Cotswold Summer Explorer Tour: Discover Idyllic English Villages and Majestic Castles
4.9
64 Ratings
Oxfordshire
Embark on a captivating Cotswold Summer Explorer Tour and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Discover idyllic villages, majestic castles, and charming high streets on this unforgettable journey.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Minster Lovell Hall & Dovecote - You start your unforgettable Cotswold journey from central Oxford, driving to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall.
  • Burford - Enjoy a walk around Burford with its quaint cafes and antiques shops or visit the impressive wool church of St John the Baptist.
  • Bourton on the Water - Our drive then takes us through some beautiful countryside and some of the old quarrying villages of the North Cotswolds to Bourton-on-the-Water, the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’. Bourton has many cafes and small souvenir shops to explore and there is also the picturesque River Windrush.
  • Broadway - Another picturesque route brings us to the charming and unspoilt Worcestershire town of Broadway. We stop here for lunch, where you can enjoy the fine shops and quaint cafes.
  • High Street Chipping Campden - Passing the quirky Broadway Tower we head to the delightful market town of Chipping Campden, the centre of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds. Here, you can browse in the quaint shops or visit the impressive
  • Stow-on-the-Wold Market Square - Our return route to Oxford takes us to the charming town of Stow-on-the-Wold. See the quaint antiques shops and boutiques and visit St Edwards Church with its quirky wooden door (said to have inspired the writer Tolkien).
  • Blenheim Palace - Our route back to Oxford passes through the delightful market town of Chipping Norton and Woodstock, the home of Blenheim Palace.
What's Included
  • Pick up from hotels in North Oxford on request
  • Pick up from Oxford Railway Station on request
  • Bottled water and select beverages
  • Professional Blue Badge guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Additional Information

The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best.

  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Location
Taylor Institution Library
St Giles'
Tour departs from coach bays next to Taylorian Institution Library in St Giles. Please arrive at the departure point 10 minutes before the tour is due to depart. Please look for a dark blue minibus with ‘Explore Oxford and the Cotswolds’ written on the sides.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(64 Ratings)
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Suedavis
Oct 9, 2023
A Day of Beauty and Charm - We booked this trip well in advance of arriving in Oxford and we were glad we did. It is quite popular. Taking a Cotswold tour out of Oxford rather than London allows you to see way more when doing a day trip. Dave was an excellent driver and Isabelle was an excellent guide - telling us many good stories. We had frequent rest stops, bathroom stops (maybe being a few 20 pence pieces to access some of the bathrooms), and wander around and eat stops. We were picked up close to our accommodations at 9:15 and returned very close to 6PM so it was a full day. But, a great day. We saw enough to make us want to come back and spend more time in this beautiful area of England.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andreasb9637gr
Sep 27, 2023
Delightful day! - Excellent trip. Very informative and entertaining guide. Couteous and helpful driver. Amazing sights. Best of England.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robinm253
Aug 29, 2023
Great day! - The tour was very educational and enjoyable. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and the driver took good care of us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lazydoxie
Aug 26, 2023
Gorgeous day in the Cotswolds - Fabulous tour, exactly as described. The scenery is stunning and our guide and driver were excellent. I learned a lot about the history of the area and we had adequate time at the stops to explore a little. I recommend bringing a lunch with you so you can maximize your time in the villages.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rocco_p
Aug 21, 2023
Great experience! - Great experience! Detailed explanation about everything we saw during the trip. Small group and experienced driver and guide made this trip awesome.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_h
Aug 14, 2023
The guides, Isobel and... - The guides, Isobel and David, were great. The knowledge and information given during the tour was interesting and exactly what I was looking for. This tour was one of the highlights of my two week trip and I highly recommend this tour if you want to see the area and gain some insights about the region.
Review provided by Viator
Michaeldb4269sc
Aug 8, 2023
Great tour from expert guides - They gave us a great full day tour of Cotswolds villages including several beautiful villages & the countryside and lots of neat stories about British history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Felisha_s
Aug 8, 2023
Fabulous tour of the beauty and history of the Cotswolds - A fabulous day exploring the Cotswolds. Isabol and David were wonderful guides. So knowledgeable and fun. I highly recommend them! Small group and very comfortable Van.
Review provided by Viator
Heatherb2016
Jul 11, 2023
Lovely day! - Such a lovely day! Super impressed with this tour. The can was comfortable and clean. Guides were very friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. The stops and scenery were absolutely beautiful. This tour was one of the highlights of my trip - highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mimitmj69
Aug 21, 2023
Easy pace visit to remote areas of England - Good to join tour since these villages are not easily reachable by public transport. Also we were guided to some places less visited and hence avoided big crowd.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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