Lower Slaughter

Tours

Discover quaint villages, tiny tea rooms, and 15th-century ruins on a day trip to the Cotswolds from Oxford. Explore Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, and more unusually named places. Admire the scenery as you drive through the pretty countryside to picturesque villages. Departing from outside Oxford Railway Station in the morning at 10:00 AM, head to the village of Great Tew. Continue to Stow-on-the-Wold to reach the highest town in the region and browse the honey-colored buildings and tiny tea rooms. Visit the pretty village of Lower Slaughter before going to Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the "Venice of the Cotswolds", where you will have time for lunch. After lunch, discover the gateway to the Cotswolds in the village of Burford. Journey through the valley of the River Windrush and discover amazing villages such as Swinbrook along with the ruins of 15th-century Minster Lovell Hall. Departure will be late afternoon, returning to Oxford Railway Station by 5:00 PM

Explore 5 historic and picturesque villages in the Cotswolds area on this private day trip from London. Visit the best ones and enjoy relaxing views of the rolling English countryside, and stroll through the tiny streets. Leave London and head for Burford. Stroll down the town's beautiful High Street to reach the River Windrush and marvel at the historic bridge crossing. Continue to Lower Slaughter to enjoy a view of a water mill dating from the 19th century. This one really is a wonder and normally everyone’s favourite. Stroll through Stow on the Wold's historic market square, surrounded by pubs, the town hall, and antique shops. Stop for lunch (not included) at a local pub or a tea room. Continue to Bourton on the Water to enjoy a relaxing walk along the River Windrush, surrounded by honey-colored stone buildings. Finish your tour with Bibury. Stroll along the famous Arlington Row, filled with stone cottages built in 1380. Enjoy between 45 minutes and 1 hour in each town, giving you the opportunity to have a coffee, see the sights, or buy a souvenir. Return to London in time for dinner.

The day begins in Castle Combe, which is surely one of the most photographed villages in all of England. Little has changed here since the 15th century - no street lights or TV aerials. This mediaeval gem is famous for its picturesque cottages and babbling brook. Your journey continues towards the ancient market town of Burford, This idyllic town is one of the very oldest in all of England and has evolved over 900 years. It is famous for its picturesque and thriving High Street containing several medieval inns as well as cafes and stores. Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in or near the town. The tour continues through the heart of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty towards the idyllic twin villages of Upper & Lower Slaughter. Lower Slaughter was named the prettiest village in England in 2021 and it’s easy to see why. A location trapped in time, where wonderful photo opportunities await you amongst flower-draped cottages and romantic footbridges. Enjoy a short stroll through the countryside to the neighbouring village of Upper Slaughter (weather dependent). Tetbury is the home town of The King and Queen Camilla and neighbours their Highgrove Estate. Photograph the famous Chipping Steps, lined with ancient weaver’s cottages and buy a souvenir from His Majesty's Highgrove Shop. Please note that children aged 12 years or under are not permitted on this tour due to UK child seat law restrictions. Your driver-guide is neither insured nor licensed below this threshold.

Starting with a pick up in Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's Birthplace Coach Terminal, 9.00AM), or Moreton-in-Marsh train station (9.30AM), set off into the rolling countryside of the Cotswolds National Landscape. This original tour is provided by Go Cotswolds, a fun, friendly local guided tour company, established in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswolds for 10 years.  Begin with a short, countryside walk to the iconic Broadway Tower (1 mile/1.6km). Soak up the panoramic views and see if you can spot the resident herd of red deer. Walk back to the minibus (1 mile/1.6km) and drive to Broadway village, or descend into the village on foot by walking a short section of the famous Cotswold Way (1.5 miles/2.5km). Enjoy free time in the stunning village of Broadway to explore at your own leisure and grab some lunch. Travel through the scenic countryside before embarking on a beautiful figure-of-eight walk (2.75 miles/4.5 km) to discover quiet, quaint villages along the Windrush Valley. Here, you'll truly be off the beaten track, discovering hidden churches, surprising history, and gorgeous Cotswold villages without the crowds of tourist hot spots. Unwind after in the historic market town of Burford, where you can admire the historic buildings, shop for gifts or relax in a local pub or café. Listen to your guide’s fascinating commentary throughout the day about local life and history.

