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 you plan the next few months, here are 25 of our top things to do in summer 2026 in the Cotswolds.
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.
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) include food trucks and live music at their Sunflower Sessions on Wednesdays.
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. Listen to music among the trees
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.
4. Admire the blooms at Badminton
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.
5. Enjoy an outdoor film screening
Grab your popcorn and watch a film under the stars this summer at an outdoor film screening. 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 version of 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. Cowley Manor and Ellenborough Park hotels also regularly host outdoor cinema nights – details for summer 2026 are to be announced.
6. Or an al-fresco theatre performance
There are also outdoor theatre performances around the Cotswolds this summer. 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).
The Rain or Shine Theatre Company are also putting on Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers at Cotswold Lavender (16 July), Swinhay House in Wotton-under-Edge (28 July), Meysey Hampton Manor near Cirencester (22 August) and Naunton Dovecote (30 August). You can also see:
- The Three Musketeers (30 June) and Treasure Island (28 July) at Cheltenham Lido.
- Romeo & Juliet at Sudeley Castle (1–2 August).
- Sherlock Holmes (1 August) and Twelfth Night (6 August) at National Trust site Newark Park.
Cool off
7. 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.
8. 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 25ºC. 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.
9. 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 creams flavours available each day, including dairy-free options, from tasty honeycomb to rhubarb crumble.
10. Watch the football at Bourton-on-the-Water
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.
Festivals and events
11. 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:
- Wychwood (29–31 May): Kaiser Chiefs and Levellers headline at Cheltenham Racecourse.
- 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.
12. The Cotswold Olimpick Games
The Olimpick Games is one of the Cotswolds’ quirkiest events, taking place on 29 May 2026 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, including shin-kicking, tug ‘o war and hammer throwing. Then it ends with fireworks and a torchlit procession into Chipping Campden.
13. Blenheim Palace Festival
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.
14. The Cotswold Show
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.
15. The Royal International Air Tattoo
Taking place on 17–19 July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the Royal International Air Tattoo is the world’s largest military air show. Fast jets, giant transporters and historic aircraft take to the skies, including the Red Arrows and a historic Lancaster Bomber and Spitfire. On the ground you can try flight simulators, meet air crews in the RAF Experience and shop the Vintage Village.
16. Guiting Music Festival
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.
17. Broadway Car Show
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.
18. Fantasy Forest Festival
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.
History and heritage
19. Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
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.
20. 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 in one of their special events like the Real Ale Festival (12–14 June) and Tea with Alice in Wonderland (15 August).
21. Explore a historic house and 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 the region’s highlights are the Arts and Crafts-inspired Hidcote Manor Garden and Kiftsgate Court Gardens, both near Chipping Campden, Prior Park Landscape Garden near Bath, and the charming organic cottage gardens at Snowshill Manor.
For something a bit different, visit the quirky Indian-style Sezincote House and Gardens near Moreton-in-Marsh. Also nearby is Bourton House Garden which is now open for the summer months, as are the romantic, tucked-away Cerney House Gardens just north of Cirencester.
Food and drink
22. Feast your way around Cheltenham Food Festival
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 Of‘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.
23. 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 our favourite Cotswold picnic spots include Leckhampton Hill and Crickley Hill near Cheltenham, Painswick Beacon, Selsey Common, the Broadway Tower and Tyndale Monument.
24. Taste wine at Woodchester Valley Vineyard
Woodchester Valley Vineyard near Stroud brings a taste of the South of France to the Cotswolds this summer with rows of grapes ripening in the sunshine. This award-winning vineyard produces white, rosé and sparkling wines, and you can learn how it’s made and try some on a tour and tasting. Or there are regular events like afternoon tea, dog walks and Friday fizz and chips.
25. Raise a glass at a beer festival
The last of our highlights of the Cotswolds in summer is a beer festival, with several to choose from over the next few 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 free Stroud Beer Festival at the Sub Rooms from 31 July–2 August, which is free with donations helping to support the venue.
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