1 / 6The Cotswolds is packed with brilliant family days out, and it isn't all pretty villages and country walks. Across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire you'll find wildlife parks, a crocodile zoo, rare-breeds farms, historic castles and even sandy inland beaches, most within a short drive of each other. Here are eight kid-friendly attractions we can confirm are genuinely worth the trip.
🎟️See things to do in The Cotswolds on GetYourGuide →Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens
A 160-acre zoo and gardens set around a Victorian manor house near Burford, Oxfordshire, home to more than 260 species including Asiatic lions, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wolves, penguins and one of the UK's largest reptile collections. Kids love the big tree-house adventure playground with slides, rope bridges and swings, plus "Bella" the narrow-gauge train that circles the park and the daily penguin and lemur feedings. It's easily a half-day out.
Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park
This rare-breeds farm attraction at Guiting Power, Gloucestershire opened in 1971 and is now run by BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson, with 50-plus breeds of rare and native farm animals including Highland cattle, Suffolk Punch horses and goats. Hands-on animal encounters, seasonal lambing and bottle-feeding, and both indoor and outdoor play areas and touch barns make it perfect for younger children.
Crocodiles of the World
The UK's only crocodile zoo, at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, is home to 130-plus crocodiles, alligators and caimans across 18 crocodilian species, alongside snakes, lizards, tortoises, meerkats and Komodo dragons. Daily animal feeds and encounters with Nile crocodiles and meerkats, an indoor tropical setting that's great for a rainy day, and keeper experiences make it a thrill for animal-mad kids.
Birdland Park & Gardens
Nine acres of gardens and woodland along the River Windrush in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, home to 500-plus birds including flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks and England's only breeding group of king penguins. There's a daily 3pm penguin feeding, interactive feeding sessions and a "Jurassic Journey" dinosaur trail. It's walkable and pushchair-friendly, making for an easy family day.
Sudeley Castle & Gardens
A historic castle at Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, rich in royal Tudor history as the burial place of Katherine Parr, set among ten award-winning gardens. Children get a huge adventure playground plus giant wicker animal sculptures dotted through the grounds to discover, and there's plenty of open space to run around.
Blenheim Palace
A UNESCO World Heritage baroque palace and Churchill's birthplace, set in more than 2,000 acres of Capability Brown parkland on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Families will find an adventure play area with zip-lines and water play, a giant hedge maze and a butterfly house in the Walled Garden, and a miniature train ride linking it all together.
The Model Village
A one-ninth scale Grade II listed replica of Bourton-on-the-Water, built in Cotswold stone in the 1930s and even including a model of the model village itself. The kid-sized, walk-through miniature streets delight younger children, and it's small, quick and inexpensive, making it easy to combine with Birdland and the village itself.
Cotswold Water Park
A large network of 150-plus lakes across the southern Cotswolds around South Cerney, Gloucestershire, with beaches, watersports and walking and cycling trails; the parkland and lakeside paths are free to access. Sandy inland beaches are great for paddling and buckets-and-spades, and there's kayaking, paddleboarding and family bike trails too, making it a good-value outdoor option on a sunny day.
Tips for a family day out
- Bourton-on-the-Water is a natural base: Birdland and The Model Village sit within the village itself, so you can pair both with a riverside stroll.
- Book popular attractions like Blenheim Palace in advance, especially in school holidays, to save time at the gate.
- Pack for the weather. Crocodiles of the World is largely indoors and great for a wet day, while Cotswold Water Park is best saved for sunshine.
- Check daily feeding and encounter times before you arrive so you don't miss the penguin, lemur or crocodile feeds.
- Bring a change of clothes for younger children if you're heading to water play or the inland beaches.
FAQs
What are the best days out with kids in the Cotswolds?
Family favourites include Cotswold Wildlife Park, Birdland, Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park, Crocodiles of the World, Sudeley Castle, Blenheim Palace, The Model Village and Cotswold Water Park, covering wildlife, farms, castles and outdoor play.
Which Cotswolds attractions are best for a rainy day?
Crocodiles of the World has an indoor tropical setting that's ideal in wet weather, and the reptile houses and indoor play barns at the wildlife park and farm park also offer shelter.
Are there free or low-cost family days out in the Cotswolds?
Yes. The parkland and lakeside paths at Cotswold Water Park are free to access, and its inland beaches make a great-value day out, while The Model Village is small and inexpensive.
🎟️ Top things to do in The Cotswolds
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