Small Group Cotswolds Villages, Stratford and Oxford Day Tour from London
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Small Group Cotswolds Villages, Stratford and Oxford Day Tour from London
By The English Bus
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About
See the best of southern England in just one day on this day trip from London. Enjoy seamless transportation between Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, the charming Cotswolds, and the university city of Oxford. Learn about each location on guided walking tours and get a look inside Oxford University, one of the best in the world. A small group size means you have plenty of time to ask questions.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 3-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 11h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Small-group tour ensures personal attention
- Travel easily between destinations on an air-conditioned mini-coach
- See three of England's best destinations in just one day
- Gain deeper insight on guided walking tours
- Round-trip travel by air-conditioned luxury Mercedes minicoach from central London
- Experienced knowledgeable and welcoming tour driver/guide
- Walking tours in Stratford and Oxford
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Fully commentated small group guided tour
What's not included- Optional entry to Shakespeare's birthplace. Child - £10 Adult £20 Concession £16 Family £49.50
- Food and drink
- Gratuities
- Please note that due to conservation works, the birthplace will be closed between 8 - 19 Jan 2024
- Board your air-conditioned mini-coach in central London and head into the English countryside. Your first stop is the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Take a guided walking tour to see important sights and learn about his life. Continue onward to the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that lures visitors with rolling hills and charming, postcard-worthy villages. Stop to take a leisurely stroll and soak up the atmosphere. Next, visit the famed university city of Oxford, where you take a guided walking tour to explore its architecture, boutiques, and pubs, and learn about its rich history. Take advantage of some free time to explore further. Your tour concludes with drop-off back at the departure point.
- Start:Multiple meeting point options.
- Option 15a Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7AF, UKLondon Eye pickup: Join us at our first pick up point for this tour, from the corner of Belvedere Road and Chicheley Street, near the London Eye. See departure point information for more details. Departure time: 8.45am
- Option 2DoubleTree by Hilton London - Victoria, 2 Bridge Pl, Pimlico, London SW1V 1QA, UKJoin us at our second pick up point for this tour, from outside the front of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Victoria. See departure point information for more details. Departure time: 9.10am
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8965P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is three years
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, and across some uneven surfaces
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- No large items of luggage are permitted, luggage compartment is limited
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Please do not travel if unwell and/or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8965P3
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- TravelBAB10 contributionsWould do it again!The trip was greatly enjoyable. Our driver Tony was a wonderful narrator and very friendly. We loved all of the stops, especially the small village at the end that was exactly what you see in the movies about old England. It was also nice that our shuttle was smaller and we only had 13 people in our tour group. We would highly recommend!Written October 11, 2024
- Climber4945580 contributionsGreat Tour …….Andy was a great tour guide and provided lots of information and stories throughout the day. The bus was very comfortable and the small group of 10 worked very well. The English Bus offers high quality tours !Written October 10, 2024
- Ellen H0 contributionsDay out in the countryThis was a fantastic trip Val was phenomenal Stone henge bath and the secret place was great. Great people on the tour. The tour size is small 16 which was perfect I would highly recommend this trip. It is worth itWritten October 10, 2024
- Alice T0 contributionsGreat tour with a great guideJon was so very patient with me. I am older and not able to climb stairs or walk very far. I was by myself and he was so kind to wait with me for my taxi back to hotel. Jon made sure that I could see as much as possible that I was able to do on the tour. Wonderful guide and thoughtful personWritten October 9, 2024
- Lina-Maria S0 contributionsBest tour ever!It was so much fun! Jon was a great and witty tour guide. The very secret location was great. We were in love and recommend every second of it.Written October 6, 2024
