Cotswolds Small Group Tour from London
Description
Covering almost 800 square miles and no fewer than five English counties, the Cotswolds are the single largest designated Area of Natural Beauty in the UK. The area was once renowned for its wool production, reminders of which you can still see today. During this Experience, we will be visiting three picturesque villages hidden in the heart of the Cotswolds, with honey-coloured limestone period buildings and rich cultural heritage. Relax aboard your Luxury Small Group Vehicle with an expert guide as you enjoy the best of the English countryside.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on -the-Water has a unique appeal to visitors and residents alike. Known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, this one village offers a wealth of attractions and shops, restaurants and tea rooms, or simply the space for you to enjoy some tranquil time by the River Windrush, spanned by its five arched bridges. Bourton-on-the-Water’s most prized feature is its tranquil river. Fed from many springs, its source is approximately ten miles from the village, and even in the 1976 drought the flow continued. Where the river enters the village centre, over the rapids next to the Old Mill, its clear waters flow under a miscellany of arched stone bridges past the green with its banks of Cotswold stone.
Bibury - On arriving into Bibury you may think you have been transported back to a different age. The village was once described by the British poet, artist and novelist William Morris (1834-96) as “the most beautiful village in England”. Bibury’s attractions includes Arlington Row, a 17th century row of weavers cottages built of local stone next to the River Coln. It is one of the most photographed areas in the region and was chosen as a location for the 2007 film ‘Stardust’. Close by you will find the Bibury Trout Farm and a Saxon Church. The River Coln flows between the main village street and a water meadow: together with Arlington Row as a backdrop, it makes one of the most picturesque scenes you will find in the Cotswolds.
The picturesque Arlington Row cottages in Bibury were built in 1380 as a monastic wool store. This was then converted into a row of weavers' cottages in the 17th century. The cloth produced at Arlington Row was sent to Arlington Mill on the other side of Rack Isle. The cloth was then hung on wooden timber frames on Rack Isle after being degreased at Arlington Mill.
Burford – “Gateway to the Cotswolds” Burford is known as the gateway to the Cotswolds. Its High Street slopes from the high Wolds, where you have beautiful views over the open countryside, down to the willow fringed River Windrush in the pretty Windrush valley. Choose to visit Burford’s numerous small shops offering Cotswolds cheese, quality meats, freshly made cakes, antiques and books.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(2,062)
A day trip to the Cotswolds on Friday 7/8/26. Golden Tours was the company. Our guide was Dan and our driver was Captain Greg. A great team. Highly recommend. A certain level of stamina is needed. A beautiful snapshot of the english countryside. The charm of the towns and the people we visited was special.
Great Day! Angela our guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Our driver Sam was great. It was a great day.
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had such a great day, and that Angela was an excellent, knowledgeable guide while Sam provided great driving throughout the journey. It’s wonderful to know the experience felt smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. If you’d like to share more about your guide or your driver, I’m here for it. Warm regards, evanevanstours team
Great small group trip with a very knowledgeable guide on a myriad of topics that made our time so impactful & enjoyable. We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to the Cottswolds
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re delighted to hear you had such an impactful and enjoyable day in the Cotswolds, and that your guide’s wide‑ranging knowledge made the journey even more meaningful. It’s wonderful to know the small‑group format helped create a relaxed, engaging atmosphere throughout the trip. If you’d like to share more about your guide or your favourite Cotswolds spots, I’m here for it. Warm regards, evanevanstours team
I have traveled to more than 70 countries and have booked numerous tours through Viator over the years. This is the first time I have felt compelled to file a complaint. Some aspects of the tour were beyond Viator's control: The drought left much of the landscape dry and brown, with many lakes and streams empty. The weather was extremely hot, and the sites were overwhelmingly crowded. However, there were two issues that were entirely within Viator's control. 1. Misrepresentation of a "small group" tour I specifically booked and paid for a small-group tour in a small vehicle. Instead, there were 24 passengers on a standard-sized bus. That is not what most travelers would reasonably consider a small-group experience, and I believe the tour was misrepresented. 2. Unprofessional and unacceptable treatment by the guide I arrived early at the Evan Evans office. The office was still closed, and the driver kindly placed my heavy bag on the bus. When check-in began, I went on to the bus to briefly retrieve my confirmation from the bag, which was on the front seat. A woman, apparently the guide, immediately began speaking to me in a loud, confrontational manner. She repeatedly told me I could not leave anything on the front seat because it was reserved for the guide and accused me of trying to save a seat, even though I attempted to explain that the driver had placed my bag there. I was also holding a sealed cup of tea. She twice tried to take it from my hand, insisting that I could not bring it onto the bus. I told her I intended to finish it before boarding, but she continued to argue and again reached for the cup. Since we were standing at the bus entrance, I simply stepped off the bus to finish my tea. In all my years of travel, I have never been treated so rudely or disrespectfully. I understand that rules must be enforced, but there is a professional and courteous way to do so. The guide's behavior was unnecessary, hostile, and completely unacceptable. Because of the misleading description of the tour and the guide's conduct, I believe I deserve a refund.
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about the issues you experienced. The tour description should clearly state the group size, and we understand your frustration at being placed on a larger bus than expected. We also sincerely apologise for the interaction with the guide — guests should always be treated with courtesy and professionalism, and your experience fell short of that standard. Given the misrepresentation and the behaviour you described, your request for a refund is understandable. Warm regards, evanevanstours team
Pickup and transport good. Time in the villages was also sufficient. Our guide Omar seemed rather listless and uninterested. We have had much more pleasant guides on other tours who provided information about the area with a lot of humor and variety. We therefore did not go on the group tour through the villages with our guide Omar, but preferred to go alone.
Dear guest, Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback. Es freut uns, dass Abholung, Transport und die Zeit in den Dörfern für Sie angenehm waren. Es tut uns jedoch leid zu hören, dass Omar nicht den erwarteten Enthusiasmus gezeigt hat und Sie die Führung lieber alleine gemacht haben. Ihre Rückmeldung ist für uns sehr wichtig, und wir werden sie entsprechend weitergeben.
Omar was a capable guide especially ensuring we were on time. A great day.
Dear guest, Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear Omar was a capable guide and ensured everything ran on time. We’re glad you had a great day. Warm regards, evanevanstours team
It was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience with our guide driver Tony! He was humorous and shared interesting information. As first visitors to Cotswold it was very helpful. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted you had such an enjoyable day with Tony and that his humour and insights made your visit to the Cotswolds even more memorable. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Too long a drive for what to expect,............,...............................doesn't worth the 5 hours
This was a great tour to a beautiful part of the English countryside. The 3 towns were very busy, but that is to be expected in July. Anna was very good and was very good at keeping everyone on track and on time.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the beautiful English countryside and the charming towns included in the tour. We appreciate your understanding that the destinations can be particularly busy during the summer months. It's wonderful to know that Anna helped make your experience enjoyable with her excellent organisation and ability to keep everyone informed and on schedule throughout the day. Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we hope to welcome you on another Evan Evans tour in the future. Kind regards, Evan Evans Team
Beautiful towns. Well worth a visit Plan lunch as it does take some time which cuts into exploring the town
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed visiting the beautiful towns and found the experience well worth it. Your helpful tip about planning lunch is appreciated, as having time to explore and enjoy each destination is an important part of the day. We hope to welcome you back on another Evan Evans tour soon. Kind regards, Evan Evans Team
