Where to stay in the Cotswolds without a car

Although it might be easiest to explore the rural villages and rolling hills of the Cotswolds by car, it’s definitely possible to visit the region without one. But if you do, one of the most important decisions to make is where to stay. Which town or village is best? Do you choose whichever is the easiest to get to, or go for somewhere prettier with more character which is harder to reach?

We’ve picked four of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds without a car which give you the best of both worlds. Each has suggestions of where to stay as well as showing you which destinations in the Cotswolds you can easily visit without having a car – whether on foot, by bus or train.

Bus services are limited on some routes (and often don’t run on Sundays), so do make sure to check timetables – you can find links to all of them in our Cotswolds public transport guide.

1. Moreton-in-Marsh

• Pros: Convenient position on a train line, good bus connections so it’s easy to reach popular spots like Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, lots of tour options.
• Cons: Busy road running through the centre.

The town of Moreton-in-Marsh in the north Cotswolds is known for its weekly Tuesday market, the largest in the region. It also has a historic High Street lined with 17th- and 18th-century buildings, an aviation museum and literary links to JRR Tolkien. Moreton is one of the few Cotswold towns on a mainline train line, making it an easy base for visiting the Cotswolds without a car.

How to get to Moreton-in-Marsh

Moreton-in-Marsh is on a direct train line to London Paddington (1.5 hours away). The same train also stops in Oxford (33 minutes). Or you can change trains at Worcestershire Parkway for connections to Cheltenham (1 hour) and Birmingham New Street (1.5 hours).

Where to stay in Moreton-in-Marsh

The Manor House* hotel dates back to the 16th century and has plenty of historic character, with wooden beams, leaded windows and log fires. It’s dog-friendly, and has a two AA Rosette restaurant as well as a bar, brasserie and library, and is surrounded by tranquil walled gardens.

The White Hart Royal* is a 17th-century former coaching inn which hosted Charles I on his way to the Battle of Naseby in 1645. It’s a popular place to eat, and also has a selection of guest bedrooms, ranging from good-value small doubles to deluxe rooms with seating areas.

Places you can visit from Moreton-in-Marsh

On foot: Batsford Arboretum is an easy 1.7-mile walk from Moreton. There are also circular walks from Moreton to Blockley (6.9 miles) or Longborough, Sezincote House and Bourton-on-the-Hill (7 miles). Or you can walk one-way to Stow-on-the-Wold (6.7 miles) and catch a bus back.

By bus: The Pulhams 801 bus (daily) connects Moreton with Chipping Norton (20 minutes), Stow-on-the-Wold (20 minutes), Bourton-on-the-Water (30 minutes) and Slaughter Pike (32 minutes), which is a 10-minute walk to Lower Slaughter or 30 minutes to Upper Slaughter.

You can also use the less-frequent Stagecoach 1/2 bus (Monday–Saturday) to visit Blockley (13 minutes), Broadway (30 minutes) and Chipping Campden (30–50 minutes). Or take the Stagecoach 51 bus (Monday–Saturday) to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon (50 minutes).

The Robin, the Cotswolds’ bookable bus service, also covers the area around Moreton-in-Marsh. Its North Cotswolds service can be used to visit smaller villages like Donnington or Daylesford.

And from May–September, Heritage Bus Service 11 connects Moreton to Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Northleach, Asthall and Minster Lovell on weekends and bank holidays.

By train: Moreton-in-Marsh is on a direct train line to Oxford (33 minutes), which also stops in the small Cotswold villages of Kingham (7 minutes) and Charlbury (20 minutes).

By tour: Go Cotswolds run several day tours from Moreton, visiting different locations:

• Cotswolds Tour:* Chipping Campden, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water.
• Secret Cotswolds:* The Rollright Stones, Burford, Broadway, Stanton and Guiting Power.
• Bath and Southern Cotswolds:* Tetbury, Castle Combe and Bath
• Cotswolds Walks and Villages:* Broadway, Broadway Tower, Windrush Valley and Burford.

Read more: 10 easy day trips from Moreton to Cotswolds (without a car)

2. Bourton-on-the-Water

• Pros: Beautiful setting, good walking routes, easy access to Stow and the Slaughters.
• Cons: Big crowds in summer, limited accommodation options and can be pricey.

Riverside Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most popular destinations in the Cotswolds. It has plenty to see and do, including the Cotswold Motoring Museum, Model Village and Birdland.

