Small Group Cotswolds Villages, Stratford and Oxford Day Tour from London
Description
Explore Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Cotswolds, and discover the best of England in one day on this small group tour, maximum 16 people, from London. Visit historic Stratford-upon-Avon with a guide and learn of the life of William Shakespeare — widely considered to be England’s most famous poet. Spin through the pretty countryside to characterful Cotswold villages, where life ticks by at a relaxing pace. Then, explore the medieval city of Oxford — home to one of the world’s oldest universities and join your tour guide for a walking tour to learn and see more. Tour includes guide and round-trip luxury mini-coach travel from central London.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit the world famous beautiful historic town - birthplace of The Bard - William Shakespeare. Explore the charming streets, shops and cafes. Stroll along the River Avon. Visit Shakespeare's birthplace if you wish, and see the impressive Royal Shakespeare Company theatre. Your guide will take you on a guided drive through the town pointing out it's most historic features.
Explore the buzzing Henley Street - home to William Shakespeare and family in the 16th century.
You'll have the chance to enter the house where William Shakespeare was born back in 1564 - resorted to it's 16 century character.
Visit the 800 year old church where Shakespeare is buried alongside family members and the opportunity to see Shakespeare's grave. Please note this is a working church and can close at no notice on occasion.
Our drive through the Cotswolds lets you experience the most beautiful and picturesque countryside anywhere in England. Rolling lush green hills, dotted with charming stone cottages. Fields, hedgerows, wildlife & flowers, this part of the country is stunning. We enter the Cotswolds around 20 minutes after leaving Stratford and don't leave the area until around 20 minutes before reaching Oxford later in the afternoon.
Explore this historical Cotswolds market square in the famous and beautiful Cotswolds town of Stow on the Wold. Perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake from a local bakery, or have a browse in one of the many antique shops around the square.
Visit "England's most beautiful village" - as described by historic style champion William Morris. The is the ultimate in Cotswolds beauty. A perfect charming village with small stone cottages and a babbling trout filled brook running right through the heart of the village. View the "Arlington Row" a famous row of stone cottages built in the 14th century, over 600 years ago. Take photos you will treasure forever.
Admire the Cotswolds most famous and most beautiful row of stone cottages, set in the exquisite backdrop of England's most beautiful village - Bibury.
Walk amongst Oxford University's most famous, historic and beautiful buildings. Join your guide on a 45 minute walking tour to see some of Oxford's highlights and hear stories of the English speaking world's oldest university and some of the characters it has produced over the last 900+ years.
Oxford's most famous and breath-taking view, the domed historic university building of Radcliffe Camera set in the stunning Radcliffe Square. Oxford's most famous and admired view.
See one of Europe's oldest libraries, the spectacular and grand Bodleian Library. One of Oxford's true highlights.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is three years
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, and across some uneven surfaces
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- No large items of luggage are permitted, luggage compartment is limited
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please do not travel if unwell and/or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19
Reviews(355)
Th all-day trip was great, but our guide Cara Withers was even better! She was super upbeat, sensitive to the groups needs, and very knowledgeable. I would seek her out as guide again, for sure.
Hello Brad, Thank you so much for your review - so great to hear that you enjoyed your day with us and the wonderful Cara so much. Thank you for joining us, we hope you have great memories of the tour for many years to come! All the best, Chris The English Bus
It was SO far beyond my expectations! Really!!! It is TOTALLY worth the money! Super knowledgeable tour guide too - knew all the dates and facts and answers, but was just really good at speaking and made it so engaging with her stories and her clear love of her job! She was excited, smart, funny, and so kind! The BEST tour ever!!!
