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Cotswolds Motorhome Road Trip: Villages and Country Views

Cotswolds Motorhome Road Trip: Villages and Country Views: The Cotswolds are best explored slowly. Honey-coloured villages, market towns, gardens and viewpoints sit close together, but narrow lanes and limited parking make a booked campsite and a carefully chosen route especially valuable for motorhome visitors.

Suggested route: Blenheim → Broadway → Stow-on-the-Wold → Bourton-on-the-Water → Bibury → Cirencester → Castle Combe. Allow five to seven nights and use buses or walking routes for the smallest villages.
Important motorhome note: Cotswold District Council permits larger motorhomes in specified coach bays at selected daytime car parks but does not permit overnight camping. Check each car park's current terms. Check the official current guidance.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace on a UK motorhome road trip
Blenheim Palace – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Blenheim's palace, park and gardens can fill most of a day and make a clear eastern gateway to the route. Check opening, events and vehicle access in advance. Use the attraction parking only for the visit, not as an assumed overnight stop.

Blenheim Palace visitor information · Search for motorhome campsites near Blenheim Palace

Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower on a UK motorhome road trip
Broadway Tower – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Broadway Tower stands on one of the Cotswolds' highest points, with far-reaching views in clear weather. The approach and parking have local restrictions; check the estate's current information and avoid unsuitable shortcuts suggested by sat-nav.

Broadway Tower · Search for motorhome campsites near Broadway Tower

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold on a UK motorhome road trip
Stow-on-the-Wold – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Stow is a historic market town with shops, inns and walking routes. Cotswold District Council currently permits large motorhomes to use coach bays at Maugersbury Road for daytime parking, with no overnight camping. Confirm the posted conditions.

Visit Cotswolds: Stow-on-the-Wold · Search for motorhome campsites near Stow-on-the-Wold

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water on a UK motorhome road trip
Bourton-on-the-Water – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Bourton's low bridges and riverside centre are popular throughout the year. Use a signed car park that can accommodate the vehicle and visit early or later in the day. A nearby campsite and local bus can be easier than searching for a central space.

Visit Cotswolds: Bourton-on-the-Water · Search for motorhome campsites near Bourton-on-the-Water

Bibury and Arlington Row

Bibury and Arlington Row on a UK motorhome road trip
Bibury and Arlington Row – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Bibury is small and receives heavy visitor traffic. Motorhome parking is limited and residential roads must remain clear. The best plan is often to leave the vehicle at a campsite or suitable larger car park and arrive by another means.

Visit Cotswolds: Bibury · Search for motorhome campsites near Bibury and Arlington Row

Cirencester

Cirencester on a UK motorhome road trip
Cirencester – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Cirencester is a useful service base with Roman history, a market town centre and access to surrounding countryside. Check the council's current parking list for vehicle suitability, then explore the town on foot.

Visit Cotswolds: Cirencester · Search for motorhome campsites near Cirencester

Castle Combe

Castle Combe on a UK motorhome road trip
Castle Combe – a suggested stop on this motorhome route.

Castle Combe's historic streets and stone cottages are frequently used as a film location. The village centre is tiny and unsuitable for touring in a large vehicle. Use the signed visitor parking above the village and be prepared for the walk back uphill.

Visit Wiltshire: Castle Combe · Search for motorhome campsites near Castle Combe

Book campsites and legal overnight stops

Parking for a daytime visit does not automatically include permission to sleep in the vehicle. Book an established campsite or a clearly authorised motorhome stop, check the motorhome length limit and arrival time, and read the signs every time. Our campsite booking apps guide and legal overnight-stop guide explain the checks to make.

Choose your motorhome

Yorkshire Motorhome Rentals offers pet-friendly 2–6 berth motorhomes from Doncaster, with breakdown cover included. View the motorhomes, read how to book or contact us for help choosing a vehicle.

More UK motorhome travel guides

Yorkshire · Northumberland · Scotland · North Wales · South Wales · Cornwall · Devon · Dorset and Bournemouth · Lake District · Peak District · East Anglia · Kent and Sussex

Photograph credits and licences
  • Blenheim Palace – Paul Gillett – CC BY-SA 2.0 – source
  • Broadway Tower – Graham Hogg – CC BY-SA 2.0 – source
  • Stow-on-the-Wold – Michael Dibb – CC BY-SA 2.0 – source
  • Bourton-on-the-Water – Lewis Clarke – CC BY-SA 2.0 – source
  • Bibury and Arlington Row – Diliff – CC BY 3.0 – source
  • Cirencester – Malc McDonald – CC BY-SA 2.0 – source
  • Castle Combe – Saffron Blaze – CC BY-SA 3.0 – source