Autumn in the Cotswolds: 30 Gorgeous Things to Do

There is nowhere quite like autumn in the Cotswolds. The region’s storybook landscape comes alive with golden foliage and the honey-hued villages are all the more inviting, with open fires crackling in every pub.

As someone who lives just north of the region, it’s my favourite time of year to visit.

You’ll find harvest festivals heaving with seasonal produce, chic farm shops serving comforting fall fare, and a mist-draped landscape with pumpkins ripe for the picking. Even better, the region feels peaceful and inviting since the kids have returned to their desks. 

Whether you want to explore the great outdoors, get cosy in a beautiful Cotswolds village, or enjoy bountiful festivals and events, here you’ll find everything you need to know about autumn in the Cotswolds. 

30 Things to Do in Autumn in the Cotswolds 

Soak Up the Cosy Cotswold Vibes 

1. Treat Yourself to Some Cosy Retail Therapy at a Farm Shop 

The Cotswolds is well known for its farm shop culture – wholesome retail locations selling all sorts of local produce, gifts and homeware. Many feature a cafe on site where you can warm up with a hot chocolate after browsing the seasonal delights on offer.

Pick up a pumpkin at Daylesford (pictured above), spot celebrities at Diddly Squat, or shop for seasonal veg at Jolly Nice, which also features a unique drive-through and an outdoor bar with open fires. 

Check out many more of the best farm shops in the Cotswolds here!

2. Enjoy Afternoon Tea in a Historic Manor House

There is no shortage of spots for afternoon tea in the Cotswolds, but for autumn, I love heading to the ivy-clad Manor House in Castle Combe. This historic venue looks especially spectacular in autumn, when the honey-coloured stone is draped in crimson foliage, and you can retire to the dramatic drawing room for tea. 

You’ll get the full experience with a tiered cake stand loaded with finger sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats (pictured above), accompanied by a pot of the finest loose-leaf tea or a glass of the bubbly stuff. 

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your visit to the Cotswolds, The Manor House makes for a stunning base in one of the region’s most iconic villages – known for being the ‘prettiest village in the UK.

See rates and availability here.

3. Indulge in an Autumnal Hedgerow Gin 

Get a real taste of autumn in the Cotswolds when you sample the local hedgerow gin, crafted with hand-picked local blackberries, sloes, and damsons.

You can visit the Cotswolds Distillery in Stourton or Broadway for a gin-blending masterclass to create your own take on this autumnal tipple.

Alternatively, pick up a bottle in a local farm shop and whip up a bramble – or try it warm with cloudy apple juice on a crisp fall day. 

4. Be Moved by Classical Music in Atmospheric Churches 

If you’re into classical music, you’ll be in for a treat visiting the Cotswolds in autumn.

The Cotswolds Festival of Music is held in early November at Northleach Church and offers an evening of soul-stirring Bavarian Baroque music, complete with beer, wine and pretzels.

Meanwhile, Tetbury Music Festival offers a calendar of classical music events in late September/early October, with live concerts in St. Mary’s Church. 

5. Rub Shoulders with Locals at a Country Show 

Country Shows are incredibly popular during autumn in the Cotswolds, with communities coming together to celebrate local crafts and prizewinning harvests.

The Moreton Show is held on the first Saturday in September annually and celebrates local agriculture in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Enjoy a day full of entertainment – from the Shetland Pony Grand National to the Lancaster bomber flypast – and check out all of the trade stands and exhibitions. There is also plenty to keep the little ones entertained with a petting zoo and circus skills workshop. 

You can also try the Wext Oxfordshire Countryside and Game Fair in Bampton, which features tractor rides, inflatable obstacle courses, and craft tents. 

6. Enjoy a Roast in a Cosy Cotswold Pub 

There’s nothing quite like a British roast dinner, and September usually marks the start of the Sunday ritual after a summer spent outdoors.

Nearly every Cotswold village features a traditional pub to indulge in the ultimate comfort food, so you can’t really go wrong here!

Try The Bull Inn in Charlbury, the Ebrington Arms in Chipping Camden or the Sheep on Sheep Street in Stow-on-the-Wold (pictured).  

7. Treat Yourself to an Autumn Spa Day 

With Britain’s only thermal waters situated in Bath, it’s no surprise there are plenty of sensational spots for a spa day in the Cotswolds. Best enjoyed when the weather turns, some venues feature special spa days to help you stay glowy as the mercury drops. 

