After sooo many years of wanting to visit the Cotswolds, looks like I will finally make it but...know nothing about it.
Which is a centralized village to use as home base?
Which village has a main street to mosey around and restaurants?
Which have public transportation to get around ?
Does anyone know a driver I can hire to drive me around?
I will be coming from London by train. Which village is a good place to stay that has a train station
Also - last but not least - anyone know a good hotel to stay in?
have looked at so many but without knowing the above, hard to decide just on looks alone.

Haven;t used this forum for many years but when I did, you folks were incredibly helpful. Thank all of you for all the advice and wisdom.

OK - "Which is a centralized village to use as home base?
Which village has a main street to mosey around and restaurants?
Which have public transportation to get around ?"

Many small towns/villages fit that description. Train stations are a different matter. There is relatively little rail service into the Cotswolds. There are a few stations -- Moreton-in-Marsh is the primary one for the much of the region. There are also stations at Charlbury and Kingham - both just outside the 'official' Cotswolds but close enough. Also at Cheltenham (which is too big a place really -- a full on city with about 120,000 population), and Kemble (which is quite small and pretty far south for conveniently touring much of the area).

Any of the larger villages/small towns would have local taxi companies that you could hire by the day as well as a variety of restaurants, pubs and shops -- M-i-M, Chipping Campden, Broadway, Stow-in-the-Wold, Burford, Broadway, Burton-on-the-Water, Northleach (not sure about taxis there though), etc. There is some bus service but not all that convenient in the smaller places.

Question? Are you totally averse to renting a car/driving.

Meant to add - There are soooooo many hotels and B&B's - pick a village/town and we can give you some suggestions. What is your budget?

Renting a car and driving would really improve your Cotswolds experience in my opinion.

Wow - thanks so much. Am not averse to driving but don't drive. Something I've regretted for a long time.
Thank you for all of the information. Trying to find a hotel but don;t know where because of the train issue.
Thanks again. Very helpful.

Thanks but, unfortunately, I don;t drive.

So - right now looking not at villages so much as places I've read about. Stow Lodge Hotel looks nice.
Do you know it? In Stow on the Wold.
I seriously want to go to the Cotswolds but might have to scrap this idea. Too many factors without a car.

No need to scrap it at all! Stow-on-the-Wold is a good base because it is not tiny - just over 2,000 population and pretty central. It has lots of places to eat/shop etc. It is about 5 miles from both Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh stations. Better bus service from Moreton-in-Marsh - relatively frequent buses throughout the day - between 30 minutes and an hour between buses. There is less service from Kingham.

There is no taxi rank at M-i-M station but easy to pre-book or even just ring up a taxi when you arrive. Stow-on-the Wold has at least 3 taxi services -- maybe more. It would be a very good place to base car-less.

I am at a loss to understand that first sentence. You have always wanted to visit the Cotswolds, but you know nothing about them?

I suspect that it partly explains the fascination with the Cotswolds for so many North Americans. It seems to somehow be the one rural place that they want to go to in England despite in being in reality a pretty but perfectly average rural area. There are plenty of places as nice or better all over the UK that do not suffer from over tourism.

If this has been a dream of yours, go for it! We went in May 2024 and we loved it!

A lot depends on when you are going. June, July and August can be crowded and it would take away from the charm and the peacefulness.I find when people complain about crowds, they are often there in peak season and don't get an early start to avoid the tour buses.

Unfortunately the Cotwolds are not serviced well by public transportation. Your budget for taxis, tours and private drivers will help determine how much you can do while there. The train to Moreton-in- Marsh is the best way to get to the area and Stow-on-the -Wold is where our friends stayed without a car and were very happy there. We used a private driver with Cotswold Executive Cabs one day and that was fantastic. But for group tours, many use Mad Max Tours or Go Cotwolds and are pleased with them. Also, using prearranged taxis for more point to point destinations works well, too. And if you are a walker, there are walking loops you can do between towns.

How long will you be there? Have you been to Oxford or Bath? Both have good train and bus connections and a taxi to one of these towns could get you to a tour or back to the airport.We really loved Bath and the whole area and we visited many destinations that were the picture perfect postcard views we dreamed of. Enjoy!

