PRIVATE COTSWOLDS TOURS | couples • families • small groups

A DAY IN THE COTSWOLDS
Choose your own regional day tour from our variety of options...

● Day-tour options from London in private vehicle with accredited driver-guide.
● Tailor-made for couples, families or small private groups (up to 7 persons).
● Pick-up/drop-off at any London hotel or residence. Typical timings: 08:00-18:00.
● Subject to seasonal openings & availability. Any admission fees payable on entry.
● Price (per car): 1-2 persons=£450.00; 3-4=£495.00; 5-7=£540.00. Admissions extra.

Tour Choice A: select any 2 from the 10 options below to create your full-day tour:

Option 1: North Cotswolds Village Drive
An English dreamscape; magnificent vistas, quaint villages, picturesque pubs. This tour starts at the popular scenic riverside village of Bourton-on-the-Water. Next, the villages of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter may be sinister sounding, but their names do not convey their innate beauty and tranquillity. We then head off to visit the historic market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, 800 feet above sea level, and featuring the oldest pub in England. Lunch is an option at Chipping Camden: ‘If you visit one Cotswold village, make sure it’s this one,’ says William Frickers in his superb guidebook to the area.
● Mon-Sun. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 2: North Cotswolds Garden Delights:
In close proximity to each other in the north Cotswolds are four unique gardens: Hidcote, one of England's most influential 20th-century gardens, Kiftsgate, the creation of three generations of women gardeners, which features the largest rose in England, the ‘Chinese’ Wilson Memorial Garden at Chipping Campden, and Sezincote, the extraordinary inspiration for Brighton Pavilion, with Indian gardens designed by Repton.
● Variable openings. Check first. Hidcote Sat-Wed; Jul-Aug daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 1: South Cotwolds Village Drive
The idyllic countryside: picturesque villages, romantic ruins and historic churches. There’s no better introduction to the South Cotswolds than Minster Lovell. Thatched cottages, a picturesque parish church and romantic ruins compete to give this village exceptional charm. We then have a choice of medieval Cotswold churches to visit, either the historic wool-church at Burford, or Fairford church with its disturbing doom-window. In his acclaimed book England’s Thousand Best Churches, Simon Jenkins places both in his top 20. Next we visit the Cotswolds wool merchants at Filkins. Finally we come across Bibury, dubbed ‘most beautiful village in England’, and take a walk along the picturesque riverbank. There is also a trout fishery here worth looking into and tea is also an option.
● Mon-Sun. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 2: South Cotswolds Gardens
Three alternatives here: a visit to the Rococo Gardens in the village of Painswick, known as the Queen of the Cotswolds; or for something a little more rugged, the beautiful Westonbirt Arboretum. Alternatively, on Wednesdays and the first Saturdays of the month, Kelmscott, the home and gardens of Arts & Crafts guru William Morris.
● Variable openings. Check first. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 3: Blenheim Palace:
Winston Churchill’s ancestral home and birth-place. It was built to commemorate a great military victory over 300 years ago and is great example of the excesses of late baroque architecture. Stories of scandal abound throughout its history and your guide will fill you in with the scurrilous details. There is an option to join an inhouse tour or you can wander the gardens at your own pace. The landscape, designed in part by the famous Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, is simply stunning in its magnitude. There is also an opportunity to visit the churchyard in the village of Bladon to see the simple grave where Churchill is buried.
● Usually open daily Feb-Oct. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 4: Chastleton House
Chastleton is one of England’s finest and most complete Jacobean houses. The house is built of Cotswold stone, round a courtyard.It contains a complex layout of ornately decorated rooms. Highlights include the Great Hall and the Great Chamber. It is a unique 400 year-old time capsule featuring rare tapestries and portraits. The rules for that most genteel of games, croquet, were first codified here in 1865. visitors may ask for a game.
● Open Mar-Oct: Wed-Sat afternoons. Timed tickets. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 5: Oxford
Famous throughout the world as a university town, with over 40 colleges. The poet Matthew Arnold described it as ‘That sweet city with her dreaming spires’. Your guide explain the mysterious traditions of this ancient town, its college system, and the architecture which sets it apart from other centres of academia, and the real world! We get many complaints about the academic haughtiness towards visitors, but a little forewarning from your guide will help you to smile at the bumptious attitudes rather than let it spoil your tour. There are a number of options which your guide will suggest. Fans of Harry Potter will recognize the great hall at the famous Christchurch College, while fans of Alice in Wonderland will recognize a number of references here too. There are also options to visit the renowned Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.
● Usually open daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 5: Malmesbury Abbey
Malmesbury Abbey was part of a Benedictine monastery founded in 676AD and once featured the tallest church spire in the world. It uniquely survived Henry VIII’s Dissolution. The first king of England is buried here. We may also visit the Abbey House Gardens – home of the famous ‘Naked Gardeners’.
● Usually open daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 4: Snowshill Manor:
A drive along the legendary stretch of Cotswold road that contains three of its greatest jewels: Broadway, known as the Painted Lady of the Cotswolds, and the neighbouring villages of Stanton and Snowshill, much beloved of film-makers. Then we visit the mind-blowing Snowshill Manor, a spectacular collection of 22,000 extraordinary objects amassed by Charles Wade from across the globe, plus gardens in the Arts & Craft style.
● Open Sep-Jun: Wed-Sun; Jul-Aug: Wed-Mon. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 5: Stratford-upon-Avon:
William Shakespeare’s home town at the very northern edge of the Cotswolds. The wonderful thing about it is that over 400 years on, many of the places associated with Shakespeare’s life are still standing and can be visited such as his birthplace, school, and residences. Also recommended is a viewing of his wife Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. A visit to the 14th century Holy Trinity Church where the great bard is buried is a must. Then follow in his footsteps and enjoy a walk along the banks of the River Avon, with your guide pointing out the theatres and memorials now erected in his honour.
● Usually open daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Tour Choice B: Select any 1 from our 6 full-day tour options below:

