Cotswolds with Kids: Things to Do, Hotels & Highlights
Chocolate-box villages, rolling countryside, ridiculously pretty pubs and country houses that look like they’ve been plucked straight out of Downton Abbey. The Cotswolds might be famous for grown-up weekend escapes, there’s a surprisingly huge amount here for children too
And for London and South East families, it’s a bit of a no-brainer. Proper countryside escape? Tick. Beautiful places to stay? Tick. And no need to use up half your annual leave getting there? Even better
We’ve pulled together our guide to doing the Cotswolds with kids, including our favourite places to stay, the best things to do, where to eat and plenty of insider intel from our own stays and fellow Tiny Travelship parents. And, because I’m a dog mum myself (to a very gorgeous Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever called Luna, if you’re interested), we’ve also done the legwork on which attractions are actually dog AND family friendly
Words by Frankie Collinson
Published: 4th October 2026 | Last updated: 5th October 2026
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds With Kids
The first thing to know about the Cotswolds is that it’s not one destination. It’s a huge area of villages, countryside and attractions, so where you stay makes a surprisingly big difference. Here are the Tiny Travelship-approved options we’d put at the top of your list
Calcot & Spa
Four hours of complimentary childcare every day, from newborn. We’ll just let that sink in for a minute because, frankly, when do you ever see that at a UK hotel? It’s practically unheard of. Calcot & Spa has a brilliant Playbarn where children can be looked after while you disappear into the spa, hit the gym or simply sit somewhere quietly and enjoy a hot drink from start to finish. It’s set across 220 acres of Cotswold countryside, with beautiful grounds, an indoor pool, heated outdoor pool in summer, adventure playground, bikes and an outdoor tepee packed with toys. Family suites have two bedrooms and plenty of useful baby kit, while children get their own high tea from 5pm, giving parents the chance to enjoy a proper dinner afterwards. And despite all the family-friendly facilities, Calcot still feels like a genuinely lovely grown-up hotel rather than somewhere that happens to tolerate children. It’s one of the best places both Becky and I have stayed – which, given the number of family-friendly hotels we’ve tried, is saying something
Bruern Cottages
For bigger families, multi-generational trips or groups of friends, this is one of our favourite Cotswolds options. Babysitters, private chefs and spa treatments can all be arranged, so you can elevate the weekend from self-catering to self-catering but make it fancy. Bruern is a collection of just 12 beautifully restored honey-coloured country cottages, surrounded by gorgeous gardens. The interiors are definitely luxurious – think pretty upholstery, vintage details, roaring fires and serious country-house charm – but they’re also completely liveable with children and dogs. We stayed in Shipton, which was beautifully done without a single moment of me worrying about sticky hands or muddy paws. And the attention to family-friendly detail is so good. Our cottage had a baby monitor, children’s crockery, toys and books, plus a Nutribullet, steriliser, potty and toilet steps. Then there are the facilities, which are brilliant. There’s a heated indoor pool, adventure playground, play cabin, two-storey Wendy house, ride-on cars, tennis, football-friendly lawns and a games room with table football, ping-pong, pool and games consoles. My children could quite happily have spent the entire weekend here without us ever leaving the grounds
Bibury Farm Barns
If your idea of a family escape involves beautiful interiors, a bit of wow factor and absolutely none of the usual chintzy country-cottage clichés, put Bibury Farm Barns firmly on your list. These beautifully converted barns sit on the edge of a working farm near Bibury, with exposed stone and old beams mixed with clean-lined interiors, enormous sofas, roaring fires and seriously gorgeous beds. Some of the barns also have their own private hot tubs, which were a real win with my water babies. The important thing to know is that this is much more about the beautiful barn and the setting than having loads of facilities on the grounds. The clever bit is the service. These are self-catering stays, but the pre-arrival concierge is much more boutique hotel than holiday cottage. The team can arrange restaurant bookings, private chefs, massages, local experiences and babysitters, as well as sharing their insider knowledge on what’s worth doing with children. They’ve also thought about the boring-but-essential stuff, with highchairs, toddler packs, baby equipment and BabyBjörn travel cots all provided. The barns sleep six to ten people, and several can be booked together, making this one of our favourite options for a big family reunion, multi-generational escape or weekend away with your fancy-pants friends. In short: come here for the gorgeous barn, the grown-up interiors and the group-gathering wow factor – not because you need a million activities within finger’s reach to keep the children occupied
