Cotswolds Private Tour: Discover Stunning Scenery and Historic Villages from London

Escape the city and explore the stunning scenery and historic villages of the Cotswolds on a private tour from London. Discover golden fields, vibrant gardens, and charming sandstone towns while indulging in delicious food. Join a passionate guide for a picture-perfect day out!

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Woodstock - Our tour begins with a visit to the gravesite of Britain’s beloved Sir Winston Churchill. Unlike other national heroes interred in London’s grand cathedrals, Sir Winston rests in The Parish Church of Saint Martin Bladon, near his birthplace. Here, you can pay your respects to the great wartime leader, and your guide will explain why Sir Winston is such a significant (and sometimes controversial) figure. If The Parish Church of Saint Martin Bladon is open to the public on the day of your visit, you’ll also have the opportunity to see the Churchill memorial window inside the Church.

  • Chipping Norton - Chipping Norton, the highest town in Oxfordshire, derives its name from the old English word for market. A market town since the 13th century and a major wool trading hub since the 15th century, this vibrant Cotswolds town is also home to the renowned Bliss Mill. This unique former tweed mill is famous for resembling a cross between a mansion and a folly rather than a factory. While in Chipping Norton, you can explore the charming shops and visit the impressive wool church of St Mary. At St Mary’s Church, your guide will explain the emergence of these grand wool churches and the importance of wool to the local and national economy during the 15th century.

  • Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh is one of the primary market towns in the northern Cotswolds. Situated on the Fosse Way, the ancient Roman road connecting Exeter to Lincoln, this picturesque market town still hosts a local market every Tuesday. Established in 1227, this weekly market is now one of the oldest in the United Kingdom.

Like all Cotswolds villages, the local pubs are central to the community and the town’s history. In Moreton-in-Marsh, you’ll learn how Charles I took refuge in one of the town’s pubs during the English Civil War, and how author J.R.R. Tolkien is believed to have drawn inspiration from The Bell Inn for his famous work, The Lord of the Rings.

  • Blockley - Blockley is a charming and largely unspoiled village situated between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden. This beautiful village was once a leading silk production center, utilizing the local stream to power the silk mills. Today, the village frequently appears in the TV series Father Brown, where the Norman church of St Peter and St Paul stands in as the fictional St Mary’s Church, and the local vicarage doubles as Father Brown’s residence. While visiting Blockley, you’ll have time to explore the village and its stunning surroundings, and take photographs of the quaint houses, cottages, and shops.
  • Chipping Campden - Chipping Campden, like Stow-In-The-Wold, Bourton-On-The-Water, and Burford (all places you will visit on this tour), is often listed as one of the best places to see in the Cotswolds by bloggers and journalists. Rich in history and adorned with beautiful buildings, Chipping Campden’s high street was once described by historian G.M. Trevelyan as “the most beautiful village street now left in the island.” Today, this high street remains largely unchanged, with a continuous stretch of buildings dating back to the 14th century lining the wide, gently curving road.

With over 250 listed properties, including one dating back to 1380, this charming town is the perfect place to capture photos that will make your friends envious of your trip.

  • Upper Slaughter - As we drive through the countryside to our next destination, we will pass through the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. If you’d like to make a brief stop here, please inform your guide, who will be happy to accommodate your request.

  • Lower Slaughter - As we drive through the countryside to our next destination, we will pass through the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. If you’d like to make a brief stop here, please inform your guide, who will be happy to accommodate your request.

  • Bourton-on-the-Water - Bourton-On-The-Water is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the Cotswolds. Like the vibrant Venetian city, Bourton-On-The-Water is an excellent place to take photographs that will make your friends envious of your trip. The gently flowing River Windrush is crossed by several small, beautiful bridges throughout the town, providing perfect photo opportunities. The town also boasts a variety of shops, ranging from jewelry to perfume and pottery, offering you the chance to pick up some perfect gifts to take home.
    If you wish to spend a bit more time in Bourton-On-The-Water, you can visit the local model village, a perfect 1/9 scale replica of Bourton-On-The-Water created in the 1930s, or Greystones Nature Reserve, home to a wide variety of local wildlife and the site of a Neolithic and Iron Age encampment (now a scheduled ancient monument) that gives Bourton-On-The-Water its name.