Stratford-upon-Avon: A lovely river that winds through the whole region and gives it a gentle touch. Very pretty, well-preserved town with wide, pedestrian-friendly streets. The worlds of Shakespeare, Beatrix Potter, and Harry Potter have a curious meeting. Small Saxon churches hide in lush settings; you must not miss them, especially Holy Trinity Church. Cotswolds (Stow-on-the-Wold & Bibury): On a narrow, winding road that requires exceptional driving skill, two gems offer an enchanting glimpse of the Cotswolds, bordered by countless dry-stone walls. An authentic and peaceful hedgerow landscape that the sheep highlight. Here and there, sumptuous properties can be glimpsed behind carefully maintained hedges. Oxford: Sumptuous university city where every stone topped with a crest tells the history of one of the 39 colleges. We enjoyed a nice guided tour offered by our guide, who led us through this maze of knowledge. Every college gate exudes elegance but also the rivalry that pits it against the others. This extends even into the many shops where items stamped with the crest of each college sit side by side. One does not know which one to choose. Cara, our guide: a safe, dynamic, and bold driver. Enthusiastic, smiling, and generous with her time, she knew how to share her historical and culinary knowledge of the region with good humor, all while allowing us some welcome moments of silence. A big thank you to her for this beautiful day!
Stratford, Oxford, and the Cotswolds -- a lovely experience. The scenery is lovely, the history of each area is interesting, and the towns are beautiful.
This was an absolutely wonderful Tour! Our Guide Alex picked us up at a designated spot and drove us on a lovely sight-seeing tour regaling us with history and stories of the listed places. My husband and I would highly recommend it!
We're absolutely delighted to read this — thank you so much for taking the time to write! Alex is wonderful and we're so pleased he made the day such a memorable one for you and your husband — his knowledge and storytelling really do make all the difference. We're very lucky to have him as part of our small team here at The English Bus. Thanks again for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with The English Bus one day — check our website for live availability and best prices. All the best for now, Jen
What a wonderful tour! We learned so much at every stop! Nolh was FANTASTIC!! He made our trip fun and the day flew by! I highly recommend this tour and if you can get Nolh as your guide… that’s a BIG bonus!!
Hi Jeffery, What a fantastic review — thank you so much for taking the time to write! Nolh is absolutely brilliant and we're so thrilled he made the day fly by — his energy and enthusiasm are completely infectious. We're very lucky to have him as part of our small team here at The English Bus, and we'll make sure he sees this! Thanks again for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with The English Bus one day — check our website for live availability and best prices. All the best for now, Jen
What a fantastic trip to the Cotswolds! Lucy was absolutely amazing in her efforts to make sure we were comfortable and ensured the trip catered for us considering our needs and interests. She went above and beyond and is such an asset to your organisation. In addition to Lucy’s great customer service, incredible knowledge of English history and the region, the towns we visited were simply impressive. Thank you!
Loved the smaller bus. It was a much more intimate experience. Lucy was a fabulous tour guide. She is warm and engaging with so much information.
Our tour with Nolh was amazing! He was incredibly knowledgeable, fun, and hilarious! Our whole family loved him!
Hi Justin, Thank you very much for your review. Great to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Nolh so much! We very much appreciate the feedback and Nolh will be delighted to hear you had such a good time with him at the helm. Thanks for choosing us and we hope to welcome you back on one of our other tour routes one day soon. All the best, Chris The English Bus
On our first ever visit to London, we took one day to do a small group tour to the Cotswolds and were so glad we did! A full day, easy connections, a wonderful guide and iconic places made this an outstanding value and highlight of our trip. Jon was an excellent driver and guide, and shared so many fun stories about the area, historic events, and daily life. We loved that it was a small group and he was able to drive some country lanes that would have been unaccessible to the large coaches. We also had time on our own in each stop, to walk, eat or shop as we chose. The bus was new and very comfortable, with roomy seats and leg space. We highly recommend The English Bus tours!
This made our day — thank you so much for taking the time to write, especially on your very first visit to London! Jon is brilliant and we're so pleased he made the Cotswolds feel so special — his knowledge of the area, the stories, and those country lanes that the big coaches simply can't reach are exactly what makes a day with The English Bus so different. We're very lucky to have him as part of our small team. We're also really pleased the bus felt comfortable and that the free time at each stop gave you the freedom to explore at your own pace — that balance is something we work hard to get right. Thanks again for choosing to travel with us, and for such a lovely recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure with The English Bus one day — check our website for live availability and best prices. All the best for now, Jen
