Best Golf Courses in Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds

Golf on the escarpment, in the valleys, on the parkland estates — Gloucestershire’s courses are among the most scenically rewarding in England.

Gloucestershire golf is the Cotswolds golf — the two are inseparable. The county that contains Cheltenham, Cirencester, Broadway and the Cotswold Hills is also the county that contains some of England’s most atmospheric parkland golf, set within a landscape of honey limestone, river valleys and escarpment views that no other English county can match for sustained beauty.

Cotswold Hills Golf Club on the escarpment above Cheltenham is the region’s most demanding course — a mature parkland where the elevation gives views to the Malvern Hills on clear days. Cheltenham Golf Club is the most accessible and the natural starting point for any Cotswolds itinerary. Broadway occupies one of the most spectacular positions of any course in England — above the village on the escarpment, with views across fourteen counties. Cirencester plays through one of England’s finest private estates. And Naunton Downs, hidden in the Windrush Valley, is the discovery that rewards the golfer who does a little research.

The county’s other great advantage is what surrounds the golf — Cotswold stone villages, exceptional food, some of England’s finest country house hotels and spa properties, and a landscape that makes even a wet day worthwhile. A golf itinerary here works equally well as a Stay•Play•Recover break or a day-trip destination from London or Birmingham.

The Courses

Cotswold Hills Golf Club

Ullenwood, Gloucestershire · Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 73

The most demanding parkland in Gloucestershire and the region’s championship venue — set on the Cotswold escarpment above Cheltenham with views that reach to the Malvern Hills on clear days. A mature course of real quality, consistently well-maintained, that commands precise ball-striking from elevated tees and rewards intelligent course management. The county’s strongest course for the serious golfer.

Green fees from: £45 (visitor)
Full review: Cotswold Hills Golf Club →

Cheltenham Golf Club

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire · Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 70

The natural starting point for any Cotswolds golf itinerary — a mature, intelligent parkland that rewards course management over raw power. Cheltenham Golf Club is honest, well-conditioned and satisfying for low and mid-handicap golfers who want a proper test without the formality of a county members’ club. The town’s restaurants and hotels are within minutes.

Green fees from: £35 (visitor)
Full review: Cheltenham Golf Club →

Broadway Golf Club

Broadway, Worcestershire · High Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 72

One of the most spectacularly positioned golf courses in England — above Broadway village on the Cotswold escarpment with views across fourteen counties on a clear day. The golf is secondary to the setting but far from negligible — a challenging high parkland layout that demands adjustments for elevation. The descent back into Broadway after a round is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a round of golf in the Cotswolds.

Green fees from: £40 (visitor)
Full review: Broadway Golf Club →

Cirencester Golf Club

Cirencester, Gloucestershire · Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 70

One of the oldest and most respected clubs in Gloucestershire — Cirencester Golf Club sits within Cirencester Park, one of England’s finest private estates, and the setting lends the course an atmosphere that newer parkland designs cannot manufacture. Ancient trees, mature turf, a course that has been refined over more than a century. A quietly excellent day’s golf in the south Cotswolds.

Green fees from: £35 (visitor)
Full review: Cirencester Golf Club →

Naunton Downs Golf Club

Naunton, Gloucestershire · Downland · Visitors Welcome · Par 70

The Cotswolds’ most rewarding discovery — a compact, characterful downland layout in the Windrush Valley, where every elevation change reveals a new view and the course uses its terrain with an intelligence that belies its modest reputation. Hidden from the main tourist routes between Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow, Naunton Downs is the round that golfers come back for when they’ve played the better-known courses.

Green fees from: £28 (visitor)
Full review: Naunton Downs Golf Club →

Burford Golf Club

Burford, Oxfordshire · Parkland · Visitors Welcome · Par 71

On the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border in one of England’s most beautiful small towns — a classic English parkland of real charm that combines accessible golf with the extraordinary setting of Burford. The course is not demanding by championship standards, but a round here followed by lunch in Burford is one of the Cotswolds’ most satisfying combinations.

Green fees from: £32 (visitor)
Full review: Burford Golf Club →

Stay•Play•Recover in Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds

Barnsley House ⭐

A boutique five-star spa hotel near Cirencester — intimate, exceptional food, beautiful gardens and a spa that punches well above the property’s size. The finest Stay•Play•Recover option in the south Cotswolds and one of England’s most celebrated small luxury hotels.

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Whatley Manor ⭐

A Cotswold stone manor house near Malmesbury with a Michelin-starred restaurant (The Dining Room), a full destination spa and the most sophisticated food and wellness offer in the region. For golfers who want the Cotswolds at its finest — and partners who want a spa weekend — Whatley Manor is the answer.

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The Lygon Arms, Broadway ⭐

A 16th-century coaching inn at the foot of the Broadway escarpment — one of the Cotswolds’ most famous hotels, with spa and leisure facilities, and a position at the heart of the village that makes it ideal for exploring both the golf courses of the northern Cotswolds and the villages of the Vale of Evesham.

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Recovery & Wellness in Gloucestershire

Practical Information

Best time to visit: April–October. Spring and autumn are the finest seasons in the Cotswolds — softer light, manageable crowds, and courses in excellent condition. August brings school holiday traffic to the village roads; May and September are the months to target.

Getting there: Cheltenham Spa station is served by direct trains from London Paddington (2 hours 10 minutes) and Birmingham New Street (45 minutes). By road, the M5 Junction 10 or 11 gives access to Cheltenham; the A40 connects west from Oxford. Birmingham Airport (BHX) is 45 minutes by road.

Getting around: A car is essential for visiting multiple courses. Cheltenham, Cotswold Hills and Naunton Downs form a natural day’s golf within 20 minutes of each other. Broadway is 20 minutes north; Cirencester and Burford are 30 minutes south.

Green fee ranges: Budget £28–35 (Naunton Downs, Burford, Cirencester, Cheltenham) · Mid-range £40–45 (Broadway, Cotswold Hills) · All courses offer excellent value relative to Surrey or Berkshire equivalents.

Recommended itinerary (3 nights, Barnsley House or Whatley Manor base): Day 1 — Arrive, Cheltenham GC (afternoon) · Day 2 — Cotswold Hills (morning), Naunton Downs (afternoon) · Day 3 — Broadway or Cirencester, spa evening · Day 4 — Burford, depart.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best golf course in the Cotswolds?

Cotswold Hills Golf Club is the most demanding and widely regarded as the finest in the region — a mature parkland on the escarpment above Cheltenham with views to the Malvern Hills. For setting and atmosphere, Broadway Golf Club’s position above the village with fourteen-county views is unmatched. Naunton Downs is the most rewarding discovery for golfers who research beyond the obvious choices.

Is there a golf and spa hotel in the Cotswolds?

Several — Barnsley House near Cirencester and Whatley Manor near Malmesbury are the two finest golf-adjacent spa hotels in the region. Neither has golf on site, but both are within 20–30 minutes of multiple quality courses and offer destination spa facilities that match the quality of the golf. Calcot Manor near Tetbury is a third option.

How far is the Cotswolds from London for a golf trip?

Cheltenham is approximately 2 hours 10 minutes from London Paddington by direct train. By road via the M40 and A40, Burford is about 90 minutes and Cheltenham is 2 hours from central London in normal traffic. The Cotswolds is entirely viable as a long weekend golf destination from London.