Best Things to Do in Moreton-in-Marsh: One Day in the Cotswolds Itinerary

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There’s nothing more British than a day out in the Cotswolds. Most Cotswolds towns offer a similar experience for visitors: a pretty and quaint High Street, some cozy pubs and the rolling hills of the gorgeous British countryside. As one of the most accessible towns in the Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh is a favorite of visitors to the United Kingdom.

Now the great joy of visiting the Cotswolds is to simply bathe in the picturesque glory of the British countryside. But if, like me, you enjoy having a few points of things to do to plan your travels around then this article is for you.

Getting to Moreton-in-Marsh

By train

Moreton-in-Marsh is conveniently located on the London to Great Malvern GWR line, taking about 1.5 hours from London Paddington station. This means you can easily visit Moreton-in-Marsh as a day trip from London to the Cotswolds. But, as all travelers to the UK should know, train tickets will be cheaper if you book them in advance.

Travelers are often surprised to find that Moreton-in-Marsh is only 25 minutes by train from Oxford. While there is no shortage of Cotswold towns to visit from Oxford, the direct rail link easily makes Moreton-in-Marsh one of the most popular day trips from Oxford.

Moreton-in-Marsh is the ideal destination for a trip to the Cotswolds without a car.

By car

If you are traveling by car, you probably won’t hang around Moreton-in-Marsh for long. One of the great joys of travelling through the Cotswolds by car is simply stopping by small towns for hearty meals and short walks.

But don’t get me wrong, Moreton-in-Marsh makes for an ideal stop on any Cotswolds itinerary. For example, if you are coming from Oxford, you could visit Woodstock, Blenheim Palace, Chipping Norton and Moreton-in-Marsh before ending at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Variations in planning the ideal Cotswold itinerary are endless – but don’t lose too much sleep: whichever direction you choose to go, the experience is equally gorgeous.

Where to stay in Moreton-in-Marsh

As Moreton-in-Marsh offers an experience to visit the Cotswolds without a car, many travelers base themselves here for a few days and take day trips.

You’ll want to make sure you’re staying on High Street. This way you’ll be close to the best Moreton-in-Marsh things to do. Some of my favorites include the Redesdale Arms (also home to an extremely popular pub), the White Hart Royal Hotel and the Manor House Hotel. Each of these options is centrally located and oozes Cotswolds vibes.

Best things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh

1. Attend the Moreton-in-Marsh weekly market

Moreton-in-Marsh is most famous for hosting the best market in the Cotswolds. Every Tuesday, you’ll find 200+ stalls lining Moreton-in-Marsh’s high street. These stalls will be showcasing the best of the Cotswolds: fresh produce, locally brewed drinks, Cotswolds-designed homewares and more.

Unfortunately for weekend visitors, the Moreton-in-Marsh market is only on Tuesdays. If you are able to make it, you’ll want to make sure you visit between 9 am and 3 pm.

2. Cafe hopping for the best lattes, sourdough and toasties

For a small town, Moreton-in-Marsh punches above its weight with a vibrant cafe scene. Some of my favorite cafe bites in Moreton-in-Marsh include the brie and chilli jam grilled cheese sandwich at Martha’s Coffee House, and the heritage tomato, olive and mozzarella tart at Otis and Belle. If you’re only visiting on a day trip from London to the Cotswolds, make sure you don’t eat breakfast before you leave home.

If you’ve taken an early morning train and you’re looking for the best cup of coffee, stop by Grouch Coffee. It’s just on the road coming from the station to town (you literally can’t miss it).

2. Breathe the fresh country air on a short walk

One of the best things to do in the Cotswolds is to walk through open fields. My favorite walk around Moreton-in-Marsh is the walk to the Batsford Arboretum (number 5 below). To find the pathway, head down Corder’s Lane, from where you’ll see signs pointing you to the Batsford Arboretum.

The walk takes about 30 to 40 minutes and is generally very flat, making it suitable for all ages and abilities. You’ll pass through luscious fields, narrow laneways overlooking small vegetable gardens, a few sheep and endless vistas of rolling British countryside in the distance.

3. Witness birds of pray in action at the Cotswolds Falconry Centre

One of the most famous attractions in the Cotswolds is located right here in Moreton-in-Marsh. The Cotswolds Falconry Centre is not your average wildlife centre, but rather a staunchly education-first institution.

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With a range of talks and shows, you’ll learn all about various birds of pray and their environment. If you are visiting Moreton-in-Marsh for a day trip to the Cotswolds, take note that the Falconry Centre closes relatively early (3 pm).

4. Bring a little piece of the Cotswolds home with you

I particularly love souvenir shopping in the Cotswolds – and in Moreton-in-Marsh, you’re truly spoiled for choice.

If you’re always on the search for antique treasures, don’t miss the London House Antique Centre. This little passageway of stalls sells an excellent collection of stamps, colonial treasures and, my personal favorite, earthenware jugs and old bottles.

If you’re more of the fresh produce type, there’s nothing better than bringing some Cotswolds goodies home with you. You’ll find Cotswold Cheese Company on High Street, which is always a favorite. Beyond cheeses, you’ll also find an assortment of condiments, oils and other goods all made here in the Cotswolds.

5. Visit the Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre

Visiting the Batsford Arboretum might seem like an odd inclusion on a list of things to do in Moreton-in-Marsh. Ultimately, this little gardening store sits at the end of a beautiful walk from Moreton-in-Marsh.

Situated right next to the Falconry Centre, many visitors pop through this plant store to bring a piece of greenery home. Better yet, the Arboretum has a lovely cafe with a terrace overlooking their gardens – the ideal post-walk tea and scone stop.

6. Snuggle up in a cozy pub

When I think of visiting the Cotswolds in the winter, I immediately think of the warm, cozy pubs. Like any good Cotswolds town, Moreton-in-Marsh has no shortage of atmospheric pubs, most of which are housed in iconic stone buildings.

Depending on your thirst levels, you could easily spend an afternoon pub hopping. My personal favorite is the Redesdale Arms (dating back to 1650), but the Black Bear Inn and Swan Inn all ooze Cotswolds charm, sophistication and pints.

For the more adventurous, consider the 50-minute walk (or short bus ride) to the Horse and Groom pub.

Beyond Moreton-in-Marsh

If you are visiting for a few days, Moreton-in-Marsh is a great base for day trips in the Cotswolds and beyond.

From Moreton-in-Marsh, you can take the 801 bus about 20 minutes south towards Lower Slaughter. From there, you can do a short hike to the picturesque Upper Slaughter.

Moreton-in-Marsh also enjoys direct transport links with Broadway, Chipping Norton and Oxford. Visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace of Shakespeare) can catch a direct bus from Evesham, a popular market town just a short train ride away.

For a more comprehensive Cotswolds itinerary, I’d recommend joining this excellent day tour from Moreton-in-Marsh. You’ll visit some hard-to-reach Cotswolds towns and small little hamlets, while learning about the history of the region.

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