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Where to Stay in the Cotswolds Without a Car (Best Towns & Hotels)
If you’re planning a trip to the Cotswolds, you might be wondering, is it possible to visit the Cotswolds without a car? And if so, where should you stay in the Cotswolds if you don’t have a car?
The good news is that you can visit the Cotswolds without a car.
This picturesque region in England is located about 2.5 hours from London. It’s known for its rolling hills, historic and quaint towns and villages, and quiet pace of life. I’ll be honest, this isn’t the easiest place to visit without a car — you’ll have to plan strategically to visit some places in the Cotswolds without one.
But it’s definitely possible, and where you stay can make all the difference.
Below I’ve rounded up the best places to stay in the Cotswolds without a car, including the best towns to base yourself in, and my recommendations for hotels in each of those towns.
How to Get Around the Cotswolds Without a Car
Getting around the Cotswolds without a car can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible.
The region isn’t well-covered by public transportation, but with some careful planning, it can be an option. Here are all the ways you can get around the Cotswolds without having your own car:
Train
There are several towns with train stations within the Cotswolds, including Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, and Charlbury. Just outside the Cotswolds, other towns like Kemble, Stroud, Cheltenham, and Bath have train stations. These towns offer direct connections from London and can make good bases.
Bus
For getting around within the Cotswolds, there are buses, but they don’t run frequently and can make what might be a direct 30-minute drive into a roundabout 2-hour bus journey. This website has a good map showing the most frequent bus routes around the region to help you visualize getting around.
On Foot
The Cotswolds is a great region for walking. There are many scenic footpaths that connect villages. For example, Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton-on-the-Water is about a 1.5-hour walk, and you can stop in the charming little villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter along the way.
Bicycle
Another way you can get around the Cotswolds is by bicycle. This website has bicycle routes from some of the main towns with train stations that will allow you to explore the region more in-depth.
Taxi
There are no rideshare services like Uber or Lyft in the Cotswolds, but you will find traditional taxis in the larger towns. While it’s an option for getting around, this can quickly get VERY expensive, and it’s not reliable since you may have trouble calling a taxi from smaller towns and villages in the Cotswolds.
Tour
Finally, one way you can get around the Cotswolds is by taking an organized tour. Tours like this one from London will take you to several Cotswolds towns and villages on a full-day excursion. You won’t have to worry about transportation and will get to visit places that are difficult to get to without a car.
So as you can see, even if you don’t have your own car, there are quite a few options for getting around the Cotswolds. Now let’s talk about the best towns to stay in for a great trip!
Best Towns in the Cotswolds to Stay in Without a Car
There are dozens of towns and villages in the Cotswolds, but not all of them make a good place to stay if you don’t have a car. If you’re spending a few days in the Cotswolds, you’ll want to base yourself somewhere that allows you to get around and see as much of the region as possible without needing a car.
This means choosing a town with a train station and good bus connections. You may even consider staying slightly outside of the Cotswolds in a larger town like Bath that has better transportation options.
What is the best town to use as base in the Cotswolds?
Here are my top picks for towns in the Cotswolds to stay in without a car:
- Moreton-in-Marsh: A small town with a train station that’s just 1.5 hours from London. This is a great place to stay in the northeastern part of the Cotswolds close to many other towns.
- Kingham: Kingham is a tiny village, yet it still has a train station with direct service from London, making it the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for that quintessential Cotswolds charm.
- Cheltenham: Located on the northwestern side of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is a large spa town just outside the Cotswolds but offering easy access to the region. It’s two hours by train from London.
- Stroud: Stroud is a small, charming town in the central part of the Cotswolds that is just 1.5 hours by train from London. This is a great place to stay close to many other Cotswolds towns.
- Bath: Bath is a large town on the southern end of the Cotswolds that is 1 hour and 15 minutes from London on the train. It’s a popular destination in its own right, and is very close to the Cotswolds.
My top two picks would be Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham, based on location.
All of these towns are perfect bases for your trip to the Cotswolds without a car and offer the best ways to get around. I’ve also included my top hotel recommendations for each town below.
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Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh is one of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds without a car. It has a train station with direct service from London’s Paddington Station is just 1.5 hours. It’s a small market town with restaurants and shops, offering the quaint charm of the Cotswolds without being too quiet and sleepy.
