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Cotswolds Villages Full-Day Small-Group Tour from Oxford

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

From $100.49

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Up to 24 hours in advance.
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  • 7 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Admire the best-known and hidden villages of England’s Cotswolds on this full-day small-group tour from Oxford. Traveling by air-conditioned minivan with a driver-guide, stop to explore villages such as Great Tew and Stow-on-the-Wold, and the hamlets of the Windrush valley. On route, enjoy lunch (own expense) in Burford, stroll around Bourton-on-the-Water, and visit the village and 15th-century ruins of Minster Lovell. Includes transport and central Oxford pickup and drop-off, with entrance fees at your expense.
  • Full-day tour of famous and hidden Cotswolds villages from Oxford
  • Admire Great Tew and browse the shops and lanes of Stow-on-the-Wold
  • Visit Lower Slaughter and stroll around photo-worthy Bourton-on-the-Water
  • Stop for lunch (own expense) in Burford and tour the pretty villages of the Windrush valley
  • Explore the thatched-and-stone village and medieval ruins of Minster Lovell
  • Small-group tour of eight or fewer, including air-conditioned minivan transport, driver-guide, and central pickup and drop-off
  • Entrance fees at own expense

What's Included

  • Small-group tour of the Cotswolds
  • Knowledgeable, local driver-guide
  • Transport by modern, comfortable air-conditioned minivan
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Oxford Railway Station
    Oxford Station, Park End St, Oxford OX1 1HS, UK

    Your guide will meet you outside the front of Oxford Railway Station at the top of the stairs. He will be holding a green sign saying Undiscovered Cotswolds Oxford can be easily reached by train from London's Paddington and Marylebone railway stations.

Start time

10:00 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Oxford

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Crimea office

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Stow-on-the-Wold Market Square

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Lower Slaughter Museum

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bourton on the Water

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Burford Library

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St Mary's Church

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Minster Lovell Hall & Dovecote

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Minimum age is 5 years
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 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 good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • 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

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Traveler Tips

The minivan only holds 8 passengers so you are assured of a personal, small-group experience..
Small group is ideal and our guide Graham did an amazing job of taking time to get out and walk whilst telling us background story of the region and answering questions.
Very relaxing walking tour around the villages, suitable for the young and the old!