There’s no train station in Bourton so it takes a bit more planning to get there, but when you do you’re within easy reach of many of the Cotswolds’ prettiest spots, particularly if you like walking. And staying overnight means you get to see Bourton without the crowds.

How to get to Bourton-on-the-Water

The nearest train station to Bourton-on-the-Water is Moreton-in-Marsh, which is connected by the Pulhams 801 bus (daily) in 30 minutes. You can also catch a train to Cheltenham and take the 801 bus in the other direction, which takes 45 minutes to reach Bourton-on-the-Water.

Where to stay in Bourton-on-the-Water

Chester House Hotel* is a Victorian Cotswold stone property with 22 en-suite bedrooms decorated in a modern country style (some of which are dog-friendly). There’s a mix of double, twin and family rooms, and the hotel also has a good Italian restaurant, L’Anatra (the duck).

Lansdowne Guest House* is a family-run B&B which has won awards for its breakfasts. It’s a five-minute walk from the village centre and has 14 bedrooms, including one with a four-poster bed. They also rent several self-catering cottages in the village, sleeping four–eight people.

Places you can visit from Bourton-on-the-Water

On foot: Pretty Lower Slaughter is only 1.5 miles from Bourton, or you can visit both Upper and Lower Slaughter on a 5.4-mile circular walk. You can also walk between Bourton and Stow-on-the-Wold (4.2 miles one way). Or take a peaceful circular walk to Wyck Rissington (4.6 miles). There’s also the Windrush Way and Warden’s Way which run for 14 miles to Winchcombe.

By bus: The Pulhams 801 bus (daily) runs from Bourton to Slaughter Pike (3 minutes) which is a 10-minute walk from Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold (13 minutes), Moreton-in-Marsh (30 minutes) and Chipping Norton (1 hour). You can also visit Northleach (15 minutes), Bibury (35 minutes) and Cirencester (55 minutes) on the Pulhams 855 bus (Monday–Saturday).

The Robin, the Cotswolds’ bookable bus service, also covers the area around Bourton-on-the-Water. Its North Cotswolds service can be used to visit smaller villages like Notgrove or Naunton.

And from May to September, Heritage Bus Service 11 connects Bourton to Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Northleach, Asthall and Minster Lovell on weekends and bank holidays.

By tour: There are no Cotswold day tours starting from Bourton-on-the-Water, but you could take the Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh and join a tour from there.

Read more: 8 Cotswold day trips from Bourton-on-the-Water without a car

3. Cheltenham

• Pros: Great transport links, wide range of places to eat and stay, including budget options.
• Cons: Not right in the Cotswolds, no tours available.

Regency Cheltenham is located just west of the Cotswolds, but has good transport connections both by bus and on the vintage Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Steam Railway. The town is home to the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, Holst Victorian House and Pittville Pump Room. It also has some great places to eat, drink and shop, and is famous for its festivals and horse-racing.

How to get to Cheltenham

Cheltenham is on a direct train line to London Paddington (2 hours). You can also catch direct trains to Bristol Temple Meads (40 minutes) and Birmingham New Street (45 minutes).

Where to stay in Cheltenham

The Queens Hotel* was one of the country’s first purpose-built hotels when it opened in 1838. It’s a short walk from the town centre, looking out over Imperial Gardens. There are 84 guest bedrooms as well as Victoria’s Restaurant, a summer terrace, lounge and the Gold Cup Bar.

Neptune Apartments have 12 self-catering apartments on the Promenade, each named after a different Cotswold town or village. Apartments vary in size but each sleeps two and has a lounge and kitchen, all decorated with jewel colours with luxury fabrics and high-end appliances.

Places you can visit from Cheltenham

On foot: Just outside of Cheltenham are Cleeve Hill to the north and Leckhampton Hill to the south, both of which have circular walks (6 miles/4.5 miles) which run along part of the Cotswold Way. You can access the start point for the walks via a short journey by local bus.

By bus: From Cheltenham you can catch the Stagecoach 66 bus (daily) to Painswick (40 minutes) and Stroud (50 minutes), or the Stagecoach 51 (daily) to Cirencester (40 minutes). The Stagecoach S2 (daily) also calls at Northleach (35 minutes) and Burford (50 minutes) on its way to Oxford.

The Pulhams 801 bus (daily) connects Cheltenham to Bourton-on-the-Water (45 minutes), Stow-on-the-Wold (1 hour) and Chipping Norton (90 minutes). The Stagecoach W bus (Monday–Saturday) runs from Cheltenham to Winchcombe (20 minutes). As does the Pulhams 606 (Monday–Saturday), which carries on to Broadway (1 hour 40 minutes) and Chipping Campden (2 hours).

