The Cotswolds is home to some of the UK's best family days out where you can wander through historic palaces and castles, visit wildlife centres with hands-on animal encounters and enjoy unique experiences — from walking alpacas to riding steam trains!
Packed with plenty to do for kids of all ages, here are 15 of our favourite places to go when visiting the Cotswolds with children.
Fish for your dinner at Bibury Trout Farm
England's oldest working trout farm has a popular fishery where aspiring anglers can learn to cast a rod and fish for their supper, with barbecues available to hire to cook your catch for a family feast afterwards.
All fishing equipment is available to hire and the Bibury Trout Farm team can lend a hand with gutting your fish, if you're feeling squeamish! The attraction also has its own crazy golf course for even more post-fishing fun.
Go for a stroll with the Cotswold Alpacas
Meet the Huacaya alpacas that call the Cotswolds home for a unique animal encounter, learning all about alpaca husbandry and taking a guided walk through Cowley with the Cotswold Alpacas herd.
Children aged 10 and over can lead their own alpaca on a gentle walk through the lanes and picturesque grounds of Cowley Manor, before having a go with the mini drop spindles that are used to spin alpaca fleece into yarn. Cotswold Alpacas also offers meet-and-greets at its farm, ideal for children under five.
Roam the grounds of Blenheim Palace
The birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace on the edge of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds is one of the UK's best palaces to visit, thanks to its grand state rooms, expansive gardens and awe-inspiring rooftop viewpoint.
Children will love its sprawling adventure play zone, navigating its network of tunnels and hidden chambers to navigate and racing each other down the triple zip lines; while there's a dedicated toddler area for little explorers, too.
Discover the Corinium Museum's treasure trove of artifacts
Did you know Cirencester was once Corinium, the second largest city in Roman Britain? Curious kiddos can delve into the history at the Corinium Museum, home to a collection of treasures from Roman times.
Look out for Rusty, the 2,000-year-old dog skeleton that lives in the museum, with prehistoric tools, Anglo Saxon artefacts and fascinating insights into the modern history of the Cotswolds to discover, too.
Meet famous penguins at Birdland Park and Gardens
From pretty pink flamingos to rare species of ibis, Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water is home to over 500 birds — including Seth the movie star penguin, who's shared the screen with Danny DeVito and David Attenborough.
Don't miss feeding time for England’s only breeding group of king penguins or the chance to get up-close to dinosaurs, with life-size sculptures of Jurassic giants lurking in the woodland.
Soak up the seasons at Batsford Arboretum
With 60 acres to explore, Batsford Arboretum on the outskirts of Moreton-in-Marsh is a natural playground for children, with interactive seasonal trails and a fun play area to keep them entertained, too.
Although beautiful all year round, spring and autumn are spectacular times to visit and see the landscape transformed by pastel pink cherry blossoms or fiery red maple trees — take your pick!
Get hands-on with the animals at Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park
Best-known for its lambing season, where hundreds of baby sheep are born before visitors' eyes every year, Cotswold Farm Park gives children an insight into British farming with opportunities to interact with rare and native breeds, from Golden Guernsey goats and Highland cattle!
Handle newly hatched chicks, bottle feed little lambs and watch out for special seasonal events and activities, with wildflower fields to frolic through in the summer and plump pumpkins to pick straight from the patch in the autumn.
Splash around WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Not only home to hundreds of species of wetland wildlife, from colourful flamingos to friendly otters, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is packed with family-friendly experiences to charm children and nature lovers of all ages.
Take a canoe safari down the waterways, spotting dragonflies as you row; see pelicans soaring overhead in bird demonstrations at the Living Wetland Theatre; and prepare to get soaked playing in Slimbridge's popular water play area, Welly Boot Land.
Play all day at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Spanning 600 acres just outside of Tetbury, Westonbirt Arboretum is the kind of attraction you can visit time and time again, with new family activities, interactive trails and special events to discover every season.
Children will love weaving their way along the Tree Top Walkway, standing eye-level with the canopy at 13 metres above ground, and searching for Gruffalo sculptures in the deep, dark wood, before refuelling with a tasty treat at the cafe.
Walk in the footsteps of Tudor royalty at Sudeley Castle
Discover 1,000 years of historic secrets, including the resting place of Henry VIII's sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr, at Winchcombe's striking Sudeley Castle.
The grounds are equally impressive, with landscaped gardens and wild ruins to explore, as well as a menagerie of life-sized animal sculptures to find. Don't miss the adventure playground, where kids can play hide-and-seek in the fort and tackle the obstacle course.
Ride the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway
Climb aboard a heritage steam locomotive and set off on a scenic train journey through the Cotswolds, thanks to the volunteer-run Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
With scheduled stops at local places of interest, including Cheltenham Racecourse, Broadway and Winchcombe, hop on and off for a day of adventure by rail — or grab tickets for special events, from murder mystery evenings to meet-and-greets with Father Christmas!
Hike to the Cotswolds' highest point – Broadway Tower
Perhaps our most iconic vista, Broadway Tower sits tall and proud on top of the Cotswolds escarpment. It's a steep but stunning climb from Broadway village, if you're up for a challenge, but for little legs or families with buggies, the tower is just a short walk from the car park at the top of the hill.
Climb to the rooftop for a view that spans 16 counties, spot the resident herd of red deer grazing and discover a relic of the Cold War — Broadway Tower's very own nuclear bunker, hiding 15 feet below ground.
Hide in the follies at Painswick Rococo Garden
The perfect place to play fairies, Painswick Rococo Garden is tucked away in an enchanting valley near Stroud, with a rustic wooden play area, unusual maze and woodland trails to explore.
As the UK’s only complete surviving rococo garden, it's full of quirky follies that give visitors a glimpse into its frivolous past as a pleasure garden for gentlefolk. Now, it's best known for its spectacular display of snowdrops in the winter and diverse programme of family events.
Pretend you're a giant at Bourton Model Village
A trip to Bourton-on-the-Water isn't complete without paying a visit to its miniature replica, nestled within the grounds of village pub, The Old New Inn.
Stroll through the streets of the Model Village, stooping down to peer in tiny shop windows, before rounding off your visit with a bite to eat in the pub. It's the only Grade II-listed model village in the country, so well worth a visit.
