Locations

The Best Cotswolds Locations for a Photoshoot

By Glen · September 2026 · 4 min read

The Cotswolds is one of the most photogenic corners of England — honey-coloured stone, big skies, rolling hills and dramatic landmarks, all within easy reach of Swindon. If you fancy a location shoot with a real sense of place, here are some of my favourite spots and the kind of images each one gives you.

Broadway Tower

A folly perched high on the Cotswold escarpment with views over as many as sixteen counties on a clear day. The tower itself makes a bold, almost cinematic backdrop, and the open hilltop light is gorgeous — especially in the golden hour. It's a spectacular setting for dramatic portrait and fashion-led work. (I've shot here recently — read about that session.)

Honey-stone villages

Places like Castle Combe, Bibury and Lacock are impossibly pretty — cobbled lanes, ancient cottages and warm stone that photographs beautifully. Perfect for elegant, editorial portraits with a timeless English feel.

Rolling countryside & escarpments

Away from the villages, the open hills and wildflower meadows give a natural, free feel — flowing dresses, movement, big landscapes. Wonderful for expressive, romantic images where the setting is part of the story.

Woodland

Dappled light through trees is soft and flattering, and the greenery gives a lovely painterly backdrop. Woodland spots work brilliantly for gentle, natural-light portraits and boudoir with a wilder edge.

A few practical notes

Outdoor shoots live and die by two things: light and weather. Early morning and the hour before sunset are magic; harsh midday sun less so, so we plan around it. British weather being what it is, we'll keep a flexible plan and a backup date in mind — and my 48-hour reschedule policy means a washout is never a problem. If a location needs permission or a fee, we'll sort that in advance.

Prefer the comfort of a studio?

Locations aren't for everyone, and that's fine — a controlled studio gives consistency whatever the weather. Not sure which suits you? Here's studio vs location compared.