Things to do locally during a stay at The Red Lion

The Cotswolds and their immediate surroundings are home to some wonderful places to explore. Whether you are discovering the area as a solo traveller, with your partner, with your dog or as a family, you'll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to go next.

We can't list all the fantastic things to see and do here, but we thought we'd list some of our favourites, all of which have been experienced by us or by others in The Red Lion team. We hope it's a useful source of inspiration to anyone planning an itinerary for a visit to the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds... with a dog

Your four-legged friend will be in heaven in the Cotswolds! There are so many wonderful walks and, when you want to stop for a break, the majority of pubs and cafes welcome dogs too. Here are our favourite dog-friendly attractions within an hour's drive of The Red Lion:

The Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, near Burford

Batsford Arboretum, near Moreton-in-Marsh

Cotswold Lavender, near Snowshill

Broadway Tower

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway

The Cotswolds... with kids

To be honest, most of the dog-friendly attractions listed above are equally well-suited to a family day out as well, so they would be perfect for families travelling with a dog.

Here are some of the tried-and-tested locations for family days out that members of The Red Lion team have done with their children:

All Things Wild, Evesham

The Light, Banbury - climbing, arcade games, bowling and cinema under one roof.

The Museum of Natural History, Oxford

Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park

The Play Barn at Fosseway Garden Centre

The Cotswolds... iconic towns and villages

It would be easy to go on about avoiding the crowds and discovering the off-the-beaten-track Cotswolds, but lets be honest, whilst you're here, you'll probably want to tick off the picture-postcard towns and villages that everyone else goes to!

Bibury - William Morris described Bibury as 'the most beautiful village in England' and it welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

Bourton-on-the-Water - nicknamed The Venice of The Cotswolds, this picturesque village has the River Windrush flowing through the middle of it and is home to attractions such as The Model Village at The Old New Inn, Birdland and The Cotswold Motoring and Toy Museum.

Broadway - a thriving village with some great pubs and cafes, as well as art galleries, independent shops and the historic Broadway Tower to explore.

Burford - Often referred to as 'the gateway to the Cotswolds', Burford is a bustling medieval market town.

The Slaughters (horrible name for some very pretty Cotswold villages) - Comprising the two villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter, the word 'slaughter' actually comes from an Old English word meaning 'muddy place'.

'Stow-on-the-Wold...where the wind blows cold' is the highest town in the Cotswolds, standing at 800 feet above sea level. Its market square is home to wealth of independent shops, busy cafes and traditional Cotswold pubs.

 

The Cotswolds... Distilleries and Breweries

We are fortunate enough to have some exceptional quality brewers and distillers in the Cotswolds, many of which allow you to scrutinise their processes on behind-the-scenes tours. Here are a few of our favourite local breweries and distilleries:

Cotswolds Distillery, Stourton - talk to us about special deals for Red Lion guests visiting the distillery

Hook Norton Brewery - this family-run business celebrated its 175th birthday in 2024 and you can discover its rich history and its delicious ales on a brewery tour.

Wood Brothers Distillery - take a distillery tour or go to Gin School with these Bampton-based vodka and gin producers.

Hawkstone Brewery - you know that brewery that Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper are always on about? It's this one and it's not very far from The Red Lion.

The Cotswolds... historic sites

Long Compton's history is rich with tales of witchcraft and Civil War ruin. Located just down the hill from The Rollright Stones, The Red Lion is also just a short drive away from these sites of historic significance too:

Blenheim Palace - Birth place of Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as all the picturesque and historic stuff, there is a great adventure playground for the kids and dogs are permitted in the grounds (but not the palace).

Chasleton House - located just a few miles from The Red Lion, this Jacobean house has hardly changed in the last 400 years.

Warwick Castle - A great day out for kids and grown ups, this imposing castle is over 1100 years old. Attractions include the Horrible Histories Maze, Zog Playland and birds of prey displays.

Sezincote House & Garden - The only Mughal Palace in Northern Europe, this extraordinary Indian house is well worth a visit during your trip to the Cotswolds.