Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon from Oxford

Discover Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and the charming Cotswolds from Oxford!

Departures from central Oxford at 09:30 (return by 16.30) - optional drop-off in Stratford-upon-Avon!
Price: £70-£85 adults, £60-£75 children 3-15 (sorry, no under 3s)
Browse independent shops and discover the famous ‘Tolkien Door’ in historic Stow-on-the-Wold
Explore the must-see Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water
Free time to explore William Shakespeare’s home town, Stratford-upon-Avon
Fun, friendly, local guides

tour itinerary

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

Bourton-on-the-Water (45 minutes). In this beautiful and very popular village, pretty Cotswold stone bridges cross the crystal waters of the River Windrush. For many, this is the ‘must-see’ destination in the Cotswolds! Grab a takeaway coffee while you take a relaxing stroll along the river, make a quick visit to the iconic Model Village, browse for gifts or take morning tea in one of many tea-rooms and cafés – if you have time after taking alllll the photos, that is!
Stow-on-the-Wold (45 minutes). A bustling Cotswolds market town, steeped in history and with wonderful independent shops to explore. Don’t miss the famous ‘Tolkien door’ at St. Edward’s Church!
Stratford-upon-Avon (1 hour 45 minutes). First, we’ll drive you around the perimeter of this small town to help you get orientated. Then, we’ll drop you off, and you’ll have around 1 hour 45 minutes of free time to explore Stratford-upon-Avon at your leisure. The pick-up/drop-off point is just across the road from bustling Henley Street, the touristic heart of Shakespeare’s home town. This is where you’ll find Shakespeare’s Birthplace (entry fee applies, not included), as well as numerous cafés, bakeries, shops and street entertainers. Don’t miss the beautiful Waterside area, where you can admire the swans and canal boats on the river Avon, take a scenic stroll, or climb the tower at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre for incredible views (it’s free!).

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 Stratford-upon-Avon 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, or Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.
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!

Or, with our Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon tour, we can drop you off in Stratford-upon-Avon if you wish, rather than returning to Oxford. You could then stay the night in Stratford-upon-Avon, and take one (or more!) of our other tours from Stratford-upon-Avon on other days.

This is a great way to combine two wonderful towns, and make the most of a travel day!

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 Stratford-upon-Avon or Moreton-Marsh.

Tip: If you plan to stay a night in Stratford-upon-Avon, take the Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon tour from Oxford first. We’ll pick you up in Oxford for the Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon tour on Day 1, and drop you off in Stratford-upon-Avon. Then, subsequent tours will depart from Stratford-upon-Avon.

cancellation policy, terms & Conditions

Our Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon 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