Cotswolds Day Tour from Oxford - Explore Downton and Beyond
Overview
Discover the picturesque beauty of the Cotswolds on this new day tour from Oxford with an established, award-winning local company! Visit charming villages like Bampton (the real-life 'Downton'!), and enjoy free time to explore the idyllic surroundings of Shilton, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford. With insights from fun, friendly, local driver-guides, you'll learn about the rich history and culture of the Cotswolds while enjoying a leisurely day in the countryside. Ideal for solo travelers, couples, or small groups seeking an affordable and enjoyable day trip experience.
- Full-day tour departs central Oxford at 09:30 and returns by 16:30
- Explore Bampton, Shilton, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Burford
- Travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus with a local guide
- Free time at each location to enjoy shops, cafes, and stunning views
Gallery
What's Included
✓ Included
- Pickup from central Oxford (St Giles Bus Stop C, outside the Ashmolean Museum) at 9.30am.
- Souvenir booklets with maps, photos and information
- Travel the back roads in a spacious, comfortable, 16-seater Mercedes minibus
- Fun, friendly, local driver-guide to share stories and enhance your day
✗ Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drink - please bring your own, or money for food and drink on the go
Itinerary
1
Stop 1
A scenic, 40-minute drive from Oxford city centre brings us to the edge of the Cotswolds and the pretty village of Bampton – though fans of a certain TV show may know it better as ‘Downton’! There are cafés and shops here to stock up on snacks and a small Downton Abbey exhibition for the superfans!
2
Stop 2
After a 15-minute drive from Bampton, we'll arrive in the lovely village of Shilton - a hidden gem here in the Cotswolds! This charming village is off the tourist trail, quiet and peaceful, with a very picturesque ford (river crossing the street). It’s a beautiful place to stop and get snap-happy with your camera!
3
Stop 3
Leaving Shilton, we'll take the scenic back roads (30 mins), via the pretty villages of Eastleach and Coln St Aldwyn's, to arrive at your next stop - the popular village of Bibury. Home to the famous Arlington Row of cottages, Bibury is often described as "the prettiest village in England". See for yourself!
4
Stop 4
16-seater minibuses can travel on roads unsuitable for larger coaches - and the 40-minute scenic route from Bibury to Bourton-on-the-Water is a perfect example of this! Winding our way through the gorgeous Coln Valley, we'll arrive in the must-see village of Bourton-on-the-Water (a village where larger coaches cannot park). You'll have approximately 1 hour 15 minutes of free time here to explore this pretty riverside village. Perhaps have some lunch in one of the many charming tea-rooms or cafés, stroll along the river Windrush, shop for gifts or visit a local museum.
5
Stop 5
Leaving Bourton-on-the-Water, a 25-minute drive - passing through the lovely villages of Great Barrington and Taynton - brings us to your final stop in the historic Cotswold market town of Burford. Hike up ‘The Hill’ for gorgeous cottages and far-reaching views, shop for gifts and antiques, or have a cream tea in one of the local tea-rooms. Don’t miss the impressive ‘wool church’ of St. John The Baptist with its surprising history!
Meeting & End Point
📍
Meeting Point
This tour departs from Bus Stop C on St Giles, Oxford (outside the Ashmolean Museum). Please arrive 10 minutes before the departure time.
🏁
End Point
This tour departs from Bus Stop C on St Giles, Oxford (outside the Ashmolean Museum). Please arrive 10 minutes before the departure time.
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Good to Know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- 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!.
- 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!
- 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.
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Special Instructions
You don't need to print your ticket - please just have it handy on your mobile phone and be prepared to show it to your guide if requested.
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