Few who take a tour of the Cotswolds make a stop in Shilton. Understandably so. It’s not as well known, nor as pretty, as Stow-on-the-wold or Bourton-on-the-water.
But thanks to Instagram – and to my insistence on looking at Google Maps for every village I read about – I included Shilton in my 9-day road trip in the English countryside.
📍How to get to Shilton
The ideal way to get around the Cotswolds is by car, as we did. You compare the price on Rentalcars and choose the one that best suits your tastes.
If you have no choice but to go by public transport, the 233 bus will take you to Shilton from Burford.
🗺 What to visit in Shilton
Shilton is just one street. It doesn’t have much more to offer. But that street has extreme charm. In fact, it was the setting for Downton Abbey.
In addition to this little river-lake and its bridge, creating this idyllic image that looks like something out of a postcard, it has a red cabin. Not just any red cabin, but a unique library.
The truth is that I demand few things from a place to become my future home: a bookshop and a café. And Shilton fulfils both.




🍴Where to eat in Shilton
If you want to make a technical stop for a coffee or a bite to eat, I recommend you Rose & Crown.
I don’t know if there are any other pubs in town, to be honest. But this one is on Bridge Street, the main street.


🍴Where to sleep in Shilton
I wouldn’t recommend staying overnight in Shilton. You can check out our hotels in the Cotswolds in this article.