Exploring National Trust Homes in the Cotswolds: History, Charm & Hidden Gems

If you’re planning a trip to the Cotswolds, here’s your guide to must-visit National Trust homes and historic properties that combine architectural splendour with compelling stories.

A scenic journey through stately houses, charming cottages, and quintessential English heritage.

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1. Dyrham Park – Baroque Elegance & Expansive Parkland

This grand 17th-century country house sits amid 270 acres of rolling parkland and ornamental gardens, perfect for picnic walks or long afternoon rambles. The Baroque interiors tell stories of global travel and adventure, while the parklands frequently appear in film and TV.

Why visit: Stunning architecture, extensive gardens, scenic walking trails.

Tips: Bring a camera, the wide lawns and baroque façade are postcard-perfect.

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2. Snowshill Manor & Garden – Eccentric Collections & Garden Rooms

Unlike traditional stately homes, Snowshill Manor reflects the personality of its former owner, Charles Wade, filled with whimsical collections from around the world. Surrounding gardens are designed as garden rooms, offering surprise views and unexpected corners of beauty.

Highlights:

• Curated curios from different eras
• Unique garden design
• Romantic Cotswold countryside backdrop

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3. Chastleton House – A Time-Capsule Jacobean Gem

One of the best examples of a preserved Jacobean house in England, Chastleton has remained largely unchanged for centuries, a real time capsule. Step inside and you’ll find rooms that feel almost untouched since the 1600s.

Best for: History lovers and anyone curious about day-to-day life in a historic English house.

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4. Newark Park – Tudor Hunting Lodge with Views

Poised on a ridge overlooking deep Cotswold valleys, Newark Park began as a Tudor hunting lodge and evolved into a grand house with eclectic interiors.

Perfect for:
✔️ Afternoon walks with amazing views
✔️ Exploring varied interiors
✔️ Relaxing with a picnic in the grounds

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5. Arlington Row – Iconic Cotswold Cottages

While Arlington Row isn’t a house museum, it’s one of the most photographed scenes in England, a terrace of stone cottages built in 1380 as a wool store, later converted into weavers’ cottages.

Visit for:

• Photography & postcard-perfect views
• Classic Cotswold village charm
• Easy strolls to local tea rooms

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From the stately elegance of Dyrham Park to the storybook cottages of Arlington Row, the National Trust homes in the Cotswolds offer something for every traveller. whether you love history, architecture, gardens, or simply the charm of English countryside life.

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For all the latest on what’s happening in the Cotswolds, check out What’sOn?XL in CotswoldXL Magazine.

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