Delve into the rich cultural tapestry of England on a fulfilling full-day trip to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds from London. With an accomplished guide, explore the opulent chambers of Blenheim Palace, a Baroque manor house that boasts UNESCO World Heritage status, and discover the building's historical heritage. Travel to the Cotswolds to absorb the splendor of an area replete with charming churches and gorgeous natural panoramas including Bourton-on-the-Water and Bampton, to see filming locations for 'Downton Abbey.'

Full-day trip to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds from London, led by an expert guide
Explore Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill
Revel in the quintessentially English villages and thatched-roof houses of the Cotswolds from the comfort of a luxury coach
Visit the charming villages of Bibury or Bourton-on-the-Water

What's Included

Expert guide
Superior Coach, Wi-Fi and USB Charging On-board
Guided tour of Bampton village
Optional entrance to Blenheim Palace Gardens only (if option selected)
Panoramic drive through the Cotswolds
Visit Bourton-on-the-Water
Personal Audio Headset

Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UK
Departs: 9 am (boarding at 8:30 am) Victoria Coach Station, Gate 1-5

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

15 Victoria St
15 Victoria St, London SW1V 1JU, UK
Ends near Victoria Station

What To Expect

Greet your guide at your centrally located meeting point and climb aboard a luxury coach destined for Oxfordshire, home to the UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace. Absorb gorgeous vistas of the English countryside on the journey and listen as your guide sets the historical scene of the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

On arrival, purchase an entrance ticket and embark on a guided tour of the regal residence; listen to illuminating commentary through state-of-the-art headphones as you explore lavish State Rooms, see priceless pieces of art, and stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens.

After thorough exploration, return to your coach and travel to the Cotswolds, a quintessentially English region with an abundance of natural beauty. Delight in charming parishes and thatched villages during a brief interlude in Bibury, home to a set of 14th-century cottages known as Arlington Row, and a stop at the 12th-century St. Mary's Church. Or head to a place declared the ‘Little Venice’ of the area, Bourton-on-the-Water, and capture fantastic photographs of tranquil lanes parallel to sparkling waterways.

Stop in the village of Bampton, the filming location for many period drama series including 'Downton Abbey,' and see landmarks like the home of Isobel Crawley and the Downton Cottage Hospital.

Then relax during the return journey to London, where the tour concludes.

Blenheim Palace

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bourton on the Water

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Bampton Library

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please Note: this tour does not visit Highclere Castle
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
For a wheelchair user : Please inform us in advance if you intend to bring wheelchair.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 51 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Simmy_M

A wonderful trip with the most amazing guide ever, Andrew ! He has such wealth of knowledge and very helpful. The ride was smooth and comfortable thanks to Mark. Enjoyed the trip overall and will absolutely try the team again during next visit

Reviews

4.5

305 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 305 reviews

Just a lovely tour!

Aurelle_C, Sep 2023

Guide and driver were both amazing: entertaining, engaging and well informed. Blenheim Palace is spectacular but nothing can quite compare to the postcard perfect villages in the Cotswolds. Despite a very rainy day, we absolutely loved the tour.

A great day!

Kathryn_G, Sep 2023

Ursula was Knowledgeable and so much fun. The bus was so clean and timely. Blenheim is beautiful and the Cotswolds are lovely. I went by myself, and ended up meeting some great people. We had fish and chips at the pub and scones with clotted cream at the bakery- yum!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Kathryn_G, Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about our services. We are glad that our team did a great job. We take pride in providing a clean and comfortable space for all of our guests, so our team appreciates that you noticed. We will pass on the kind words over to Ursula. We hope to welcome you onboard another one of our tours in the future! Best wishes Evan Evans

Castle a must!

Jean_G, Sep 2023

The castle was excellent. The Cotswold were great. Too little time at Bourton on the Water. Skip the Bamtam Village. I love Downton - but it was boring.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hello Jean_G, Thank you for leaving us feedback about the tour. We are glad that our team did a great job. We work very hard to ensure that our customers get outstanding service, and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your recent visit. Best wishes Evan Evans

Lovely Day Trip

Sheila_W, Sep 2023

Great experience..beutiful palace visit and charming Cotswolds village. Needed a little more time to fully explore the Palace gardens.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Sheila_W, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

Great tour of Blenheim...

Roger_H, Sep 2023

Great tour of Blenheim Castle and learning about the history of Winston Churchill. Great tour all around for the cost.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Roger_H, Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us. Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We're constantly looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans

pretty chill

HrolfIvan_C, Sep 2023

Trip was very organized from start to finish. The tour guide was friendly, approachable and knowledgeable about the area we visited. Worth the time.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi HrolfIvan_C, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

Meh

Barbara_B, Sep 2023

The Churchill exhibition. However parts of the building were being prepared for a children’s park ! Parts of the grounds were closed. The worst part is we drove for 2 hours and only stayed 2 1/2 hrs It needs a full day !!! The Cotswolds stops (2) we’re a waste of time

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hello Barbara_B, Thank you for your review, we are so sorry to hear you didn't enjoy you your tour with us. We have taken onboard your feedback and we hope we can improve for all our customers in the future. We hope you try another of our tours soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Never again

Diana_W, Sep 2023

The Palace was nice. Thats all I want to say. Cotswolds boring and not necessary. More time at he palace might have helped. No time for a resl lunch. No bottled water.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hello Diana_W, Thank you for your review. We appreciate you giving your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed Blenheim palace. We are sorry you did not enjoy the Cotswolds as much. We try to plan our tours accordingly to fit everyone's tastes. We hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Beautiful countryside and...