- Y3536MOjohnl0 contributionsThe English Bus Delivered!No tour company in the UK has received more 5 star ratings than The English Bus and for good reason. Having taken countless (thousands) tours and excursions in five decades of world travel, including 11 on our recent tour of London, I value a hassle-free, fun, informative, engaging, and memorable experience. The English Bus--and specifically our guide Cara--delivered all that and much more! Cara is among the best of the best when it comes to maintaining a high level of enthusiasm, delivering a depth and range of subject knowledge, and showing genuine care for the experience of every individual in her group. We enjoyed enough time at Stonehenge, Bath, and at a "secret place", with Cara sharing interesting info about what we were seeing along the way. She gave clear directions of when/where to meet at the end of each stop, walked us around Bath and our "secret place" a bit, enlightening us about things we otherwise would have missed, navigated the traffic with patience and concern for safety, and ensured we were headed in the right direction at our drop-off point. Our 13-hour adventure will be a lifelong memory thanks to Cara and The English Bus. For a discerning traveler, no detail was missed, and if I could give more than 5 stars I would.Written October 6, 2024
- tlp480 contributionsWonderful Day!!!Pick the small group tour!!! So much better and more personal than a large bus. Jon was a fantastic tour guide. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Our secret stop… just a wonderful addition to the tour. 10/10Written October 6, 2024
- Venture652558433090 contributionsYou need to book this absolutely amazing tour!Stonehenge, Bath and Castle Combe in the Cotswolds…. Val from The English Bus was our tour guide and she is just amazing, caring, & she is a world of knowledge which made the day interesting and fact filled all day! A walking history library! So memorable thank you Val!Written October 2, 2024
- 410kellyd0 contributionsPerfect day!What an awesome day. Our guide Andy was superb. He was informative and super engaging. He had great stories and recommendations everywhere we went. The bus was comfortable and it wasn't too much extended time on our feet. You are free to do what you want at each stop so I think it would be good for lots of different types of people. Seniors, kids, couples, etc.. The day went off without a hitch and I'm so glad we did it!Written September 30, 2024
- 861stacieh0 contributionsExcellent tour with a fabulous tour guide!What an amazing tour to Chilham, White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and Canterbury with Jon! Do not hesitate to book this trip (or any trip) with the English bus! It is a smaller tour bus which makes it all the more special. They are able to travel roads that the bigger tour buses cannot go. There are plenty of stops if you need a restroom or a snack. Jon will direct you to the best places. He is so knowledgeable and the way he explained things had us really enjoy learning the history of the places we visited. The minibus is very comfortable and has charging ports for each seat. The right side of the bus has all 2 seats together, whereas the left side is single seats. My husband and I were Towards the last of the boarding so we had single seats, which was fine as I felt I had a little more room. Jon gives a walking tour in Canterbury and points out areas that you wouldn’t know if you go on your own. We were a bit hungry, so we joined the group halfway through the tour and learned so much! Canterbury Cathedral is stunning! You must buy tickets when you arrive, but it is worth it! It was very easy to book with this company, we booked directly on their site. When you walk through Dover Castle look for areas on the walls where the prisoners carved their names and stories (mostly from the 1700s. You will also find the in the Cathedral. I happened to notice half my through the castle and asked one of the workers. He verified it was “graffiti “ from the past! Very interesting! The morning of the tour I wasn’t sure we were in the correct meeting spot, so i called to double check. And they answered right away! Great customer service! We were in the correct spot if course, as they email detailed instructions with directions to the meeting spot. Do not miss this tour!Written September 29, 2024
- RohiniM110 contributionsDon't miss out on this AWESOME tour!!This tour is just the BEST!! I was so happy to have Cara as our driver/tour guide again. This was my second tour with the English Bus (I was so impressed and happy with them on my first time tour to Stonehenge/Bath/Cotswolds and booked this one too). Cara was extremely knowledgeable and made the journey so interesting and super fun. Her driving was impeccable navigating the tiny lanes near the White cliffs in Dover. I loved hearing all the special stories and tid-bits of these places which made the trip even more enjoyable. Being a solo traveler, I really enjoyed the small group that this tour offered. Cara was super sweet and kind and offered lots of local restaurant and sightseeing attractions recommendations at every stop. She also gave a super interesting walking tour of Canterbury even when it was pouring down. Really made the trip memorable! I will definitely be coming back and taking these tours again with my family. Highly RECOMMEND to book this on your next vacation :).Written September 27, 2024
