day trip from oxford to cotswolds

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One of the areas best destinations is the town of Wendover, where you can join the Ridgeway National Trail (a long-distance hiking trail). Alternatively, there are National Express buses, or driving would take around two hours.

Getting there: Bourton-on-the-Water is one hour by car from Oxford. You can see the best and quirkiest sights in the city by joining a street art tour, during which youll be shown stunning murals, artsy streets, and some of Bankys first graffiti. One of the best places to visit from Oxford is Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Englands most famous bard, William Shakespeare. It takes around two hours, usually with a change at Didcot Parkway. On the southern edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, youll find the stunning village of Castle Combe. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Oxford is one of the most historic destinations in the United Kingdom. Getting there: Burford is as little as a half-hour drive away from Oxford (if theres no traffic), or you can join a group tour into the Cotswolds. Stonehenge was built thousands of years ago by some of southern Englands earliest inhabitants, and the giant menhirs have stood the test of time to stand tall to this day. Many travelers choose to join a group tour into the Cotswolds that takes in multiple villages in the area on the same day. cotswolds undiscovered charlbury tripadvisor This UNESCO World Heritage site was the birthplace of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and as you tour through the stately rooms of the palace, dont miss out on a trip through the recently revamped Churchill Exhibition. Burford is just a short trip from Oxford. The Chiltern Hills is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and youll find untouched countryside, charming country villages, and plenty of wonderful walking trails. Dont worry, though, because when the crowds outside Harry Potter filming locations and quaint university colleges start to get too much, its easy to escape the city on day tours from Oxford.

Your email address will not be published. Stratford-upon-Avon keeps Shakespeares literary ambitions alive to this day, too, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre plays host to countless plays and performances throughout the year. Oxford is incredibly well connected to London, and while you wont want to drive into the center of one of the worlds largest cities, take the train and youll be at Paddington Station in one hour. Little has really changed since Roman times, and you can tour through the excavated Roman bathhouse before heading to the modern Thermae Bath Spa for a chilled-out rooftop bathing session with extravagant views over the city. Getting there: Blenheim Palace is one of the easiest day trips from Oxford, being just a quick half-hour car or bus ride from central Oxford. No worries, we have listed the best tour for each day trip (where available). In fact, youve probably seen Castle Combe before because the village constantly appears in period movies and television dramas set in the English countryside. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails.

Interestingly, you can also visit one of the Cotswolds most unique attractions when youre in Burford. Just a half-hour bus ride from central Oxford are the magnificent grounds and palatial architecture of Blenheim Palace. From Wendover, hike into Wendover Woods, one of the last remaining areas of distinctive woodland left in southern England and the site of the highest hill in the Chilterns. Just a few minutes drive from the town is Crocodiles of the World, the only zoo in the United Kingdom dedicated entirely to crocodiles. Your own four wheels allow you to be in control of your time and schedule, and depending on how many people are in your group, renting a car might even work out cheaper than other forms of transportation. To inspire your journey to southwest England, here are the best day trips from Oxford. