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The Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty filled with rolling hills, cobbled houses, hundreds of incredible places to eat and thousands of epic hiking trails – as you imagine, camping in the Cotswolds is pretty fantastic if you love the great outdoors.
Below you’ll find a list of some of the best places to pitch up your tent, as well as everything you need to know before you go. We’ve also included a super handy interactive map of all of our recommended campsites/towns and villages to visit.
Before we jump in, if you’re tight on time then here are some things to note:
🚗 Best way to get around: by car [book through Discover Cars]
🏕️ Best campsite: Cotswolds Farm Park
🎟️ Must-do activities: visit Broadway Castle, Cotswolds Lavender Farm & visit Lower Slaughter
📱Data: Using the Airalo eSim is the most hassle-free way to use your phone abroad instantly
🩺 Best travel medical insurance: at 80% cheaper with just as much coverage as what I was previously paying, I’ll never stop sharing how great SafetyWing is as a full-time traveller!
Best Locations For Camping In The Cotswolds
Cotswolds Farm Park
Best for: Families, dogs, on-site activities
Cotswolds Farm Park is a dog-friendly location based in Guiting Power.
And, Cotswolds Farm Park isn’t just any old place to camp; it’s a working farm, kids indoor and outdoor play centre and a great place for tonnes of woodland walks too.
As such, this makes it popular among families in particular.
Although there are pitches for tent-goers, this location also offers a space for caravans, pods and lodges for those who prefer a slightly more luxurious stay.
Camping pitches start from £15 per night and include facilities such as electricity, water, and greywater wastage, plus free entry to the farm park for the duration of your stay – which is great value for money!
In addition, you’ll also find some clean shower blocks and a couple of restaurants on-site (for eat-in or takeaway) which, you may argue is not what camping is about – but hey, at least the option is there is you can’t get your campfire going!
Far Peak Camping
Best for: All kinds of travellers, adventure lovers, dogs
Not too far from the popular villages of Burford and Bourton-on-the-water is Far Peak Camping site, and it’s the perfect spot in our opinion!
Far Peak pride itself on being perfect for everyone by offering both authentic camping experiences – i.e. just a patch of grass – to a pitch with slightly more equipment so that you can bring your stove and all your favourite foods to cook up a storm! And, marshmallows for smores – they’re an essential item on every camping checklist.
Regardless of your preference, you can guarantee that the view from the tent door will be great with a lakeside view.
On-site is a wealth of activities to enjoy, including archery, low ropes and bushcraft.
For the more adventurous, they’ve got an indoor and outdoor climbing wall to test your strength and technical skills.
If you haven’t given climbing a try before then, believe me, it’s tough – you’ll almost certainly have earnt your cake from the campsite cafe – Hayloft Cafe and Bar!
However, if you prefer your feet to remain on the ground, then Far Peak grounds offer plenty of incredible walks sprawling from their doorstep – or rather, grass-outside-your-tent-step – as well as a nearby pub.
If you want to venture further afield, then the charming town of Cirencester is just a 10-minute drive away.
Cotswolds Carp Farm
Best for: Adults, dogs, peaceful stays
Cotswolds Carp Farm Campsite is located just a short walk from Bourton-on-the-Water and is a little slice of paradise.
It’s an adult-only site that’s situated on 16 acres of meadows with a lake and a small woodland for your furry friends to run around in.
With less than a dozen pitches beside the lake, this camping site offers an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, whilst offering all of the basic necessities such as electricity and a toilet and shower block.
Whilst you can’t do any wild swimming in the lake, you can head to the nearby swimming pool where you’ll also find a gym and sauna too.
Or, if you’re really keen on going for a wild dip, then walk into Bourton-on-the-Water, where on a hot day, you’ll be fighting for a spot in the River Windrush!
By the way, here are a few of my other Cotswolds posts that might be helpful to you! The full list is at the bottom on the page:
Burford Caravan Club Site
Best for: Families, dogs
Burford Caravan Club Site is situated in – yep, you guessed it – Burford!
If you’ve not been to Burford before then you’re in for a treat; it has the most gorgeous high street filled with great bakeries, awesome pubs and dozens of cute book stores.
It’s the epitome of a quintessentially English village.
Burford Caravan Club Site is a great holiday park in the Cotswolds and is known for its well-landscaped pitches with numerous spots for caravans and a few spots for tents, with sparkling clean facilities.
It’s got all of the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay with shared facilities that have been built in keeping with the local vibe – a.k.a, those gorgeous honey-stone buildings that are quite literally in every single village.
For dogs, you’ll find a designated dog-walking area (although, you certainly won’t be short of incredible walks) and for young children, there is a play area on-site.
However, the most exciting thing for children – and possibly adults too – is just opposite, at Cotswolds Wildlife Park.
Cotwolds Wildlife Park is home to numerous members of wildlife including some of the Big Five and tickets come at a discounted price if you pop by the campsite’s reception.
All in all, this is a great place to go camping in the Cotswolds.
Cotswolds Camping
Best for: All travellers, walking
This location may not have the most original name, but they’re certainly up there as one of the best campsites in Oxfordshire if you’re looking to explore the eastern edge with easy access to bigger cities such as Oxford.
Although, the whole idea of going camping is to escape the city.
But still, Oxford is a great day out.
Situated less than a mile away from Charlbury, this site offers its campers the use of a kitchen, hot showers and even a hairdryer.
There are plenty of footpaths, bridleways and woodland walks to explore from the doors of your chosen accommodation and plenty of fantastic nearby villages and towns to check out.