- RohiniM110 contributionsThe BEST tour you will take on your London trip!!!Cara was so AMAZING!! I was on a solo trip and this tour was absolutely the highlight of my London/England visit. Cara was extremely knowledgable, super fun and an excellent driver navigating the busy streets in London as well as the country roads at Cotswolds (Castle Combe village). She shared excellent recommendations for local restaurants and sightseeing at our different stops. The small, intimate size of the tour is perfect too. I loved the tour and even booked a second one with English Bus right after I finished this one :). Thank you for making this trip so memorable and enjoyable.Written September 27, 2024
- Dr-JonnyB0 contributionsKent County Tour ExtravaganzaJon was a knowledgeable historian and efficient driver in some terrain that others may NOT be comfortable driving personally (whether country roads or left handing driving). Canterbury, Chilham, Dover Cliffs all lovely stops. Witty banter and conspiracy theories abound! Shakespeare? Spy? Elizabeth I? Oh my!Written September 25, 2024
- Relax2804680 contributionsVal was awesome!Val was amazing! She added ao much to the tour by offering an amazing amount of information not only on our stops but additionally London and ancient history to today l, in a very entertaining fashion. The stops themselves were great, and our ride to the Cotswalds really showed the benefit of being on a small bus with great tour guide like Val who showed us many beautiful back roads.Written September 23, 2024
- A6533TEsashab0 contributionsIncredible Tour!This was a once in a lifetime experience for my husband and I. Our tour guide, Val, has an incredible knowledge of history- we could listen to her talk all day! We didn't just see incredible sights at Stonehenge, Bath, and the Cotswolds, but had a detailed history lesson on all of them as well! I highly recommend booking this tour, we were so happy we did! Val showed us the England that we came here to see!Written September 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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Richard and Marlene
Jacksonville, FL8 contributions
Mar 2020
Lilly made the day an extremely enjoyable trip .the virus scare kept many people home but Lilly could not have been more personable,attentive and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We look forward to another trip with her. Her knowledge of the history and culture of England was remarkable. The smaller bus allowed her to go down lanes that the big bus companies couldn’t so this allowed us to visit places that the big buses only talk about
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill
Boston, MA7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Elizabeth (Lilly) was an amazing guide and driver. This tour is over 12 hours long and without her sense of humor, knowledge and efficiency, we wouldn’t have survived 😱.
The sights and sounds are worth the sacrifice. The 16 person bus was brand new, comfortable and perfectly designed for the touring sight lines.
The combination of the three geographic areas was delightful, insightful and educational.
The sights and sounds are worth the sacrifice. The 16 person bus was brand new, comfortable and perfectly designed for the touring sight lines.
The combination of the three geographic areas was delightful, insightful and educational.
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mynonnie
New Jersey356 contributions
This was one of the best run and well-organized tours that we’ve been on. We did the Stratford, Cotswolds, and Oxford tour. Chris was our driver and guide. I can’t say enough great things about him. He was professional, friendly, entertaining, and well-versed in all things about the different areas that we visited. The tour is really designed well. Did not feel as though we didn’t have enough time in each area or that we were on the bus for too long. Each part is broken up really well. We did a tour in Scotland where we felt most of the day was spent on the bus.
Obviously, more time in each area would be great, but this tour is meant to introduce you to each area and give you a varied experience of the English countryside. When you’re at the Oxford stop, I highly recommend joining Chris for his guided tour of Oxford University. It was an interesting tour and Chris offered many interesting insights into life at Oxford University. It was a long, but enjoyable day!
Obviously, more time in each area would be great, but this tour is meant to introduce you to each area and give you a varied experience of the English countryside. When you’re at the Oxford stop, I highly recommend joining Chris for his guided tour of Oxford University. It was an interesting tour and Chris offered many interesting insights into life at Oxford University. It was a long, but enjoyable day!
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HI Mynonnie
Thank you so much for your detailed review, and kind words about your recent experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a great time.
