5-Day Best of England Small-Group Tour: Oxford, the Cotswolds and Bath

See the highlights of the ‘heart of England’ on this 5-day tour from London. Traveling with an expert guide, visit famous landmarks that are dotted about England’s most scenic counties -- just west of London. Explore the University City of Oxford; visit Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare lived; embrace the charms of the Cotswolds; sample cider in pretty Lacock village; discover the delights of Bath; visit Stonehenge; and tour beautiful Windsor Castle. This must-do trip includes four nights of 3- to 4-star hotel accommodation.

Numbers are limited to 16 on this small-group tour ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide.

Visit Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and Wiltshire on your 5-day tour from England. Just west of London, these three counties fall into an area often called the ‘heart of England’ in reference to its luscious green countryside, beautifully preserved architecture and quaint towns. Your small-group tour includes four nights of accommodation: two nights at a 4-star hotel in Chipping Campden (the Cotswolds) and two nights in a 3-star hotel in the spa town of Bath.

Schedule details

Departure Dates:

Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.

Departure Point:

Royal Garden Hotel

Departure Time:

8:30am

Return Details:

Returns to original departure point at approximately 5:30pm on day 5.

Pricing information

Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.

Additional information

Inclusions:

• Small group tour
• 4 nights accommodation
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, D=dinner)
• Entrance fees:Christ Church; Shakespeare’s Birthplace;
  Anne Hathaway’s Cottage; Lackock Abbey; Roman Baths; Stonehenge; Windsor Castle
  
• Professional guide
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified
  
  

Additional Information:

• Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
• Adult pricing applies to all travelers
• A maximum of 2 people per booking: separate bookings are required for larger group sizes

Itinerary:

Day 1: London – Oxford – Cotswolds (D)
Leave London by luxury coach and head northwest out of the city, passing through the beautiful English countryside. While traveling, your guide will explain your 5-day itinerary in more detail and talk through the tour’s logistics. First stop is just outside of Oxford, England’s world-famous university city. Take a River Thames sightseeing cruise that runs through the city, passing through Osney Lock – a traditional English canal lock that was built by inmates of Oxford Prison in the 1700s.

Hop off your boat in central Oxford and enjoy a leisurely paced stroll with your guide, admiring the city’s golden-colored buildings and ‘dreaming spires.’ Head inside Christ Church College (part of Oxford University) and see the Great Hall and cloisters that featured in several of the famous Harry Potter films. After a break for lunch in town (own expense), head into the scenic Cotswolds by coach, stopping in the town of Chipping Campden where your overnight accommodation awaits. After dinner in your hotel, spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

Overnight: 4-star Kings Hotel in Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Day 2: Cotswolds – Stratford-upon-Avon – Cotswolds (B)
Leave after breakfast to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, a beautiful little market town famous for being the home of English playwright William Shakespeare. On a walking tour, see Shakespeare’s birthplace and visit his burial site at Holy Trinity Church. After a short coach drive to the neighboring village of Shottery, take a look inside the rustic thatched cottage that once belonged to Anne Hathaway – Shakespeare’s wife – and see intriguing relics from her time.

Stop for lunch (own expense) and then spend the afternoon traveling through the Cotswolds’ winding roads. With plenty of stops for you to get off the coach, stretch your legs and explore, your afternoon excursion shows off the gorgeous hamlets, atmospheric churches and quintessentially English countryside for which the Cotswolds are so well known. The exact villages visited vary by tour, but you will definitely visit Lower Slaughter – a quaint limestone village known as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds.’ Return to Chipping Campden and spend your evening at leisure.

Overnight: 4-star Kings Hotel in Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Day 3: Cotswolds – Lacock – Bath (B)
Check out of your hotel after breakfast and then travel by coach to the picture-perfect village of Lacock in Wiltshire. Featured in countless scenes for hit British television dramas like Pride and Prejudice as well as several Harry Potter movies, the village is a bastion of ‘Englishness’ with its traditional cobblestoned streets and half-timbered houses. Spend time at leisure here to explore, and then meet your guide for a tour of medieval Lacock Abbey.

Continue to Dick Willows’ cider distillery, where Dick Willows himself will take you on a tour. See his cider press and fermenting rooms and learn about the history of cider making in west England. Sit down and sample some of his best ciders alongside a selection of locally produced cheeses, crusty bread and pickles. Before leaving Lacock, visit a tea room where you enjoy a traditional cream tea with fruit scones, clotted cream and jam.

Travel by coach to the nearby spa town of Bath and spend your night at leisure after checking into your hotel.

Overnight: 3-star Abbey Hotel in Bath

Day 4: Bath (B, D)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your hotel and then meet your guide to see the best of this vibrant Georgian city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath has the highest concentration of ‘listed’ (meaning historically significant) buildings in the British Isles. Learn about Roman life in Bath on a visit to the Roman Baths, and marvel at the city’s towering 15th-century abbey – officially known as the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. See highlights around the town center like the Georgian Royal Crescent and elegant Pulteney Bridge.

Spend your afternoon at leisure, perhaps finding a café for lunch or visiting the Jane Austen Centre (own expense) for a snapshot of the author’s life during Bath’s Regency era. In the evening, your guide will join your group for a farewell dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: 3-star Abbey Hotel in Bath

Day 5: Bath – Stonehenge – Windsor Castle – London (B)
After an early breakfast, check out of your hotel and leave Bath by coach for your final day of sightseeing. First stop is Salisbury Plan, a short distance away, to visit Stonehenge – England’s UNESCO-listed stone circle. Dating back millions of years, the stone circle is shrouded in mystery with countless theories circulating as to how or why it appeared. Walk around the circle with your guide, listening to the speculation and making up your own mind about this fascinating site.

Continue to the royal town of Windsor, passing by Salisbury, home to the tallest cathedral spire in Britain. On arrival into Windsor, head straight to its main attraction, Windsor Castle, an official residence of the Queen. Covering an area of roughly 13 acres (5 hectares), the castle’s grounds include an impressive list of things to see, like the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel. Explore these magnificent public rooms with your guide and hear of the castle’s history that dates back to the days of William the Conqueror. After exploring Windsor Castle, return to London by coach.

Voucher Info:

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity. What's this?

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.