Cotswolds without a car

We explored many of the Cotswold villages by public transportation back in the late 90’s. It was easy at that time and wonderful!

This may not answer your question, but "smaller towns" and public transportation don't typically go hand-in-hand. This is mostly true all over the world. Why invest, plan and schedule buses and trains if there is no one to use them? The exception, sadly, is "big tourist spots."

The principal rail station in the Costwolds is Moreton in Marsh served hourly from London Paddington and Oxford- see Timetable T6 on this link-
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times

With some thought and sitting down with a map it is possible to get around by bus.

The main operator in the area is Pulhams

but Stagecoach also operate from Moreton to Chipping Campden and Stratford on Avon-Service 1 and 2, from Stratford to Chipping Norton Service 50, from Chipping Norton to Oxford- Service S3 and Oxford to Witney to Cheltenham- Service S2

See also this website- https://explorethecotswolds.com/cotswolds-by-public-transport/ which gives an area bus map with links to all the timetables.
And this website lists all the villages in the area served by bus- click on the village name and you get full details of each of the routes- https://bustimes.org/districts/52

Places easily or fairly easily reached from Moreton-in-Marsh, not all in the Cotswolds. Broadway, Blockey aand Chipping Campden can be reached by bus in one direction. In another direction, The Slaughters (bit of walking), Bourton and Stow. Short train ride to Kingham. Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Woodstock are reachable by train or a combination of bus and train. Stratford and Cheltenham are serviced by bus, Worcester by train.

If you are up for it, you can walk to Batsford Arboretum from Moreton. Hidcote Manor a short taxi ride from Chipping Campden.

Bus schedules change at some point off-season. Moreton itself is a nice enough base and has plenty of eateries.