Where shall we visit in the Cotswolds?

[Malteser71]

We are staying in May, two teenagers.

Would love any recommendations, especially for pretty pubs!

Avoid burford

Bibury best avoided

Find the source of the Thames, the original one and the official one, both have pubs nearby.

Walk some of the Thames path and/or Sapperton tunnel trail, historic and atmospheric, beautiful easy walks, also through Cotswolds water park.

The Dragonfly maze at Bourton is quirky and fun to visit as is the model village (Oasis filmed here). There is also a Christmas shop! It does get busy in Bourton but is still lovely to visit.
Lechlade also has a Christmas shop and some nice places to lunch!
There is a row of cottages in Bibury that are often used for filming. They are in Stardust.
We like the cakes (and lunch!) at Jack's in Cirencester.
Loads of lovely walks around.

Cotswolds are a large area, Bath at the southern end has interesting things for teens but if you are staying in the north probably too far

Wild swimming is the only thing I can think of for teenagers in the cotswolds!

Snowshill - the manor is a bit meh (load of old tat collected by someone from days of yore with more money than sense - please note I am not a historian ) but the location and gardens are lovely. Broadway's not far - there's a teeny cafe on the main Street that does a fab breakfast. And the RSC buildings in Stratford might be open (in part) by May - the theatre tour is brilliant.

More votes for
The water park (canoeing etc)
The wildlife park
Do they like walks? Loads of great walks followed by cream tea
If they are a bit hippy - shopping in Stroud
Is there a go ape nearby? I know the one in the FOD

Giffords circus is totally fab.

I'm repeating a lot of stuff, but:
Rent a canal boat for a day
Cotswold Wildlife Part
The water park at South Cerney
Stroud farmers market on a Saturday morning is fun
The Roman baths in Bath
Woodchester Mansion/park
Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (although technically just outside of the Cotswolds!)

By the standards of posters saying the Cotswolds are boring for teens, pretty much all of the UK must also be written off.... or you have very boring teens!

Mollie's Diner is awesome, teens should love it. Fancy milkshakes, burgers etc.

www.molliesmotel.com

A couple more - the GWR now goes from Chelt racecourse to Broadway so you can make more of a trip of it.

Teens might enjoy as a place to eat if you're in Chelt www.smokeyjoescheltenham.co.uk/
The retro arcade games are fun

My DMIL lived just outside Chipping Campden until she died 5 years ago, and my 5 DC used to enjoy going there, even as teenagers!
I'm not sure what all the "teenagers will be bored" posters expect... there are no big shops, theme parks etc. there, but thats my idea of hell the place is better for it.

The butterfly farm in Stratford is lovely, as well as all the walks, beautiful villages etc. mentioned above. Also there are various lovely National Trust places to visit.
The Fleece Inn is a 600 year old pub not too far from CC, to answer your pub question, but there are several nice old pubs in Campden itself, too.

I was just going to say the Fleece in at Bretforton - its a NT pub, and I think it was recently voted most instagrammable pub.

Lots of great recommendations, I'm sure you'll have a great time. If they're older teenagers and fans of This Country you could visit Northleach where it's filmed.

The national waterways museum in Gloucester docks is good. The whole dock area is brilliant for shopping eating and just watching the world go by. Don't forget stunning Gloucester cathedral - used for a lot of filming like Harry Potter and Dr Who.
At Slimbridge, apart from all the birds, you can hire canoes and do a 'safari' round the reserve. You can also hire a narrow boat for the day on the Gloucester Sharpness canal, but you'd have to book well in advance. I appreciate these are down off the hill in the Severn Vale, but they are only just outside the Cotswolds. Berkeley Castle is in the same area and is well worth a visit.
I wouldn't bother with Stroud personally, it is very underwhelming. Go up the hill and visit Minchinhampton instead, where they have cows wandering in the high street and Gatcombe park is just up the road. Or Nailsworth, which has some lovely shops and restaurants, and 'the pie pub' nearby, Otherwise known as The Weighbridge, they do their wonderful '3 in 1' pie.
For wonderful views check out the top of Frocester Hill - stunning on a clear day.

@Winecheesesleep

Lots of great recommendations, I'm sure you'll have a great time. If they're older teenagers and fans of This Country you could visit Northleach where it's filmed.

You beat me to it!

I would recommend you get a walking guidebook. Or the ordnance survey 1:25,000 maps of the area.
If it were me, I would pick walks in places that are not well known, to avoid the crowds. So, for me, I would avoid any of the villages and stick to the countryside and perhaps the towns.
Check out the pubs on your chosen walking routes to confirm that they're going to be open. You'll probably have to book in advance for pub lunches etc.

We had our holiday in the Cotswolds last year. If you're into walking then near Bourton on the Hill is Sezincote which is worth a visit. You can't visit the house without booking a private tour iirc, but it's interesting nevertheless.

There's a really nice cafe/restaurant in Chipping Campden called The Bantam Tea Rooms.

My primary aged children loved Chedworth. I'd go to the Cotswold Water Park and try and do some water sports with teenagers. I remember walking around all the pretty villages with my parents and finding it deathly dull. We took ours (up to 15 yrs) to the model village in Bourton on the Water last year, and I was surprised that they enjoyed it. (We only chose it because there wasn't much else open). Ours like walking in the countryside - up a hill or by a stream - so that could be an option.

Kelmscott - loved the garden

Birdlip hill car park, after dark, can be fun

@VeganVeal

Birdlip hill car park, after dark, can be fun

On a more salubrious note, I remembered this is on at Cirencester English Heritage site - it sounds sort of like an escape room but not an escape and not in a room! No doubt meant to be educational and fun. We're going to do it with one of our DS as they're doing Romans at school next term.

Depending on your dates Giffords Circus may be around then as they’re based in the Cotswolds - check out their website.

Sorry - see Giffords has been mentioned already. Don’t think anyone’s suggested Sudeley Castle yet - another good day trip!