Cotswold Sleeps at Lower Mill Estate
If your children would happily spend an entire holiday in and around the water, Lower Mill Estate is where we’d look. Cotswold Sleeps is a collection of luxury self-catering houses set around the lakes of the Cotswold Water Park, with the sort of facilities you’d normally expect from a fully fledged resort. There are heated indoor and outdoor pools, playgrounds, tennis courts, a spa and gym, and an Activity Hub where you can hire bikes, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes
Spring Cottage
And then there’s the classic Cotswolds option. Spring Cottage is a chocolate-box cottage in Oxfordshire, sleeping up to seven, with exposed beams, mismatched furniture, a lush enclosed garden and the sort of interiors that make you immediately want to redecorate your own house. It’s cosy without feeling precious, and crucially, it has been properly set up for families. There are cots, highchairs, baby baths, bottle warmers, toys, books, games and all the usual parental paraphernalia you never quite know how to transport without taking the entire contents of the nursery with you. There’s an award-winning pub literally down the lane, a BBQ for summer evenings and a fully equipped kitchen, while Daylesford Organic can deliver groceries straight to the door
Things to do in the Cotswolds with Kids
There’s an impressive number of animals, from giraffes and rhinos to penguins, meerkats and lions, and you can get surprisingly close to many of them. There’s also a brilliant adventure playground, train and children’s farm
Best for: 2-10, although animal-mad older children will still enjoy it
Allow: Half to a full day
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome on leads, but there are restrictions
If your children would happily spend the day feeding goats and getting muddy, this is the one. There are loads of farm animals, seasonal activities, plus indoor and outdoor play areas, and the lambing period is especially lovely if you’re visiting in spring
Best for: 1-8
Allow: Half a day
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome in designated areas on leads, although there are restrictions around the animals and indoor spaces
Cotswolds Country Park and Beach
The UK’s largest inland beach, there are lakes for swimming and paddleboarding, watersports, cycling and plenty of space to run around
Best for: 5+ for the wider Water Park; younger children will enjoy the Country Park & Beach
Allow: Half to a full day in summer
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome on public footpaths and bridleways, but must be kept on leads near lake edges and they’re not allowed on the main sandy beach or in the swimming areas
Another easy one to add to your Bourton-on-the-Water itinerary. The Dragonfly Maze is a traditional yew hedge maze with 14 clues to find before you reach the middle, with the whole thing taking around 20-30 minutes, making it ideal for a quick burst of entertainment rather than another full-blown day out
Best for: 3-8
Allow: 30-45 minutes.
Dog friendly: Yes dogs are welcome on leads
If you’re in the Cotswolds when Giffords Circus is in town, book it. This is not your average travelling circus. Giffords is a wonderfully old-fashioned village-green affair, with colourful wagons, a beautiful big top, live music, acrobats, jugglers, horses and enough theatrical silliness to keep both children and grown-ups entertained. It tours throughout the spring and summer, so dates depend entirely on when you’re visiting
Best for: 3-12, although I’d happily take older children too
Allow: Around 2-3 hours, including arriving early and soaking up the atmosphere
Dog friendly: No dogs, apart from assistance dogs
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection
If you’ve got a car-mad child – or a dog who refuses to be left behind – this is a handy little addition to a day in Bourton-on-the-Water. The museum is packed with classic cars, motorbikes, caravans, toys and memorabilia. It’s compact enough that you won’t lose half a day here, but there’s plenty to keep children interested, whatever the weather. And importantly for dog-owning families, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome inside
Best for: 3-10
Allow: 1-2 hours
Dog friendly: Yes dogs are welcome inside on leads
For another easy win with toddlers and younger children, Prinknash Bird & Deer Park is a much smaller-scale attraction where you can get close to the animals without committing to a whole day. There are deer, reindeer, donkeys, peacocks and plenty of birds, as well as a children’s play area
Best for: 2-8
Allow: 2-3 hours.