  • Burford - Our final stop on this tour is the picturesque village of Burford. Regularly voted as one of the top places to visit in the Cotswolds (alongside Stow-In-The-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Chipping Campden), Burford features charming pubs, delightful shops, including a traditional sweet store, and traditional grocery and clothing stores. Arranged along a breathtaking central road, Burford was a favorite retreat for Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwyn, and it is home to Britain’s oldest pharmacy, which opened in 1734.

What's Included
  • Transport and guiding fees included
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Tea and coffee
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
Additional Information

There’s nothing quite like a visit to the countryside. Its stunning landscapes, from sun-kissed fields in spring to vibrant, rainbow-hued gardens in summer, and the dazzling array of dark crimsons, yellows, & silvers in autumn & winter, are simply breath-taking. Coupled with the charming, historic towns & villages, built from rich, creamy sandstone and frequently listed among the top tourist destinations in the Cotswolds & the UK, the rustic wildlife, including ducks, geese, bees & occasional snakes, and delectable local cuisine, it is an ideal retreat from the bustling city.

This tour, which frequents several villages annually acclaimed as top locations in the Cotswolds, gives you a chance to experience some of Britain’s most beautiful locales. Guided by an enthusiast with a deep love for history, a penchant for gastronomy (and knowledge of the finest dining spots), and a discerning eye for photogenic points, it will ensure you have a memorable, near-perfect day that will leave your friends back home green with envy.

Location
Woodstock
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.6
(10 Ratings)
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1 star
Stacy_i
Jun 14, 2024
Go on the Cotswold Tour - Our guide was amazing. He was so accommodating even when I got hangry and wanted to eat lunch, he found a good place. He allowed me to shop and let me tell you, I like to shop. He was an encyclopedia of information about the Cotswolds, but had great info when we were driving out of London, he gave us all this information he went above and beyond and I highly recommend him and for some darn reason, I can’t remember his name so if you see this, please let me know your name and send me your information because I would like to send people to you as a guide and I may want to come back and use you .
Review provided by Viator
Eugenie_m
May 4, 2024
Cotswolds - Beautiful - The individual doing the tour was very knowledgeable and added many specific insights . Very relaxed with shopping interspersed but also informative.
Review provided by Viator
Waterpolobill
Jun 14, 2023
Well worth a day. - Informative. More than we expected. We will recommend the tour to all our friends. Both the guide and driver were delightful.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_t
Oct 18, 2022
Book a tour, you won’t be disappointed - David was amazing, he was prompt for our hotel pickup. As a tour guide he had amazing commentary during the entire trip. He knew where to find the best picture. My family loved how much information he know, from the ancient to the current. I would highly recommend touring with David. If I ever have a chance to be back in the London area I wail ask for him specifically !
Review provided by Viator
H
Sep 14, 2022
Cotswolds In Style - Our guide, David, was very pleasant, knowledgeable, and engaging. His vehicle was clean & comfortable. We had a wonderful time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ganm2022
Jul 11, 2022
Excellent and informative tour - Great tour. Dewi was an excellent and sincere guide with a plethora of knowledge and provided a fun and insightful tour. Would recommend to our friends and family. Photo opportunities aplenty.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
April
Jul 9, 2022
Fantastic Tour with Dewi - Dewi was an absolutely joy to travel with, he kept us entertained and informed for the entire trip. I would highly recommend him and this tour to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marzia_a
Aug 10, 2024
Awful private tour of the Cotswold - Do not book this tour. The pick up car is a taxi. The guide has no knowledge of the area. He gives a very very vague overview. We were promised four different areas of the Cotswolds and was not taken to Bibery. They started driving us back to London and would not tell us that we are headed back. I had to keep asking where we are going. The guide did not give us a verbal itinerary. He did not tell us how long we will be spending at each location. He kept talking about himself and how he is an actor on PBS. The taxi car is extremely uncomfortable. The driver is sort of nice but his driving can be aggressive at times. I tried to get my money back from Viator and got very random responses. I paid for multiple sights and was told by guide and driver that we would go but at the end of the day we were not taken. I had planned for this day for many months and very disappointed. This was my twin daughter’s graduation gift and it went in shambles. I started getting afraid in the car but thank God my husband was able to track our location.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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