Lea

With fewer than 300 residents, it's genuinely peaceful without ever feeling empty — you'll find yourself noticing how light falls across the stone buildings far more than you'd notice passing traffic.

The village occupies slopes carved by a tributary of the River Windrush, which means there's some rewarding walking to discover in the surrounding countryside. You could tackle straightforward rambles if you want proper exercise, or simply find a spot to sit with the views. The parish church anchors the village and rewards a closer look, both for its architecture and for the churchyard, which tells you quite a lot about the area's history if you spend time reading the gravestones and monuments.

The real appeal here is that Lea feels genuinely lived-in rather than preserved for visitors. You won't find attractions or extensive facilities — what you get instead is a real sense of what a working Cotswolds village actually is, away from the main tourist circuits. It works brilliantly as a stopping point during a longer walk or drive through the region, particularly if you're travelling between Cheltenham and Stow or exploring the network of smaller villages that give the Cotswolds its character. The location means you can easily reach proper amenities in either direction while enjoying the quietness when you're here.