Bath & Southern Cotswolds
Wilder landscapes, storybook villages, and a city steeped in history.
Journey through the quieter southern Cotswolds, where rolling hills meet regal towns and ancient charm.
What you’ll experience:
- Departure: From Stratford-upon-Avon (08:50) or Moreton-in-Marsh (09:30). Optional drop-off in Bath!
- Price: £75-£85 adults, £65-£75 children aged 3-15 (sorry, no under 3s)
- Enjoy plenty of free time in the stunning World Heritage City of Bath, perfect for history lovers and Jane Austen fans alike
- Explore Tetbury, a royal favourite, and Castle Combe – “the prettiest village in England”
- Feeling festive? Visit Bath’s magical Christmas Market on this tour, on November 29, December 2, 6, 9 and 13, 2026!
tour itinerary
After picking you up from either Stratford-upon-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh (see below), you’ll visit the following locations:
- Tetbury (45 minutes). After approximately a 45-minute journey from Moreton-in-Marsh, we’ll arrive in Tetbury, a small, pretty and typically Cotswold market town. Known for its quaint streets, including the picturesque ‘Chipping Steps’, historic market hall and lovely independent shops, Tetbury is also known for its most famous residents – none other than King Charles and Queen Camilla! There’s a Highgrove Estate shop here for all your royal souvenirs.
- Castle Combe (30 minutes). A 40-minute scenic drive brings us to Castle Combe. It may look very familiar - it's one of the most famous and photographed villages in the Cotswolds, consistently ranked as the "prettiest village in England"! A conservation order on the buildings here means there are no ugly telegraph wires, satellite dishes, solar panels or other modern paraphernalia to be seen, giving the impression that you have truly stepped back in time. Get your Instagram snaps here, but don't forget to see it with your own eyes too!
- Royal Crescent, Bath (15 minutes). Departing Castle Combe, enjoy the 45-minute ride to Bath. En route, your guide will tell you about the fascinating history of this UNESCO World Heritage City, which dates back to Roman times and enjoyed a revival in the Georgian era. First, we’ll make a quick photo stop at the iconic Royal Crescent, considered to be the finest example of Georgian architecture in the country (Bridgerton fans, rejoice!).
- Bath (2 hours 45 minutes). Then, we’ll drop you off in the centre of Bath, where you’ll have a further 2 hours 45 minutes of free time to explore with maps we’ll provide. You may not have time to do everything Bath has to offer, but the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, The Circus and the Jane Austen Centre are all highlights here. We’ll be in central Bath between approximately 13.30 and 16.15, so if pre-booking entry tickets to the Roman Baths, we suggest an entry timeslot of around 13.45. Remember to give yourself time to explore the rest of Bath, too!
In between stops, you’ll travel the scenic back roads in our comfy minibus, while our friendly local guides tell you all about this beautiful area we call home.
bath christmas market
On dates between 29th November and 13th December 2026, Bath’s wonderful Christmas market will be in full swing, making this a wonderful time to enjoy this tour! Tours available on November 29, December 2, 6, 9 and 13, 2026!
Pick-up & drop-off times & locations
stratford-upon-avon
- Departure time: 08.50
- Return time: 18.30
- Location: Shakespeare’s Birthplace Coach Terminal, Windsor Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
- Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/kyq8upDKhZnbdwpF8
- What3Words: ///evenly.blur.ending
moreton-in-marsh
- Departure time: 09.30
- Return time: 18.00
- Location: Moreton-in-Marsh Railway Station (wait in the car park outside the ticket office)
- Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/RkMYSdNizneTnzRGA
- What3Words: ///retain.incurring.processes
- Please note: we collect our first passengers from Stratford-upon-Avon at 08.50, then travel to Moreton-in-Marsh to collect remaining passengers at 09.30. Your booking may show a tour ‘start time’ of 08.50 regardless of which pick up point you have selected. However, if you selected Moreton-in-Marsh, the departure time is 09.30.
- Travelling from London, Reading, Oxford or Birmingham? Arriving by train, bus or car? Click here for more information about how to reach our pick up points.
