Oxford and Cotswolds Villages Small-Group Day Tour from London
Description
Trade the noise of London for the cobblestone streets and rolling green hills of England’s most enchanting countryside. This top-rated small-group day tour balances rich historical commentary with the freedom to explore independently - taking you to the iconic university city of Oxford and two of the most picture-perfect villages in the Cotswolds: Burford and Bibury. With group sizes strictly capped at 16 passengers, you'll enjoy a relaxed pace, extra legroom on a premier mini-coach, and dedicated insight from your friendly driver-guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Known as the "City of Dreaming Spires," Oxford boasts world-famous architecture and centuries of academic prestige. Spend your time wandering historical quads, climbing St Mary’s Church tower for panoramic city views, browsing the historic Covered Market, or visiting the world-class Ashmolean Museum. Pro Tip: If you wish to visit specific college interiors (such as Christ Church), pre-book your entry tickets online for between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Nestled alongside the River Windrush, Burford is famously known as the "Gateway to the Cotswolds." Take in breathtaking views from the top of the sloping High Street, lined with 15th-century stone buildings, traditional English pubs, and local bakeries. Perfect for a quick bite or authentic cream tea.
Once declared "the prettiest village in England" by William Morris, Bibury feels like stepping straight into a postcard. Stroll along Arlington Row, a iconic terrace of 14th-century weavers' cottages running alongside the tranquil River Coln, and explore the nearby trout farm and sleepy village lanes.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We apologise, but we cannot accommodate children under 5 years old on our tours. Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. Please note that if this policy is not followed, we will have to refuse travel without issuing a refund. Thank you for understanding
- Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 20kg (44lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
- Oxford – You have free time in Oxford between 11am - 1pm. If you'd like to visit the Oxford colleges, libraries or museums, reserve your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Please note, we do not do hotel pick up. You must meet your guide at Green Line Coach Station 15 minutes before the tour departs.
- In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
- Please note that tour timings are for reference only and may vary for operational reasons.
- This tour route may be reversed on some occasions.
Reviews(1,261)
We recommend this tour. Comfortable air conditioned coach. Allan was our guide and he was brilliant. Loved all the anecdotes Allan!
It was a great time traveling through the English Countryside! Our driver was so knowledgeable and we definitely learned a lot. This tour gives you a small taste of each destination leaving you wanting to spend more time at each place
We enjoyed our time exploring Oxford and the Cotswolds. The day was a highlight of our trip. The tour guide was knowledgeable and very friendly!
Gabriel was tirelessly telling us about the places we visited. Besides that, he was a safe and smooth driver who had patience and understanding of our needs!
Very long trip, it was so cold and not nice in winter time the villages are empty. We didn’t enjoy it
Excellent tour. Guide was Farhat and he was excellent: knowledgeable, good sense if humor and very concerned about his passengers
Beautiful drive but only very short stays in towns due to traffic and lots of people. Lunch is not included. Bus and guide very good. Bring lots of water for the heat.
Great way to see a few villages in the Cotswolds and Oxford at the same time which is what we wanted to see on a day trip out of London. The self-guided walking tour map of Oxford could have been a little easier to read. And maybe just a little more history commentary. Traffic was a challenge but the driver navigated well.
I was charged twice for this tour as Viator did not confirm my first request and then I used the app to book it again and ended being charged twice. Rabbie’s customer service Camille acknowledged the double booking and double payment and refused any refund.
The Cotswolds and Oxford are parts of England not to be missed! We found Bibury and Burford to be beautiful towns with quaint shops and cafes. Oxford was a much bigger town than I had anticipated and is a hub of activity. There are many historical buildings to admire and shops to visit. We mostly enjoyed the trip, however it felt like we were rushing through the three separate locations with 30 minutes in Bibury, 80 minutes in Burford, and 1 hour 45 min in Oxford it was definitely a small taste of each spot. The tour departed at 9:15am, which in my opinion is an hour too late when getting through London traffic, and the tour ended a bit early to get back to London. This extra bit of time would give a tour taker more opportunity to experience both the Cotswold towns and Oxford. I do appreciate this tour was designed to simply be a taste of a large area, and yes, we do want to visit the region again. Overall, comfortable travel out to the countryside, nice guide, and neat idea to see three separate sights just the timing of things was a bit disappointing.
