Cities

The best cities to visit that are close to or in the Cotswolds

Nearby Cities & Day Trip Extensions from the Cotswolds

By James Long

Local Cotswolds tour guide and editor of Cotswold Insider

Published: 28 December 2025

Many visitors pair the Cotswolds with a nearby city — and done well, it’s a great combination. Done badly, it dilutes the Cotswolds into a rushed day trip and leaves you feeling like you’ve spent more time travelling than enjoying anything.

This guide helps you decide which nearby cities are worth adding, when they fit, and how to combine them without breaking the trip. It is part of our wider Attractions in the Cotswolds coverage, which also includes Towns and Villages, Things to Do, Gardens, Castles and Historic places, and Food and Drink

When a Nearby City Makes Sense

Adding a city works best when it’s treated as a separate chapter, not a side stop.

Worth it if…

You have 4+ days total and want contrast
You’re arriving by train and a city is a convenient anchor
You want one “big day” alongside slower village days

Avoid if…

You only have 1–2 days and you’re already time-limited
You dislike switching environments (slow countryside → busy city)
You’re trying to cover both north and south Cotswolds as well

A good rule: protect your Cotswolds time first, then add a city.

The Best Nearby Cities to Combine with the Cotswolds

These options are popular for good reasons — but they suit different trips.

Oxford

Best for: history, colleges, museums, a compact “walkable” feel.

Worth it if: you want a strong cultural counterpoint to villages.

Oxford pairs well with the Cotswolds because it’s a distinctly different experience — and it’s easier to do Oxford properly than to do “half of Oxford” squeezed into a travel day.

Bath

Best for: architecture, Roman history, a polished city break feel.

Worth it if: you want a “city day” that still feels beautiful and walkable.

Bath often works best as either:

a dedicated day during a Cotswolds stay, or
a final night/extension after countryside time.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Best for: Shakespeare, heritage, family-friendly sightseeing.

Worth it if: it’s already on your route or you want a focused heritage day.

Treat Stratford as a full day if you’re doing it at all — it’s not a quick add-on.

Cheltenham

Best for: regency feel, food, festivals, a more local “living town”.

Worth it if: you want a practical base with evening life, or you’re here around events.

Cheltenham is less of a “must-see city day” and more of a useful anchor: evenings, restaurants, transport connections.

Gloucester

Best for: cathedral, docks, a more working-city feel.

Worth it if: you have a specific reason (architecture, history) rather than generic “things to do”.

Gloucester can be excellent, but it’s not the same “easy day out” vibe as Bath or Oxford.

How to Combine a City with the Cotswolds Without Breaking the Trip

The easiest way to ruin a combined trip is trying to do two travel styles at the same pace.

Better structures

Cotswolds first, city last (often the smoothest psychologically)
City base, then Cotswolds base (good for rail arrivals)
One city day in the middle (only if you’re staying put)

Less good structures

Switching base every night
Doing a city “in the morning” and villages “in the afternoon”
Using cities as “quick stops” on travel days

Transport Reality: Cities vs Villages

Cities are easier to handle by rail. Villages are not.

What this means in practice

If you’re travelling by train, adding a city is often straightforward
If you’re travelling by car, villages and countryside become easier, but cities can add parking friction

A common winning approach:

Use rail for the city portion
Use a car (or structured plan) for the Cotswolds portion

Common Mistakes When Adding a Nearby City

Treating a city as a side quest rather than a full day
Losing a whole day to travel without admitting it
Letting a city dominate a short Cotswolds trip
Choosing a base that looks convenient but creates daily commuting

What to Read Next

Planning

→ How to Plan a Trip to the Cotswolds
→ Where to Base Yourself in the Cotswolds
→ Structuring Your Time in the Cotswolds