Check out the Drift Away Spa Day at De Vere Cotswold Water Park (where you can also stay the night), or treat yourself to a twilight spa session at the iconic Thermae Bath Spa (pictured) as the evenings draw in. 

Explore Outdoors 

8. Spot Wild Deer at Cornbury Park 

Autumn in the Cotswolds is beautifully atmospheric, with lingering mist and the chance to spot wild deer among the fading golden foliage. Head on a circular walk around Cornbury Park and the Wychwood Forest, where you can spot over five incredible species with ease. 

The National Trust property Dryham Park has recently reintroduced a new herd of their to their 270 acres of rolling parkland, making it a great place to spot fallow deer.

9. Go Pumpkin Picking at Cotswold Farm Park 

Is there anything more autumnal than a pumpkin patch?? Whether you want to carve one for Halloween, whip up some pumpkin soup, or simply have a cute fall photoshoot, there are plenty of spots where you can pick your own.

Cotswold Farm Park is a popular choice, located not far from Bourton-on-the-Water, or you could also try Cattle Country Farm Park in Berkeley. 

10. See Autumn Colours at Westonbirt Arboretum 

A list of things to do in autumn in the Cotswolds could not be complete without Westonbirt Arboretum, an iconic forest containing 15000 trees from around the globe.

Enjoy the best of the UK’s flame-coloured foliage on a canopy walk or woodland pathway, from early October until mid-November. 

Westonbirt is also home to a vast number of family-friendly zones and activities and hosts seasonal events to help you get the best of the autumnal colour.

Another popular choice is Batsford Arboretum, located near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, which is also home to a garden centre where you can pick up a plant to take home. 

11. Go Foraging for Autumn Favourites 

Autumn in the Cotswolds is the prime time for foraging, with hedgerows heaving with ripe juicy blackberries and wild mushrooms popping up on the forest floors. There are lots of foraging workshops where you can learn about the local laws and identify safe species. 

Try Rob Gould’s A Forage in the Cotswolds, or Forage and Feast, to cook with your haul afterwards.

Wild Food UK also runs foraging walks on the Bathurst Estate, bookended by drinks and lunch to enjoy the fruits of your labour. 

12. Take a Crisp Walk in the Cotswold Countryside 

The Cotswolds is a wonderful place for walking any time of the year, but especially as the months turn colder and the trees are lit up with autumn colour.

It’s not uncommon to see a beautiful rolling mist as dusk draws in, settling among the gentle hilltops and Cotswold-stone cottages. 

Head out to enjoy the crisp fall weather before rewarding yourself with a cosy winter warmer next to a log-burning fire. Check out 15 iconic circular routes here. 

13. Go Stargazing at Painswick Beacon 

As well as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Cotswolds also has Dark Sky status, with low light pollution and vast, open skylines.

This makes it the perfect spot for stargazing, with long autumn nights providing ample opportunities – before the biting winter cold sets in. 

If you’re a seasoned stargazer, head straight to popular spots such as Painswick Beacon, Cleeve Hill or the Rollwright Stones for the best astronomy action. Alternatively, you can join a stargazing experience, complete with a knowledgeable astronomer and telescope hire. 

14. Go Glamping and Toast Marshmallows 

Glamping is great fun at any time of the year, but autumn allows you to make the most of your cosy accommodation while still spending time right next door to nature. 

Head off on an autumnal walk, warm up again with a pub lunch, and then head back to your glamping site to toast marshmallows and swap ghost stories.

Try Cotswold Camping at Holycombe, where you can choose between boho yurts, gypsy caravans, or a quirky airstream, pods with an outdoor kitchen and sauna at the Foxes Den, or the gorgeous Cherry Tree lodges with an outdoor hot tub.

15. See Migratory Birds at Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Slimbridge Wetland Centre is a wonderful wildlife park, perfect for those with families visiting the Cotswolds in autumn.

It’s a haven for migratory birds who arrive here as the leaves begin to drift from the trees, giving you the chance to spot Berwick’s swans, sandpipers, wigeons and golden plovers. 

You can also see otters and flamingoes in the sprawling nature reserve, with multiple viewing points, bird feeding zones and play areas. Bring your wellies and get the kids splashing in puddles at this awesome wetland adventure. 

