From London: Oxford, Cotswolds & Country Pub Lunch

Our day trip from London begins with a visit to Oxford, city of dreaming spires. Here, follow your guide in the footsteps of famous alumni such as author J. R. R. Tolkien, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, and renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Wander down narrow back streets to ancient colleges and pretty quadrangles, and soak up the atmosphere in this bustling university city. You’ll also visit Oxford University's oldest classroom — the medieval Divinity School. When your walking tour comes to an end, enjoy free time to explore at your leisure before we head to the stunning Cotswolds.

We depart Oxford and drive to the gentle rolling limestone hills of the Cotswolds, driving down single track narrow country lanes in our minibus, exploring the back roads and little winding valleys. With an expert guide on board, we will learn of the rise and fall of the wool trade in this region and how it left behind a landscape untouched by the modern world, featuring small honey coloured stone villages and hidden green valleys with babbling streams.

Our first stop is delightful Burford with stone houses cascading down to the River Windrush, see Woolsack tombs in the historic churchyard before we stop for a delicious lunch in a traditional Cotswolds country pub. Sit back and relax in an ancient stone hostelry and experience centuries-old tavern life in a world where a gentle, slower pace is the norm. We then visit Bibury with its collection houses known as Arlington Row, before driving through stunning centuries old villages with photo stops along the beautiful Coln Valley. Our smaller vehicles are able to travel up the narrow Coln Valley on single track roads, passing fields of sheep, historic churches and sleepy hamlets. Our last stop is bustling Stow-on-the-Wold with its vibrant market square, before driving back to London passing through Chipping Norton and Woodstock.