The Cotswolds is known for its beautiful villages, and while Castle Combe is often regarded as the “prettiest village in England” and one of “the best in the world,” it has some competition.
One of those competitors is Broadway, known as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds”.
The little village is located about 50 miles north of Castle Combe and can give visitors a similar quintessentially English experience.
With its honey-coloured high street, Broadway has emerged as one of the most picturesque villages in the West Midlands.
Lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos recently included Broadway in its 2023 list of top places to live, praising its surroundings, atmosphere and abundance of local shops and restaurants.
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Even though Broadway is no stranger to visitors, it has also been named one of the UK’s top places for a peaceful staycation.
Tourists can enjoy 15 nature trails, beautiful Cotswold Lavender fields in the summer and attractions like the Broadway Tower, which houses the West Midlands’ best-preserved nuclear bunker from the Cold War era.
Broadway also has plenty of dining options. Broadway Deli on the High Street offers snacks and treats for a countryside picnic, while fine dining options include Russells of Broadway and The Back Garden at Dormy House Hotel.
And, The Lygon Arms has even hosted celebrities such as Amanda Holden and Hugh Grant over the years.
Tourists who visit Broadway often compare it to Castle Combe when it comes to beauty and environment.
Castle Combe, with its Cotswold stone cottages and architecture dating back to the 1600s, is still a favourite among tourists and has been used as a film location for Downton Abbey and War Horse.
Castle Combe has also been named one of the prettiest and the best villages in the world multiple times. Nonetheless, Broadway is still a strong rival.
Tourists have left glowing reviews of Broadway. One recent Tripadvisor visitor described it as “another beautiful Cotswold village, worth a visit.”
Another said: “Exquisitely beautiful village street. The houses and cottages are all so lovely, ranging from old to very old indeed, in different styles, and the gardens a joy, full of flowers.”
Putting the rivalry aside, both places are worth visiting, and tourists are given an excuse to travel from one end of the Cotswolds to the other.