The Cotswolds attracts visitors from all over the world with its outstanding natural beauty, chocolate-box villages and olde worlde charm. But dig a little deeper and you'll find a raft of unique experiences, from woodland alternative spas to whisky-blending masterclasses, to elevate your next visit.
Get planning with SoGlos's top 12 things to do in the Cotswolds that are beyond the typical tourist trail.
Try hot and cold water therapy at Scenic Sauna
Experience the invigorating thrill of hot and cold water therapy at Scenic Sauna, an alternative spa surrounded by peaceful woodland where you can jump between a Finnish barrel sauna and temperature-controlled ice baths — a tried-and-tested method for a wellbeing boost.
Tucked away in the grounds of Far Peak campsite near Northleach, Scenic Sauna also runs Wim Hof Method workshops for mastering breath-work, restorative yoga and meditation classes.
Tour the vineyard at Poulton Hill Estate
Journey just outside of Cirencester to see where award-winning English wines are made at Poulton Hill Estate, with vineyard tours and tastings running throughout the summer months.
Explore the vines where grapes are harvested by hand and learn about the history of this family-run vineyard, before sampling a selection of its sparkling and still wines during a guided tasting.
Learn survival skills at The Real Outdoor Xperience
Consider yourself a bit of a Bear Grylls type? The Real Outdoor Xperience offers the chance to throw yourself into the wilderness and master essential survival skills, from learning to navigate and cook outdoors to building fires without matches and purifying water.
As well as bushcraft sessions, the outdoor centre at Cotswold Lakes has a high ropes course for thrill seekers and a 47-acre lake for watersports, with stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing and kayaking among its roster of activities to try.
Drive a rally car at Cotswold Driving Experiences
Become a daredevil behind the wheel, practising handbrake turns and power slides in a safe environment at Cotswold Driving Experiences, offering rally driving experiences for all ages and abilities near Cirencester.
Or put your off-road driving skills to the test with 4x4 experiences where you'll navigate vertical climbs and descents on an adventure through the Cotswold countryside.
Discover Blenheim Palace on two wheels with Bainton Bikes
Most visitors won't want to pass up the chance to see Blenheim Palace when coming to the Cotswolds but may not have considered making the trip by bike.
Starting in Oxford city centre, Bainton Bikes' Blenheim Palace route gives cyclists an easy path to the palace, following the River Thames and Oxford canal paths. Take a guided tour or follow the route at your own pace, saving money on ticket entry to Blenheim Palace, too.
Learn how to blend whisky and gin at Cotswolds Distillery
As well as crafting award-winning spirits from its distillery, Cotswolds Distillery opens its doors to discerning visitors for tours, tastings and blending masterclasses.
Whether you're a whisky lover or gin is your tipple of choice, take a peek behind-the-scenes to learn all about whisky maturation or single-pot distillation for gin, before getting creative with cask samples and botanicals to produce your own whisky or gin, ready to shake into cocktails or sip neat.
Watch a show at Longborough Festival Opera
A truly unique cultural experience, Longborough Festival Opera hosts a full season of spectacular theatre every summer, breathing new life into classic operas for a modern audience.
Seating up to 500 in its purpose-built opera house surrounded by Cotswold countryside, the festival offers a relaxed, welcoming environment for opera newbies to soak up stellar performances, sip Pimm's and tuck into a picnic.
Try open water swimming at Lake 32 Outdoor Centre
Wetsuits at the ready! There's a choice of five open water swimming courses at Lake 32 Outdoor Centre, spanning 50m which is ideal for beginners to 750m for swimmers who are up to the challenge.
Lake 32 also offers an open water swimming induction to kickstart your journey if you're brand-new to the sport. Or pick up more skills on the water with stand-up paddleboard, canoe and kayak paddling lessons.
Take a cooking masterclass at The Buttery Dish
With lots of creative food and lifestyle workshops to choose from, The Buttery Dish can turn cooking rookies into hosts with the most, teaching everything from canapé construction to curating showstopping tablescapes in its hands-on masterclasses.
Learn from hospitality expert Kelly Bailey, sharing top tips and tricks from 17 years in the industry from her home in Winchcombe.
Shoot arrows and air rifles at The Cotswold Range
Levelling the playing field between kids and adults, The Cotswold Range gives parents and children the chance to practice shooting air rifles together with six shooting lanes and a whole bunch of custom targets to aim for.
Or channel your inner Robin Hood with archery lessons, learning how to wield bow and arrow before using your new skills to compete in fun games like snakes and ladders, noughts and crosses and the range's favourite apple shooting challenge!
Picnic with Pygmy goats at Pyromaniac Chef
For a picnic experience like no other, visit the Pyromaniac Chef and its pair of adorable Pygmy goats, Joan and Dawn.
Meet and greet the girls at their home near Tetbury, where you'll learn how to groom and walk them on a lead, before setting off for a stroll through the historic market town — with plenty of photo ops along the way! Head back for an alfresco feast of smoked meats and seasonal sides, rustled up by the Pyromaniac Chef herself, Kathryn.
Join a free community walk with Roam and Wonder
A great way to meet like-minded people and forge new connections through a love of the outdoors, Roam and Wonder's free community walks are open to everyone, with beautiful routes that take in some of the Cotswolds' prettiest countryside.
Whether you fancy a leisurely stroll or tackling some steeper inclines, Roam and Wonder's walks cover varying distances and degrees of difficulty but usually include pitstops for coffee and cake and end up at a local pub for a post-walk pint or two!
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