If you’ve been browsing chauffeur guided tours of the Cotswolds in England, but aren’t sure about the itinerary and attractions, here’s an example of a classic Cotswold tour so you can get a taste of the experience before you book.
We hope this will tempt you to visit the Cotswolds…
Arrival day – Monday
Arriving from Heathrow in the evening you’ll be met by private chauffeur in one of our luxury executive vehicles and transported to a nearby luxury hotel.
Upon arrival at your hotel, you’ll be welcomed with an evening meal when you’ll also hear about breakfast arrangements. Hotel choices include Runnymede on Thames and Great Fosters, both exquisite accommodations with highly commended dining and indulgent spa treatment rooms to help you get your English break off to a terrific start.
Day two – Tuesday
Your chauffeur tour guide will meet you at your hotel and transport you into the Cotswolds via a visit to Blenheim Palace in Woodstock. If time allows we will stop in Oxford city on the way as well.
After your tour of Churchill’s birthplace and gardens, your chauffeur can recommend excellent eateries for dinner before driving you through the beautiful countryside to your next luxury hotel. An example of this is Lords of The Manor, in Upper Slaughter. Heralded as ‘the finest luxury hotel in the Cotswolds’, here you will stay until after breakfast in the 3 AA Rosette restaurant.
Day Three – Wednesday
A visit to the iconic English car manufacturer, Aston Martin, where you’ll be treated to a guided tour of the factory and be completely immersed in the world where performance meets exquisite luxury. Experience first-hand the very place where James Bond’s quintessential cars were born.
Alternatively, you can choose a tour of the picturesque villages dotted about the Cotswolds, exploring the delights of Lower Slaughter, Bourton on the Water, Broadway and Broadway Tour, and of course, Snowshill Lavender fields.
Lunch is at The Swan in Swinbrook, famed as a location for the filming of Downton Abby and boasting a wide array of local beers and real ales.
If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey or Cotswold villages, lunch can be followed by a visit to another filming location, Bampton.
The day is rounded off back at Lords of the Manor.
Day four – Thursday
Day four is castle day! Minutes away from your hotel is Shakespeare’s town of Stratford Upon Avon and the imposing Warwick Castle. Meet the resident birds of prey in a live flying demonstration, marvel at the legend of the trebuchet, take a live action tour through the dreadful dungeons and discover so much more about medieval life in England.
You can easily while away an entire day on this particular Cotswold tour, but we would highly recommend finding time to fit in an evening theatre performance before heading back to Lords of the Manor.
Day five – Friday
From the north to the south of the Cotswolds… Your chauffeur guide will show you the length of the charming counties of the Cotswolds from the village of Tetbury, English countryside home of King Charles to your next luxury hotel, the Lucknam Park Hotel in the Roman founded town of Bath.
Enjoy visits to Lacock Abbey and Castle Combe along the way, but please be warned, there is no actual castle here, just the stunning abbey where Downton Abbey and Harry Potter were filmed, which you can stop at, to take in the tour!
Unwind at your new accommodation as your Rosehill tour guide organises the transfer of your luggage.
Day six – Saturday
A day in Bath. Your chauffeur and tour guide will meet you after breakfast to show you the world-famous architecture and Roman remains. The town was named after the Roman Baths, which you can still visit, but not bathe in!
Refuel after an eye-opening day with afternoon tea at the Royal Crescent hotel, and then back to Lucknam Park for the evening.
Day seven – Sunday
After breakfast your tour guide will take you to Highclere Castle, famous and instantly recognisable as the home of Downton Abbey. ‘Glide down the grand oak staircase like Lady Mary did on her wedding day, sit at Jackdaws Castle where Lady Edith so often found herself and take in the state dining room where many of the Dowager Countess’ wonderfully acerbic lines were delivered by Dame Maggie Smith.’
Then, go back in time to English Heritage’s Avebury Stone Circle, a prehistoric ceremonial site from the neolithic period.
Time to say bon voyage
This would be your last day on the 7-day Cotswold holiday. After breakfast at your hotel on the following morning, your chauffeur will arrive to transport you and your luggage back to the airport.
However, all Rosehill’s tours and holidays can be bespoke according to the sights you’d like to include. We can advise you on the main attractions and best hotels, although we’ve chosen our favourites in this article. You can view more on our Travel Tips and Accommodation pages, or our social media feeds.
