Coronavirus update August 2020: What to expect on a Go Cotswolds Day Tour

As a small family-run business, we care about our passengers, our staff and the Cotswold communities we visit. We always have done and always will.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, when we’re able to operate we’re following official advice from the UK Government and have procedures in place to help keep us all safe. We have received VisitEngland’s “We’re Good to Go” quality mark to demonstrate our commitment to reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission on our tours.

Here’s what you can expect from Go Cotswolds, and how you can play your part in helping us all to stay safe during your Go Cotswolds tour.

Go well

We’re going to be spending time together on the tour, so it’s in all of our interests to make sure that everyone is healthy.

Before you board the minibus, we’ll ask you a few simple health questions, and take your temperature using a non-contact thermometer – just to be on the safe side. Our staff members all have their health and temperature checked regularly too.

Of course, if you, or anyone in your household has, or has had within the 14 days preceding your tour, any symptoms of possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection, please don’t join the tour. Let us know in advance and you’re welcome to transfer to another date when you’re better, or receive a refund.

Go clean

We like to keep our vehicles spick and span at the best of times, but now we’ve upped our cleaning game.

Before each and every tour, we’ll thoroughly deep clean our minibus using antibacterial, antiviral cleaning products. And, for now, we’ve reduced the number of tours we offer per week to allow time between tours to allow fresh air to circulate inside.

We’ll ask you to use the hand sanitising spray provided before you board our minibus, both at the start of the day, and each time you get back on the minibus after a stop. That way, anything you’ve touched outside the minibus that may be contaminated won’t be spread inside the vehicle.

Your driver-guide will regularly sanitise their hands too and, for extra peace of mind, they will clean touch points, including the seats, seat belts, armrests, grab rails and door frames, several times during the day.

Go safe

We’ve reduced the maximum number of passengers on our tours from 16 to 10, and all passengers will have an allocated seat. This allows us to maintain social distancing, while giving us all space to enjoy the beautiful Cotswold countryside through the windows.

As our minibus is a public service vehicle, all passengers (with a few exceptions) must, by law, wear a face covering at all times while on board. Many people infected with COVID-19 show no symptoms, so face coverings can help to catch virus particles you don’t even know you are carrying.

To help us reduce waste, we’d prefer you to bring your own face covering, but disposable face masks will be available if you forget. We know, face masks can be uncomfortable – but it’s another small way to help keep everyone safe.

A note about the ‘rule of 6’:

As a minibus and guided tour operator, we are legally permitted to carry more than 6 people on our minibus, and to lead guided tours of up to 30 people at a time. That said, for now – for your peace of mind and ours – we are limiting the maximum number of people on a tour to 10 (usually 16).

At all times on and off the minibus, please remember to keep an appropriate social distance from other people who are not in your household or support bubble.

Go Cotswolds!

Unlike some other tour companies, most of your time on a Go Cotswolds tour will be spent off the minibus – out in the fresh Cotswolds countryside air!

During the day you’ll have plenty of free time in picture-perfect Cotswolds towns and villages, and enjoy the stunning views at some of our favourite beauty spots. Please act responsibly by maintaining appropriate social distancing and respecting the local residents’ privacy. Don’t forget to support our wonderful local businesses!