P.S. Always listen to janisj's advice.

If it helps, we used Cotswolds Executive Cabs to drive us a few years ago. The driver was great and we had a great time.

Would a small group tour suit you? I stayed in Chipping Campden with a group of 10, we went out each day in a different direction. Historic places, gardens, pretty villages etc.

Thank you all. I saw photos of the Cotswolds years ago that captured my attention and stuck there. Going there without a car has always been the hitch but as I get older and older, want to see it. Doing a Knitting Trip in Yorkshire so finally decided I'd go to the Cotswolds too. Leaving soon , started to research but felt overwhelming.

I expect to be there 3 nights. Do not want to do a group thing. Like my independence.

BTW - re tourists - I live in Manhattan - tourists are a way of life, like it or not.

Janisj - will take your advice! Stow-on-Woild it is!! Thanks for ALL your input.
Coral 22 - thanks for all your input and a thanks Denesia for the cab co.

Yes, have been to both Oxford and Bath. Loved both but it's finally time to get to the Cotswalds.

Thank all of you for taking the time to respond. Might actually have scrapped this notion without your help.

So you're definitely not a novice Great that you already know something about the UK. If Stow Lodge is booked up then maybe look for a place in Chipping Campden. Burford would be my very favorite but it is less convenient by public transport.

The Lodge is quite nice -- it does back up on the A429 which is the main N / S route (a busy 2 lane road) through that part of the Cotswolds so I'd ask for a room overlooking the garden / front. It's walkable to the whole center of the town.

Will ask for a room with a garden view. facing a garden will be heaven. thanks for that. I have a month before I leave to read about the different villages but if there are any you recommend, would love to know about it. If buses will end up being inefficient for me, will hire a driver for the day. Thanks again.

Stow Lodge will be able to arrange taxis for you when needed. I'd definitely try to hit:

• Lower Slaughter - less than a 5 minute drive from S-o-t-W. Be sure to visit the Mill.
• Bourton-on-the-Water 4 miles/6 or 7 minute drive from S-o-t-W. Don't miss the Miniature Village. B-o-t-W can be a zoo when the day trippers are there - mostly between about 11AM and 3-ish PM so try to visit early or later
• Burford and/or Minster Lovell. Burford is a lively small town with a glorious 'Wool" church and lots of shops/restaurants. 10-ish miles from S-o-t-W. Minster Lovell is really three different parts (a lot of suburban-ish development) but 'Old" Minster Lovell is the part you want. Its a tiny place and you'd definitely need a taxi to visit. For the Old Hall and the dovecote and maybe lunch in the Old Swan hotel.
• Snowshill -- about 10 miles from S-o-t-W
• If you are are at all into gardening try to take an excursion to Hidcote Manor Garden -- it is about 15 miles away so you'd need to definitely book a taxi. Simply glorious.
• Chipping Campden -- about 10 miles

There are tons of other options but in the short time you'll be in the area you'll be lucky to hit the above list.

Yorkshire, Knitting, tell us more.

Once again, thank you so much Janisj!
There are many companies that organize knitting trips to all over the world.
This will be my third trip. The company I use is Trips for Knitters. It is based in the US but most companies are based in Ireland and England.
I went to Montisi, Tuscany for a week before Covid, Last year in Fano, Denmark and this year will go to Yorkshire.
We usually have a lesson in a particular technique and knit in the morning. Then go to places around our base in the afternoons. Everything is provided except the airfare.
The biggest benefit is the people there. Made a best friend in Italy - from Canada. We alternate visiting eqach other every year. Just got back from seeing her last week. In Fano, there were 2 women who live not too far away from me who go on 2 trips/year. They are the ones who told me about the Yorkshire trip.

There haven;t been any male knitters but some men come along with their wives.
It has been a great resource for me. A chance to go to new places with others who share the same interest.

Many thanks again.

Is the steam railroad worthwhile for the scenery?

HF Holidays might be an option if you want to do a little hiking...? They have a country house in Bourton on the Water, and they also have special interest holidays, for crafts, bridge, etc. Have fun planning! https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holiday...g%7CASC&page=1