Cotswolds by Car: Tips for your summer roadtrip
The Cotswolds cover a really large area. It stretches from Oxfordshire to Gloucestershire and it would take a few hours just to drive from one end to another. You really do need to a car to visit the Cotswolds as public transport is not that well connected. But if you are planning a road trip, you will be meandering through the country lanes, lingering in picturesque villages and stopping at farm shops and country pubs along the way. If that is the kind of road trip you want, you will need to have a plan.
A lot of the pretty parts of the Cotswolds are found along narrow B roads and single-lane roads, so driving fast is not always possible. As you drive through small villages and hamlets, the speed limit drops to 20 mph, so you need to take that into account when you time your journey.
Map your Cotswolds journey
If you have a multi-day trip, plan your journey with the main places you want to visit. Then map out the route. This will all change when you are actually driving through the countryside, as there are so many places to visit that are not on anyone’s radar and not on TikTok.
For more detailed Cotswolds itineraries, please read the other posts.
Bring picky bits and drinks
Stock up on car snacks, picky bits and drinks. You might want to shop at the posh Cotswolds’ farm shops on your road trip, but know that they can be quite pricey. I’d highly recommend these farm shops as places to stop for a bite and to stock up on yummy local produce
Cotswolds Farm Shops
- Daylesford – for organic food and their own range of Cotswold Lifestyle products
- Diddly Squat (yes, the one from Clarkson’s Farm)
- Wyatt’s Nursery (has a farm shop and cafe)
- Bruern Farm (has a cafe and sells stone-milled flour and ancient wheat varieties)
A few Cotswolds pubs
- The Duck on the Pond
- The Bull at Charlbury
- The Fox at Oddington
- The Chequers, Churchill
- The Potting Shed, Crudwell
Check your car before your road trip
You will notice a lot of Chelsea tractors on the roads around the Cotswolds. For the local residents, this is necessary as not all the roads are well maintained and some have massive potholes. You will be sharing the road with tractors and other agricultural vehicles.
There are petrol stations every few miles but make sure you have a full tank or fill up early as you don’t want to be stranded in the countryside. If you are driving an EV, there are chargers in some petrol stations, supermarket car parks and hotels. Again, plan to stop earlier than you think.
Pre trip car safety check
Before setting off on any road trips, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check your tyres. Heat and heavier loads put more strain on them than the average daily commute. Hot tarmac increases tyre pressure, and a fully loaded boot, roof box or extra passengers all add stress to the only part of your car actually touching the road. Tyres that are worn or under-maintained mean longer stopping distances and a higher blowout risk, so it’s a quick check that pays off, especially on busy summer roads. It’s worth getting your tyres checked before the trip and if you bought them at North West Tyres, they ensure reliable performance with expert fitting and service, so you’re not left guessing whether your car is ready.
A simple pre-trip routine covers most of what matters: check tread depth with the 20p test (insert into the main groove, if you can see the outer band, it’s time for new tyres), look for uneven wear that might signal alignment issues. Adjust the tyre pressure for your loaded weight rather than the everyday figure as a fully loaded car with 4 passengers and luggage will mean the pressure needs adjusting. Inspect sidewalls for cracks, bulges, or embedded debris in case of hidden damage. Don’t forget the spare or repair kit either, as recovery services might not be able to get there quickly. It’s useful to know it’s in working order before you’re relying on it down a quiet Cotswolds country lane.
Some other practical driving tips
- You will be driving through farmland and old villages with narrow lanes and parking can be tricky.
- Use an SUV for the country lanes but maybe a smaller car would be easier for finding parking, etc.
- Mobile reception can be patchy so download offline maps as backup. Y
- You driving routes may be slower than expected because of country roads and some roads have no names, so finding places can be tricky.
