Description
- Want to discover the magic of Christmas in the Cotswolds?
- Traveling alone, with a partner, or a small group?
- Looking for a car-free option with a local independent company?
Then check out our Cotswolds Christmas tours!
If you’re looking for a small-group tour with a little extra Christmas sparkle, then look no further than Go Cotswolds! We’re the original and best Cotswolds guided tour company in Stratford-upon-Avon and Moreton-in-Marsh.
Itineraries for our Christmas in the Cotswolds tours vary by date (see below for details), but all will include visits to at least two Cotswold villages, and at least one Christmas market, festival or shopping event. Expect gorgeous Christmas decorations, twinkly lights, and a whole lot of festive cheer!
Can’t get enough of Christmas? See also our Castle Combe & Bath Christmas Market tour!
Itineraries for the Christmas in the Cotswolds tours:
Most small village Christmas markets only take place on one or two days, so itineraries for our Christmas in the Cotswolds tours vary by date. Check the details below for the itineraries we can offer.
All tours will start from either Stratford-upon-Avon at 10.00AM or Moreton-in-Marsh 10.30AM. Tour will return to Moreton-in-Marsh by 18.00 or Stratford-upon-Avon by 18.30, except where stated.
Here’s what’s in store…
Saturday 23rd November 2024:
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and Moreton-in-Marsh
- Christmas event: Moreton-in-Marsh Christmas Market and Christmas Lights Switch-on
- NB: Since Moreton-in-Marsh is the final stop of this tour, we’ll return to Moreton-in-Marsh by 16.00 on this date. The tour will depart Moreton-in-Marsh at 18.00 for guests requiring transport back to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Friday 29th November 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway
- Christmas event: Broadway Late Night Christmas Shopping Evening
- Soak up the festive atmosphere in beautiful Broadway, where the village Christmas lights are always stunning! Tonight, many of the village’s lovely independent shops stay open late for Christmas shopping, so come and shop local! (See also Friday 6th December)
Saturday 30th November 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and Cirencester
- Christmas event: Cirencester’s Advent Market
- Over 100 market stalls will line the streets of Cirencester’s town centre, selling festive food, drink and gifts.
Sunday 1st December 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden and Cirencester
Christmas event: Cirencester’s Advent Market - Over 100 market stalls will line the streets of Cirencester’s town centre, selling festive food, drink and gifts.
Friday 6th December 2024
There are 2 Christmas events today, Winchcombe Christmas Festival and Broadway Late Night Christmas Shopping! If you have a preference, please let us know when you make your booking.
Option 1:
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Winchcombe
- Christmas event: Winchcombe Christmas Festival
- Celebrate St. Nicholas’ Day in style as we visit the beautiful market town of Winchcombe for its annual Christmas Festival. As a bonus, St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold has a Christmas tree festival on today, too!
Option 2:
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway
- Christmas event: Broadway Late Night Christmas Shopping Evening
- Soak up the festive atmosphere in beautiful Broadway, where the village Christmas lights are always stunning! Tonight, many of the village’s lovely independent shops stay open late for Christmas shopping, so come and shop local! (See also Friday 29th November)
Saturday 7th December 2024
There are 2 options today. If you have a preference, please let us know when you make your booking and we will try to accommodate.
Option 1:
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden
- Christmas event: Chipping Campden Christmas Market
- Chipping Campden has “England’s most beautiful High Street”, and this is especially true at Christmas-time! We think Chipping Campden’s Christmas lights are some of the best in the area.
Option 2 – three Christmas events in one day!
- Visits to: Winchcombe, Chipping Campden, and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Christmas event: Three of them! Visit Winchcombe’s Christmas Festival and Chipping Campden’s Christmas Market, before rounding off the day at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Victorian Christmas Market
- NB: Since Stratford-upon-Avon is the final stop of this tour, we’ll return to Stratford-upon-Avon by 16.00 on this date. The tour will depart Stratford-upon-Avon at 18.00 for guests requiring transport back to Moreton-in-Marsh.
Sunday 8th December 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Christmas event: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Victorian Christmas Market
- NB: Since Stratford-upon-Avon is the final stop of this tour, we’ll return to Stratford-upon-Avon by 16.00 on this date. The tour will depart Stratford-upon-Avon at 18.00 for guests requiring transport back to Moreton-in-Marsh.
Saturday 14th December 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Christmas event: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Victorian Christmas Market (see also Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Sunday 15th December)
- NB: Since Stratford-upon-Avon is the final stop of this tour, we’ll return to Stratford-upon-Avon by 16.00 on this date. The tour will depart Stratford-upon-Avon at 18.00 for guests requiring transport back to Moreton-in-Marsh.
Sunday 15th December 2024
- Visits to: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Christmas event: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Victorian Christmas Market
- NB: Since Stratford-upon-Avon is the final stop of this tour, we’ll return to Stratford-upon-Avon by 16.00 on this date. The tour will depart Stratford-upon-Avon at 18.00 for guests requiring transport back to Moreton-in-Marsh.
Pick up times and locations
- 08.50: Stratford-upon-Avon – Shakespeare’s Birthplace Coach Terminal, Windsor Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
- 09.30: Moreton-in-Marsh – Moreton-in-Marsh railway station (wait in the car park near the ticket office)
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 purchase’ link in your confirmation email, or by contacting Go Cotswolds. If you’re not sure which pick up point to choose, please ask!
Drop-off times and locations:
Unless otherwise stated (see itineraries above), drop off times are approximately:
- 18.30 – Moreton-in-Marsh train station
- 19.00 – Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Coach Terminal
If you would like to be picked up in Stratford-upon-Avon and dropped off in Moreton-in-Marsh, or vice versa, no problem!
Train travel
From London (Paddington station), Reading, Oxford, Charlbury, Kingham, 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.)
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 tickets 6-8 weeks ahead of the travel date for the best prices.
What to wear?
This is a winter tour, so please dress in comfortable clothes that are appropriate for the weather conditions. Bring a raincoat or umbrella if it’s raining. Wear comfortable shoes.
What’s included in the Christmas in the Cotswolds tour?
- Transport in an executive class, air-conditioned 16-passenger seat Mercedes minibus.
- Plenty of free time, so you can explore the villages and Christmas events at your leisure
- Maps so you don’t get lost!
- Expert insights from one of our fun, friendly driver-guides.
What’s not included in the Christmas in the Cotswolds tour?
- Lunch and refreshments – bring your own picnic, or purchase food and drinks in Bath. There will be plenty of food and drink stalls at the Christmas Market!
- Admission to any attractions you may wish to visit.
Cancellation policy, terms and conditions:
Our Christmas in the Cotswolds tour may be amended, or cancelled for a full refund, up to 24 hours before departure. No refunds 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.
