgate Court Gardens, which are both near Chipping Campden, the romantic Cerney House Gardens near Cirencester, and the charming organic cottage gardens at Snowshill Manor.
For something a bit different, visit the quirky Indian-style Sezincote House near Moreton-in-Marsh. Or admire the artworks at the Cotswold Sculpture Park or the Garden at Miserden, which hosts the Cotswold Sculptors Association’s Creating Spaces exhibition from 3 June–2 August.
4. Have a picnic with a view
Gather together some tasty Cotswold produce and head to one of the area’s scenic viewpoints for a picnic. Cleeve Hill is the highest point in the Cotswolds, with panoramic views across the Severn Vale. More of my top Cotswold picnic spots include Leckhampton Hill and Crickley Hill near Cheltenham, Painswick Beacon, Selsey Common, the Broadway Tower and Tyndale Monument.
Summer days out
5. See an open-air theatre performance
Grab a picnic and watch live theatre under the stars at an outdoor performance. Touring theatre troupe The Handlebards – who travel by bike – perform As You Like It at Painswick Rococo Garden (25–27 June), Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester (28 June) and Asthall Manor (1 July).
Jenny Wren Productions are putting on Sherlock Holmes at venues including the Museum in the Park in Stroud (25–26 July), Cotswold Sculpture Park (1 August), Cerney House Gardens (22 August) and Berkeley Castle (25 August). You can also see:
- The Three Musketeers (30 June) and Treasure Island (28 July) at Cheltenham Lido
- The Pickwick Papers at Cotswold Lavender (16 July)
- Romeo & Juliet at Sudeley Castle (1–2 August)
- Sherlock Holmes (1 August) and Twelfth Night (6 August) at National Trust Newark Park.
6. Enjoy an outdoor film screening
There are also outdoor film screenings around the Cotswolds this summer. Adventure Cinema comes to Westonbirt Arboretum from 31 July–2 August 2026, with Dirty Dancing, Jurassic Park, an Andrea Bocelli concert and a sing-a-long Encanto. There’s also a weekend of cinema at Cheltenham Lido from 22–23 August, with screenings of Encanto, A Star is Born, The Lion King and Grease.
7. Ride on a steam train
Take a ride on board a stream train on the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway this summer. This volunteer-run railway travels through stunning Cotswold scenery between Cheltenham and Broadway. Get a Day Rover ticket to travel on the line all day, or join a special event like the Real Ale Festival (12–14 June) and Tea with Alice in Wonderland (15 August).
Cool off, eat and drink
8. Hit the beach at the Cotswold Country Park
The Cotswolds might not have the sea, but it does have the UK’s largest inland beach. The Cotswold Country Park and Beach south of Cirencester is set among the 40 square miles of the Cotswold Lakes. As well as building sandcastles on the beach, you can swim, try watersports like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, or tackle the AquaVenture inflatable waterpark.
9. Take a dip in a lido
Another way to enjoy an al fresco dip this summer in the Cotswolds is at one of the area’s outdoor swimming pools – which are heated to a comfortable 25°C. There’s been a lido in Sandford Park in Cheltenham since 1935, with a 50-metre main pool plus children’s pools. There’s also a 25-metre pool at Chipping Norton Lido and the 27-metre Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool.
10. Try a local ice cream
For an ice cream with a view, head to Winstones Ice Cream Parlour on the edge of Rodborough Common near Stroud. This National Trust common is home to grazing cattle, butterflies and wildflowers, with views over the Stroud Valley and Severn Estuary. There are 18 ice cream flavours available each day, including dairy-free options, from tasty honeycomb to rhubarb crumble.
11. Visit a Cotswold vineyard
The Cotswolds is home to several award-winning vineyards, who offer tours where you can walk through the vines, learn about English winemaking and taste their wines. Woodchester Valley near Stroud has the widest choice of tours and events, while Poulton Hill near Cirencester and Larkhill near Tetbury combine tastings with summer bar sessions, pop-up food and vineyard views.
12. Drink a toast at a beer festival
If you prefer beer to wine, there are several beer festivals across the Cotswolds to choose from over the summer months, all serving plenty of real ales and craft beers. First up is the Charlbury Beer Festival on 27 June, which includes the World Aunt Sally Singles Championships.
Then the Campaign for Real Ale’s Cotswold Beer Festival at Postlip Hall on 17–19 July features food trucks and live music in the tithe barn. And there’s also the Stroud Beer Festival at the Sub Rooms from 31 July–2 August, which is free with donations helping to support the venue.
Summer festivals and events 2026
13. Music festivals
We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to music festivals in the Cotswolds this summer, from big-name events to smaller community festivals. Whether you’re packing a tent and camping for the weekend or just visiting for the day, there’s plenty of music to enjoy including:
- 2000 Trees (8–11 July): 130 rock and indie bands across five stages in Withington.
- Tetfest (11 July): Family-friendly Tetbury event with entertainment and fairground rides.