Option 1: Hi-Definition Tour: A Day in Oxford
Our special Hi-Definition Tours are perfect for those wanting a more singular tour experience. The tour is focussed on just one town, which means less time spent in the vehicle, and more time to enjoy a fuller day. Discuss your options with your guide. For example, you might prefer more detailed tours of local attractions, or have some time alone for a spot of shopping, or relax with a leisurely lunch. Perhaps a combination of all three! It's your tour and your choice.

This particular tour brings us to Oxford, famous throughout the world as a university centre. With over 40 colleges, the poet Matthew Arnold described it as ‘That sweet city with her dreaming spires’. Your guide explain the mysterious traditions of this ancient town, its college system, and the architecture which sets it apart from other centres of academia, and the real world! We get many complaints about the academic haughtiness towards visitors, but a little forewarning from your guide will help you to smile at the bumptious attitudes rather than let it spoil your tour. There are a number of options which your guide will suggest. Fans of Harry Potter will recognize the great hall at the famous Christchurch College, while fans of Alice in Wonderland will recognize a number of references here too. There are also options to visit the renowned Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.
● Usually open daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 2: Cotswolds Arts & Crafts
The 19th century Arts & Crafts movement was of British origin. It was the great anti-dote to the industrial revolution. Anti-mass-production and anti-factory. Its protagonists hoped a regeneration of art could be brought about by a return to medieval workmanship. William Morris was the leading guru. He was a writer, poet, philosopher, publisher, designer, artist and architect. In short, a Victorian multimedia expert. Morris persuaded a large number of craftsmen to move to the Cotswolds at the turn of this century.

Much of the area exerts their work and influence. On this tour we visit the Chipping Camden arts and craft barn, with an option to visit the arts and craft inspired gardens at Hidcote. For a modern-day take on traditional crafts we may visit the Cotswolds wool merchants at Filkins. The Morris influence can be felt at Bibury and Broadway, and on Wednesdays and the first Saturdays of the month, at Kelmscott, his home and gardens. Alternatively we may visit the mind-blowing Snowshill Manor, a spectacular collection of 22,000 extraordinary objects from across the globe amassed by one-time resident Charles Wade, plus gardens designed in the Arts & Craft style.
● Variable openings. Check first. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 3: Cotswolds Antique Hunt
Antiques shopping is a major pastime in the Cotswolds, with many specialist hunting grounds in tucked-away towns. For example, The Swan antiques centre at Tetsworth has over 30 rooms just crammed full of every antique possible. Hallidays in Dorchester-on-Thames has 28 showrooms of 17th, 18th and 19th century furniture plus some decorative items. The Country Seat at Huntercombe is atmospherically situated in a genuine tithe barn, while Stow-on-the-Wold is wall-to-wall with antique shops.

Tetbury town centre is antique in itself, as much dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. There are plenty of options for mid-hunt refreshments, as it is renowned for its fine pubs. Immediately outside the town, the fantastically named Trouble House was once the only pub in England with its own railway station. The area is popular with the rich and famous: nearby are the country pads of Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Kate Moss and Liz Hurley. Antiques, beer and celebrities, the ABC of life in a Cotwolds town!
● Usually open daily. Your tour starts after an initial fast-track out from London and you will be escorted personally by an officially qualified Blue Badge driver-guide.

