As the festive season approaches, the Cotswolds come alive with an array of enchanting events. So grab a mulled wine and a mince pie because we've handpicked a few of the best Christmas markets, festivals, and events for you to enjoy.

Christmas Markets

Chipping Campden Christmas Market: On this magical day, the streets of Chipping Campden are transformed into a festive wonderland. Explore a wide variety of stalls, savour festive food and drinks, and find unique Christmas gifts. Don't miss the town's Christmas lights coming to life at dusk and a special appearance by Father Christmas. Make your visit extra special and stay at Honey Pot, our luxury cottage for two, with a heavenly Hypnos bed, 500+ thread-count cotton bed linen, and a rejuvenating rain shower.

When: 2nd December 2023, 12pm - 6pm

Where: High St, Chipping Campden, GL55 6HB

Cheltenham Christmas Market: In 2023, Cheltenham hosts not one but two Christmas markets. The Christmas Gift Market (November 16-19) offers a fantastic selection of retail gifts, including homewares and food & drink. The Arts & Crafts Christmas Market (December 14-23) showcases the work of local traders and creators, from pottery to original art. Stalls will line the Promenade and Long Gardens. Stay at The Bolt Hole, just a 15-minute drive away from Cheltenham, and enjoy the luxurious king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with its own roll-top bath.

When: 16th - 19th November & 14th - 23th December 2023

Where: The Promenade & Long Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1PJ

Moreton in Marsh Christmas Market: This market promises an eclectic mix of Christmas goodies, from giftware to food and drinks. Stay at our special grade 2 listed cottage, The Loft, only 13 minutes away in Stow on the Wold. Enjoy a late check-out, modern amenities, a roll-top bath, and luxurious bedding. Plus, we welcome your furry friend with a bed and treats.

When: 25th November 2023

Where: High Street, Moreton In Marsh, Glos, GL56 0AX

Christmas Festivals

Winchcombe Christmas Festival: Winchcombe transforms into a magical winter wonderland during this festival. With over 70 real Christmas trees, street entertainers, choirs, carol singing, and bands, you'll be immersed in the Christmas spirit. Explore 40 market stalls filled with gifts and festive food. The shops will also stay open late so you can shop and browse the night away.

Luxury cottage, The Bolt Hole with its stone walls, oak beams and log burner, is in the centre of the town making it the ideal cosy place to stay.

When: 8th - 9th December 2023

Where: North St / Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe, GL54 5LJ

Craft Festival Cheltenham: This festival returns with 100 of the finest designer makers from across the UK. At Cheltenham Town Hall, you'll find handmade jewelry, ceramics, glass, textiles, woodwork, and furniture. There are plenty of festive workshops and craft demonstrations to enjoy.

When: 17th - 19th November 2023

Where: Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA

Entertainment & Activities

Spectacle of Light at Sudeley Castle: Explore a magical nighttime trail around Sudeley Castle's stunning grounds and enchanted woodland. This year's theme is "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and you can meet Dorothy, Toto, and other iconic characters. Enjoy festive warmers like spiced mulled wine and hot chocolate and before heading home - The Bolt Hole is just minutes away on foot - explore the gift shop for unique Christmas gifts and souvenirs.

When: Multiple dates in November & December, 2023

Where: Winchcombe GL54 5LP

Bourton-on-the-Water Christmas Tree Lighting: Don't miss the magical lighting of the Christmas tree in the River Windrush in the center of Bourton-on-the-Water. The reflections in the river create a truly enchanting scene. The festivities continue with a special shopping evening in town.

For more information nearer the time please contact https://bourtoninfo.com/

When: Last weekend of November, 2023

Where: River Windrush, Bourton-on-the-Water

We hope this inspires you to take a magical break in the Cotswolds this festive season, we’re sure you’ll head home with some wonderful memories!

the christmas tree at bourton on the water

We are always overjoyed when we hear from our guests about how special their stay was with us, and so we thought it was about time we shared with you a little story about each of our beautiful properties.

From when we first started out in 2017, our vision for Unique Cotswold Cottages was always to create something really special. We wanted to wow our guests so they would leave our cottages with unforgettable memories.

Over the last 6 years we have stuck by this vision, we watched it come to life as we tirelessly and meticulously planned, designed, and created.

Each of our properties has their own unique story that gives them their charm. And by adding special touches to each and every one of our hand-picked cottages, and sending a personal pre/post arrival email, we have created the vision we set out to accomplish. This forms part of our unique stamp and lays the foundation for a superbly comfortable stay.

We have done this by leaving a handwritten welcome card for every guest that stays with us.

A welcome tray filled with high quality local and sustainable treats such as wine, organic rape seed oil, biscuits and honey is provided for our guests to use and enjoy.

We provide unique local offers and discounts for guests at local restaurants, cafes and pubs. And to make their stay that much more special, they also have their own on-hand housekeeper who lives locally so should there be any requirements, all our guests need to do is pick up the phone and our housekeeper will be there to help.

We want to make sure each and every one of our guests has the most comfortable and restful night’s sleep. This is our absolute top priority! So in all of our cottages you will find the best of the best mattresses by Hypnos in all our cottages, 500 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen, roll-top bath tubs, walk-in showers and Egyption cotton towels.

Our cottages have all mod cons including high speed wifi and we also offer a later check out than usual, so guests can enjoy taking their time on their last morning with us.

Guests also have the option to book an in-cottage Spa treatment from Solace Asia Therapy, which specialises in deep tissue massage, reflexology, Thai stretch massage and much more.

Our cottages are of course in beautiful walking country so guests have their own personal walking map, we have umbrellas, spare bathroom accessories in case anything is left at home, and let’s not forget your four-legged friends - they have their own basket, treats, blankets and bowls.

