Cotswolds Tour by Train | Easter Weekend Guide (2026)

Jay Harlow

Mar 23, 2026

If you’re visiting the UK over Easter and want to see the English countryside at its best, be sure to check out the Cotswolds. This sublime region in central England is famous for honey-colored stone villages, rolling green hills, and cozy country pubs. And at Easter, it takes on a special charm with spring flowers and seasonal events.

In this guide, we’ll cover the top things to do in the Cotswolds at Easter and show you how to get there by train from London.

Best things to do in the Cotswolds during the Easter holiday

When you’re planning your Easter break to the Cotswolds, you’ll want to know what’s on and where to go. The good news is there’s plenty to keep you busy over the long Easter weekend, from family-friendly events to springtime walks through the countryside.

Here’s a rundown of just some of the top events and destinations for Easter. Once you’ve decided where to go, don’t forget to book your train tickets on Trip.com.

Easter events in the Cotswolds

Lambing at Cotswold Farm Park. Near Stow-on-the-Wold, you can watch over 900 lambs being born, with talks from the farm team and hands-on craft activities. This event is especially popular among young children.
Easter egg hunt at Sudeley Castle. Near Winchcombe, you follow a trail of giant eggs hidden across the castle grounds, crack codes and track down clues in the yew hedges and castle walls. Children’s tickets are usually half price while the hunt is running.
Easter crafts at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. On board a heritage steam train between Cheltenham and Broadway, you’ll find free craft activities over the Easter period, plus an egg hunt on the platform. If your kids have never been on a steam train before, this is an opportunity not to miss.

Best places to visit in the Cotswolds

When you arrive in the Cotswolds, you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the most photographed parts of England. Here’s a selection of villages you cannot afford to miss when visiting:

Bourton-on-the-Water

This picturesque village is famed for its low stone bridges that cross the shallow river running through the center—this is why it’s often called the Venice of the Cotswolds. On a sunny Easter weekend, you can sit by the water with fish and chips from one of the local shops.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, 8 miles.

Broadway and Broadway Tower

Keen on hiking and shopping? Then visit the village of Broadway and walk up to Broadway Tower. It’s a short hike and from the top you can take in sweeping countryside views. The village itself boasts a long High Street dotted with independent galleries, cafes and old coaching inns.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, 10 miles away.

Stow-on-the-Wold

As a hilltop market town with antique shops, tea rooms and a weekly market, this a good spot for a wander and a cream tea. The town square is home to some of the oldest buildings in the Cotswolds, too. You can get here by bus from Moreton-in-Marsh station, which takes around 20 minutes.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, 4 miles away.

Bibury

For quieter villages, try Bibury. Here you’ll spot the iconic Arlington Row, a terrace of 14th-century weavers’ cottages that’s appeared on everything from postcards to UK passports. There’s also a trout farm nearby and plenty of riverside walks along the River Coln.

Nearest station: Kemble, 15 miles away.

Key train stations for the Cotswolds tour

If you’re coming from London or elsewhere in the UK, getting to the Cotswolds by train is surprisingly easy. Just keep in mind that the Cotswolds isn’t a single town, so there’s no one station to travel to. Instead, you’ll take the train to one of several stations throughout the region and explore from there by bus, taxi or on foot.

Here are the four main stations to know about:

Moreton-in-Marsh

Plan to visit the northern part of the Cotswolds? Then Moreton-in-Marsh is your best bet. There are direct trains with GWR from London Paddington which take around 1 hour 40 minutes. You can also get here from Oxford and Worcester.

Once you arrive, getting around is a breeze. Buses from the station forecourt run to Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and the Slaughters— these are some of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds.

Popular routes:

London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh

Kemble Station

Kemble is one of the fastest ways to reach the Cotswolds from London, with direct GWR trains from Paddington taking around 1 hour 9 minutes and running along the Golden Valley Line between Swindon and Gloucester.

From the station, catch the 882 bus and you’ll be in Cirencester in about 15 minutes. This is the largest market town in the Cotswolds and has Roman ruins (including an amphitheater), independent shops and a regular market.

Popular route:

Charlbury Station

Another great option to get to the Cotswold from London is to take the train to Charlbury. You’ll want the direct GWR service and this takes around 1 hour 10 minutes from Paddington. Charlbury is a quieter, less touristy entry point to the Cotswolds and a great pick if you’re keen on walking and cycling.

You can head straight into Wychwood Forest from the station, while Blenheim Palace and the town of Woodstock are just a short bus (S3) or taxi ride away. Blenheim is one of England’s grandest country houses and the birthplace of Winston Churchill, so it’s well worth a visit on your trip to the UK.

Popular route:

Cheltenham Spa

Visiting from cities other than London? Then Cheltenham Spa is a great option. Cheltenham Spa is one of the largest and busiest stations in the Cotswolds, with up to 12 trains per hour on weekdays. The direct train from Paddington takes around 2 hours 10 minutes, while there are services to other major cities with c2c.

The town center is about a mile from the station—you can either walk it or take the D bus from outside the station. It’s worth exploring thanks to its Regency architecture.

When you’re keen to head out to the Cotswolds, you can catch the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway heritage line to the popular villages Winchcombe and Broadway.

Popular route:

Train travel tips for Easter Cotswolds tour

Why choose train travel to the Cotswolds

If you’re used to renting a car when you travel, you’ll be pleased to know that trains are the easiest way to reach the Cotswolds from London. There are frequent departures from Paddington, with direct services to multiple stations in Cotswolds throughout the day. Best of all, most journeys take just over an hour.

You’re in for a pleasant ride, too. The train from London to the Cotswold takes you through some of England’s prettiest countryside, including the Thames Valley and the Oxfordshire hills.

In the UK, you’ll find that train travel is often much more affordable and practical than renting a car, with no need to worry about traffic, parking, or fuel costs. If you're staying the night, book a hotel in the Cotswolds on Trip.com.

How to book UK train tickets

Step 1: Use the journey planner on Trip.com. Enter your departure and arrival stations into the search bar on Trip.com, along with your travel date and number of passengers. If you have a railcard, add it here and the discount applies automatically.

Step 2: Compare trains and fares. You’ll see all available departures listed by time, with the operator, journey duration and price. Compare your options and pick the one that works best for you.

Step 3: Choose your ticket type. Click on the price to see available fares and remember to check the restrictions for each—cheaper tickets tend to be non-refundable.

Step 4: Pay and get your e-tickets. Type in the passenger details, enter any promo code you may have and complete payment. You’ll then be able to download your e-tickets on the Trip.com website or app. They’ll arrive by email, too, with a QR code to scan at the station on the day.

Notes for Easter train travel

Check for possible engineering works

Before you head to the station to take the train to the Cotswolds, it’s a good idea to check the timetable on Trip.com for your route. That’s because Easter is a popular time for rail engineering work in the UK, so some train companies adjust their schedules or run replacement bus services over the bank holiday weekend. And this can add time to your journey.

Luckily, disruption is usually minimal and you can normally still get from A to B. You’ll just want to use the journey planner on Trip.com to see if travel disruption is affecting your route to the Cotswolds over Easter.

Book tickets early

If you want the cheapest fares, book your tickets in advance. Advance tickets go on sale 12 weeks before travel and are often the lowest prices available. There are only a limited amount available, though, and they often sell-out for busy times of year like Easter.

Use a Railcard to save

In the UK, a Railcard saves you a third off most train fares. You’ll pay an annual fee for the card of around £35 (US$47 as of March 2026), which you will soon make back in savings if you travel by train a lot. As a visitor to the UK, a Railcard could be worth buying if you’re staying for an extended period of time and plan to visit different cities across the country.