With honeyed cottages and thatched roofs decorating the rolling landscape, Christmas in the Cotswolds paints a rather festive picture. From Christmas markets that turn cobbled streets into bustling celebrations of arts, crafts, and mulled wine to magical light displays that cast palaces and gardens in a seasonal glow, the Cotswolds turns into a true winter wonderland in the lead-up to Christmas.
Spend your days browsing stalls piled high with goodies, leading the little ones through glittering trails of lanterns and wonder, and dining on the very best seasonal fare. Oh yes, from frosted walks ending in a warming country pub to Michelin starred celebrations, the Cotswolds has you well covered when it comes to fabulously festive eateries.
Excited to experience Christmas in the Cotswolds? Here’s our complete guide to this most magical of seasons so you can craft your festive to-do list and check it twice!
Find out more:
Christmas markets
Christmas events
Christmas lights
Christmas food
Christmas walks
Christmas markets
The cinnamon-sweet scent of mulled wine drifting through the streets, twinkling Christmas lights overhead, stalls laden with all you need for a holly, jolly Christmas; Christmas markets in the Cotswolds are the perfect place to spark your Christmas spirit and indulge in a spot of seasonal shopping.
Bath Christmas Market
Thursday the 28th of November to Sunday the 15th of December
Turning the beautiful city centre of Bath into a kaleidoscope of colour and frivolity, Bath Christmas Market is one of the biggest in the Cotswolds, drawing eager shoppers from all around. Stalls sit beneath the impressive cathedral and promise an endless array of gifts to browse, while a series of chalets provide a cosy spot to pause and pore over your haul. For those wanting to sprinkle in a bit of adventure, Bath on Ice is back for another year of festive fun, with the open-air ice skating rink opening between the 15th of November and the 5th of January.
Chipping Campden Christmas Market
Saturday the 7th of December
With a name that derives from the old English word for market, and a beloved monthly market that showcases local crafts and foodie delights throughout the year, it will be of little surprise that the picturesque town of Chipping Campden knows how to put on a rather special festive weekend. Not only do the cobbled streets fill up with seasonal stalls selling all the usual Christmas favourites, but the giant Christmas tree enjoys its big switch-on ceremony on the Saturday. From Father Christmas to carollers, this beautiful market town should be high on your to-do list this Christmas.
Cirencester Advent Market
Saturday the 30th of November
There are few sights as wholesome as that of Cirencester when the Advent Market arrives just in time for the annual lights switch-on. With stalls running from Castle Street all the way to Cricklade Street and Market Street (where you'll also find a supremely tempting array of food stalls), you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to a spot of festive shopping. Three large screens will broadcast the live show as the lights go on between 3.55pm and 4.35pm, after which a beautiful (and low noise) fireworks display will fill the sky with kaleidoscopic colour in celebration of Christmas cheer.
Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Market
Saturday the 23rd of November
Another of the Cotswolds’ Christmas markets to tie in with a Christmas lights switch-on, Moreton-in-Marsh becomes a true winter wonderland on Saturday the 25th of November. Over 80 stalls pop up for the day, offering a dazzling array of gifts, decorations, and foodie favourites, from mince pies to steaming hot chocolates. Swapping his red sleigh for a local fire engine, Father Christmas makes a wonderfully dramatic entrance to the market before settling down in his grotto to meet everyone in person.
Blenheim Palace Christmas Market
Friday the 15th of November to Sunday the 22nd of December
From the magical Christmas light trail to a walkable retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Blenheim Palace puts on a royal array of Christmas events every year. Among the biggest in the palace’s line-up is the famous Christmas market, which turns the Great Court into a yuletide festival for an entire month. Stalls bedecked with decorations and gifts aplenty assure every Christmas shopping list can be ticked off, while a selection of foodie stalls promise a seasonal snack for all.
Christmas events
Christmas in the Cotswolds is full of magical events to light up little faces, from wonderfully traditional pantos and festive train rides to Christmas crafts!
Christmas crafts
Whether you fancy trying your hand at creating your own festive table mats or a beautifully eco-friendly wreath, New Brewery Arts in Cirencester has a workshop for every occasion, especially at Christmas. They also host a variety of sessions for children, including felt Christmas decorations, which are ideal for getting the little ones excited for Christmas. At the Lechlade Craft Barn, a series of seasonal workshops offer even more opportunities to flex your creative fingers, from Christmas tree decorations and wicker reindeer to beautiful wire wreaths – perfect for a handmade gift or unique addition to your home.
Christmas theatre
Turning any evening in the lead-up to Christmas into a raucous affair, you just can’t beat a panto for some festive cheer. This year, the Cotswolds is hosting a larger-than-life mix of performances, including Aladdin in Cheltenham and Jack and the Beanstalk in Chipping Norton. You can also enjoy seasonal favourite A Christmas Carol at Bacon Theatre in Cheltenham, a timeless tale that spirits you away to Victorian London for an evening of yuletide hope. Bacon Theatre really is getting into the Christmas spirit with a magical line-up of festive shows.
Christmas experiences
From singing penguins to bacon baps and mulled wine, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway puts on quite the show at Christmas with their annual Santa Express extravaganza. Boarding from Cheltenham, you’ll be whisked off through the Cotswold countryside to the North Pole, where a wonderland of Christmas trees and twinkling lights await – not to mention Santa himself! Help yourselves to the railway’s famous mince pies, or feast on a burger when you reach the North Pole (known locally as Winchcombe Station).
Combining a jaw-dropping setting with soul-stirring music, Gloucester Cathedral is putting on a series of Christmas experience evenings throughout December. The beautiful cathedral is bedecked with festive finery, while additional tours give you a behind-the-scenes look at the cathedral’s historic library or tower - plus the Monk’s Kitchen will be providing mince pies and mulled wine for a truly festive addition to your visit.
