Honington Cotswolds Guide – Discover a Hidden Gem Village

Honington village is a hidden gem that lies on the fringes of the Cotswolds in Warwickshire near the River Stour. 

Most people make a beeline for the quaint Rose Cottage after spotting it on social media.

But there is plenty more to see and do in Honington village while you’re here.

You can explore the gorgeous thatched and timber-framed cottages as well as pay a visit to the Baroque All Saints Church. 

Here is a complete Honington Warwickshire guide with the history and the best things to do.

Why visit Honington Cotswolds?

Honington is a quintessential English village that is tucked away in the countryside. It’s on the gateway to the Cotswolds in Warwickshire. 

Unlike other Cotswolds villages, Honington is a bit of a hidden gem where you can escape the crowds.

It’s very quiet and peaceful, so it’s perfect for a stroll on on the picturesque River Stour.

There are many gorgeous thatched cottages and historic buildings to admire, plus an ancient medieval church.

There aren’t any facilities in Honington like hotels, cafés or shops, but the scenery more than makes up for it.

Honington history 

All Saints Church in Honington dates back to the 13th century, and you can still see the remains of the medieval tower today.

The oldest building in the village is thought to be The Magpies on the village green, which dates back to the 1500s. 

Honington estate was sold in the 17th century to Sir Henry Parker, who built Honington Hall, the Honington Bridge and Honington Church in the 1680s.

Today, it’s a sleepy village in the Cotswolds that many people visit to see the spectacular Rose Cottage after spotting it on social media. 

Things to do in Honington Cotswolds

1. Admire Rose Cottage Honington

Most people make a stop at Honington in the Cotswolds to see the glorious Rose Cottage after seeing it on social media.

This is a lemon, picture-perfect thatched cottage that has a lush, colourful garden in the spring and summer months. 

This quintessentially English cottage is worthy of a postcard, so make sure to have your camera ready.

2. Take a stroll in Honington village & green

There are plenty more beautiful buildings to be found in Honington while you’re here, so don’t forget to take a stroll through the hamlet.

You can walk from Rose Cottage to the village green where you can see Magpie Cottage, Shoemaker’s Cottage, and Honington Hall.

There are plenty of pretty thatched cottages to admire. We spotted some friendly local cows while we were here.

3. Visit Honington Church of All Saints

You really cannot leave Honington without visiting Honington Church or the All Saints Church. 

It’s tucked away in a far corner of the village, and so it’s not obvious to find.

But you’ll see a sign pointing towards the church from the village green. It’s a five-minute walk from Rose Cottage. 

You’ll walk through the lychgate and graveyard to the church, and it’s open daily in the summer months. I would highly recommend popping in.

Honington Church is made of limestone ashlar and dates back to the 13th century.

The medieval tower remains, but the lower building was rebuilt in the 1680s.

It’s decorated in the Baroque style and has large archways accommodating the pews and an organ. 

It’s painted in a beautiful shade of duck-egg blue and has many interesting statues, like the tomb of Sir Henry Parker and his son Hugh Parker.

Entrance is free, but donations are always welcome to help support the church. 

4. Cross Honington Bridge 

One of the most interesting features of the village can be found while driving in. You’ll cross over the River Stour via the picturesque Honington Bridge.

Honington Bridge was built in 1685 and is completely made of Limestone ashlar like Honington Church.

It is believed that it used to be part of the Honington Hall estate. 

Today, the five-arch bridge is protected as a Grade II listed monument and is well worth crossing for the panorama alone. 

You can cross over it on Idlicote Road and see gorgeous views of the banks of the River Stour.

5. Walks along the River Stour 

There are plenty of Honington walks that you can take around Honington and Shipston-on-Stour.

A popular walk is the Honington & Idlicote Circular which includes the Centenary Way and Shakespeare’s Way. 

You’ll get to walk over Honington Bridge and see Idlicote Folly whilst enjoying the countryside and river views.

There are also routes towards Willington, Tredington, Ilmington, Hidcote, and Chipping Campden.

Where to eat in Honington

Unfortunately, there are no cafés or shops in Honington village for refreshments as it’s a very small place. 

The nearest places to eat would be in Shipston-on-Stour, which is just under a two-mile drive away.

In the town, you’ll find popular restaurants like The George Townhouse, The Black Horse Inn, and the Blue Bean Coffee Shop.

How to visit Honington in the Cotswolds

It’s best to drive to Honington in the Cotswolds as it’s very remote and there is no train station. It’s just a mile from Shipston-on-Stour.

Honington Village is also a 20-minute drive from Chipping Campden, a 30-minute drive from Broadway, and a 30-minute drive from Warwick.

The nearest train station is Moreton-in-Marsh, and from here you can take a bus to Shipston-on-Stour, then head to Honington.

Regular bus services run from Shipston-on-Stour (Perripher’s Garage) to the Honington Lodge bus stop. 

Honington parking

There is plenty of off-road parking in Honington Village. Make sure to park with consideration and be mindful of residents.

You can also park just outside Honington Church Lychgate if you’re planning to visit. 

Where to stay in Honington 

As Honington is a tiny village, there isn’t anywhere to stay here; the closest place to spend the night is Shipston on Stour.

This is only a 10-minute drive from Honington, with a wider choice of accommodation.

Here are some of my top picks of Shipston-on-Stour hotels;

• The George Townhouse – A beautiful Georgian hotel above one of the top-rated restaurants in town. Check here to book. 

• The Lazy Pug – a modern hotel with quirky furnishings above one of the top-rated restaurants in Shipston-on-Stour. Click here for rates. 

Where to next? 

After Honington Cotswolds, you can head over to another gorgeous village called Tredington or the historic market town of Shipston on Stour.

Warwick is only a 30-minute drive away, which is home to the famous Warwick Castle.

In the town, you can explore the Old Town, St Mary’s Church, Lord Leycester Hospital, and Thomas Oaken Tearooms. 

Stratford-upon-Avon is also close by, which is the home of William Shakespeare.

You can visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, New Place, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. 

There are lots of attractions to explore here, like the Tudor schoolrooms, Holy Trinity Church and endless timber-framed houses.

You can even watch a show or take a tour at the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

Honington is on the gateway to the North Cotswolds. You can easily drive to gorgeous places like Snowshill, Chipping Campden, and Broadway.

Further afield, you have Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Read more of my Cotswolds guides

Best things to do in Stow-on-the-Wold

The Tolkien Door in the Cotswolds

Lord of the Rings in the Cotswolds

A complete guide for Broadway Tower

Things to do in Snowshill 

How to visit Cotswolds Lavender Fields

How to visit the Cotswolds Confetti Fields

Best things to do in Lower Slaughter

Places to visit in Upper Slaughter 

Best things to do in Bibury including Arlington Row

A complete Castle Combe guide 

Things to do in Tetbury 

Save Honington Cotswolds for later