And if you are wondering what are the best villages to visit in The Cotswolds, well our cottages are located in some of the prettiest places to visit in this glorious landscape. So without further ado, let’s look a little more closely at our properties and their locations…

Little Gem Cottage - Bourton-on-the-Water

Our first cottage, Little Gem, is over 200 years old. It was a garage for many years but then became a cottage that belonged to the neighbouring house.

When we acquired Little Gem back in 2017, it was very tired and in desperate need of some TLC so we rolled our sleeves up, got to work and it is now a beautifully refurbished Cotswold stone cottage complete with a log burner, fully equipped kitchen, delightful private patio garden and private parking.

The bedroom has a king size bed, a roll-top bath and walk-in shower in the bathroom.

An open plan living/dining/kitchen space has every top quality appliance you should need and the stable door in the kitchen leads to a charming, private patio garden with Weber barbeque, outdoor sofa and table & chairs for outdoor dining.

Located in Bourton-on-the-Water - also known as ‘The Little Venice of the Cotswolds’ - and a stone’s throw from the centre of this charming village. Bourton itself is a quintessentially quaint Cotswold village with its low stone bridges and it has many cafes, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants serving delicious local food.

The Loft, Stow-on-the-Wold

The Loft is a beautiful, romantic rooftop apartment for two in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold. The Grade II Listed building is over 400 years old, it lived one of its many lives as a bakery and we have taken great care to preserve its charm.

This cosy and quirky apartment is at the top of a stunning Cotswold stone building but don’t be fooled - the loft is both spacious and luxurious and has its own access and delightful, private decked terrace with outdoor dining and sofa, perfect for unwinding with a bottle of wine or breakfast.

In the loft we have created a haven with the feeling of a retreat so it is perfect for a romantic getaway where you can enjoy the large bedroom with a stunning roll top bath complete with a view of the stars. There is also a walk-in shower, a large lounge with a dining table, a kitchen with breakfast bar, and everything else you could possibly need.

The Loft is in the heart of Stow village so you can peruse the boutiques and antique shops to your heart’s content!

The Bolt Hole - Winchcombe

At over 150 years old, The Bolt Hole spent many years as a butcher's shop before we lovingly refurbished it to the delightful holiday cottage it is today. With its open plan living/dining room/kitchen and every appliance you should need including a washing machine, dishwasher, 6-ring hob, double oven, fridge with freezer box and microwave so guests can enjoy the ease and comfort of this home-from-home.

To add to the cosy atmosphere of this little haven, we also installed a log-burner and wall-mounted Smart TV to turn those chilly evenings into a perfect setting for snug relaxation.

Despite the Bolt Hole’s size it boasts a king-size bed with views from the bed of the beautiful countryside, a walk-in shower and roll-top bath. We also welcome babies and have provided a cot and highchair.

The Bolt Hole is in the conservation area of Winchcombe which is deemed an area of notable historic interest worthy of preservation. Winchcombe is the ‘walkers paradise’ of the Cotswolds and with its wealth of delightful walks and cycle routes on the doorstep you’ll be pleased to know there are many timbered inns, coffee shops and restaurants - including the celebrated Michelin rated “Restaurant 5 North Street” - to satisfy your appetite!

Honey Pot - Chipping Campden

Delightfully cosy Honey Pot is Ideally situated just off the high street in a very quiet location, and yet it is just a minute’s walk away from the centre of Chipping Campden.

We have made our guest’s stay at Honey Pot as smooth running as possible with a large private parking area and EV charger right outside. Guest’s can enjoy air conditioning when the weather is hot and relax in the private enclosed garden on a balmy evening with a bottle of wine, or for breakfast in the morning. Honey Pot has everything you need to make as comfortable a break as possible including dishwasher, walk-in shower and luxurious touches everywhere.

Chipping Campden, a charming old wool merchant’s town in the heart of the cotswolds, was described by the noted Historian G.M. Trevelyanas as ‘the most beautiful village street now left on the island’, and it’s not hard to see why with its elegant terraced buildings, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century.

Here our guests can enjoy a vast choice of independent shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants. We have partnered up with some of these wonderful eateries to offer our guests a discount.

NEW - Hideaway Cottage

Our stunning Hideaway Cottage was originally named after the nearby River Windrush and in its past life has been a bookmakers and a boot shop. The name Hideaway feels very apt, as the access to the back gate and private garden is hidden away.

Beautifully decorated and immaculately presented, this property will surprise and delight. A little bigger than our other properties, Hideaway has a cosy study/bedroom as well as a beautiful wood panelled master bedroom with king size bed - both have been lovingly decorated with fixtures and fittings including wood panelling, and as with the rest of the property are high quality, sustainable and locally sourced wherever possible.

The spacious bathroom has a roll top bath and walk-in shower - perfect for unwinding after a day’s exploring or walking the surrounding Cotswold hills.

The fully equipped kitchen with top quality appliances, opens out to the cosy living space with log burner, beautiful sofas and smart tv for those cosy nights in.

Hideaway has its own private parking space complete with EV charger for guest use. The delightful private patio garden has Bramblecrest table and chairs for outdoor dining and outdoor sofa so you can enjoy the morning papers.

Bourton village is just a short, easy stroll away where you can enjoy the many characterful shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants including The Mousetrap Inn and Bakery on the Water, a fourth-generation, family run artisan bakery.

We hope that you have enjoyed our ‘tour’ and we would love to welcome you soon as another happy guest. Should you wish to look further into our properties and our ethos, you can find more info on our website www.uniquecotswoldcottages.com.

Happy browsing!

Do, Eat, Go!

Start The Festive Season In Style In The Beautiful Cotswolds

What Makes Our Properties Special?

The Loft, Stow-on-the-Wold

Unique Cotswold Cottages