Test your knowledge of the Cotswolds with our ultimate Cotswolds quiz. Whether you’re a local or just love this part of the world, this quiz will show how much you really know about the Cotswolds – from the area’s history and geography to its famous residents and quirky traditions. Hopefully you’ll learn something new along the way, and once you’ve finished, you’ll find all the answers as well as lots of interesting facts about the Cotswolds at the bottom of the page. Good luck!
Cotswolds quiz questions
1. How many counties does the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover?
2. Where can you find the oldest pub in the Cotswolds?
3. Which of these authors never lived in the Cotswolds?
- Graham Greene (Brighton Rock, The End of the Affair)
- Nancy Mitford (The Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate)
- Beatrix Potter (The Tale of Peter Rabbit)
- Laurie Lee (Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning)
4. What is the highest point in the Cotswolds?
5. Which of Henry VIII’s wives lived, died and is buried at Sudeley Castle?
6. What does the word ‘slaughter’ in Upper and Lower Slaughter mean?
- Muddy place
- Battlefield site
- Ford across the river
- Place where the willow trees grow
7. The Cotswold Olimpick Games were founded in 1612 and take place on Dover’s Hill each summer – but which of these events isn’t part of the games?
- Tug O’ War
- Fighting with Swords
- Shin-Kicking
- Spurning the Barre
8. Where in the Cotswolds can you find the real-life village of Kembleford from the BBC TV series Father Brown?
9. Which composer lived at 4 Clarence Street in Cheltenham?
- Benjamin Britten
- Edward Elgar
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Gustav Holst
10. What is a Cotswold Lion?
11. Which of these isn’t a real Cotswold beer?
- Hung Drawn ‘n’ Portered
- Woolpack Ale
- Drover’s Return
- Pigor Mortis
12. What type of rock is the Cotswolds’ famous honey-coloured stone?
13. Which British prime minister was born at Blenheim Palace?
14. The Oxfordshire village of Bampton is one of the main filming locations for which period drama?
- Bridgerton
- Brideshead Revisited
- Poldark
- Downton Abbey
15. Which hill is known for its annual cheese rolling?
16. Which author used to drink in the Bell Inn pub in Moreton-in-Marsh?
17. Where in the Cotswolds can you find the world’s tallest yew tree hedge?
18. What’s the oldest monument in the Cotswolds?
- Uley Bury Hill Fort
- Rollright Stones
- Chedworth Roman Villa
- Belas Knap Long Barrow
19. Which of the infamous Mitford sisters owned The Swan Inn at Swinbrook?
20. How long is the Cotswold Way walking route between Chipping Campden and Bath?
21. Oliver Cromwell and Charles I both visited which Cotswold hotel during the English Civil War?
- The Lygon Arms in Broadway
- Buckland Manor
- The Manor House in Castle Combe
- The Swan Hotel in Bibury
22. Which of these isn’t a real Cotswold delicacy?
- Puppy-Dog Pies
- Cotswold Dumplings
- Fat Rascals
- Cheltenham Drippers
23. How many lakes are there in the Cotswold Water Park?
24. JM Barrie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, AA Milne and PG Wodehouse used to meet up in Broadway in the mid-1890s to do what?
- Go walking
- Gamble on card games
- Discuss literature
- Play cricket
25. The Fosse Way Roman road (now the A429) runs through the Cotswolds, but which two towns was it built to connect?
26. A picture of which Cotswold village featured on the inside cover of British passports?
27. Which river runs through Cirencester?
- Avon
- Churn
- Thames
- Windrush
28. How many miles does the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway run for?
29. Which of the following isn’t a real Cotswold event?
- Bibury Duck Race
- Tetbury Woolsack Race
- Dursley Wormcharming Festival
- Bourton-on-the-Water River Football
30. Rollright, Ashcombe, Wyfe of Bath and Windrush Valley are all varieties of what?
Cotswolds quiz answers
How well do you know the Cotswolds? Let’s find out with the answers to our Cotswolds quiz – are you a local expert or do you need to get out there and explore more of the Cotswolds?
1. How many counties does the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover? Six
The Cotswolds AONB covers 800 square miles and six English counties – Gloucestershire (with the largest area), Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Somerset.
2. Where can you find the oldest pub in the Cotswolds? Stow-on-the-Wold
The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold is thought to be the oldest pub in the Cotswolds – and possibly even in England. Its timbers have been carbon dated to the 10th century and it has lots of historic features – including witch marks above the 16th-century fireplace to ward off evil spirits.
3. Which of these authors never lived in the Cotswolds? c) Beatrix Potter
Although Beatrix Potter wrote The Tailor of Gloucester, she never lived there. Graham Greene lived on Hoo Lane in Chipping Campden from 1931–1933. Nancy Mitford spend much of her childhood in Batsford Park and Asthall Manor in Swinbrook. And Laurie Lee grew up in Slad near Stroud.
