Take a guided tour of the Cotswolds from London to see quintessential British country life and some of the world’s most picturesque little villages.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
The Cotswolds are like a big, beautiful garden sprinkled over rolling hills and occasionally jeweled with quaint villages and sandstone cottages. There’s a timeless quality to this part of England that makes the Cotswolds feel very different to London in more ways than one. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has become a popular place for people to live who commute to London, which means a Cotswolds day tour from the capital city, such as any of these five, is certainly worth considering.
Full-Day Cotswolds Small-Group Tour from London
Over nine hours and with a group capped at 15 people, this Cotswolds day tour from London gives a great overview of what makes this beautiful corner of the UK so charming. You’ll visit four separate villages, each one providing a delightful alternative take on rural life, such as Bourton-on-the-Water, where the languid river runs through its heart, draped in weeping willows, and Bibury, with its famous rows of honey-coloured cottages. Tours depart to a somewhat haphazard schedule, so be sure to book ahead. From £69 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Day Trip
On the way to the Cotswolds from London, you are likely to pass Oxford, making it the perfect addition to a day trip itinerary. You’ll still get the opportunity to visit two of the finest villages Britain has to offer in the Cotswolds. Stops in Bibury and Burford, with its picturesque high street on a gentle hill, give a great introduction to the region. Then spend some hours exploring the great university city of Oxford, wandering streets lined with a wealth of beautiful, historic buildings. From £75 per person.
Oxford, Stratford and Cotswolds Day Trip
Taking things to an even more ambitious level, you can throw in the hometown of Shakespeare: Stratford-upon-Avon, into a day trip to the Cotswolds from London. While this does put some time pressure on each stop along the way, it is ideal for anybody who wants to see and experience as much as possible in a single day. The 11-hour tour begins and ends in Earls Court, London, taking in Oxford’s revered colleges, the Tudor-era buildings and key locales of William Shakespeare’s youth, and a drive through the Cotswolds with photo stops (if weather permits) along the way. From £99 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Full-Day Cotswolds Tour with Lunch from London
Shifting focus solely back to the Cotswolds again, there is a comprehensive Cotswolds day tour from London that manages to fit in visits to four villages along with a stop at the ivy-covered, 17th century Swan Hotel in Bibury. Here you will be able to enjoy a two-course lunch, included in the tour price, while overlooking the river. Stops at the lovely Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water are also included, where a guided walk at each is provided. From £108 per person.
Small Group Cotswolds Village, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London
An alternative combo tour explores the southern reaches of the Cotswolds, including a stop at the pretty market town of Castle Combe. The main focus of this tour however, is Bath Spa, with a free walking tour of the town included, as well as a stop at the famous prehistoric monument of Stonehenge (entry tickets not included in the tour price). This tour balances the main sights and the delightful small villages of this region of England well, giving a broad overview of southwest England in its 11-hour span. From £124 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)