Five Hidden Gems in the Cotswolds You Will Wish You Had Found Sooner

Start with Snowshill, a tucked-away hamlet near Broadway that feels untouched by the modern world. There is a National Trust manor here filled with the most wonderfully eccentric collection of objects imaginable — from Japanese armour to ancient bicycles. It is not large, but it is utterly memorable.

Next, consider Hailes Abbey, the atmospheric ruins of a Cistercian monastery set amongst open fields. There are no crowds and very little noise — just the sound of wind through old stone arches and birdsong in the surrounding trees. It is a profoundly peaceful place.

For those who enjoy a gentle walk, the village of Bampton — used as the filming location for the fictional village of Downton — offers lovely riverside paths and a particularly fine village pub that does an exceptional ploughman's lunch.

Minster Lovell is another gem: a riverside village with romantic castle ruins overlooking the River Windrush. Arrive on a quiet weekday morning and you may have the whole ruin to yourself.

Finally, do not overlook Chipping Campden's High Street — not hidden, exactly, but consistently underrated. Its golden limestone arcades and independent shops reward a slow, unhurried afternoon browse. Tea at the Kings Arms is, simply put, not to be missed.

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