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Top Things to Do in The Cotswolds This Autumn

Literary escapes, magical performances, luxury shopping and where to see the autumn leaves.  

Summer might be over, but many people agree that autumn is their favourite season for spending time with family and friends. It's the season where cosy knits and comforting hot drinks are embraced. Outdoors, the trees show off their brightly coloured leaves, and autumn illuminations light up the dark. Spending the longer evenings indoors at special live performances is a huge draw, as is making the most of rainy days inside museums or family-friendly attractions.

And being the ‘shoulder season', you'll find places less busy in September and October than in the summer months.

Here are some great ideas for how to spend time in The Cotswolds this autumn:

Cheltenham Literature Festival: Join your favourite writers at the world's longest-running literary festival for talks, workshops and family-friendly things to do. The popular festival also offers fabulous street food, drinks, live music and free events. A must for any book lover!

See the autumn leaves: There are so many beautiful outdoor places to enjoy in The Cotswolds. From lovely long rambles in the AONB to visits to arboretums, gardens and castle grounds, there's something for everyone.

Catch a show: When the daylight fades, head indoors to one of the numerous theatres and arts venues in The Cotswolds. Live performances beat watching streaming services at home any day of the year! Bookend your evening with dinner and after-show drinks, and you have the perfect experience.

Find inspiration at museums and galleries: If it's cold and rainy outside (or even if it's not), wandering around an interesting museum or art gallery is a fantastic way to spend an autumn afternoon. Whatever your interests, you'll find a place that can give you fresh perspectives and new knowledge.    

Enjoy unique shopping: One of the great things about The Cotswolds is the mix of shopping experiences you can find. From luxury shopping to crafts and antiques, independent shops and high street chains, towns like Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester offer all that you desire. Whether that's for yourself or for gifts and souvenirs for others.

Take a look at our recommendations below and start planning your day out in The Cotswolds this autumn.


[Feature image: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels ]


Visit this Colourful Art Gallery and Studio
Chipping Norton | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds North
Heritage Train Rides in the Forest of Dean
Blakeney | Gloucestershire | Forest of Dean, Herefordshire Wye, Wye Valley
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire |
Historic Days Out in Gloucestershire at Dr Jenner’s House
Berkeley | Gloucestershire | South Gloucestershire, Stroud & Severn
Discover Chipping Sodbury: A Hidden Gem Between Bath and Bristol
Bristol | Gloucestershire | Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Stroud & Severn
A Family Day Out in Miniature
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds North, Cotswolds South, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Adventure Awaits at Westonbirt Arboretum
Tetbury | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds South, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Step Into a World of Birds & Dinosaurs in the Cotswolds
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds North, Cotswolds South, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Things to Do in Coleford This Year
Coleford | Gloucestershire | Forest of Dean
Culture, Events & Leisure in Cheltenham
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
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Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Treat Yourself to Handmade Jewellery in Gloucestershire
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Cotswolds North
Vintage & Antique Jewellery Shopping in the Cotswolds
Moreton-in-Marsh | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds North, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
An Unforgettable Evening of Jane Austen in Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Coach Trips & Days Out from Gloucestershire
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Festive Family Fun This Christmas in Cheltenham
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Plan an Adventurous Day Out in the Cotswolds
Gloucester | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Gloucester
Things to Do in Cheltenham for Music Lovers
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
See Twelve Angry Men in Cheltenham, 20-24 Oct
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Live Entertainment in Winchcombe at Isbourne Arts
Cheltenham | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Autumn Entertainment at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury | Gloucestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Wychavon
Discover Arts and Culture in Rural Gloucestershire
Coleford | Gloucestershire | Cotswolds North, Cotswolds South, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Wye Valley
Take a Trip to Oxfordshire’s Inclusive Family Attraction
Chipping Norton | Oxfordshire | Cotswolds North, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
The Perfect Countryside Escape in Oxfordshire
Bicester | Oxfordshire | Cotswolds North, Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Discover Hundreds of Beautiful Butterflies in Stratford
Stratford-upon-Avon | Warwickshire | Warwickshire South
Stratford-upon-Avon | Warwickshire | Warwickshire South
Things To Do in Leamington Spa this Year
Leamington Spa | Warwickshire | Warwickshire South
Tewkesbury | Worcestershire | Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Worcester & Malvern, Wychavon