7 great stops in some of the most iconic villages of the Cotswolds. We will have lunch right in the middle of the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty where we will see the oldest pub in England and the hobbit door of the local church. Our tour of the Cotswolds includes Cirencester, the "capital" of the Cotswolds whose massive wool church of St. John the Baptist boasts the largest porch in England. Nearby Bibury, is famous for Arlington row, a series of fourteenth century weavers' cottages. Bourton on the Water, known as the "Venice of Cotwolds" is one of the most popular destinations in the bare, having a perfumery, vintage car museum and a model village amongst many other attractions. But moist of our guest like to venture a bit further away for the tranquil delights of Lower Slaughter and its Victorian watermill. A drive past Upper Slaughter and Lower Swell takes us to Stow on the Wold "where the wind blows cold". An excellent stop for lunch and where we can explore the local churchyard and maybe have a quick pint in the oldest pub in England. Our tour continues in the afternoon to Burford where we will here where the expression "Any old Tom, Dick or Harry" came from. When open the fifteenth century tollhouse has a charming museum where you can find out about the ancient building skills employed in the area. The church nearby still bares the marks of England's civil war in the 1640s and where wool merchants graves fill the churchyard. Our final stop is our grand finale. A ruined fifteenth century manor house awaits and with it a macabre tale. The splendid thatched cottages of Minster Lovell is where we leave the Cotswolds before returning to London.

Skip the stress of left-side driving and soak up the Cotswold views as your private driver/guide takes the wheel on this door-to-door adventure through the heart of England. Travel through back roads and country lanes and sleepy villages around the Cotswold Way to Stratford-upon-Avon, home of Shakespeare. Your day includes onboard Wi-Fi, snacks, and water: Please book admission tickets to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in advance. Total Duration: 10 hours Burford, Burford, Cotswolds, England, 1 minute Bourton-on-the-Water, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds, England, 1 hour Lower Slaughter, Lower Slaughter, Cotswolds, England, 1 hour Stow-on-the-Wold, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswolds, England, 1 hour Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, 2 hours

Explore the picturesque villages and scenery of the world-famous Cotswolds region on a private full day tour scheduled from 10am to 6pm. Get off the beaten track and avoid the coach crowds with the help of your local guide. Visit the destinations you want to see, where practical, and discover locations you may not have heard of too. As the tour is private, the itinerary and start time are flexible. Along the way, enjoy coffee, lunch, and cake stops to suit your schedule as well. Possible places to visit include Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold, Minster Lovell, North Leigh Roman Villa, Broadway Tower, Chastleton House, Kingham, and Kelmscott Manor. By booking this activity with me here, you are agreeing to book me as your guide for the day but this booking and payment does not include the significant costs of my arranging a taxi to drive us or alternatively you can choose to hire a car to drive us. I cannot be your driver as if I hire the car to deliver a commercial activity, the car insurance policy is invalidated. I do not own a vehicle of my own either.