We have worked hard over the years to plan the itinerary in such a way that gives us enough time at each destination, with some fantastic scenery on the driving parts, and so we are really glad to hear you felt we had got it right.
Chris is really pleased that you enjoyed his walking tour of Oxford, and as his wife, I agree that I can't say enough great things about him!!
Thank you again for choosing to travel with The English Bus and we hope to be able to welcome you back on another of our tours one day - check our website for all of our other offerings.
Many thanks,
Jen
Written July 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ABQtravel
Albuquerque, NM34 contributions
Oct 2022
Booked this day trip from London to Oxford, Stratford upon Avon and Cotswolds during a 2 and 1/2- week solo UK holiday which included London and side trip to the Lake District. Small group of travelers, about 12 on a small van which was nice. Sites were interesting and while the guide was informative, to be blunt, it seemed at times she would not shut up. She started the tour by sharing her life story, followed by asking the tour participants their life story. I booked this tour to visit and learn about the history and background of the places we we were visiting, A short ice-breaker.e.g where are you from, is this your first trip to the UK is fine. However, I did not book the tour to learn about the guide's family or spouse, other participants' family, who they are traveling with, profession, etc. Some of us are introverts and are not comfortable sharing this information right off the bat. In addition she made some inappropriate comments. e.g. , did you travel to get away from your spouse/family to another woman who was alone, and "We have a spy on board" after i revealed I was a retired US Federal Government employee. Save the "Tell me about yourself" questions for job applicants.
Written November 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HI ABQ Travel,
Thank you for your recent review, although it greatly saddens us to read that you weren't entirely happy with your experience. We are a small, family run business, and the enjoyment of each and every guest of ours is of paramount importance, and so if we don't quite meet expectations, we take it very seriously and to heart.
I'm sorry you felt uncomfortable around your guide that day. As we travel as a small group of no more than 16 guests, on an all day tour, our guides tend to like to find out a little about you all, and equally share a little bit about themselves to humanise and enhance the experience. Our guests are people, and individuals - not just numbers to us. That being said, I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable, and I'm sure that if you had made us aware of your discomfort on the day, then we could have changed some things around. As I said, we never want any of our guests to come away feeling annoyed - that is certainly not our intention.
It appears that there may have been a clash of personality with our guide that day. The guide in question has been with us for a number of years, and we know her very well. The inappropriate comments you mention would have been said in jest, and were not intended to cause offence.
We will be sure to have a collective chat at our next company meeting regarding this issue, and remind our guides to be aware of our guests' body language to spot if something is wrong, but equally it does help us if we are made aware of a problem so that we can do something about it on the day.
Best wishes,
Jen & the rest of us here at The English Bus
Written November 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sylvia G
Chicago, IL3 contributions
Lucy was an incredible guide! Her enthusiasm and energy made the tour truly unforgettable. From start to finish, she kept us engaged with fascinating stories and insightful information about each stop. Her passion for the area really shone through, making the experience both educational and fun. She went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great time, answering all our questions with a smile. If you’re looking for a lively and informative tour, I highly recommend booking with Lucy. She made our trip memorable, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide!
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Sylvia,
Thank you for your kind words, and we are so pleased that you had an unforgettable day with Lucy aboard The English Bus. She really is a wonderful guide, and we are incredibly lucky to have her as part of our small team here at The English Bus.
We hope to welcome you back for another tour with us one day. Do check our website for live availability and details of all the tours we offer.
Thanks again for choosing to travel with us.
Jen @ The English Bus
Written October 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Phillip F
Markham, Canada41 contributions
This outing was absolutely wonderful. Worth every penny. Chris was one of the best guides we've ever had in over 25 years of travel. The visit to Stratford was informative and inspiring. The Cotswolds was quintessential English country side and Oxford was better than expected. The small group format is also spot on.
All in all a lovely outing. Highly recommended.
All in all a lovely outing. Highly recommended.
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there 75phillipf!
Wow! I know Chris will be thrilled to hear such kind words! We couldn't agree more - our small groups (max 16) is the only way to tour! We couldn't imagine operating any other way as it gives our guests and our guides a far superior day out. Travelling in a big bus that holds 75+ passengers...No thank you!!!
