The Cotswolds have been famous for the rolling, green hills in the countryside as well as the quaint homes made of their unique, local limestone.
These villages have been home to poets and artists and even a few movie scenes. Now it’s your chance to take it all in with a Cotswold Village tour from London.
Best Cotswolds Tours From London
| Cotswolds Tour with Lunch From London | Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey & the Cotswolds | Oxford & Cotswolds Village Day Trip from London | |
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| Departure: | Victoria Coach Station | Victoria Coach Station | Behind Victoria Train Station, Stand 3 |
| Start: | 8:15 AM | 8:45 AM | 9:15 AM |
| Duration: | 11 Hours | Full day | 10 hours |
| Includes: | Luxury coach transportation, professional guide, lunch in Bibury Village | Guided tours of both Bourton-on-the-Water and Downton Abbey Village | Luxury coach transportation, maximum of 16 travelers |
Be sure to see our reviews of Bus Tours of London, Stonehenge Tours and Tower of London Tours.
Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Cotswolds Tours From London
- Cotswolds Tour with Lunch From London
- Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey & the Cotswolds
- Oxford & Cotswolds Village Day Trip from London
- Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds: Day Trip from London
- Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds Villages Full-Day Tour
- Classic Cotswolds Private Tour
- Our Famous North Cotswold Tour
We have reviewed the top rated tours to Oxford and the Cotswolds, providing overviews and highlighting the details of each. We also make recommendations on staying in London in our guide section.
Cotswolds Tour Reviews
1. Cotswolds Tour with Lunch From London
- Departure Point: Victoria Coach Station, Gate 19-20
- Departure Time: 8:15 AM
- Duration: 11 hours (approx.)
- Includes: luxury coach transportation, professional guide, 2-course lunch in Bibury Village
Your first stop once you leave Victoria Coach Station is Burford Village. This is a famous Cotswold village due to the River Windrush passing by beautiful homes.
Walk down High Street to the banks of the river and don’t forget to check out a tea house or two. Bibury Village is up next and is the site of the Swan Hotel. This hotel calls a stunning 17th-century structure home.
The restaurant, where you will enjoy a delicious 2-course meal, serves many cuisines. Be sure to try a local ale or wine while you dine as well!
You’ll also take quick walking tours of both Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. Stow-on-the-Wold is well known as a market town where you can find local deserts and imported, crafted items year-round.
It’s also home to several annual fairs and festivals you won’t want to miss.
Your professional guide will walk you through four of the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds, telling you of the most famous spots to stop in each. Have your camera at the ready for some stunning photo ops.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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2. Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey & the Cotswolds
- Departure Point: Victoria Coach Station, Gate I-5
- Departure Time: 8:45 AM, 9:00 AM
- Duration: 1 day (approx.)
- Includes: Guided tours of both Bourton-on-the-Water and Downton Abbey Village, optional entry ticket to Blenheim Castle
Blenheim Castle has long been regarded as a pristine example of English Baroque architecture. With entry to the castle, you can tour many staterooms filled with both art and tapestries, as well as explore the gardens.
Blenheim Castle is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during WWII. Bourton-on-the-Water is a Cotswold Village often referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds.”
The river running gently through the village can be crossed or even overlooked by many quaint bridges. Some of these bridges have stood over the river for centuries.
Bampton Village in the Cotswolds is often referred to as Downton Abbey Village. Much of the popular TV show was filmed here and many of the landmarks you will see while on tour may look familiar to you.
Two of the fictional pubs featured in the show are real, working pubs in Bampton. This tour can be purchased either with the admission to Blenheim Castle or without it.
If you are interested more in exploring the villages, the flexible day tour provides all transportation without castle entry. The day tour from London can be purchased with the price of admission included as well.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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3. Oxford & Cotswolds Village Day Trip from London
- Departure Point: Behind Victoria Train Station, Stand 3, Greenline Coach Terminal
- Departure Time: 9:15 AM
- Duration: 10 hours (approx.)