- If you would like to change your pick up point after booking, you can do so using the ‘Manage this booking’ link in your confirmation email, or by contacting Go Cotswolds. If you’re not sure which pick up point to choose, please ask!
On request:
- We can pick you up in Stratford-upon-Avon and drop you off at Moreton-in-Marsh station (or vice versa). No problem! Please let us know in advance.
- We can also drop you off in Bath at the end of this tour – this is handy if you’re staying in Bath for a while, or heading back to London. It’s quicker to take the train from Bath Spa to London Paddington compared with coming all the way to Moreton-in-Marsh! Need luggage storage in Bath? Prebook with Bounce.
- Drop-off in Stow-on-the-Wold is possible with this tour, since we pass by on our return to Moreton-in-Marsh – please let us know when you book if you’d like us to drop you in Stow-on-the-Wold.
What’s included?
- Transport in a comfy, spacious, air-conditioned 16-passenger seat Mercedes minibus with USB chargers and panoramic windows so everyone gets a great view!
- Plenty of free time in each location - you're free to do as much or as little as you like at each stop
- Souvenir booklets containing maps, photographs and information. We’ve highlighted our recommended things to see and do at each stop, so you can make the most of your free time.
- Expert insights from one of our fun, friendly driver-guides. All of our guides are locals, so we’ll bring the story of the Cotswolds to life.
What’s not included?
- Lunch and refreshments – bring your own picnic, or purchase food and drinks at the stops on the tour.
- Village/City walking tours - practically and logistically,our guides can't accompany you at every stop, but we find our guests really value this flexibility!
- Entry fees to any attractions you may wish to visit - e.g. the Roman Baths or Jane Austen Centre in Bath. You'll be in central Bath between approx 13.30 and 16.15, so we recommend you pre-book entry within this window, allowing for some 'wiggle room' either side.
- Tips - always welcome, but never expected
What to wear?
- Please dress in comfortable clothes that are appropriate for the weather conditions. Bring a raincoat or umbrella if it’s raining, and a hat, water and sunscreen if it’s hot.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
tips for travel by public transport
- From London (Paddington station), Reading, Oxford, Charlbury and Kingham, take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh. The train arriving at approx. 09.20 is perfect! We’ll pick you up from right outside Moreton-in-Marsh train station.
- From Honeybourne, Evesham or Worcester, take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh. We’ll pick you up from right outside Moreton-in-Marsh train station.
- From Birmingham, take a direct train to Stratford-upon-Avon – our pick up point is just a 5-10 minute walk from Stratford-upon-Avon train station. (See this Google Map for walking directions.) Not on Sundays.
We always recommend you buy a flexible ‘anytime’ ticket that allows you to take any train. The times stated above are usually the latest we expect to get to the drop-off points – we are often a few minutes earlier, but we can never 100% guarantee this. If you have a flexible ticket, then you can take an earlier train and won’t have to wait around.
However, if you wish to book a particular train to take advantage of cheaper ‘advance single’ tickets, then we recommend you plan to depart after the drop-off times stated above.
We recommend The Trainline* for online train ticket bookings. Book train tickets 6-8 weeks ahead of the travel date for the best prices.
more travel tips
- Please see our webpage here for more information on accommodation and getting to our pick up points.
package offers
Our Bath & Southern Cotswolds tour is fantastic as a stand-alone tour. However, if you have more time, combine it with our other tours to create a 1-4 day itinerary.
- Get 10% off when you book more than one tour at the same time
- Top tip: it doesn’t matter which way around you take our tours!
- Need accommodation? Accommodation is not included in our packages. Try our recommendations in Stratford-upon-Avon or Moreton-Marsh.
cancellation policy, terms & Conditions
- Our Bath & Southern Cotswolds tour may be amended, or cancelled for a full refund, up to 24 hours before departure.
- No refunds, credit or transfers are given for no-shows or cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time.
- We’re sorry, children under 3 are not permitted on this tour.
- With the exception of registered assistance animals (who are highly trained to assist a person with activities of daily living), we do not allow pets on our tours.
- Click here for our Terms and Conditions – you will need to agree to these if you make a booking