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed all the stops and sights on our Oxford, Cotswolds and Stratford tour and loved the variety it has as much as we do.
We really hope to meet you again some time!
Written September 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
judinewyork
new york107 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
We so enjoyed our "Cotswolds Villages, Stratford and Oxford Day Tour. This was my second tour with The English Bus, and it was fabulous! Lucy, our guide/driver was a gem. She gave us much history, was filled with such joy and had everyone laughing and asking questions. Lucy found a perfect balance between information, entertainment, and personalization. The tour included many stops but was well balanced so we didn't feel we missed something or didn't have enough time.
It was a great overview and we definitely know where we would want to go back to explore more. Each stop was different and well timed and then there was the incredible Lucy which made this an unforgettable day exploring outside London.
It was a great overview and we definitely know where we would want to go back to explore more. Each stop was different and well timed and then there was the incredible Lucy which made this an unforgettable day exploring outside London.
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Judine,
Thank you so much for your review. And thanks for coming back for another tour, we really love to meet returnees, there is no better compliment. Lucy is a gem indeed, to rival some of the Crown Jewels, we really appreciate her skills and efforts, so to read you did too is wonderful.
Thank you for joining us again, we hope to meet you one day for your 3rd tour - perhaps our Kent, Dover and Canterbury route?
All the best,
Chris
The English Bus
Written June 5, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Superha
12 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
The tour we took to see William Shakespeare’s birthplace lasted 12 hours, and I didn’t mind it! My husband and our daughter went to see the Harry Potter play in West End while our son and I took a tour aboard The English Bus.
At Shakespeare’s birthplace, we saw a sign for Shakesbeer, looked through the window of the ShakesPaw Cat Cafe, and took lots of pics of the Bard’s old stomping grounds.
Our awesome tour guide Lucy was full of excellent facts, intriguing stories, and important history. We learned that Shakespeare was 18 when he married Anne Hathaway (no relation to Ella Enchanted) who was 26. His cause of death has never been determined, but one of the many theories (besides murder) is that he passed away from a bad hangover on the traditional date of his birthday in 1616. In chatting with some vendors in Stratford-upon-Avon, it’s obvious they don’t believe Christopher Marlowe penned any of Shakespeare’s works. Fascinating tour. Everything I learned in my high school AP Literature class came right back to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Tudor, Victorian, and even Renaissance and Gothic elements in the architecture throughout the quaint town. There’s so much interest and detail in their designs.
Our tour also ventured into the Cotswolds. Apparently, wolds means rolling hills and cots means sheep. My son and I took advantage of a photo op with a hollowed out tree trunk. We also may or may not have been a few minutes late meeting our tour group due to a not needed, but much wanted duck selfie.
Our tour of Oxford and its campuses and libraries was very eye opening. If you read a book a day from the Bodleian Library, it would take you 600 lifetimes to get through the entire collection! We also saw a street lamp and an ornate door which may have been the inspiration for CS Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” So grateful to have had this time with my boy. Thanks, tour guide Lucy, thanks to the hubby for all of our trip planning, and thank you, Lord, for all these blessings!
At Shakespeare’s birthplace, we saw a sign for Shakesbeer, looked through the window of the ShakesPaw Cat Cafe, and took lots of pics of the Bard’s old stomping grounds.
Our awesome tour guide Lucy was full of excellent facts, intriguing stories, and important history. We learned that Shakespeare was 18 when he married Anne Hathaway (no relation to Ella Enchanted) who was 26. His cause of death has never been determined, but one of the many theories (besides murder) is that he passed away from a bad hangover on the traditional date of his birthday in 1616. In chatting with some vendors in Stratford-upon-Avon, it’s obvious they don’t believe Christopher Marlowe penned any of Shakespeare’s works. Fascinating tour. Everything I learned in my high school AP Literature class came right back to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Tudor, Victorian, and even Renaissance and Gothic elements in the architecture throughout the quaint town. There’s so much interest and detail in their designs.