- Includes: Luxury coach transportation, maximum of 16 travelers, professional driver and guide
Oxford is home to one of the oldest universities and while it’s renowned for providing only the best education, it is also well known as “the City of Dreaming Spires.” When you arrive, you’ll be able to wander amongst the beautiful buildings.
Dating back to the 12th-century, these buildings are home to many colleges and departments under Oxford University. You’ll also have a chance to take in the beautiful exhibits at the Ashmolean Museum, filled with art and antiquities.
When leaving Oxford, you’ll head first to Bampton Village in the Cotswolds. This village is commonly known as Downton Abbey Village. Many of the landmarks here were commonplace when filming the TV show, including St. Mary’s, the parish church in Bampton.
Your last stop will be in Bibury Village where you will have time to explore independently and also enjoy a traditional English tea in the afternoon.
Your luxury coach and professional driver will bring you back to London with plenty of time to enjoy a late dinner.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds: Day Trip from London
- Departure Point: across from Gloucester Road Underground Station
- Departure Time: 7:45 AM
- Duration: 11 hours (approx.)
- Includes: luxury coach transportation, professional driver and guide, independent exploration of Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford
You’ll head toward Stratford-upon-Avon when leaving London, enjoying some of the most beautiful countryside in England.
Stratford is the birthplace of Shakespeare and while there you will also be able to view, and possibly tour the Swan Theatre. In Stratford, you’ll also see the famous Tudor-style architecture and have a full 2 hours to see the city.
Your professional guide can give you suggestions on where to visit based on what you are most interested in. This is a great place to pick up a souvenir to take home.
After a bit more countryside driving, you’ll arrive in Oxford, the city that revolves almost entirely on the University of the same name.
The walking route through Oxford that takes you past most of the famous landmarks you’d like to see is not long and your guide can send you in that direction. However, you are welcome to explore the city independently as you’d like.
After your guide gives you the lowdown on the connections between Alice in Wonderland and even Harry Potter and this historic city, you can choose a local restaurant in which to enjoy a meal or you can head to Turf Tavern, supposedly haunted by Old Rosie, to enjoy a beverage with local academics.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds Villages Full-Day Tour
- Departure Point: across from Earls Court Underground Station, Warwick Road Exit
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Duration: 1 day (approx.)
- Includes: roundtrip transportation, visit Stratford-upon-Avon, entrance to Shakespeare’s birthplace, countryside drive with photo op stops, walking tour of Oxford
Stratford-upon-Avon is your first destination after leaving London by coach. Your guide will give you a short tour around the city to orient you to the most popular stops. Then, you will have free time for independent exploration.
Your tour includes entrance to Shakespeare’s birthplace where you can see many artifacts related to the poet and playwright.
Don’t forget to stop by the Swan Theatre, also of interest to Shakespeare fans, before boarding your coach for a countryside drive.
With good weather, your driver will stop at several places along your drive through the Cotswold countryside for photo ops of the green, rolling hills and the unique, quaint villages along the way to Oxford.
On a walking tour with your guide, you’ll see much of “the City of Dreaming Spires” and come to understand why it’s been nicknamed that since 1865 in a poem now famous by Matthew Arnold.
You’ll also stop by the Sheldonian Theater, the Museum of Science, and Balliol College before heading back to London.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
6. Classic Cotswolds Private Tour
- Duration: 7 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM
- Includes: Private tour of the North Cotswolds, full control over itinerary and route, knowledgeable local driver-guide, luxury executive-style vehicle, transportation within the North Cotswolds
I’ve always been drawn to the English countryside, so when I had the chance to step into this idyllic place, I couldn’t say “no”. The Classic Cotswolds Private Tour is one of my favorites of any tour of its kind, offering a completely personalized sightseeing experience that catered to our specific interests. Rather than going on a cookie-cutter tour with a guide who rattles off common information, this one allows you the freedom to do what you want with an expert guide.