4. What is the highest point in the Cotswolds? Cleeve Hill
At 330 metres, Cleeve Hill is the highest point in the Cotswolds, with views out over the River Severn to Wales (second highest is the hill the Broadway Tower sits on at 312 metres).
5. Which of Henry VIII’s wives lived, died and is buried at Sudeley Castle? Katherine Parr
Katherine Parr – Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife – moved to Sudeley Castle in 1548 with her husband Sir Thomas Seymour after Henry’s death. But she died a year later and is buried in the chapel, making Sudeley the only private castle in England with a queen buried in its grounds.
6. What does the word ‘slaughter’ in Upper and Lower Slaughter mean? a) Muddy place
Although it sounds sinister, ‘slaughter’ actually comes from the Old English ‘slothre’, meaning muddy or miry place, thanks to the River Eye which flows through Upper and Lower Slaughter.
7. The Cotswold Olimpick Games were founded in 1612 and take place on Dover’s Hill each summer – but which of these events isn’t part of the games? b) Fighting with Swords
Shin-Kicking, Spurning the Barre (like tossing the caber) and Tug O’ War are all real events at the Cotswold Olimpick Games each May. Fighting with Swords was part of the original games, which ended in 1852, but was deemed too dangerous when they were revived in 1963.
8. Where in the Cotswolds can you find the real-life village of Kembleford from the BBC TV series Father Brown? Blockley
Blockley near Moreton-in-Marsh is transformed into the village of Kembleford for TV series Father Brown, based on GK Chesterton’s books about a crime-solving Catholic priest. Blockley’s church, the vicarage and various locations around the village feature in all 11 series of the show.
9. Which composer lived at 4 Clarence Street in Cheltenham? d) Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst was born at 4 Clarence Street (then called Pittville Terrace) in Cheltenham on 21 September 1874. It’s now the Holst Victorian House museum and you can see his and his family’s furniture and possessions on display, including the piano he composed The Planets on.
10. What is a Cotswold Lion? A breed of sheep
The Cotswold Lion is a native breed of sheep with a thick, fast-growing golden fleece. It was introduced to the UK by the Romans and became a hugely important export, with sales of Cotswold Lion fleeces financing the building of many of the Cotswolds’ finest churches and buildings.
11. Which of these isn’t a real Cotswold beer? b) Woolpack Ale
The Cotswolds has a host of brilliant breweries. Hung Drawn ‘n’ Portered comes from the North Cotswold Brewery, Drover’s Return from the Cotswold Lion Brewery and Pigor Mortis from the Uley Brewery. Woolpack Ale isn’t a real Cotswold beer, but there is a Woolpack Inn in Slad.
12. What type of rock is the Cotswolds’ famous honey-coloured stone? Limestone
The gorgeous honey-coloured stone which is used in so many Cotswold buildings is a type of Jurassic Oolithic, formed between 206 and 144 million years ago and only found in this area.
13. Which British prime minister was born at Blenheim Palace? Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace on 30 November 1874 while his parents were staying there. He was the grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and came back to Blenheim for holidays and parties throughout his life, and proposed to his wife in the palace grounds.
14. The Oxfordshire village of Bampton is one of the main filming locations for which period drama? d) Downton Abbey
Although Downton Abbey was set in Yorkshire, Bampton in Oxfordshire was used as the village of Downton in the TV series and films. You can see the church Lady Mary got married in as well as the village hospital (a library in real life), Isabel Crawley’s house, the village green and pub.
15. Which hill is known for its annual cheese rolling? Cooper’s Hill
The bizarre cheese rolling event takes place on Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May each year at Cooper’s Hill just outside Gloucester. A nine-pound Double Gloucester cheese is rolled from the top of the hill and chased by competitors, with the first to the bottom winning the cheese.
16. Which author used to drink in the Bell Inn pub in Moreton-in-Marsh? JRR Tolkein
While JRR Tolkein was an academic in Oxford, his brother lived in Evesham and they used to meet in the middle at The Bell Inn in Moreton-in-Marsh. It’s thought the pub was the inspiration for the ‘Prancing Pony’ in the Lord of the Rings. There’s a plaque from the Tolkien Society outside the pub, and you can see a map of Middle Earth above the table Tolkein and his brother sat at.
17. Where in the Cotswolds can you find the world’s tallest yew tree hedge? Cirencester
The tallest yew hedge in the world surrounds the Bathurst Estate on the edge of Cirencester Park. As well as being 43 feet tall it’s also 510 feet long and 15 feet thick. It was originally planted in 1720 and now takes a team of gardeners two weeks to cut it every August. And the ton of clippings left behind are sold to pharmaceutical firms, who use them to make a chemotherapy drug.
