Small-Group Cotswolds Tour (From London)
Description
Join this small-group day tour to the Cotswolds from London, and explore the highlights of the beautiful English countryside. Travel in a minibus in small, friendly groups as your Driver-Guide explains the history of the region and tells you the local stories. Along the way you'll meander along country lanes, see remote countryside and visit the most charming villages in the region. • Explore the highlights of the Cotswolds in one day • Get off the beaten path and travel along the narrow country lanes • Visit a mix of charming villages, historic towns and beautiful countryside • Small groups with a maximum of 16 passengers
Tour Options
Itinerary
The day begins by departing London and travelling towards the quintessentially English countryside of The Cotswolds; an area that is famous for its beautiful landscape, charming villages and honey-coloured stone cottages. Our first stop will be the traditional town of Burford; known as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’. This is a historic place where many houses date back nearly 600 years and little has changed for centuries. During the visit there will be time to explore Burford, visit the magnificent church and stroll along the high street to visit a mix of independent family-run shops.
The village of Bibury is often described as the 'prettiest village in England'. It's charming scene is a snapshot of traditional English country life. Wander along the gentle river and see the iconic Arlington Row; a set of weavers cottages that are now one of the symbols of the Cotswolds.
Our lunch stop is the charming settlement of Bourton-on-the-Water. The town's river setting has seen it become known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'.
We'll continue through the countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds that is a jumble of ancient inns & antique shops located around the bustling market square. This historic town was a place of inspiration for JRR Tolkien and is also where the last battle of the English Civil War took place in 1646.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children under the age of seven are not permitted to travel
- Operating Hours: 9:00 - 18:00
Reviews(2,920)
You stop at many different villages so can see how different they can be. Our tour guide, Sean, very well informed and very entertaining.
Our trip to the Cotswolds was fantastic until the end. We got to see beautiful places in the cotwolds and had enough time to visit each of them. Our guide was knowledgeable and we learned a lot on the trip. If you have never been to the Cotswolds before, I recommend it. Everything was great until the end. After we left our last spot, Stold on the Wold, we were supposed to start traveling back to London. Instead, our tour guide made an unexpected stop to a farm from a TV show to appease 1-2 of the individuals on the tour. We were dropped off and told he would be back in 20 minutes. We didn’t want to go to this farm nor knew it was going to happen. All of the seating was in the sun and there was nothing to do but wait. The bus wasn’t even around when we wanted to go back to the bus early. It was a long day and we didn’t want to be standing around, waiting. The tour should not be altered because of one or two people. We paid just as much as they did. It was such a disappointing end to a nice day.
Tony was an amazing guide! Would have liked a bit more time at each stop but overall a great tour. Would definitely recommend.
We were really excited about our day trip to the Cotswolds but overall were disappointed with it. First, the guy checking us in was not friendly or helpful. Due to his lack of communication we ended up last on the bus with terrible seats in the back where you couldn’t even see out the windows. It was very frustrating and we couldn’t enjoy the drive out to the Cotswolds. And not only was the air con unreliable but the driver refused to turn it on until she was in the vehicle. We were all packed in the bus barely able to breathe! The driver also tried to tell us we couldn’t sit in different seats when we got back on the bus after the 1st stop. I’m sorry, did we have assigned seats? If it’s first come first serve than we should be able to sit wherever we want. We paid just as much as everybody else, let someone else have the crap seats in the back for a change. We stopped in 4 different towns and each stop felt rushed. Barely time to see anything before it was time to go. And each stop was packed with tourists. It made it very hard to enjoy any of the locations. The drive back into London at the end of the day took a lifetime and we couldn’t wait to get off that horrid bus especially after a long day and having the horrid music blasting for hours. I wouldn’t recommend.
Wonderful day trip to the Cotswolds. A few villages, great tour guide and interesting history! Nice pace on a small group tour made this a very relaxing and comfortable day! Tony was our driver and was amazing.
Our Cotswold Trip was the favorite of our week long trip to London. Our tour guide Nigel was excellent and provided so much educational information throughout the day trip and much appreciated banter as well.
The tour was quick but well planned out and our guide, Tony, was knowledgeable! Well curated tour to get a taste of the Cotswolds.
Sean, our tour guide was a delight to be with. Sean, was very informative, witty and knowledgeable. Sean made our trip very interesting and held our attention.
This was a wonderful day trip from London for my family! Our group of seven, ranged in age from 20 to 86, and everyone enjoyed this tour. The meeting point was very easy to find, and the trip out to the countryside was very enjoyable especially with all of the information that our excellent tour guide, Nigel, shared along the way. Each stop had its own unique character and charm. We loved Burford for shopping in the cute boutique shops and for visiting the beautiful church nestled along a quaint river. Bourton-on-the-Water was a wonderful and picturesque spot for lunch with so many dining options. Stow had some famous places to explore - The Porch House -England's oldest pub and inn, the interesting and historic sheep alleys from long ago, and one of the "most photographed doors in the UK" at St. Edward's Church. The door is flanked by two old Yew trees that served as inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien. However, my favorite stop was Bibury, the site of the classic homes so typical of the Cotswolds set alongside a bubbling river and small farm filled with adorable cows. On the way home, Nigel took us to an additional stop, The King's Men Stone Circle, along a historic Roman route. This spot was like a mini version of Stone Henge. Nigel didn't disappoint! I would highly recommend this tour for a taste of the Cotswolds.
We had a fabulous day in the Cotswolds. Our tour Sean provided us with excellent information, leaving London about the history of where we were going and had helpful advice on places to see of interest in each of the four towns we visited. All of his recommendations turned out to be wonderful. We had a fabulous day.
