Cotswolds Tour from London
A complete Cotswolds day tour from London
Leave London behind for a full-day, small-group Cotswolds tour through honey-coloured villages, historic market towns and sweeping countryside. This carefully planned route combines five places where you can step out and explore with two scenic drive-by highlights, all in one day from London Paddington.
Tour highlights
Full tour description
Meet your friendly driver-guide at London Paddington and settle into an executive Mercedes minicoach. With a maximum of 16 passengers, this Cotswolds day tour from London offers a more personal way to travel through the region’s narrow country roads and characterful towns and villages.
Your first stop is Bibury, where you have 45 minutes to walk beside the River Coln and see Arlington Row’s historic stone cottages. Continue to Bourton-on-the-Water for 1 hour 20 minutes of free time around the River Windrush, low stone bridges, independent shops and cafés.
The route then enters the North Cotswolds. Enjoy a scenic drive past Cotswold Lavender before stopping for 30 minutes in Snowshill, a small hillside village known for its golden-stone cottages and countryside setting. Lavender colour is seasonal and cannot be guaranteed; this part of the itinerary is a drive-by rather than admission to the farm.
Next is Broadway, where you have 1 hour 30 minutes for lunch and time to explore its broad, attractive High Street. After Broadway, the tour passes Broadway Tower, the landmark folly completed in 1798 on the Cotswold escarpment. This is a scenic drive-by, so tower admission is not included.
Your final stop is Stow-on-the-Wold. Spend one hour around the historic market square, browse the independent shops or visit St Edward’s Church before returning to London Paddington. The planned arrival is approximately 6:00pm, although traffic and local conditions can affect the final time.
Why take a Cotswolds tour from London?
The Cotswolds covers a large protected landscape of rolling hills, farmland, market towns and villages built from distinctive local stone. Seeing several of its best-known places independently in one day can require multiple connections. This small-group route combines the major stops with quieter Snowshill and two countryside drive-bys, while your driver-guide handles the roads and explains the places along the way.
The itinerary balances guided travel with independent time. You can choose your own cafés, shops and viewpoints at each main stop rather than following a fixed walking tour. Comfortable footwear is recommended because village pavements and paths can be uneven.
For destination information, see the official Cotswolds Tourism, Visit Broadway and Broadway Tower websites.
Your seven Cotswolds highlights
Bibury and Arlington Row provide the classic riverside introduction. Bourton-on-the-Water adds lively village atmosphere and time beside the Windrush. Cotswold Lavender offers a seasonal countryside view from the road, while Snowshill brings a quieter village contrast. Broadway is the main lunch stop, Broadway Tower is the route’s hilltop landmark, and Stow-on-the-Wold finishes the day in one of the region’s best-known market towns.
Your itinerary
Bibury / Arlington Row
Walk beside the River Coln and see Arlington Row’s historic Cotswold cottages.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Explore the River Windrush, low stone bridges, independent shops and cafés.
Cotswold Lavender
Pass the lavender fields near Snowshill; colour and visibility are seasonal.
Snowshill village
Enjoy a short stop among golden-stone cottages in a peaceful hillside setting.
Broadway
Free time for lunch, independent shops and the picturesque High Street.
Broadway Tower
See the iconic 18th-century landmark on the Cotswold escarpment.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Explore the historic market square, independent shops and St Edward’s Church.
What’s included
Included
- Executive Mercedes minicoach transport
- Friendly English-speaking driver-guide
- Return travel from London
- Free time at every principal stop
- Local stories and destination information
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry to paid attractions
- Gratuities
Meeting point
Lite Bite Café, London Paddington
Please arrive before the 7:30am departure. Full meeting instructions are provided with your booking confirmation.
Open in Google Maps →Essential information
- Meet at Lite Bite Café, London Paddington, for the 7:30am departure.
- The planned return to London Paddington is approximately 6:00pm.
- Please arrive early; the tour cannot wait for late guests.
- The itinerary and timings may change due to traffic, weather or local events.
- Comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
- Children under 3 cannot be accommodated.
- Cotswold Lavender and Broadway Tower are scenic drive-bys; admission is not included.
- Lavender colour is seasonal and cannot be guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a dedicated Cotswolds tour?
Yes. The full sightseeing route stays within the Cotswolds and combines seven highlights in one day from London.
How many Cotswolds places does the tour include?
The route features seven highlights: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold Lavender, Snowshill, Broadway, Broadway Tower and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Do we stop at Cotswold Lavender and Broadway Tower?
They are scenic drive-by highlights rather than walking stops. Admission to the lavender farm or tower is not included.
Will the lavender be in bloom?
Lavender colour is seasonal and depends on growing and harvesting conditions, so it cannot be guaranteed. The wider Cotswolds route remains scenic throughout the touring season.
Where is the lunch stop?
Broadway is the planned lunch stop, with 1 hour 30 minutes to choose your own café, pub or restaurant and explore the High Street.
Where does the tour depart?
The meeting point is Lite Bite Café at London Paddington. Please arrive before the 7:30am departure; full instructions are included with your booking confirmation.
What time does the tour return to London?
The planned return to London Paddington is approximately 6:00pm. Traffic and local conditions can affect the arrival time.
Traveller reviews
“A great overview of the Cotswolds with stops in several beautiful villages. Paul was the best!”
— Rick“Our guide took us to places the big buses can’t reach and made the whole day memorable.”
— Verified traveller“Comfortable, informative and perfectly paced. A wonderful day outside London.”
— Verified travellerReady to explore?
Choose your date and reserve your place on this seven-stop small-group Cotswolds tour.
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