Our tour also ventured into the Cotswolds. Apparently, wolds means rolling hills and cots means sheep. My son and I took advantage of a photo op with a hollowed out tree trunk. We also may or may not have been a few minutes late meeting our tour group due to a not needed, but much wanted duck selfie.
Our tour of Oxford and its campuses and libraries was very eye opening. If you read a book a day from the Bodleian Library, it would take you 600 lifetimes to get through the entire collection! We also saw a street lamp and an ornate door which may have been the inspiration for CS Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” So grateful to have had this time with my boy. Thanks, tour guide Lucy, thanks to the hubby for all of our trip planning, and thank you, Lord, for all these blessings!
Written March 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin R
NYC514 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
I went on an English Bus tour to the Cotswolds, Stratford-on-Avon, and Oxford. My guide was Andy.
I give high marks to the entire trip, and Andy was a great guide, offering good info, pleasant and personable, and overall just a good time.
A number of the stops were brief, which is detailed in the itinerary. So, we technically knew this ahead of time but some others in our group were put off by it because they didn't read the specifics. If you want a half-day in Stratford-on-Avon, this is not for you. I had time to quickly visit the birthplace of Shakespeare and walk down the pedestrian street. An extra 45 minutes would have been nice, but I'm not sure where that time would have come from. We were also shown other sites of Shakesperian interest, including his school, lot where his home was, and church.
The drive through the Coswolds was nice and we stopped in a few towns, just long enough to grab a bite, shop, take pictures, etc.
Oxford was dedicated the most time. An optional guided tour (by Andy) was available and I was glad to take it - he pointed out buildings, etc. that I would have otherwise maybe not seen, and certainly not known the history of or other info. I implore you to take this walk with Andy if you can! THere will still be some amount of free time afterward for you to do shopping or (fast) easting.
Highly recommended all around!
I give high marks to the entire trip, and Andy was a great guide, offering good info, pleasant and personable, and overall just a good time.
A number of the stops were brief, which is detailed in the itinerary. So, we technically knew this ahead of time but some others in our group were put off by it because they didn't read the specifics. If you want a half-day in Stratford-on-Avon, this is not for you. I had time to quickly visit the birthplace of Shakespeare and walk down the pedestrian street. An extra 45 minutes would have been nice, but I'm not sure where that time would have come from. We were also shown other sites of Shakesperian interest, including his school, lot where his home was, and church.
The drive through the Coswolds was nice and we stopped in a few towns, just long enough to grab a bite, shop, take pictures, etc.
Oxford was dedicated the most time. An optional guided tour (by Andy) was available and I was glad to take it - he pointed out buildings, etc. that I would have otherwise maybe not seen, and certainly not known the history of or other info. I implore you to take this walk with Andy if you can! THere will still be some amount of free time afterward for you to do shopping or (fast) easting.
Highly recommended all around!
Written August 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you for you kind words!
I'm so glad you had such a great day with Andy! He's been with us for a long time and always gives a fantastic tour! He's such a passionate historian and Englishman - he's the perfect guide!
All our tours pack so much into a day, that we like to think we've found a good balance of time for each stop.
Many people don't understand that The Cotswolds is actually a collection of about 120 tiny little villages that are all dotted around 800 square miles of the beautiful English countryside. To visit even half of them would involve a hire car, several weeks and very good navigation & driving skills! Our Cotswolds, Stratford and Oxford tour stops at two Cotswolds villages and drives through several more. We've run this our thousands of times and have worked hard at establishing the right balance.
I went on Andy's Oxford walking tour again recently and learnt so much! And I'm one of the guides too!! But then, Oxford's history is so rich, I doubt anyone knows it all...except maybe Andy!
Thanks again for coming, and we hope to meet you again some time!
All the best,
Lilly @ The English Bus
Written August 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cecilia B
3 contributions
Oct 2021
The experience was wonderful! Johny, our driver was funny, cunning and a great conversationalist. He drove us safely to our destinations (Cotswold, Stratford and Oxford) and made us all feel great throughout our journey. We learned a lot through Johny's knowledge and information and saw some spectacular views. Would highly recommend.