Dog friendly: No dogs
Yes, it’s a grand stately home, but don’t dismiss it if you have children. The formal gardens, huge grounds, maze and family activities give younger visitors plenty to do, while older children can get more out of the palace itself
Best for: 4+, although younger children will enjoy the grounds more than the interiors
Allow: Half to a full day
Dog friendly: Dogs on leads are welcome in the Parkland and some outdoor areas, but not in the Palace, Adventure Playground, Formal Gardens or most cafés/restaurants
Bourton-on-the-Water & the Model Village
Bourton-on-the-Water is one of those Cotswold villages that can feel almost comically pretty, but it’s also surprisingly good with children. The Model Village is a miniature replica of Bourton itself, built from traditional Cotswold stone, and younger children will happily spend ages peering into tiny houses and wandering miniature streets
Best for: 2-8, although the village itself works for all ages
Allow: 2-3 hours
Dog friendly: No dogs, apart from assistance dogs
Where to Eat in the Cotswolds with Kids
For the best pub garden for kids: The Plough Inn at Cold Aston is a brilliant family option, with a large garden and play area alongside proper Cotswolds pub food
For lunch with dogs: The Red Lion at Long Compton is a particularly good one for families bringing the four-legged member of the family too. There’s a spacious beer garden with a children’s play area, plus a little Fido’s Bar for dogs
For a historic pub: The Fleece Inn in Bretforton is a lovely option with a huge orchard garden complete with swings, a bug hotel, and dogs are welcome too
For foodie parents: The Wild Rabbit in Kingham is a smart but relaxed country pub with seasonal British cooking and produce from nearby Daylesford
For a farm-to-table experience: Daylesford is a Cotswolds classic
For lunch in Bibury: If you’re staying at Bibury Farm Barns, The Swan Brasserie is an easy choice for a pretty riverside lunch, while The Catherine Wheel is the more relaxed village-pub option when what everyone really wants is something hearty and unfussy
The Fish near Broadway is worth a look if you want somewhere that feels a little more special but still understands the concept of feeding children, while The King’s Head Inn is one we’d recommend if you’re staying at Bruern Cottages. We walked there during our stay with children and dogs and found it both delicious and genuinely welcoming
FAQs: Cotswolds with Kids
Are the Cotswolds Good with Kids?
The Cotswolds works particularly well for families who don’t want to spend their entire holiday marching around attractions. There are plenty of big-ticket days out, but you can just as easily spend a morning walking, an afternoon in a playground and an evening eating chips in a country pub. The biggest bonus is that you can choose your accommodation around your family’s needs. Want childcare? Calcot. Want self catering plus an indoor pool and loads of entertainment? Bruern. Want lakes and watersports? Cotswold Sleeps at Lower Mill Estate. Want a gorgeous private cottage? Spring Cottage or Bibury Farm Barns
It also makes a very easy UK escape from London and the South East, with several of our favourite stays reachable in roughly two hours by car
How Do You Get Around the Cotswolds with Kids?
This is a UK destination where we’d strongly recommend having a car. The Cotswolds is sprawling, and while there are trains to places including Kingham, Charlbury and Kemble, most of the family attractions, villages and countryside stays are much easier to reach with your own wheels. If you don’t drive, we’d look particularly carefully at your accommodation location and build your trip around one or two bases rather than attempting to cover the whole region
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Cotswolds with Kids?
The short answer is: pretty much whenever you fancy it. Spring is particularly lovely, especially if you have little animal lovers. Lambing season at Cotswold Farm Park is a big draw, while the countryside is bursting into life and the villages are considerably less busy than during peak summer
Summer is the obvious choice for outdoor adventures, with the Cotswold Water Park coming into its own, pub gardens open and long evenings made for BBQs and sitting outside while the children run around
Autumn is arguably the most beautiful time to visit. The countryside turns golden, woodland walks become particularly spectacular and the whole place feels made for muddy boots followed by hot chocolate
And winter has its own appeal. Think log burners, cosy pubs, roaring fires, Christmas markets and cottages where you can happily spend an entire afternoon playing board games
Is the Cotswolds Expensive for Families?
It can be. This isn’t the destination we’d necessarily choose if your number-one priority is finding the cheapest possible UK weekend away. The most beautiful cottages and hotels can command fairly hefty prices, particularly during school holidays. But there are ways to make it work. Self-catering can be particularly good value for families or groups, especially when you’re travelling with grandparents or another family and can split the cost of a larger property. Some of the Cotswolds stays we’ve featured sleep eight, ten or more, making them much more economical per family than booking several hotel rooms. And unlike a traditional city break, so much of what makes the Cotswolds lovely is free. Walks, villages, countryside, playgrounds and muddy adventures don’t cost a penny