Albert_B, Sep 2023

Beautiful countryside and house. Makes history more relevant when can relate to individuals. Would like to go back.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Albert_B, Thank you for your glowing review, we are so happy to hear that you had a good time on your tour, we always look to strive for every guest to have a good time on our tours. We hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

The tour of the castle was impressive. The rest of the day was disappointing.

MalcolmGeffon, Aug 2023

The castle was spectacular! Beautiful to see & very impressive. The rest of the Cotswold experience was blah.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hi MalcolmGeffon, Thank you for your glowing review, we are so happy to hear that you had a good time on your tour, we always look to strive for every guest to have a good time on our tours. We hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

It was a lovely trip....

Joseph_M, Aug 2023

It was a lovely trip. Although the guide was very strange. Lots of unrelated long rambling stories. She also made several historical mistakes.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Hello Joseph_M, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

Memorable visit

Aaron_G, Jul 2023

Very nice palace and places to visit. Burton on the water was very memorable town to visit and restaurant Rose was a outstanding food. Tour director Ruth was very knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Aaron_G, Thank you for leaving us feedback about the tour. We are glad that our team did a great job. We work very hard to ensure that our customers get outstanding service, and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your recent visit. We will pass on your compliments over to Ruth. Best wishes Evan Evans

Awesome tour guide

John_P, Jul 2023

The palace is very cool and had a little scavenger hunt for my 10 year old. Kevin the tour guide was awesome! He had the best sense of humor which made the rainy day palatable. Poured rain all day, so the town visits were less fun, but that is not their fault.

Mostly good. Some improvements needed

Ammie_W, Jul 2023

Overall this tour was very very good. Here’s the good: Blenheim Palace (4.5 stars). The building is beautiful, the grounds stunning, and the cafes and gift shops charming. Burton on thé river (3 stars). This may be. Controversial rating but it’s one street that is insanely crowded with many ice cream shops and bakeries. If you can, go to another Cotsworlts village. We had an hour and it was way too long. Downton Abby village (4 stars). The church is breath taking. The history there is humbling. When we were there, shops were closed. But it was a lovely stroll. Now, here’s what could use improvement. Staff: We had to pull over twice for our driver to vomit. He was either hungover or sick. If he was hungover, I didnt feel secure with him driving. If he was ill, then I suspect the whole bus of people on holiday will come down with a stomach bug. It’s been 24 hours and my family isn’t sick yet. Our tour guide was ok. She was friendly. Her overall dialogue as we were driving was annoying to me, amusing to some. She prattled on about royals for over two hours. Just about her and other British peoples feelings about them. I would have liked to have heard a lot more about the places we were visiting as not one of them was related to the royals. Finally, the instructions on how to find the meeting point need to be more clear. If you are trying to find it. It is inside the coach station, not at one of the numbered bus stops outside leading up to the coach station. There is a public restroom at the station. Use it 😁

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Ammie_W, Thank you for your review, we appreciate you taking the time to write to us. We are glad to hear you enjoyed your tour overall. We are shocked to hear about your experience with the driver, we will speak to them and remind them of our standards. We are sorry to hear that you the guide did not live up to your expectations. Our guides try to cater to everyone's tastes and likes but it can be very difficult. We really hope to see you again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Excellent

Felicia_W, Jul 2023

Our driver Paul and guide were both excellent. The guide was knowledgeable and welcoming. I truly enjoyed the entire experience.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hello Felicia_W, Thank you for leaving us this fantastic 5* review! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you. Come back and see us soon! Best wishes Evan Evans

Bus was Hot and Crowded, Claustrophobic and Delayed Tour

Brittany_H, Jun 2023

The locations were excellent but the bus was crowded and hot, and the bus driver and tour guide didn’t seem to know where they were going. As a result, it seemed like we lost a lot of time at the locations we were supposed to visit. The tour guide also did not seem to have a strong recall on her script for the tour. This bus was too full, and too uncomfortable to do a driving tour of the Cotswolds, and we left early and found alternative means to return back to London to avoid spending another couple hours on the bus.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Brittany_H, Thank you for providing us with feedback. We apologise that your experience failed to meet your expectations. Our company strives to provide our customers with the best experience possible. Please know that your experience is not normal, and we have taken steps to ensure that no other customers have the same issue. We would like to hear from you with any additional questions, comments, or concerns. You can contact us on 0207951777 or email us on Reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk We would love the chance to make things right with you and hope you choose to give us a second chance. Sending you our best wishes, Evan Evans

Long day driving with short visits.

Tara_J, Jun 2023

It was a long day with rushed visits at both locations. Would not recommend this tour to friends. Both spots were wonderful but we needed a lot more time especially at Blenheim palace.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello Tara_J, Thank you very much for the time you have taken to write us a review and we are glad that you had a good time in general. We often describe this tour as a ‘taster’ due to the distance covered between all 3 sites. It does however leave you wanting to come back for more. If that is the case, then we also run tours which visit less venues and where the distances are less (such as our tour to Stonehenge & Bath); allowing more time in each destination. If you would like any information on any future tours, then we will be more than happy to send you some more information. Thank you, Evan Evans

Our guide Andrew Jackson...

Diana_P, Jun 2023

Our guide Andrew Jackson was fantastic. His knowledge and commentary was incredible. It’s quite a long day to Blenheim palace and return however we were kept entertained with interesting facts.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello Diana_P, Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us. Guest satisfaction is our top priority. We're constantly looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans

Fantastic view, impressive tourist guide and driver

JoseR_E, Jun 2023

Very impressive service and tourist guide. Explained everything in a clear manner that everyone understands.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello JoseR_E, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

Lovely day out

Barbara_B, May 2023

Walking the grounds at Blenheim Palace. We had the perfect weather for the trip. The tour was very organized and it was nice to have lots of time at each venue to explore.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hello Barbara_B, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. Our team is very grateful for the kind words you have said about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans

...