Reviews

5.0
119 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 119 reviews
Excellent itinerary with...
Rebecca_C, May 2023
Excellent itinerary with a balance of driving and walking around the villages. Ian’s history and stories were Interesting and fun. Perfect day trip.
An Excellent Way to Experience the Cotswolds from Oxford!
Jaimee_R, May 2023
We had a really lovely time on this tour! Jo was so wonderful and knowledgeable and I thought the tour had the perfect pace. It was great to see the little villages in a more intimate way & it was so convenient because it was out of Oxford. It's not far to the villages from Oxford & it made the trip very manageable. This tour was exactly what I wanted, and I would recommend everyone visit Jo on one of her many tours!
Highly recommend this small group tour
Doris_B, May 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and were able to see villages and sites that were away from the touristy parts of the Cotswolds. Our guide Ian was very knowledgeable and personable.
Great day
Marianne_G, May 2023
Our Guide was very personable,full of history of the places we visited.We saw 7 small villages,and spent time in several of them. It was a wonderful tour.I would highly recommend it
Sir Ian of Cotswolds all day trip from Oxford
Philip_C, May 2023
Sir Ian of Cotswold (see pic) took us on a wonderful all day trip around the Cotswolds. We saw the more famous places ( where the tour buses go😫) and many small, unique villages where he knew exactly how to find the best photo opp of a thatched cottage, ancient church or a bridge in front of a pretty mill. Stories galore. Book him soon! Best value of our trip.
So much Cotswolds charm in one day!
Janice_I, May 2023
Ian showed us some charming well known attractions as well as surprising out of the way villages such as Tew and Minister Lovell. He is a great story teller and very knowledgeable about the Cotswolds. What a great day!
Cotswolds...revisit the past and present through the eyes of a well-versed historian.
Joan_W, Apr 2023
It was a wonderful experience all around. We visited the very quaint quiet villages as well as those most popular. I loved Ian, our tour guide's wealth of historical knowledge. He shared bits of history from the time we left Oxford, our visits to ancient churches and cemeteries to his 'theories' adding to the historians' take on the matter. I highly recommend this tour especially if you are a solo traveler or sharing your holiday with family or friend. It stands up to its name...Undiscovered Cotswolds.
Awesome Day in the Cotswolds
Nancy_M, Sep 2022
Ian was an amazing guide, knowledgeable, and choose perfect, one of a kind spots for us to visit. It was a wonderful experience and we would highly recommend him and his company to everyone.
A bumpy, safe ride with 5 stops in the Cotswolds
Matthew_C, Aug 2022
My wife and I had a great tour with Ian throughout the Cotswolds. We stopped at 6 different locations with plenty of stunning and charming stops. Ian was very informative, entertaining, and helpful during the entire tour. I highly recommend you seek out Ian for this great trip. Note, the roads were a little bumpy but we made it everywhere safely.
Gotta do it again.
Yara_W, Jul 2022
I visited the Cotswolds three years ago. This time I saw villages I had not seen before, which was great! Ian not only told us stories about the area but also walked with us and pointed out interesting details we would have missed on a self guided trip.
A relaxing and enjoyable day
Julia_A, Jul 2022
Excellent driver/guide, great itinerary, beautiful scenery. The choice of the places we visited and the time we spent in each one contributed to a relaxing and enjoyable experience
Do it!!
Ashley_N, Jul 2022
Ian was great!! Super knowledgeable and great guide. I love how active the tour is too!! This is a must do if you’re in Oxford!!
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thanks for the excellent review. Ian
A beautiful experience!
David_O, Jun 2022
Our guide, Ian, was so much fun and very knowledgeable. The towns and villages were picturesque, with lovely people and wonderful shopping. The history and stories only added to the beauty and draw of the Cotswolds. Can’t wait to take this tour again!
Lovely.
Kymber_H, May 2022
The group is limited to 6 for a personalized experience. Ian is friendly and knowledgeable. We visited 7 villages, only 2 were large and busy. It was gorgeous weather for tramping through fields and small neighborhoods. Such a picturesque day. We highly recommend this tour.
Lovely Sunny Day In The Cotswolds.
Anne_T, May 2022
Wonderful tour. Ian was a great guide, so professional and friendly. One small disappointment. As a fan of the writings of Nancy Mitford, I was looking forward to visiting the famous church in Swinbrook and seeing the churchyard where she is buried. Although this visit, lasting 15 minutes, is specified on the tour itinerary, it was dropped and didn't happen. It is important that all stops mentioned in the itinerary actually happen, as people may have their own reasons for wanting to visit the places listed. But all in all, a brilliant tour, small and personal. Ian has a real gift for this work. A really lovely day in the Cotswolds
Response from Host, May 2022
Thank you so much for the great review Anne. It was a pleasure to show you around the Cotswolds for the day and I'm sorry we didn't get out in Swinbrook to visit the church. We do visit Swinbrook on our tour and stop off in the village to talk about the Mitford sisters but the time there is limited so I think I need to update our itinerary to make this clearer. I'm sorry for the confusion with regards to the stop there.
Great way to explore the Cotswolds
Kimberly_R, May 2022
Minster Lovell was the highlight of the trip!! Didn't spend too little or too much time at any of the stops. Would recommend.
One of the best tour guide and must go
Trinh_N, May 2022
Absolute highlight of out trip. We had an amazing experience with this tour, such a hidden gem. Ian was such a great tour guide that showed us the hidden gems oF Cotswolds since he's a local to the area. He's very easy going, professional and very passionate about his profession. You could tell that he loves what he does and made us feel very personal unique. Highly recommend if you plan to visit Cotswolds
Above and beyond
Cynthia_H, Apr 2022
All of it was amazing but the guide accommodating some special requests within our group was above and beyond.
