Trains to the Cotswolds
Discover rolling hills and rural charm
How to get to the Cotswolds by train
The Cotswolds covers a huge amount of the UK countryside, meaning there are plenty of train stations you can use as a gateway into the area. As it’s situated in the west of England, many of the UK’s biggest southwest train stations are within touching distance of the Cotswolds. These include Banbury, Bath Spa, Oxford, Cheltenham Spa, and Gloucester.
If you’re travelling from London to the Cotswolds, Paddington serves many of the train stations around the area. It’s about a 90-minute journey into Oxford, and you can expect similar times to other stations.
About the Cotswolds
Boasting almost 800 miles of unspoilt countryside, the Cotswolds is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. It’s brimming with idealistic villages, sumptuous scenery, and bucket loads of charm.
The limestone hills enchant in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), weaving amongst each other to create more than 3,000 miles of footpaths and public rights of way. It’s the perfect place for relaxing walking holidays and serious hiking trips alike, with both challenging treks and short circular paths.
In between the walking you can explore quaint villages made of stone, drink in some of the UK’s oldest pubs, and marvel at medieval architecture. You won’t find any shortage of good hospitality; it’s known as a celebrity getaway, so luxury is at the top of the agenda for local businesses.
Cirencester is known as the capital of the Cotswolds, but there are hundreds of villages you can visit, such as Painswick, Burford, Northleach, and the famously stunning Castle Combe. Many of the villages have circular footpaths, so a walk followed by a cold pint is always on the cards.
The Cotwolds has a history that dates all the way back to the Roman times, so it has an abundance of history to offer. Burton-on-the-Water, Bilbury, and Burford were once known for their wool production, while Edgehill was the site of the first battle of the Civil War in 1642 (visit The Castle Inn for a drink, situated on the summit of the hill).
There’s so much that’s beautiful about this part of the world, it has to be seen to be believed. Book your train to the Cotswolds and experience it now.
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