Discover Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon from Oxford

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Bourton-on-the-Water

   Departing from our pick up point on St Giles, we'll leave the city of Oxford behind and head out to the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. A journey of 1 hour brings us to the beautiful and very popular Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water. Here, 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, 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!

   45 minutes here

2. Stow-on-the-Wold

   Leaving Bourton-on-the-Water, a short 15-minute journey will bring us to the ancient market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. The highest town in the Cotswolds, here they say "Stow-on-the-Wold where the wind blows cold" - but don't let a little breeze put you off! Stow-on-the-Wold is 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, rumoured to inspire The Lord of the Rings.

   45 minutes here

3. Stratford-upon-Avon

   Departing Stow, we'll travel 45 minutes from the Cotswolds into Warwickshire, and the home town of the world's greatest playwright. First, we’ll drive you around the perimeter of Stratford-upon-Avon to help you get orientated. Then, we’ll drop you off in the touristic heart of the town, and you’ll have around 1 hour 45 minutes of free time to explore at your leisure. A short stroll from our drop off/pick up point, 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!).

   105 minutes here

4. Oxford

   We'll depart Stratford-upon-Avon at approximately 3.00pm, and make our way back to Oxford. We'll drop you off back where you started, near the Ashmolean Museum. The journey takes 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic.

   5 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Tue, Thu, Sun

Group size

Up to 8 travelers per booking

Operated by

Go Cotswolds - Guided Tours

Know before you go

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Kindly arrive at the pick up point at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure so we can get everyone checked in and depart right on time!
• There is no sign at the bus stop which says ‘C5’ but if you use the map location provided, or What3Words location game.stays.reward, 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.
• Look out for our friendly guide in Go Cotswolds uniform, driving a large white minibus with green and purple Go Cotswolds branding—you won’t miss us!
• If you are arriving in Oxford by train, note that our pick-up point is a 10-15 minute walk from Oxford railway station.
• Uber and similar services are not widely available in Oxford and the Cotswolds, and local taxis can be difficult to book last minute. We strongly recommend booking taxis in advance or using public transport where possible.
• If you're not at your pick-up point on time (09:30) and we can't contact you, the tour will depart without you. Make sure we have your correct mobile number with international dial code before your tour.
• After the tour, please plan any onward travel after 16.30.
• We have plenty of secure luggage space on board our vehicles, though please note our guides may not be able to assist with very heavy luggage
• Children aged 3–15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry, no children under 3.
• Tours run in all but dangerous weather—please dress appropriately!
• You may wish to visit some local museums during the day. Entry to attractions is entirely optional and at your own additional expense. Examples of attractions you may wish to visit include Bourton-on-the-Water's Model Village (£4.75 adults/£4.25 seniors/£3.75 children/infants under 3 free), The Cotswold Motoring & Toy Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water (£9.50 adults/£6.50 children 5-16/children under 5 free), Shakespeare's Birthplace (from £25 adults/£12.50 children), Shakespeare's Funerary Monument at Holy Trinity Church (£4.50)
• Accessibility: Users of lightweight mobility equipment such as canes, walking frames and foldable manual wheelchairs are welcome on our tours, provided you can climb 3 steps to get on and off our minibus, multiple times during the tour. Lightweight, foldable manual wheelchairs can be stored in the luggage compartment of our minibus. We're sorry, we cannot accommodate wheelchair users who are unable to get in and out of their chair unassisted, nor can we accommodate any electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Photos