Lesser-known Cotswolds villages?

Bibury doesn’t take long to see. The main sight is Arlington row. Less visited places might include Tetbury, Cirencester (a town, not a village), Tewksbury, Stroud, Castle Combe, and Blockley. Those from the UK will have other suggestions.

Except maybe Bourton, no crowds tomorrow.

We did the Cotswolds, staying in Chipping Campden at the Volunteer Inn for six nights and used it as a base for the Cotswolds as well as Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Stratford Upon Avon.
It was nice, the inn has spacious rooms and the best pub in town. Also, a great Indian restaurant.

Parking was no problem.

Winchcombe, Snowshill, Cirencester, Bidford on Avon, Malmesbury to name a few.

Perhaps check out some videos from A Lady in London. She seems to have several recommendations for 1 day and more trips. The video I am playing now starts in Charlbury. I have not been there myself, but the Lady's YouTube channel and website may provide some info.

Looks like you will have a sunny day!

I don't think crowds will be an issue this time of year, so some of the tourist favorites would be fine. Bibury is as picture postcard as it gets, Bourton on the Water is fun for a quick view, The Slaughters are worth a quick visit. Castle Combe was one of our favorites, as was Chipping Campden. It just depends how much time you want to spend in the car.

We stayed in Burford, which we loved. Be sure to visit the lobby of the Bay Tree Hotel which was the home of Sir Lawrence Tanfield in the 1500s and St. John the Baptist Church where the tomb effigy of his wife and him are displayed. The grounds and location on the river are very special. Lunch at nearby The Swan Inn would be lovely. Ask for a table by the fireplace. Enjoy!

Here is a recent thread I posted with an article about some beautiful and much lesser-known villages and towns that you might want to review: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/eight-chocolate-box-villages-near-london

Brilliant, thank you, everyone!

Looks like we can't go wrong this time of year... That has always been my hesitation with the Cotswolds... Possible crowds.

Now it's just the weather to consider.

Especially appreciate the lunch place recommendation.

Thank you all again!

Well the weather is meant to be perfect tomorrow- cold but wall to wall sunshine. A perfect winter day.

wrap up well and enjoy tomorrow's wall to wall sunshine.. Cold mind, and make sure all your windows are clear before setting off or risk an accident and worse a police query.

If I were in the Cotswolds tomorrow I would at least stop by Bourton on the Water to see the magnificent Christmas Tree in the middle of the river - I've only seen photos and would love to see it but too far for tomorrow, never had such a thing when I was a kid.

Off the beaten path, Long Compton with my Mother's fav hill, and the other direction Burford mentioned above. With a south facing hill it should have plenty of that winter sunshine. Or Winchcombe, but watch out for ice. Or Guiting Power with a village cricket team (not playing tomorrow) that I enjoy, and a couple of pubs and nice folks. If you want to feel the wind head to Dover's Hill where the Cheese Rolling happens (not tomorrow) or up into Cleeve Hill, where the rest of the world could be becalmed and it would still blow a houlie. My uncle used to play golf up there and lost many a ball in the wind (or into the fleece of a nearby ewe).

I also agree with Blockley. I'm sitting under a painting of it right now.

Whatever you do, enjoy it. Snow on Saturday and Sunday.

We ended up going to Burford. :)
It was indeed a lovely day... there were more people there than I thought, but not really crowded, per se.

There was a free car park right near Saint John the Baptist Church that we took advantage of, and checked out the church afterwards.

I think a higher volume of people may have been linked to people possibly still being on holiday.

It seemed like a lovely community.

Thanks for the recs, everyone!

I only know Burford from the Youtube channels from Harry Metcalfe, Harry's Garage and Harry's Farm. If you see a Lamborghini Countach or Ferrari Testarossa in the village, it's probably him driving it. I believe Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear / Grand Tour fame lives near Chipping Norton. I'm not sure if Diddly Squat farm is on anyone's Cotswolds itinerary.

@GerryM: Diddly Squat will now be on my visiting list! Thanks.

According to Google maps, Diddly Squat is temporarily closed (maybe for the season?). Edit: their website says they are closed through the end of Feburary.

But I love that name! What a fun idea to name it after an expression (You don't know diddly squat), lol!

yes, Mr (I cringe to give him that title) Clarkson is in trouble again

Mr (I cringe to give him that title) Clarkson is in trouble again

I don't have the opportunity to read about him much in The Guardian these days, so I haven't been keeping up with what he's up to.

I don't know if everyone knows this, but Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime is one way you can get to know more about Diddly Squat.

I admire the career he's made being a broadcaster and journalist, but I don't think he's a very nice person.

A fun Google search for those who might be interested is "celebrities with houses in The Cotswolds". See how many you've heard of.