Taddington

It's one of several villages making up this genuinely rural area, with a total population just over 340 people, so you're getting the real countryside experience here.

The main reason to visit is Stanway House, an impressive Jacobean manor that's been in the hands of the Earl of Wemyss and March for generations. Throughout the 21st century the house has undergone continuous restoration work, so depending when you visit you'll see various stages of this ongoing project. The estate grounds are worth spending time exploring if you're interested in architectural history and country house heritage.

What really sets the estate apart is its gravity-fed fountain, standing just over 300 feet high and the tallest of its kind anywhere in the UK. It's a remarkable feat of engineering and genuinely striking when it's operational.

The location is ideal if you're walking the Cotswold Way, as it sits conveniently along this long-distance route crossing the region. The nearest larger towns are Winchcombe and Broadway, both within a few miles and offering proper facilities, shops, and more dining choices. Taddington itself functions as a working rural community rather than a tourist destination, so come here for the peace and quiet, and the chance to walk through authentic Cotswolds countryside.