Get Spooky 

16. Go Ghost Hunting at Woodchester Mansion 

Thought to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK, Woodchester Mansion is the perfect place for a paranormal investigation.

The gothic venue has a dark history to hear about before you embark on a tour to investigate further, complete with ghosthunting tools – from Ouija boards to glass divination.

Taking place on Friday 6th November, this iconic ghost tour is suitable for over 18s only. 

17. Send the Kids to Wizard School 

Bristol’s Berkeley Castle offers a Halloween at the Castle experience during the last week of October, where the kids can learn what it takes to become magic little monsters.

Included in the price of an entrance ticket, activities and workshops bring a fun Halloween theme to your castle visit, complete with a tudor witchcraft class and spooky storytelling.

18. Check Out the Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Show in Chipping Norton 

An alternative take on autumn in the Cotswolds, the Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Show focuses on psychic and clairvoyant readings.

It is held in honour of the Celtic Samhain festival – which Halloween is thought to have originated from – when barriers between the living and spirit world break down. 

Have your palm read, enjoy some holistic therapy or shop for quirky arts and crafts and early Christmas presents.

The event is held in various locations throughout autumn in the Cotswolds, most notably, in Chipping Norton on the last weekend of October. 

19. Take an Overnight Ghost Tour at the Ancient Ram Inn 

The Ancient Ram Inn is a former pub and B&B located in Wotton under Edge, notorious for its paranormal activity.

With ghostly goings on dating back to the Pagan times, this creaking, timber-framed building makes a spooky setting for a Halloween adventure. 

Between the witching hours on dates throughout autumn, you can connect with lingering spirits and capture unexplained phenomena, guided by professional paranormal investigators. 

20. Attend a Fancy Dress Party in a Candle-lit Cavern 

If Halloween to you means donning a scary costume and heading out for a few drinks, you won’t want to miss the party at Clearwell Caves.

Held on the last Saturday in October, this spectacular event is hosted in the atmospheric caverns beneath the Forest of Dean, with a live band and DJs, and prizes for the best fancy dress. 

21. Feel the FEAR at Avon Valley Scream Park 

Avon Valley Scream Park offers one of the UK’s most impressive spooktacular events, with terrifying rides, haunted houses and show-stopping pyrotechnics.

Take part in immersive experiences, not for the faint-hearted, with thrilling theatrics that put you right at the heart of the action. Hungry for more? You can even dine at Fright FEAST, an unforgettable dining experience filled with untold horrors. 

22. Check out Halloween Week at Blenheim Palace

Autumn in the Cotswolds is bottled at the Blenheim Palace Halloween week, where you can enjoy a range of workshops, activities and immersive experiences celebrating the spooky season.

Running over a week at the end of October, it’s the perfect time to get into the fall spirit, with an illuminated walking trail complete with wicked food and drink stalls and a dose of Halloween magic.

Enjoy Autumnal Festivals and Events 

23. Attend the Autumn Classic Historic Race Day at Castle Combe 

A huge event in the Castle Combe Circuit calendar, the Autumn Classic takes place towards the end of September and celebrates classic cars in all their glory.

You’ll get to see vintage cars pitted against each other on the track alongside iconic model displays and trade stands.

Turning up in attire suitable for the Golden Era of Motorsport is heavily encouraged, with an award for the best dressed. 

24. See Showjumping at the Blenheim Horse Trials 

Equestrianists can’t miss this fabulous four-day event, which also takes place at the historic Blenheim Palace in September.

Here, the world’s top eventing talent takes to the arena to compete in a range of dressage and showjumping competitions from grassroots to championship level. 

Taking place from a Thursday to a Sunday, the long weekend is made even more exciting with exclusive trade stands and exhibits, talks from showjumping legends, and a mouthwatering array of food and drink options – with the choice to bring your own picnic too. 

25. Enjoy a Stunning Firework Display at Chipping Camden Recreation Ground 

Bonfire night is a big deal in the UK, taking place just after Halloween with firework displays across the country. November the 5th is all the more spectacular in the Cotswolds, with an open landscape known for having Dark Sky status. 

You’ll find bonfire night festivities happening throughout autumn in the Cotswolds, with particularly big events at the Cheltenham Race Course and Oxford’s South Park.