Written November 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Cecilia,
Thank you so much for your review and feedback - it means a lot to us.
I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us and guide Johny so much - thank you so much for choosing to take a small group tour with us - we'd love to meet you again one day.
All the best,
Chris
The English Bus
Written November 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi. Is there time to go inside the library in Oxford or other buildings. Family are interested in Harry Potter. Or is it external viewing only in oxford?
Written September 6, 2022
There is time, an hour or so. But the trade off is more sightseeing or finding somewhere to eat. It is a long day to go without eating 🤗
Written August 10, 2023
Hi Would like to know if this trip can be taken from oxford and not start from London?
Written July 5, 2022
I doubt you can do whole round trip group starting from Oxford but you can do private tour with them I’m sure, so call them.
Written July 6, 2022
Re. departure points--what's closer to the Phoenix Hotel--London Eye or the Double Tree Hotel in Victoria?
Written July 28, 2019
I don’t live in London either but recommend you contact The English Bus directly through their website or email. They are very helpful and respond quickly.
Trip Advisor doesn’t allow a link so just search The English Bus.
Written July 29, 2019
How much time in Cotswold and do you have a chance to walk in one or more of the small villages? Also is there a tour to any of the colleges in Oxford? Thank you, Laura
Written July 3, 2019
Hi Laura. We had approximately 45 minutes to walk/explore one of the small villages. There was also a 15 minute stop for tea at a village square.
There was also an escorted walk through the Oxford colleges.
I felt sufficient time/explanation given for each stop. I did not feel rushed.
Written July 3, 2019
Are there any exceptions to the 18 year old accompaniment rule? My twins are 15 and would to do this while I am at work one day.
Written June 8, 2019
I would go to The English Bus website directly and email or call.
Written June 8, 2019
Does one get no refund on even an early cancellation?
Written March 30, 2019
Sorry. Am unable to answer. Question best directed to the tour company.
Written March 31, 2019
We (2pax) would like to stay overnight at Cotswolds. Is this option available?
Written September 29, 2018
Hi Alice,
This is Chris from The English Bus. Apologies for the slow reply - TripAdvisor don't notify us of questions - the best way for a speedy answer to a question is to contact us through our website.
As Jeffrey has said we don't offer an overnight in the Cotswolds I'm afraid, although if you can contact us through our site I'd be more than happy to offer some suggestions. We'd love to get to meet you but if we don't then I hope you have a great trip over here.
Many thanks,
Chris
Written October 1, 2018
Does the Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Cotswolds small group tour have any stops in the Cotswolds?
Written August 25, 2018
Hi Jason,
Chris from The English Bus here. APologies for the slow reply to your question - TripAdvisor do not notify us when people ask questions. The best way for a speedy response is to contact us directly.
We pass through some of the northern and eastern parts of the Cotswolds on this tour, taking some of the very beautiful Cotswolds back roads that the small size of our vehicles allows us to do. We make 2 stops in the Cotswolds on this tour, as well as lengthy stops with walking tours and time for exploration in Stratford upon Avon and Oxford. In the Cotswolds we stop in Stow on the Wold and the beautiful village of Bibury, as well as driving along the stunning Coln Valley, where we pass through a number of classic Cotswolds villages and there are many opportunities for photos.
If you have any further questions please contact us directly.
Many thanks,
Chris
Written October 1, 2018
jmkeller1951
Reading, Pennsylvania
Am I reading the availability calendars correctly...do you run these tours on Sundays and Wednesdays only?
Written June 24, 2018
They go to different destinations different days of the week. We took this tour on a Sunday and it was excellent.
Written June 24, 2018
how long in hours is the tour in total?
Written April 11, 2018
Hi nhmomjcd,
There is a full rundown of the itinerary on the tour page on our website. Any specifics please get in touch through the contact page - hopefully we get to meet you!
Many thanks,
Chris
Written April 12, 2018
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