Cotswold

Cotswold is a local government district in Gloucestershire, encompassing the heart of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the world-famous towns of Cirencester (the 'Capital of the Cotswolds'), Tetbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Bourton-on-the-Water, along with numerous picturesque villages. This internationally renowned district features the quintessential English landscape of rolling limestone hills, golden stone villages, and historic wool churches that attract visitors from worldwide. The climate is typical of the Cotswolds with mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and the limestone escarpment creating local variations with slightly cooler, wetter conditions on higher ground. Culturally, the Cotswold district holds world significance as the heart of the Cotswolds, with Cirencester's magnificent parish church (one of England's largest, known as the 'Cathedral of the Cotswolds'), its Roman heritage (Corinium was the second-largest town in Roman Britain, with its amphitheatre and museum), and its historic market place. The area preserves exceptional heritage including Tetbury's Market House and church, Stow-on-the-Wold's ancient market place with its cross and medieval buildings, Bourton-on-the-Water's picturesque bridges over the Windrush (earning it the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' nickname), and the Slaughters' idyllic villages. The district's villages feature the golden limestone cottages, manor houses, and churches that define the Cotswold ideal, with Bibury (described by William Morris as 'the most beautiful village in England'), Castle Combe, and many others attracting visitors. The Cotswolds AONB offers spectacular walking including the Cotswold Way National Trail with its panoramic views. The district's wool churches, historic houses (including Sezincote and Newark Park), and traditional pubs and tea rooms complete the picture. Boundary GIS data for Cotswold District Council is available for download in GeoJSON and KML formats, essential for managing this internationally significant area, protecting the Cotswolds AONB, preserving the unique character of the stone towns and villages, and balancing tourism with conservation in one of England's most visited and beloved landscapes.