Painswick: The Cotswolds’ Flawless “Queen” (And What It’s Really Like to Live There)

Nestled quietly in a valley just a few miles north of Stroud lies Painswick. Affectionately known as the “Queen of the Cotswolds,” this historic wool town is widely considered one of the finest, most architecturally intact settlements in England. Built almost entirely from pale, honey-coloured Cotswold stone quarried from the nearby beacon, walking down its steep, winding streets feels like stepping straight into a period drama.