Cotswolds Day Tour from London
Visit the Cotswolds on a full-day tour from London and spend the day exploring three of its most beautiful villages: Burford, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold.
The Cotswolds is famous for its honey-coloured stone cottages, historic market towns and gentle countryside, but it is the villages that make the region so special. This tour takes you into the heart of that landscape, with time to walk through old streets, see riverside cottages, browse small shops and enjoy the slower pace of village life.
Travel by comfortable air-conditioned coach with an expert guide, with short guided walks and free time to explore independently. There is also an option to include a two-course pub lunch in Bibury.
Tour Highlights
✅ Visit three famous Cotswolds villages in one day
✅ Travel from London by comfortable air-conditioned coach
✅ Explore Burford, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold
✅ See Arlington Row, one of the most photographed streets in the Cotswolds
✅ Short guided walks and free time in each village
✅ Optional two-course pub lunch in Bibury when selected
✅ Travel with an expert English-speaking guide
✅ Free Wi-Fi on board the coach
✅ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Why Choose This Cotswolds Tour?
This tour is a simple way to experience the Cotswolds without hiring a car or trying to connect small villages by public transport.
You visit three different places, each with its own character. Burford gives you a classic Cotswolds market town, Bibury offers the famous riverside view of Arlington Row, and Stow-on-the-Wold has a traditional market square, old inns, cafés and independent shops.
The day gives you a real taste of the Cotswolds: not just views from the coach, but time in the villages themselves.
Burford Village
Your first stop is Burford, often called the “Gateway to the Cotswolds.”
Burford is a lovely place to begin the day. Its sloping high street is lined with old stone houses, independent shops, tea rooms and historic buildings. As you walk through the town, you get a good first impression of what makes the Cotswolds so distinctive: warm stone, narrow streets, traditional shopfronts and countryside views just beyond the town.
Your guide will take a short walk with the group and introduce Burford’s history. Afterward, you have free time to look around at your own pace, take photos, visit the 12th-century church, browse the shops, or stop for a cup of tea.
You spend approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in Burford.
Bibury Village
The tour continues to Bibury, one of the best-known villages in the Cotswolds.
Bibury is famous for Arlington Row, a line of 14th-century weavers’ cottages that has become one of the most recognisable views in the region. You can also see the River Coln, the village bridge and the peaceful riverside setting that makes Bibury such a popular stop.
Optional Pub Lunch in Bibury
A two-course pub lunch can be included when selected at booking.
The Swan Inn
Lunch is served at The Swan Inn in Bibury, a traditional 17th-century inn in the centre of the village. The meal includes classic British dishes, and vegetarian options are available.
Please let us know in advance if you would like a vegetarian meal.
If you do not select lunch, you can use the time to explore independently. We recommend purchasing food in Burford as there are limited places to eat in Bibury.
You spend approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in Bibury.
Visit Stow-on-the-Wold
In the afternoon, travel through the Cotswolds countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold.
Stow-on-the-Wold is a historic market town with strong links to the wool trade. It sits high on a hill and has a large market square, old coaching inns, narrow lanes, antique shops, cafés and traditional pubs. It feels different from Burford and Bibury, which gives the day a nice variety.
One of the best-known sights is St Edward’s Church, especially its old doorway framed by ancient yew trees. The town is also a good place to browse independent shops, enjoy a relaxed walk or stop for a drink before returning to London.
You have approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Travel with an Expert Guide
Your guide is with you throughout the day and helps bring the places you visit to life.
They will introduce each village, take a short walk with the group and explain some of the history and character of the area. You will also have free time, so the day does not feel overly structured. You can take photos, wander through the streets, visit shops or simply enjoy the setting.
Is This Tour Right for You?
This tour is a good choice if you want to visit the Cotswolds from London and see several villages in one day without driving.
It suits visitors who enjoy historic places, village streets, countryside views and a more relaxed day outside the city. There is moderate walking in each village. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as some streets are uneven, cobbled, or gently sloping.
If you want to combine the Cotswolds with another famous destination, you may prefer an Oxford and Cotswolds tour or a Stonehenge, Bath and Cotswolds tour.
What’s Included?
✅ Return coach travel from London
✅ Expert English-speaking guide
✅ Visits to Burford, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold
✅ Short guided walks and free time in each village
✅ Free Wi-Fi on board the coach
✅ Two-course traditional pub lunch when selected
✅ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
What’s Not Included?
❌ Lunch unless selected when booking
❌ Hotel pickup and drop-off
❌ Food and drinks outside the included lunch option
❌ Gratuities
Tour Departure Time and Meeting Point
The tour departs from Victoria Coach Station, Gate 19-20, at 8.15 am.
The tour returns to London at approximately 6.30 pm, finishing near Victoria train station. The exact return time may vary depending on traffic.
Important Tour Information
✅ Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
✅ Bring suitable clothing, as British weather can be changeable
✅ Some Cotswolds streets may be uneven, cobbled or gently sloping
✅ Lunch is included only when selected at booking
✅ Vegetarian lunch options are available
✅ If The Swan Inn is unavailable, an alternative nearby restaurant of similar quality will be used
✅ The itinerary may operate in a different order
✅ Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
This tour visits Burford, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold. Burford is a historic market town, Bibury is known for Arlington Row and its riverside setting, and Stow-on-the-Wold is a traditional hilltop town with shops, cafés, inns and a large market square.
The tour lasts approximately 10 hours. It departs London in the morning and returns in the early evening, depending on traffic.
Lunch is included only if you select the lunch option when booking. The lunch option usually includes a two-course meal at The Swan Inn in Bibury, or a nearby restaurant of a similar standard if The Swan Inn is unavailable.
Yes. If you do not choose the lunch option, you can use the time in Bibury to explore independently or find somewhere else to eat.
You spend approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in Burford, 1 hour and 15 minutes in Bibury and 1 hour and 45 minutes in Stow-on-the-Wold. Timings may vary depending on traffic and the order of the itinerary.
Yes. The tour includes an expert English-speaking guide. Your guide will introduce each village, take a short walk with the group, and provide background information during the day. You will also have free time to explore independently.
There is walking in each village, but the pace is generally manageable. Some streets may be uneven, cobbled, or gently sloping, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
The tour is suitable for many older visitors who are comfortable with a full-day coach trip and some walking. The villages are historic, so some paths and streets may be uneven.
If The Swan Inn is unavailable, lunch will be arranged at another nearby restaurant of a similar standard.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring clothing suitable for the weather. The Cotswolds is a countryside region, and the weather can change during the day.
Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure.
Yes. The Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful regions of England and makes a very good day trip from London. The main appeal is the villages: old stone cottages, historic market towns, riverside views, small shops and a slower pace that feels very different from the city.
Yes, but it is not always easy if you want to visit several villages in one day. Many Cotswolds villages are small and not directly connected by train. This tour avoids the difficulty of arranging local buses, taxis or a hire car.