As the name suggests, this constituency covers a large part of the Cotswold Hills - a large area of outstanding natural beauty. River valleys cut through the hills and provide the setting for many villages and small towns built in honey coloured stone and with wealth generated by the medieval wool trade.
The largest settlement is Cirencester in the south - it is a lively market town and known as the "Captital of the Cotswolds". Livestock markets are held every Tuesday and it is home to one of Britainís best agricultural colleges. Cotswold council has its headquarters in Cirencester. Smaller towns in the constituency include the attractive Chipping Campden in the north and Moreton-in-Marsh.
The largest single industry in the constituency is tourism which has recently overtaken agriculture as the largest single employer. Other businesses include defence and a host of electronic and financial services as well as a range of small manufacturing companies. There is a number of former defence establishments which are in the process of being closed down.