Option 4: Churches of England - The Cotswolds
Click here for this Cotwolds tour option in our Arts & Culture section.

Option 5: Gardens of England - The Cotswolds
Click here for this Cotwolds tour option in our Arts & Culture section.

Option 6: Roman Britain - The Cotswolds
Click here for this Cotwolds tour option in our British History section.

ALL ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

PRICE OPTIONS:

COTSWOLDS CHOICE: PERSONALLY-GUIDED FULL DAY TOUR OPTIONS	PRICE (Full day 10 hours).
BY PRIVATE CAR (1-2 passengers)	£450.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (3-4 passengers)	£495.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (5-7 passengers)	£540.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.

HOW THE TOUR WORKS:

● Important note: 'Private tour' means a privately chartered guided tour. It does not entail exclusive private access. We do not offer tours to individuals wishing to join a larger group (for this you require a scheduled coach tour operator).

● The guide: Your tour will be conducted by a friendly qualified guide (or driver-guide for car tours) providing a knowledgeable commentary, and assisting with practical issues. Where venues offer in-house guides or audio devices, your guide will still escort you.

● Pick-up/drop-off: You can be picked-up for your tour anywhere in the London area, whether at your hotel, place of residence, or venue of your request. The same applies as a dropping-off point after the tour.

● Timings: The guide will meet you at the recommended start time or at a start time of your request. The duration of this tour is timed from pick-up to drop-off and includes built-in stops for photo opportunities, facilities, and a 1-hour lunch break.

● Lunch: An appropriate restaurant, traditional pub, or sandwich stop can be arranged for lunch (note: tour price does not include food or refreshments). Alternatively, you may want to bring a pre-packed lunch. The guide usually takes a rest during this period.

● Clothing: Clients should dress appropriately making allowances for the changeable British weather, outdoor activities or visiting churches, etc. Our main tip is to dress comfortably. For more tips to help make your tour even more enjoyable click here.

● Format: The tour has been specially researched and designed by our staff (copyright applies) and is exclusive to Your London Tours & associates. Selected elements of different tours can be combined to create even more options. See our Pick & Mix page.

● General: Rest assured with Your London Tours: All our tours are tailored to YOUR requirements. The guide will be exclusively dedicated to your family or group during the tour itself, so you will be able to relax and enjoy your day.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR IN 3 EASY STEPS:

STEP 1: Send e-mail to tours@yourlondontours.com with the following information:
● Name or brief description of tour required.
● Date service required.
● Number of adults/children, age of children.
● Full address of hotel, place of residence or venue to be picked up from or met.
● Special interests or information to help us make your tour more enjoyable.
● Lead contact name and full billing address.
● Home phone number or cell phone number.

STEP 2: On receiving this information we will e-mail a reply confirming availability, price and payment procedure. If the tour is unavailable, eg, attractions are closed or we are fully booked, we will inform you or provide details of another operator.

STEP 3: If you are happy with your tour booking please make payment as directed.
Payments can take up to 48 hrs to process. On receiving payment, we will e-mail a tour confirmation and receipt. Please check details carefully and e-mail us with any queries.

BOOKING POLICY AND NOTES:
• Bookings are dealt with on a one-to-one basis via e-mail only.
• We do not accept bookings with less than 72 hours notice.
• To secure your preferred date we recommend booking well in advance.
• All tours subject to availability. Booking will not go ahead until availability is confirmed.
• Tour is not guaranteed to go ahead until 100% of payment is received.
• Administration fees may be added for extensive itineraries or supplementary guide hire.
• We do not arrange flights, accommodation, travel tickets or tickets for events.
• We do not usually pre-book tickets for attractions. We recommended these are paid
for at the gate on the day. In circumstances where pre-booking is the only option for
attractions, tickets must be paid for in advance and are non-refundable.

FOR ENQUIRIES CLICK HERE. FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE.

Vehicle spec:
Silver Mercedes-Benz Viano V6, seven-passenger luxury people carrier, high-spec interior trim with leather seats, armrests, headrests, air-conditioning, climate control, sound system, front and rear electric sunroof, sliding passenger doors, luggage space.

Driver-guide info:
Our driver-guides are smartly presented, knowledgeable and friendly. They are professionally qualified and drive fully insured private hire vehicles. They carry the 'Blue Badge' accreditation allowing them to conduct tours, walks and interior visits of the major London venues and many other attractions in the UK.