You’ll also find a lovely little barn with toys to keep children entertained if you’d rather sit back and relax around a campfire for the afternoon!
Winchcombe Camping Club Site
Best for: All travellers, dogs, walking, exploring popular villages
Winchcombe Camping Club Site is located on the western borders in the north Cotswolds.
It’s yet another idyllic place to go camping with lakeside pitches and stunning scenery in every direction.
On-site, you’ll find some great amenities including a games room, a dog walking field, a ball games area, a playground, and a shop for all your food and drink essentials.
Off-site you’ll find some of the best villages in the Cotswolds – Broadway, Stanton, Snowshill, and of course Winchcombe.
Wincombe is home to a number of great pubs and cafes – our favourite being The Old Bakery, as well as Sudeley Castle – another popular attraction in the area.
If you fancy popping over to Broadway or further afield to Cheltenham then it’s worth checking out the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway – it’s an awesome experience as well as a means of getting from a to b – plus, you get some fantastic views of the countryside on the way!
Cotswolds View Camping
Best for: All travellers, children, on-site entertainment, exploring popular towns/villages
Cotswolds View Camping site is set on 54 acres of land in the lovely little village of Charlbury and it’s one of the best locations in the UK in our opinion!
There are some fantastic facilities here, including tennis courts, multiple playgrounds, a football pitch, a skittle alley and a giant chess set – not quite as big as the one in Harry Potter, but still pretty big!
There’s also a well-stocked on-site shop and off-licence for all of your essentials too.
For those who like farm animals – and really, who doesn’t – you’ll be pleased to know that you’ll be sharing your home with some little – and sometimes smelly – furry/fluffy friends!
Nearby, you’ll find the popular villages of Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford.
Woodstock is also not too far, so be sure to check out Blenheim Palace if you have time!
Cotswolds Camping At Holycombe
Best for: couples, solo travellers, remote stays
Cotswolds Camping At Holycombe sits on beautiful grounds with a lake, forest and tonnes of wildlife.
It’s peaceful and endearing and has a unique stone circle that – according to the owners – ’emits a high amount of electromagnetic energy’.
Spooky or kind of cool?
Kind of cool.
Actually, super cool.
The location has all the usual modern facilities such hot showers and flushing loos – as well as compost loos for those who are looking to be more eco-friendly!
If you’re hoping to venture out of the campsite then nearby are the famous Rollwright Stones, which are essentially a smaller version of Stonehenge.
If you love a farm shop as much as I do, then the most dreamy farm shop of them all can be found in Kingham at Daylesford Organic. I definitely recommend checking this out if you have time!
They also have a Michelin star restaurant if you get fed up with toasting marshmallows at any point while you’re camping in the Cotswolds.
Painswick Camping
Best for: remote stays, great walks, couples, solo travellers
This location is a real hidden gem and as you may have guessed, it’s in Painswick.
Painswick is one of the most well-known villages and is a great base for exploring many of the other popular nearby towns and villages. Most notably the neighbouring village of Birdlip.
This campsite is popular among those who embark on the Cotswolds Way – a 102-mile walk. It spans from the top of the Cotswolds in Chipping Campden, all the way down to Bath.
This is still on our list of things to do in the area, however, we have squeezed in quite a few walks that include some great sections of the Cotswolds Way since living in Stratford-upon-Avon, and as you can imagine, the scenery is awesome.
The campsite has fantastic facilities including a fishing pool and even more fantastic owners who can’t do enough to help you get the most of your stay.
Exploring a new area is always ten times better when you have some insider tips from a local too – right?!
We won’t spoil the surprise, but make sure you ask about the alpacas.
Hunts Court Huts
Best for: adults, remote stays
Hunts Court Huts is an adults-only site; It’s tucked away on the western edge of the Cotswolds in the picturesque village of Dursley.
The site is mostly home to pods that come equipped with a fire-pit and wood-fired hot tub, however, there are some great places to pitch up a tent too.
On-site, you’ll find little more than a few farm animals and incredible views. As such, this location really is a great one for those who are looking for some peace and quiet from the outside world!
Check availability and pricing: Hunts Court Huts
Things To KNow Before You Go Camping In The Cotswolds
How Long To SPend Camping In The Cotswolds
You could easily spend weeks camping in the Cotswolds.
There are so many incredible hikes to be had, beautiful cobbled villages to explore and even more cake and coffee shops to find.
But, as you’ll likely base yourself in just one area, then I would say 1 week.
Best Time Of Year To Camp In The Cotswolds
The best time to go camping in the Cotswolds is when the weather is nice – usually between May and September.
Because let’s be honest, no one really loves to go camping when the noise of rain is keeping you up at night and you’re feet feel like ice-cubes.
And, while the Cotswolds in winter is magical, the last thing you want to do is come back to a freezing cold tent.
Conclusion
To summarise, the Cotswolds is one of the best places to go camping in the UK. It has some superb sites on offer and provides a great mix of outdoor activities and quaint towns to explore.
We hope you’ve found this post useful and if you have any more questions then drop us a comment down below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
We’ve also got a whole bunch of other posts about the area if you’re looking for further information.
- 🏨 Best areas and hotels to stay in the Cotswolds
- 🥾 Best Cotswolds walks
- ❄️ Winter in the Cotswolds guide
- 🎅 Christmas in the Cotswolds guide
- 📝 Cotswolds itinerary
- 💕 Romantic activities in Stratford upon Avon
Millie / Stay Wild Travels.