Instead of having to head to a meetup point, our guide picked us up right from our hotel lobby, which was super convenient. We did start in the morning to make the most of our time as it is around 7 hours long, in total. Sure, you could rent a car and drive out there yourself, but it’s not only less affordable but you wouldn’t have a guide there to show you and teach you about everything.
Our vehicle was very comfortable and spacious, with large windows ideal for soaking in the rolling hills and postcard-perfect scenery as our guide regaled us with interesting historical facts about the area. We got to see charming little villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Chipping Campden – all places I never would’ve seen had I gone on my own. Seeing the traditional thatched cottages was really something special, along with the wool church and ancient market hall we were able to tour.
Snowshill was one of my favorite parts of the tour, and felt like I was in some kind of movie, from the Manor House to the gorgeous lavender farm. There’s no way we could miss the famous Broadway, which was an ancient settlement and today is known for its breathtaking architecture. Please do yourself a favor and do not skip eating here, as the produce is super fresh and flavorful!
Broadway Tower, Lower Slaughter, and so many more magical sites were also seen with our guide. What are you waiting for?!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
7. Our Famous North Cotswold Tour
- Duration: 6 to 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM
- Includes: Private transportation, air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, bottled water, professional driver, tour guide, luxury Mercedes vehicle transport
England may be a small country in terms of land, but it’s surprising just how different a place like the Cotswolds is from, say, London or Manchester.
If you’re in England and would like to explore off the beaten path, look no further than Our Famous North Cotswold Tour! Instead of driving out there ourselves, we had a professional driver/expert guide who took us out to the most breathtaking attractions in a luxury Mercedes vehicle!
Just like with the previous tour, we didn’t have to deal with any meetup points, and were instead picked right up from our hotel to make the most of our time.
The van was very comfortable, and I appreciated that I could just kick back and relax while watching the countryside go by. As we cruised along, our guide shared plenty of historical accounts and fun facts about the region, making it even more entertaining!
Upon arrival to Chipping Campden, we explored at our leisure and got to choose if it was by foot or car. We chose to stroll around, checking out the amazing historical sites, the local church, and amazing homes as our guide shared local stories.
We couldn’t leave out the Stow-on-the-Wold Market Square, where we picked up some unique souvenirs, drank some tasty coffee, and enjoyed the architecture before heading to Blockley and Lower Slaughter.
As this is a completely customizable tour, I won’t go into too much detail about what we did, as you could choose to have an entirely different experience. There are plenty of different little villages to choose from, and your guide will make suggestions based on you and your party’s specific interests.
This was a wonderful day full of learning, getting to see one of the most interesting places in the world, and enjoy some delicious local food!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
What You Need to Know About Cotswolds Tours From London
The Cotswolds is two hours outside London and feels like a different country. Stone villages built from honey-coloured limestone, sheep on every hill, pubs that have been serving ale since before the United States existed.
It is genuinely worth a day of your time, and a guided tour is the right way to do it if you don’t have a rental car and don’t want to spend four hours figuring out rural bus schedules.
Here is what you need to know before you book.
Pick The Right Tour Type First
This is the decision that changes everything else.
Large coach tours, the 40-plus-seater kind, have to stick to main roads. They are cheaper, but they cannot get into the narrow country lanes where the best villages actually are. Small group tours, using 16-seater minibuses, can go places the coaches cannot. They cost more.
The price gap is real. Go Cotswolds, one of the well-regarded locally run operators, starts at £70 per adult for a full-day small group minibus tour. London Walks runs a Cotswolds excursion at £125 per adult, which covers the guide’s fee and the train from London.
Large coach tours from Victoria Coach Station will run you less, often in the £50 to £65 range, but you get what you pay for in terms of access.
If you are traveling with three or four people, look at private tours. The cost splits across the group, and a good private tour feels relaxed rather than rushed.
You can also take a train from London to a station like Kingham or Moreton-in-Marsh and start the tour from inside the Cotswolds, which saves the long drive out of London and gives you more time on the ground.