Festive swims
When it comes to fabulously festive swims, the Cotswolds might not be your first thought, but this land-locked beauty has a few tricks up its sleeve! In Cheltenham, head to Sandford Parks Lido for a bracing dip in their outdoor swimming pool. Running between 10.45am and 12.15pm, it's a wonderful opportunity to do something a little different on Christmas Day before you tuck into your Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
Christmas lights
With the area’s beautiful gardens, historic castles (and palaces), and endlessly enchanting villages and towns donning ever more spectacular displays of Christmas lights, the Cotswolds wraps itself in a luminous blanket throughout the festive season.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Friday the 29th of November
Famously one the most Christmassy villages in the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water is synonymous with the festive season thanks to the giant Christmas tree that sprouts from the very river itself. The merry and bright switch-on event takes place on the last Friday in November this year at around 4.30pm, with the village’s lovely restaurants and shops joining in the festivities too as fairy lights drape the village in glittering displays.
Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum
Various dates between Friday the 29th of November and Tuesday the 31st of December
Fir trees might be your go-to when it comes to Christmas, but Westonbirt Arboretum shows us that every tree can be turned into a festival of lights with its annual display. Glittering trails lead you through the incredible assortment of trees, with a series of installations and mesmerising sounds turning the already beautiful horticultural collection into a winter wonderland.
Spectacle of Light, Sudeley Castle
Friday the 22nd of November to Monday the 30th of December
Coming back bigger and brighter for its eighth year, Sudeley Castle’s Spectacle of Light promises a spectacular mix of lasers, lights, and all things jaw-dropping as the grounds enjoy a yuletide makeover throughout December. This year, the exhibition welcomes a new cast of characters to the display, as all your favourite members of Sleeping Beauty join in the celebrations. Winter warmers are available throughout the evenings, from mulled wine and hot chocolate to fresh doughnuts, and the gift shop is on hand for any last-minute Christmas shopping.
Enchanted Garden by Night, Painswick Rococo Garden
Various dates between Saturday the 30th of November and Saturday the 4th of January
Enjoying its first foray into the magical world of illuminated displays, the Painswick Rococo Garden will be turning up the lights on selected dates throughout the holiday season to show off their charming wicker animals and mythical creatures under the light of the stars, from dancing fairies to friendly dragons. Not only are these evenings a great choice for families due to their relaxed nature, but dogs are welcome too! Hot chocolates and mulled wine are on hand throughout the evenings to warm chilly fingers, while the shop offers an array of local gifts.
Christmas food
Where would we be without a hearty selection of tasty treats throughout the festive period. From toothsome Sunday roasts that get the taste buds tingling for the big day to festive feasts that add a seasonal twist to your meal, the Cotswolds beckons for a fabulously foodie stay.
Cooking at home from home
With rolling farmland and a whole host of welcoming farm shops at your fingertips, cooking up a culinary Christmas storm is wonderfully easy in the Cotswolds – you’ll even find a selection of vineyards ready to fill your glasses with homegrown wines! Filling the table with holiday favourites, Huffkins’ Christmas family hamper is a homemade celebration of all things festive, from fresh Stollen slices to luxury cherry and almond fruit cake. Firm favourite Daylesford Organic is a one-stop-shop for all things Christmas, whether you’re looking for stocking fillers, fresh mince pies, or a whole turkey with organic cranberry sauce.
Eating out for Christmas
With a button-popping array of cosy country pubs and beautiful restaurants ready to fill the corners with delicious dishes, you’ll be toasting ‘seasons feastings’ in no time when staying in the Cotswolds. For a truly traditional experience, The Slaughters Country Inn residing in one of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages waits to ply you with all manner of festive foods, from Christmas dinner in a bap to an indulgent festive afternoon tea complete with cream teas, seasonal preserves, and an aromatic cup of mulled wine.
For lunch on the big day, head to The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold for a rustic and oh-so-characterful celebration. Boasting a fabulous selection of corners to choose from, whether you want a flickering fire in the cosy snug or the beautifully rustic dining room (with two fires for good festive measure). The menu promises a selection of yuletide favourites, including spiced plum and chicken liver pâté, roast turkey with all the trimmings, and rich Christmas pudding with red currants and crème anglaise.
Christmas walks
There are many wonderful things to do and places to visit in the Cotswolds at Christmas, but one of our favourites has to be pulling on our cosiest pair of walking boots and hitting the well-worn paths that wind their way through the glorious countryside. With a giddy mix of circular walks, there-and-back-again treks, and woodland wanders, there are endless opportunities to explore this incredible Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on foot. For a walk with an impressive viewpoint, turn your feet towards Broadway Tower, which promises a jolly 4-mile wander that boasts spectacular scenes from the top of the historic tower (you can see up to 13 counties on a clear day).
Stretching 102 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath, the Cotswold Way is one of the area’s most beloved walks and covers some stunning scenes, from Neolithic burial barrows to dancing rivers and undulating hills. Of course, you don’t need to try and fit the entire walk into one visit. One of the many joys of this beloved walk is that it enjoys plenty of waymarkers, giving you an easy-to-follow route wherever you decide to pick up the trail. Our advice, choose a beautiful stretch near your cottage, pack up your bag with mince pies and a flask of mulled wine, and enjoy a trundle through the ancient countryside the Cotswolds is famed for – it’s the best way to soak up the frost-kissed scenes at Christmas.
Craft your own perfect Christmas in the Cotswolds with a seasonal stay in one of our oh-so-cosy holiday cottages. From honey-dipped cottages to sweeping rural homes, there is something for all.
