Live like a local: discover these secret gems in the Cotswolds and beyond

Visiting somewhere new is fantastic in its own right, but journeying off the beaten track tends to make the adventure all the more exciting. Whether it’s hidden streets, family-run restaurants or a hangout that only the locals know about, there’s just something so exhilarating about unearthing a local treasure. Curated by our area experts, these secret gems will have you discovering the best spots in the Cotswolds and beyond.

Explore the fringe of the Cotswolds:

Bretforton, Honeybourne & Dover’s Hill

Just 10 minutes from the hugely popular town of Chipping Campden, lies a string of beautiful Worcestershire villages. Sat on the edge of the Cotswolds, this often overlooked area is bursting with attractions. Begin your day by visiting Cotswold Garden Flowers in Badsey where you can admire hundreds of rare and beautiful plants. Make your next stop Honeybourne Pottery, which invites you to indulge your creativity with a pottery workshop. Complete the visit with a walk up Dover’s Hill – a National Trust landscape with majestic views and space for dogs to let off steam. Make your base Rose Cottage to really immerse yourself in the area.

Walk high above Cheltenham Spa:

Cleeve Common, Charlton Kings & Whittington

The elegant town of Cheltenham is well known by many visitors – but the not-so-known-about areas that frame it are also worth a visit. Cleeve Common, for example, traverses miles of open hilltops, with walks across streams, grassland and wild woodlands. The largest common in the Cotswolds, with an area of over 400 hectares, it’s famous for breathtaking views of Cheltenham, the Vale of Evesham, the Malverns, and as far reaching as the Black Mountains in Wales. After your walk, head over to the villages of Whittington and Charlton Kings before a bite to eat at Dunkertons. Stay at The Old Tractor Shed – a tranquil hideaway just footsteps from The Cotswold Way.

Drink, shop and do in:

Elkstone & Cockleford

Situated between Cheltenham and Cirencester, Elkstone and Cockleford are two charming, relatively undiscovered villages. On visiting, make your first stop Elkstone Studios – a vibrant destination with a food hall, bakery and café offering delicious local produce, as well as a wellness hub. Once you’ve explored the studios, head to The Green Dragon Inn in Cockleford for delicious cuisine, before staying at The Other House – an elegant hideaway for two.

Discover old-world charm in:

Tetbury & Malmesbury

The towns of Tetbury and Malmesbury offer an abundance of interest, but are often listed below other Cotswold hotspots. Both historically and architecturally significant, Malmesbury is famous for its association with King Alfred the Great and is home to Malmesbury Abbey, while Tetbury was once a hotspot for wool and yarn during the Middle Ages, which is still evident through weavers cottages and needlecraft shops. Aside from their deep history, both towns are honeypots for antiques, attracting some of Britain’s leading dealers and collectors alike.