Departing from your hotel in the Northern Cotswold or Oxford at 10:00AM, you’ll start the day by visiting the fascinating village of Great Tew. From Great Tew continue on to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here you’ll have time to browse among honey-coloured buildings, cozy pubs, narrow streets, interesting shops and tiny tea rooms. Our next stop is the picturesque village of Lower Slaughter, one of the prettiest villages in the Northern Cotswolds and set in the most amazing countryside. Our next stop is arguably the most famous Cotswolds town and regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England; Bourton-on-the-Water. Known as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ there is plenty to see and do with a wealth of attractions, shops, restaurants and tea rooms. From Bourton-on-the-Water your route takes you through some enchanting Cotswold villages to Burford, often called the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’. In Burford we will enjoy lunch at an awarding winning Cotswolds pub where you can sample traditional ale out in the sunshine if you’d like. After lunch spend the afternoon traveling along the stunning Windrush Valley visiting hidden villages including Swinbrook, Asthall and the highlight of tour, the beautiful village and ancient ruins of Minster Lovell. This pretty village on the River Windrush boasts plenty of Cotswold stone and thatched roofs, as well as holding the title of being the region’s most haunted village. Minster Lovell is perhaps best known for the ruins of its 15th century hall, owned by generations of the Lovell family. Departure will be late afternoon returning to your hotel by 5:00PM.

If you only have one day to spare this is the perfect way to discover what makes the Cotswolds so special. We will show you quaint, picture postcard villages and take you off the beaten track to reveal stunning views of the most beautiful Cotswolds countryside most visitors never get the chance to enjoy. (Stopping for amazing photo opportunities along the way). Relax with a spectacular journey through the most stunning landscape in the North Cotswolds, with stops to explore some fascinating gems on the way. Collection from London Paddington. Pick up at a location of your choice can be arranged for an additional fee. Arrive in Bourton-on-the-Water, a beautiful Cotswold village with lovely little stone bridges over the crystal-clear river Windrush. There is something here to suit everyone – unique, independent gift shops, charming riverside tea-rooms, the Motoring and Toy Museum, the Model Village; or you might want to just stroll along the river and watch the ducks. By the way, did we mention the best ice cream in the Cotswolds. The next stop is Bibury, once described as ‘the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds’ and home to the world-famous Arlington Row cottages. Next up is a spectacular drive through a magnificent, unspoiled valley with some delightful surprises along the way, including a stop at our secret location - a beautiful village that certainly lives up to our promise to take you off the beaten track Next, time for tea (traditional English of course) in the impossibly pretty village of Lower Slaughter. They say a picture paints a thousand words and that is definitely the case with this simply stunning village. It really is impossible to do it justice with words, you just have to visit Lower Slaughter and see it for yourself. To wander along the banks of the little river Eye and feast your eyes on the exquisite riverside cottages is a very special experience, one you won’t forget in a hurry. Our final stop is delightful Minster Lovell, reputedly the most haunted village in the Cotswolds. This is a hidden gem we would love to share with you. A last-minute addition when our tour planner’s inquisitive nature got the better of him and we’re so glad it did as its proof that the Cotswolds can surprise even us! He discovered a lovely street of picturesque, thatched cottages that leads to the enigmatic ruins of 15th century Minster Lovell Hall, which is said to be haunted by Lord Lovell whose skeleton was discovered in a secret chamber. When you’ve finished exploring this strange and fascinating place why not finish your amazing day in the Cotswolds with a drink down the road at the Old Swan, a cozy, 15th century, traditional country inn. Arrive back in London after a wonderful day out in the beautiful Cotswolds.

Your expert chauffeur will meet you at your hotel/residence in London and take you on a memorable journey through the Cotswolds. Uncover hidden gems, admire stunning landscapes, and experience true English charm. Marvel at idyllic villages, lush countryside, and ancient architecture with plenty of stops for pictures and walking. Your first stop will be to the gateway of the Cotswolds, ancient market town of Burford, where you will get the chance to walk through and stop off at the famous Huffkins Cafe. Following this you will be stopping at Bibury, where you will have the chance to visit the Arlington Row of weaver's cottages. One of the most photographed places in the Cotswolds. Just a short walk from the village center is the St. Mary's Church. The next beautiful villages on our tour will be the Slaughters, drive through these villages and enjoy the splendor of the villages and countryside. Although small villages, they are steeped with history. Your final destination will be Stroud. Brimming with independent shops, cafés and galleries and home to one of the best Farmers’ Markets in the country. Once you've finished in Stroud, you will head back to London with your guide.