For a more cosy affair, try the display at Chipping Camdem Recreation Ground, complete with a blazing bonfire, toasty sausage rolls, and hot mulled wine to keep you warm while you watch. 

26. Cosy Up with a Book at a Literature Festival 

Book lovers will be in for a treat when visiting the Cotswolds in autumn. ‘Tis the season for reading, with multiple literary festivals taking place throughout September and October.

Head to Burford in the last week of September to enjoy an intimate community-led affair with book signings and talks from famous authors. It culminates in a classy cocktail and canape evening known as the Secret Garden Party. 

Just a few weeks later, bibliophiles can make their way to Cheltenham for an incredible 10 days of talks with over 1000 authors, including high-profile names such as Stephen King and Ian McEwan. You’ll also find a whole festival village with food and drink, activities for kids, and a late-night ‘lit crawl’ around the city. 

27. Enjoy a Harvest Festival at The Country Brocante

The Country Brocante on the farm at Tyme is the perfect place to get a slice of the Cotswolds with delicious local produce. 

In autumn, this beautiful corner of the countryside draws even more visitors to its doors with the annual Harvest Fair which takes place on the weekend towards the end of September.

The farm comes alive with incredible antique displays and stalls stocked full of prizewinning seasonal produce. 

28. JOin A Motor-themed cotswolds Treasure Hunt

For something a little different this autumn, head to the Cotswold Treasure Hunt at Cotswold Barn in Longborough on Saturday 3 October 2026.

Starting from 3:30pm, this family-friendly motoring event brings together everything from beautiful classic cars to modern supercars, with all cars and enthusiasts welcome, not just Porsche owners.

Set against the rolling North Cotswolds countryside, it’s a fun way to combine an afternoon drive with a visit to one of the area’s popular motoring cafés

29. Indulge in Your Favourites at Broadway Food Festival 

I feel like everyone can get on board with a food festival. The beautiful village of Broadway serves as the perfect setting for this delectable event, which celebrates local Cotswold culinary producers in the second week of September.

With free admission, this enticing event forms part of the Broadway Autumn Show, a horticultural and craft show jam-packed with goodies to discover. 

30. Learn More about a British Literary Great at the Jane Austen Festival 

There really is something about autumn in the Cotswolds that just makes you want to curl up with a good book.

Taking place in Bath during the third week of September, you’ll find an incredible 10-day programme of events inspired by the timeless works of one of the most well-known women authors.

From guided city tours to costume balls, bonnet-making workshops, and in-depth discussions on specific themes and novels, there is something for every Austen lover here. 

Autumn in the Cotswolds: FAQS

Best Cotswolds Villages to Visit in Autumn 

The best Cotswolds villages to visit in Autumn are: 

• Castle Combe 
• Bourton-on-the-Water 
• Chipping Norton 
• Stow-on-the-Wold 

Nearly every Cotswold village has something to offer in Autumn, but these four are particularly known for their Autumn events and storybook fall scenery. 

Where to Stay During Autumn in the Cotswolds?

There are so many beautiful places to stay in the Cotswolds, and many of them are an extra special treat during Autumn, with crackling open fires, feature-filled rooms, and iconic spa facilities.

A few of my favourites include:

The Fish Hotel: A quiet yet stylish spot, set above Broadway in a heritage farmhouse of honey-coloured stone. 

Lucknam Park: A luxury spa hotel close to Castle Combe, complete with a breathtaking tree-lined driveway and dreamy manor house suites. 

White Hart Royal: Quintessential pub-style accommodation in Moreton-in-Marsh, perfect if your budget is a little tighter. 

Click on the hotel name to view photos and availability!

Where is the Best Place to see Cotswolds Autumn Colours?

The best place to see beautiful autumn colours in the Cotswolds is at Westonbirt or Batsford Arboretum. These incredible tree collections are home to thousands of species from all over the world, offering spectacular displays of flame-coloured foliage you won’t find anywhere else. 

Is October a Good Time to Visit the Cotswolds?

October is a fantastic time to visit the Cotswolds, with many autumnal festivals and Halloween events taking place. The region’s woodland walks are filled with beautiful fall foliage, and the chocolate box villages are brimming with cosy pubs to warm up in afterwards. Don’t forget to check out the local farm shops to pick up a pumpkin!

Looking for more fairytale fall destinations in the UK? Check out this guide to the Brecon Beacons.