By train: The GWSR steam train travels from Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe (25 minutes) and Broadway (70 minutes). It’s a great way to travel, with vintage carriages and scenic views. Though check timetables as trains don’t run every day and timings vary.

Read more: 9 easy day trips from Cheltenham to Cotswolds (without a car)

4. Cirencester

• Pros: Interesting history, good selection of hotels and restaurants, can get to Bibury by bus.
• Cons: Harder to get to places like Stow and Bourton, no tours available.

This historic Roman town of Cirencester is known as the ‘capital of the Cotswolds’, and you can go back in time at its Roman Amphitheatre and Corinium Museum. There are also two weekly Charter Markets, which are some of the oldest in the country. And you can shop for local arts and crafts at the New Brewery Arts Centre or catch a concert or show at the Barn Theatre.

How to get to Cirencester

Cirencester doesn’t have a train line but it’s easy to reach by bus. The closest railway station is in Kemble, which is linked by the Stagecoach 882 bus (Monday–Saturday, 12 minutes). Or you can take the Stagecoach 51 bus (daily) from Cheltenham (40 minutes). Cirencester is also connected to London by a direct National Express coach service, which takes around 2.5 hours.

Where to stay in Cirencester

The Corinium Hotel* doesn’t date quite as far back as the Romans, but it was built in 1595. It has original oak beams, a walled garden and four-poster beds and antiques in the character rooms. And it also has a restaurant serving locally sourced produce and a Courtyard Bar.

Ingleside House* is a colourful boutique hotel, with 11 bedrooms in a Grade II listed building next door to the Barn Theatre. There’s a theatrical, Art Deco-inspired décor in both the hotel and its Téatro restaurant, garden room and piano bar, with vivid colours and modern artworks.

Places you can visit from Cirencester

On foot: There’s an easy 2.5-mile circular walk around Cirencester which visits the Roman Amphitheatre. You can also head further afield to visit Cirencester Park and the village of Stratton (5 miles) or walk to the source of the River Thames along a disused railway line (9.5 miles).

By bus: From Cirencester you can take the Pulhams 855 bus to Bibury (17 minutes), Northleach (35 minutes) and Bourton-on-the-Water (50 minutes). There’s also the Stagecoach 882 bus to Tetbury (35 minutes) and the Coachstyle 93 bus to Malmesbury (50 minutes).

Or the Stagecoach 76/77 bus runs east of Cirencester, calling at Fairford (25 minutes) and Lechlade (50 minutes), which is just outside the Cotswolds but has a scenic location on the banks of the River Thames. Though note that none of the buses from Cirencester run on Sundays.

The Robin, the Cotswolds’ bookable bus service, also covers the area around Cirencester. Its South Cotswolds service can be used to visit smaller villages like Ampney Crucis or Coln St Aldwyns.

Read more: 8 easy day trips from Cirencester to Cotswolds (without a car)

Other options

As well as our four recommended places to stay in the Cotswolds without a car, you could also stay in one of the larger towns and cities on the fringes of the region like Oxford, Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon and make it a combined city break and Cotswold trip if you’re short on time.

Oxford

The historic university city of Oxford is on a direct train line to Kingham, Charlbury and Moreton-in-Marsh. You can also visit Blenheim Palace using the Stagecoach S7 bus (35 minutes), Chipping Norton on the Stagecoach S3 (1 hour) and Burford on the Stagecoach S2 (1 hour). Or take the S2 as far as Witney, then change onto the Stagecoach 233 to visit ruined Minster Lovell Hall.

Bath

Bath is a good base for exploring the southern Cotswolds, though journeys normally involve a change en route. You can walk along the canal or take a short train trip to Bradford on Avon. Or catch a train to Chippenham and change for the Faresaver 95/95A bus to Castle Combe (30 minutes), Coachstyle 99 to Malmesbury (35 minutes) or Faresaver X34 to Lacock (13 minutes).

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare’s birthplace isn’t on a train line to the Cotswolds, but you can explore the north of the region by bus. The Stagecoach 1/2 bus connects Stratford-upon-Avon with Chipping Campden (40 minutes), Broadway (1 hour) and Blockley (70 minutes). You can also take the Stagecoach 50 bus to visit Shipston-on-Stour (30 minutes) and Chipping Norton (50 minutes).

Do you have questions about exploring the Cotswolds without a car? Join our Facebook group for Cotswold public transport news, tips and advice.

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