18. What’s the oldest monument in the Cotswolds? b) Rollright Stones
The Whispering Knights dolmen at the Rollright Stones are the Cotswolds’ oldest monument, dating from 3800–3500 BC. Next up is Belas Knap Long Barrow, a Neolithic burial mound from 3000 BC. Uley Bury is an Iron Age Hill Fort from 300 BC and Chedworth is the youngest from 120 AD.
19. Which of the infamous Mitford sisters owned The Swan Inn at Swinbrook? Deborah Mitford
The Mitford sisters’ father, Baron Redesdale, had a family seat at Batsford but had to sell up after WWI and moved to Swinbrook. Deborah – known as ‘Debo’ – was the youngest of the six sisters. She married the Duke of Devonshire and lived at Chatsworth House. Unlike her sisters who couldn’t wait to escape ‘Swinebrook’, she loved the area and bought The Swan Inn and Mill Cottage next door.
20. How long is the Cotswold Way walking route between Chipping Campden and Bath? 102 miles
The Cotswold Way is one of the country’s most spectacular long-distance walks, running for 102 miles between Chipping Campden and Bath (with circular walks if you don’t want to do it all).
21. Oliver Cromwell and Charles I both visited which Cotswold hotel during the English Civil War? a) The Lygon Arms in Broadway
The Lygon Arms in Broadway dates back to the 1300s, when it was known as The White Hart Inn. During the English Civil War (1642–1651) between Charles I’s Royalists (Cavaliers) and Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians (Roundheads), Charles met with his supporters at the inn. And Oliver Cromwell spent the night there before the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651.
22. Which of these isn’t a real Cotswold delicacy? c) Fat Rascals
Fat Rascals come from Yorkshire, but there are plenty of tasty Cotswold treats. Puppy-Dog Pies are served at the annual Clypping Day at Painswick’s St Mary Church, and despite the name they’re really made with beef and vegetables. Cotswold Dumplings are made with cheese and covered in toasted crumbs. And a Cheltenham Dripper is similar to a lardy cake but uses beef dripping.
23. How many lakes are there in the Cotswold Water Park? 180
There are 180 lakes spread across 42 square miles in the Cotswold Water Park – now being renamed the Cotswold Lakes. They were originally built as gravel quarries and naturally filled with water.
24. JM Barrie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, AA Milne and PG Wodehouse used to meet up in Broadway in the mid-1890s to do what? d) Play cricket
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, AA Milne and PG Wodehouse were all members of a cricket team called the Allahakbarries, which was set up by Peter Pan author JM Barrie. Barrie was a keen but not very good cricketer, who played against a team of locals on Broadway village green. He even wrote a booklet called The Allahakbarrie Book of Broadway Cricket to record his cricketing adventures.
25. The Fosse Way Roman road (now the A429) runs through the Cotswolds, but which two towns was it built to connect? Exeter and Lincoln
The Fosse Way was built by the Romans between the first and second centuries AD and ran for 230 miles between Exeter (then known as Isca Dumnoniorum) and Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) via Bath, Cirencester and Leicester. Much of the route has been incorporated into modern roads.
26. A picture of which Cotswold village featured on the inside cover of British passports? Bibury
The 14th-century weavers’ cottages on Arlington Row in Bibury are one of the Cotswolds’ most famous views, and were pictured on the inside cover of all British passports issued from 2010–2020. If you want to take a look inside, number nine is available to rent via the National Trust.
27. Which river runs through Cirencester? b) Churn
The River Churn runs for 23.2 miles, starting at Seven Springs just south of Cheltenham, flowing through Cirencester then joining the River Thames at Cricklade in Wiltshire.
28. How many miles does the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire steam railway run for? 28 miles
The volunteer-run Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway opened in 1984 and runs for 28 miles from Cheltenham Racecourse to Broadway, via Winchcombe and Toddington.
29. Which of the following isn’t a real Cotswold event? c) Dursley Wormcharming Festival
Dursley unfortunately doesn’t have a Wormcharming Festival – the real one takes place in Blackawton in Devon. Bibury Duck Race on Boxing Day sees 3000 plastic ducks floating down the river. The Tetbury Woolsack Race in May involves carrying a heavy sack up and down the steepest street in town. And Bourton-on-the-Water’s River Football match takes place in August.
30. Rollright, Ashcombe, Wyfe of Bath and Windrush Valley are all varieties of what? Cheese
Rollright (a soft cheese with a band of spruce bark around it), Ashcombe (a semi-hard cheese with a line of wood ash running through it), Wyfe of Bath (a Gouda-style cheese) and Windrush Valley (a soft, young goat’s cheese) are all cheeses made in the Cotswolds. You can try them at the Cotswold Cheese Co, which has branches in Burford, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold.
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