I am planning on visiting the Cotswolds in mid May 2023 for a week and will have a car.
I had been thinking of staying in a less popular town to avoid the crowds but then wondered if maybe things were quieter in May and I could expand my options. Bourton-on-the-Water seems like a lovely town but tourist filled. How would it be in May?
If it was still crowded - if we went elsewhere for the middle of the day, how would the mornings and evenings be?
May is a popular time as the weather is usually much warmer and often better than June. In addition, there are bank holidays the first two weekends in May plus school holidays the last week of the month.
Bourton on the Water is one of the busiest tourist traps, so it will be busy. I would opt for one of the quieter villages such as Minster Lovell, Winchcombe or Charlbury if you want fewer crowds.
Bourton on the Water attracts lots of coaches on day trips, it has easy access from main roads and good parking for them unlike lots of other locations. It will be quieter up to mid-morning and from mid-afternoon
I think Chipping Campden would be a better choice.
I liked Winchcombe. AirBnB stay. Lovely Christmas Spectacle of Light.
We stayed at the Volunteer Inn at Chipping Campden and loved it. Low rates, spacious rooms, beat pub in town. Also, they have a great Indian restaurant.
We did the Cotswolds in early October and it was great.
Bourton on the Water will indeed be busy in May. As Jennifer says, with 3 Bank Holidays, a Coronation, and school half-term, the town will not be quiet. Scenic but busy, at least in the middle of the day.
There are plenty of nearby village and towns which will be quieter.
But the most important question is - what do you hope to find or discover? Pretty villages, old architecture, churches and churchyards, gardens, narrow lanes, Lavender fields? Then we can help guide you the right way...
Will you be driving a car, or will you be joining tours, or using buses and trains?
Thank you all so much for your help. My husband and I travel to Ireland a fair amount and there is quite a difference between July/August and May so I thought it worth asking.
To answer what we are interested in: walking and eating. We are not shoppers. I envision our days as driving to a given town, ambling about and enjoying the buildings, then heading off for a walk and returning after a few hours for a scone and tea. Then a nice dinner at whatever town we are staying at (or nearby) and maybe a drink at a pub.
We are definitely B&B people, not AirB&B, preferably within walking distance of town - less then a half mile or so.
Originally were thinking of Chipping Campden or Stow-on-the-Wold, though Stow seems like it might be crowded, or perhaps Blockley (though Blockley seems like it might be short on places to eat).
Again thanks for the help. Any further comments would be appreciated.
Stow on the Wold is well located for all sorts of walks, Bourton on the Water, the Rissingtons, the Slaughters, the Swells, but it does have one big issue for walkers - everything is downhill which means that on the way back from anywhere it is uphill.
I know the area well, had family there and my parents lived close nearby for several years.
Chipping Campden has some nice walks and a pair of world class gardens nearby.
Blockley is indeed scenic but there isn't a level 10 feet in the village, and you are right that there isn't a lot in the evenings.
Nigel, thank you for your comments, particularly about the climb to Stow. We are in our 70s and an uphill most every day at the end of the day would not be a happy thing.
I think we have settled on Chipping Campden. Now to find a B&B.