This town is also very well-positioned to visit smaller villages around the northern part of the Cotswolds, like Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, the Slaughters, and Bourton-on-the-Water.
Where to Stay: The Manor House Hotel
The Manor House Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Moreton-in-Marsh. This four-star hotel is located right in the center of town. Dating back to the 16th century, this historic hotel is situated on beautiful grounds and gardens. A complimentary breakfast is included with your stay.
View on Booking.com | View on TripAdvisor
More hotels in Moreton-in-Marsh, England:
- Luxury: The White Hart Royal
- Budget: The Swan Inn
Kingham
If you want the quintessential Cotswolds experience of staying in a quaint village, look no further than Kingham. Although it’s on the rail line from London less than two hours from the bustling city, this little town of less than 1,000 residents has that bucolic charm that makes the Cotswolds so famous.
Kingham is also located in the northeastern part of the Cotswolds, and you can easily reach Stow-on-the-World, the Slaughters, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Chipping Norton by bus or even on foot or bicycle.
Where to Stay:
Kingham is a very small village with only a few places to stay. One of the best is The Kingham Plough. Located above a popular restaurant in the center of the village, this cozy bed & breakfast offers modern comforts in a quaint setting. Free breakfast at the restaurant is included each morning during your stay.
View on Booking.com | View on TripAdvisor
More hotels in Kingham, England:
- Luxury: The Wild Rabbit
Cheltenham
Cheltenham is a large town just outside the Cotswolds, near Gloucester. It’s known for its beautiful Regency architecture and history as a spa town. This is a good place to base yourself near the Cotswolds without a car because it’s just two hours from London’s Paddington Sation by train.
There’s lots to do in Cheltenham itself since it’s a larger town, and it offers direct and easy access to various towns around the Cotswolds by bus, including Painswick, Stanton, Broadway, and Burford.
Where to Stay: Queens Hotel Cheltenham
Queens Hotel Cheltenham is one of the best places to stay for a great trip. Centrally located in the heart of Cheltenham, this elegant four-star hotel is close to shops, restaurants, and the Imperial Gardens.
View on Booking.com | View on TripAdvisor
More hotels in Cheltenham, England:
- Luxury: The George
Stroud
Another one of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds without a car is Stroud. This bustling market town has plenty of things to do and see, but it still retains that quaint Cotswolds charm the region is so famous for. The town also has a train station and is only 1.5 hours from London’s Paddington Station.
The bus connections from Stroud are a little trickier — quaint Painswick is a short bus ride or a leisurely walk away, but visiting other popular towns will typically require one or more connections. However, this town still makes a great base because it has that quintessential Cotswolds feel to it.
Where to Stay: The Clothiers Arms
The Clothiers Arms is a quaint, authentic bed & breakfast located above a pub in the center of Stroud, not far from the train station. This cozy inn offers a great location in town with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Complimentary breakfast is also included each morning during your stay.
View on Booking.com | View on TripAdvisor
More hotels in Stroud, England:
- Mid-range: Premier Inn Stroud
Bath
Finally, Bath is a great place to base yourself for visiting the Cotswolds without a car. Bath is a major tourist destination in England thanks to its striking architecture and historic Roman baths. You can get to Bath in just 1.5 hours from London on the train, making it a very convenient location.
Although the bus connections from Bath are not the best (you can really only get to Chippenham and Castle Combe), you can join organized tours like this full-day one from Bath to explore the most popular villages of the Cotswolds on a day trip, which makes this a good option for a base.
Where to Stay:
The Gainsborough Bath Spa is one of the best places to stay in Bath. This luxury hotel is located in the center of Bath surrounded by tons of things to do and features a spa center with thermal baths.
View on Booking.com | View on TripAdvisor
More hotels in Bath, England:
- Luxury: Hotel Indigo
- Mid-range: The Z Hotel Bath
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds Without a Car (Best Towns & Hotels)
This guide showed you where to stay in the Cotswolds without a car.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Moreton-in-Marsh: The Manor House Hotel
- Kingham: The Kingham Plough
- Cheltenham: Queens Hotel Cheltenham
- Stroud: The Clothiers Arms
- Bath: The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in the Cotswolds!
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