Left us wanting more - in the BEST possible way!
Andrija_M, Apr 2022
My wife and I were looking for the best way to see the famous Cotswolds and we stumbled upon this tour, which is one of the only ones actually leaving from Oxford (which you shouldn't miss). And boy, are we glad we did - it was such a lovely day! Ian, our guide, and a local to the Cotswolds, showed intimate knowledge of the area, while keeping things light and moving us along at a steady pace, always finding space for a great photo opportunity. He took us to several villages in the Cotswolds, big and small, famous and hidden - creating a perfect balance, while entertaining us with history and anecdotes the entire time! We went from smaller to bigger places, giving the tour a nice rhythm and had plenty of opportunities to take pictures and buy souvenirs. There was a big window of time in one of the most beautiful locations for our lunch, where Ian gave us several recommendations and left us to enjoy the Cotswolds' magic. We were always given clear instructions as to not get lost, but still had plenty opportunity to wander. Ian was more than generous with his time and we were provided fresh water along the way and kept us mindful of the amenities along the trip, from shops to restrooms. The van was modern and very comfortable. We had no problems with heat due to the AC. We received a pamphlet at the end of our trip, showing all the locations of the trip. We would recommend this tour wholeheartedly and our only regret is, as the title says, not getting to see even more of the dreamy Cotswolds with Ian. Specifically, Blenheim palace is something we wished we could visit, but, as Ian pointed out, it's a destination well-worth a half-day visit, which would probably make us miss out on the wonders of the Cotswolds, as most of those other cramped tours do. A big thank you to Ian for providing us with memories we will never forget!
Charming experience
Janina_P, Apr 2022
Beauty of English countryside. Peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, knowledgeable guide. Relaxed pace of sightseeing
Response from Host, Apr 2022
I am really happy to see you enjoyed spending the day with me on our Cotswolds Small Group Tour. Ian
Marvellous Cotswold
Alicia_D, Apr 2022
Amazing tour in Cotswold Villages, Ian the tour guide was very precisely in every detail from each village and its history. Highly recommended!
Great tour and wonderful guide!
Jean_G, Apr 2022
My husband and I booked a full day tour of the Cotswolds and ended up being the only two who booked! Not only did we, essentially, get a private tour for the day, we got to do it with Ian who was an absolute joy to be around. We visited an interesting mix of villages and small towns, toured large and small churches and stopped to see the ruins of an old manor house. Ian was very knowledgeable on the sites, sharing everything from historical details to modern-day tidbits like celebrity sightings and movie shoot locations. The day was a good mix of guide-led walks and visits with time to explore the shops in Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water on our own. This was a great introductory to the Cotswolds to see where we might like to go back and spend a day or two. Ian knows and loves the Cotswolds and answered all our questions with wit and humor, including sharing a few local ghost stories! He kept the tour on schedule without it seeming hurried. We loved the opportunity to leave Oxford for the day and see a whole other area which expanded our knowledge of the region.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Thank you for the excellent review. It was a pleasure showing you around for the day
Cotswold treats
DouglasR_H, Mar 2020
A very small group - schedule was adjusted to accommodate a request - guide was personable, knowledgeable and professional. A thoroughly enjoyable day, capped off with an unexpected drop off at our hotel!
Excellent day tour to Cotswolds Villages
Denise201905, Nov 2019
Our guide Graham was fantastic. He was knowledgeable and told us many interesting information. Highly recommended!
All that I had hoped for
Compass784325, Nov 2019
This was such a special day. . the small van allowed us to explore small, quaint villages that otherwise would not be available to us. We parked, got out and walked a lot, which was a perfect way to feel and experience these villages. Graham was fabulous, a natural host and full of information and knowledge we could never have collected on our own. I can not recommend this day trip too highly. . . and I can not think of one that that I could offer to improve it, other than to make the day never end. :-)
TAKE THIS TOUR!!
Rosalyn_S, Aug 2019
Our guide/driver was outstanding - interesting, amusing and very knowledgeable. He grew up in the area and had lots of interesting stories about the places we visited. We visited at least 5 or 6 Cotswold hamlets and villages and explored the unique features of each. The minivan only holds 8 passengers so you are assured of a personal, small-group experience.. I have taken many similar tours in many countries but this was definitely one of the best.
Small group tour of Cotswolds
Bruce R, Aug 2019
Wonderful tour and I highly recommend. Small group is ideal and our guide Graham did an amazing job of taking time to get out and walk whilst telling us background story of the region and answering questions.
Great tour!
Christine R, Jul 2019
Had a great time with our guide, Ian. He showed us both popular and lesser known villages, so it was a great mix. He was very kind and knowledgable and it was a great day trip from Oxford.
Great tour
linedancr, Jul 2019
Ian of Undiscovered Cotswolds was Terrific..doesnt get any better..Sweet, smart, knowledgeable with terrific sense of humor. Highly recommend
Wonderful Cotswolds day out- highly recommended
Aaron B, May 2019
Ian was a great guide - we were in a small group of eight ( in a small van) So he was able to take us to small out of the way charming villages, showing us how the people lived in thatched roof cottages, then driving through charming countryside before we got out for a walk around other beautiful and charming villlages. He was an excellent guide, knowledgeable and somtimes funny and a great driver through all the small out of the way roads, , giving everyone enough time for a walk, a drink and showing us where the best photo spots were. I would highly recommend this tour company .

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