What Villages in the Cotswolds You Will See
Most tours hit two to four stops. The regulars are Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Bibury is the one everybody photographs. Arlington Row is a line of 14th-century weaver’s cottages along the River Coln. It is genuinely as pretty as the photos and usually crowded by 11am, so the earlier your tour arrives, the better. The Swan Hotel in Bibury, a 17th-century inn on the river, is a popular lunch stop on tours that include a meal.
Bourton-on-the-Water has a shallow river running through the village centre with small stone bridges crossing it. It is extremely photogenic and extremely touristy. Worth an hour, not a full afternoon.
Stow-on-the-Wold is one of the more historically interesting stops. It has a large market square, antique shops, and a medieval church door that Tolkien scholars argue inspired the Doors of Durin. It was also the site of the last battle of the English Civil War in 1646.
Burford is the one most people underrate. It is a proper small town with a high street that slopes down to the River Windrush, independent shops, a 12th-century church, and a pub on nearly every corner. If the itinerary includes Burford, that is a good sign the operator knows what they are doing.
What a Day in the Cotswolds Will Be Like
Most tours depart around 8:15 to 8:25am from central London, usually near Victoria or a coffee shop where the guide meets you, and return by roughly 5:45pm. That is a full day. You’ll spend about 90 minutes each way on the road, which leaves you five or six hours on the ground split across stops.
Lunch is usually at a pub and is sometimes included in the price, sometimes not. Check before you book. Most tours give you free time at each stop to wander on your own rather than staying in a group, which is the right way to do it.
When You Should Go
Spring and early autumn are the sweet spots. Spring brings mild temperatures and flowers through the villages. Both spring and autumn mean fewer people than peak summer while still getting decent weather.
Summer weekends in the Cotswolds are genuinely crowded, particularly in Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water. If you are going in July or August, book your tour well in advance and accept that you will be sharing the place with a lot of other people.
Book on GetYourGuide or Viator
Compare prices on GetYourGuide and Viator against booking directly with the operator. Some operators match the price either way. Some do not.
GetYourGuide often lets you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund and has a reserve-now-pay-later option, which is useful if you are booking around uncertain British weather.
FAQs
How long is the drive from London?
About 90 minutes to two hours each way, depending on traffic and which part of the Cotswolds you are going to. Plan for closer to two hours on a summer weekend.
Do I need cash?
Most pubs and shops in the Cotswolds take cards now, but carry £20 or so anyway. Some smaller tea rooms are still cash-only, and it is good to have something on hand for a pint without waiting for the card machine.
Is it worth paying more for a small group tour?
Yes, if seeing the actual countryside matters to you. Large coaches stick to main roads. Small minibuses can take the narrow country lanes and get into the heart of the villages. The difference in what you see is significant.
Can I do it in a day?
Yes. It is designed for a day trip. Two or three villages, a pub lunch, back in London by early evening. If you want to stay overnight, Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water both have decent accommodation options, but that is a different kind of trip.
What should I wear?
Comfortable shoes that can handle uneven stone pavements and possibly wet grass. The Cotswolds is not a hiking trip, but you will be on your feet for several hours across different surfaces. Check the weather the night before and bring a light layer even in summer.
Are kids okay on these tours?
Generally yes, though check the operator’s minimum age policy. The villages are walkable and not especially strenuous. Long stretches in the minibus can be tough for very young kids, so a half-day private tour might work better than a full-day group option if you are traveling with small children.
What if I want to go without a guide?
The Cotswolds has a bus network connecting the main towns, but services are infrequent and often don’t run on Sundays. You can train to Moreton-in-Marsh from Paddington and use local buses from there, but you will spend a meaningful chunk of your day waiting for connections. A guided tour is faster and more efficient unless you are staying multiple nights and can take your time.
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Oxford, Stratford, and Cotswolds: Day Trip from London is our Editor's Choice with its combination of sites seen, tour guides and value.
