Cotswolds Day Tour from Oxford

Discover the charming Cotswolds – with departures from Oxford!
Make the most of your Oxford city break by exploring the beautiful villages and countryside of the nearby Cotswolds too.

Highlights include:

Departures from central Oxford at 09:30 (return by 16.30)
Price: £70-£85 adults; £60-£75 children aged 3-15 (sorry, no under 3s)
Browse independent shops, tea-rooms, galleries and the impressive ‘wool’ church in historic Burford
Discover the unspoilt Cotswold village of Shilton, idyllic Bibury and picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water
Walk in the footsteps of (fictional!) aristocracy as you explore Bampton, the real-life Downton!
Stories and history en route, provided by one of our fun, friendly local driver-guides

tour itinerary

After picking you up from central Oxford (St. Giles, see below), you’ll visit the following locations:

Bampton (45 minutes free time). A scenic route from Oxford city centre brings us to the edge of the Cotswolds and the pretty village of Bampton – though fans of a certain TV show may know it better as ‘Downton’! There are cafés and shops here to stock up on snacks and a small Downton Abbey exhibit for the superfans!
Shilton (20 mins). The lovely village of Shilton is a hidden gem here in the Cotswolds – off the tourist trail, quiet and peaceful, with a very picturesque ford (river crossing the street). It’s a beautiful place to stop and get snap-happy with your camera!
Bibury (30 minutes). Home to the iconic ‘Arlington Row’ of chocolate-box cottages, tiny Bibury has been described as “the prettiest village in England”, so will you agree?
Bourton-on-the-Water (1 hour 15 minutes). In this beautiful and very popular village, pretty Cotswold stone bridges cross the crystal waters of the River Windrush. We’ll arrive here at around 13.15, so now’s the time to choose where you’ll eat your lunch (not included). We suggest you get a grab-and-go lunch so you’ll have time to explore properly – though the fantastic independent tea rooms and cafés can be hard to resist!
Burford (1 hour). Before heading back to Oxford, we’ll stop in the classic Cotswolds market town of Burford. Hike up ‘The Hill’ for gorgeous cottages and far-reaching views, shop for gifts and antiques, or have a cream tea in one of the local tea-rooms. Don’t miss the impressive ‘wool church’ of St. John The Baptist with its surprising history!

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.

Pick-up & drop-off time & location

ST. GILES, OXFORD

Departure time: 09.30
Return time: 16.30
Location: Bus Stop C5, St Giles, Oxford (adjacent to The Ashmolean Museum)
Google Maps pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/wA2MoPVTHUwefmnm8
What3Words location: ///game.stays.reward

There is no sign at the bus stop which says ‘C5’ but if you use the map link, or What3Words location, you’ll be in the right place! The bus stop is a popular layby for coaches and minibuses. St John’s College and a small blue take-away food kiosk are on the opposite side of the road.
Please note: due to restrictions on vehicles of our size on many streets within Oxford city centre, it is not possible to pick you up or drop you off at hotels or any other location in Oxford.

On request:

We can drop you off in Burford at the end of this tour. Please let us know in advance.

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/town 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. Bourton Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water).
Tips - always welcome, but never expected

What to wear?

tips for travel by public transport

by train

From London (Paddington or Marylebone stations), Reading, Banbury or Birmingham New Street, take a direct train to Oxford station.

From Oxford station, it’s approximately a 14-minute walk to our pick up point on St Giles, adjacent to the Ashmolean Museum.

We always recommend you buy a flexible ‘anytime’ ticket that allows you to take any train. We can never 100% guarantee to return you in time for a particular train.

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 time 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.

by bus/coach

From London (Victoria Coach Station, Marble Arch, Notting Hill Gate, Shepherd’s Bush, White City, Acton, or Hillingdon) take the Oxford Tube coach service to Oxford’s Gloucester Green Coach Station.

From Gloucester Green Coach Station, it’s approximately a 6-minute walk to our pick up point on St Giles, adjacent to the Ashmolean Museum.

If you’re travelling to our pick up point from within Oxford, or from within the wider Oxfordshire area, check local bus timetables – Stagecoach and The Oxford Bus Company are the two main local service providers.

more travel tips

Please see our webpage here for more information on driving to Oxford, taxis and accommodation.

package offers

Want to see more of the Cotswolds?

If you’re staying in Oxford, you can take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh to join one or more of our other tours from Moreton-in-Marsh station!

Get 10% off when you book more than one tour at the same time
Need accommodation? Accommodation is not included in our packages – try our recommendations in Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon or Moreton-Marsh.

cancellation policy, terms & Conditions

Our Cotswolds Day Tour from Oxford 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