- Chalfest (17–18 July): Heather Small and Chesney Hawkes, plus craft and DJ workshops.
- Riverside Festival (18–19 July): Oxfordshire’s biggest free music festival with 30 bands.
- Big Feastival (22–24 August): Celebrates the best of music and food in Kingham.
14. The Cotswold Olimpick Games (29 May)
The Olimpick Games is one of the Cotswolds’ quirkiest events, taking place on 29 May on Dover’s Hill, just outside Chipping Campden. The games date back to 1612 when Robert Dover had the idea for an Olympics-style sporting competition, and were revived in the 1960s.
Events are a bit different to the real Olympics though, with shin-kicking, tug ‘o war and hammer throwing. Then it ends with fireworks and a torchlit procession into Chipping Campden.
15. Cheltenham Food Festival (19–21 Jun)
Eat, drink and be merry at the Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival this summer, which takes place in Montpellier Gardens on 19–21 June. There are demonstrations from chefs including The Great British Bake Off‘s Giuseppe Dell’Anno, wine tastings and cheese masterclasses alongside live music, street theatre, a dog show, kids’ entertainment and plenty of food and drink stalls.
16. Forest Live at Westonbirt Arboretum (24–28 Jun)
Forest Live is an annual concert series, with live music performances in some of the UK’s most beautiful natural woodlands – including Westonbirt Arboretum. This year sees performances from Fatboy Slim (24 June), Deacon Blue (25 June), UB40 (26 June), Rick Astley (27 June) and Richard Ashcroft (28 June). And the proceeds go towards protecting forests for the future.
17. Sudeley Castle History Weekend (26–28 Jun)
Explore 1000 years of history at Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe, who host their first History Weekend from 26–28 June 2026. Visitors can experience Sudeley through the ages, from the Tudors and English Civil War to the Georgians and Victorians. There are three days of talks, including from historians David Starkey and Alison Weir, as well as tours and music performances.
18. Blenheim Palace Festival (27 Jun–4 Jul)
New this summer in the Cotswolds, the Blenheim Palace Festival brings some of the world’s top music artists to the palace’s Great Court for a series of outdoor concerts. Shows take place from 27 June–4 July and feature famous names like Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé and Teddy Swims. While DJ Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics mixes dance music with a full orchestra.
19. Cotswold Show and Food Festival (4–5 Jul)
The Cotswold Show and Food Festival takes place on 4–5 July 2026 in Cirencester Park, part of the Bathurst Estate. This country fair features exciting events like motorcycle displays, Olympic dressage, falconry shows and a parachute display, alongside cookery and rural skills demonstrations, dog shows and hundreds of trade stands selling local food, drink, crafts and gifts.
20. RHS Badminton Flower Show (8–12 Jul)
The Royal Horticultural Society bring their first flower show to the Gloucestershire countryside this summer at Badminton House. The RHS Badminton Flower Show is a celebration of English gardens from 8–12 July, with stunning show gardens, impressive blooms in the Floral Marquee, expert talks and advice – and you can add on an optional tour of Badminton House’s private gardens.
21. Tewkesbury Medieval Festival (11–12 Jul)
Go back in time to 1471 and experience the Battle of Tewkesbury on the site where it took place at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival on 11–12 July. It’s the largest free medieval gathering in Europe, with period music, drama, falconry displays and arts and craft sessions. It’s free to visit but there’s food and drink available to buy, including their own specially brewed medieval ale.
22. Fantasy Forest Festival (17–19 Jul)
The grounds of Sudeley Castle are transformed into a magical world for the Fantasy Forest Festival on 17–19 July. The festival includes all genres of fantasy, from sci-fi to steampunk, cosplay to comics. There are three stages dedicated to live music, a costume competition, games zone, circus skills workshops for kids and the UK’s largest fantasy market with over 100 stalls.
23. Guiting Music Festival (24 Jul–2 Aug)
For over 50 years, the Guiting Music Festival has been bringing top classical, jazz and blues talent from around the world to the village of Guiting Power. Styling itself as ‘the home of exceptional music in the Cotswolds’, it has a loyal local following. This year’s event runs from 24 July–2 August 2026, with a mix of indoor and open-air concerts where you can bring a picnic.
24. Broadway Car Show (15–16 Aug)
Car fans flock to the village of Broadway in the Cotswolds in summer for the Broadway Car Show on 15 and 16 August. On the Saturday the focus is on modern supercars like Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins. And on Sunday it’s on classic and vintage sports cars from the 1900s to 1980s. There’s also a car parade through the village, food on the green and live music.
25. Bourton-on-the-Water River Football (31 Aug)
The shallow River Windrush runs through the middle of Bourton-on-the-Water. And on August Bank Holiday each year it’s the venue for one of the Cotswolds’ quirkiest traditions – Bourton’s annual river football match. In a tradition dating back over a century, two teams battle for glory in a very wet 30-minute game, with crowds of spectators cheering them on from the banks.
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