Your Cotswolds Spring Bucket List 2026

Spring arrives slowly in the Cotswolds and then all at once. One week the stone walls are bare and the fields are mud, the next the verges are white with wild garlic, the village pubs have their doors open, and the calendar fills up faster than you can keep track. Here's our pick of the things worth making time for this spring.

Get to a lambing event before the season ends

There's something quietly magical about watching a lamb take its first wobbly steps in a Cotswold field. Several farms open their gates in spring — most run through April, so don't leave it too late.

Walk the Cotswold Way — just a bit of it

You don't need to tackle all 102 miles. Pick a stretch, pack a decent sandwich, and see what the fuss is about. Broadway to Chipping Campden is a gentle introduction; Cooper's Hill to Painswick is shorter but hilly, with views that earn every step.

Visit a village you've never been to

The Cotswolds has dozens of towns and villages worth exploring, and most visitors see about four of them. Pick one you've been meaning to get to Northleach, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Minster Lovell and give it a proper afternoon.

Catch an outdoor event

The season kicks off properly in May, and here are 2 events that im looking forward to attending. The Barnsley Village Garden Festival opens private gardens that are closed the rest of the year. The Shindig Festival at Charlton Park which runs over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Eat outside somewhere worth the wait

Find a pub garden with a view there are plenty and stay longer than you planned. Order something local. The Cotswolds does this better than almost anywhere in England and share some of your favourites over on our Facebook page.

Go to a farm shop properly

Not a flying visit for a loaf of bread. A proper browse of the cheese counter, the butcher, the local preserves and try something you've never tried. Daylesford and The Organic Farm Shop Cirencester are two on my list for April.

Watch the bluebells

Mid-April to mid-May, the woodland floors turn violet-blue. Westonbirt Arboretum is the obvious choice, but any patch of ancient woodland will do. It lasts about three weeks. Don't miss it.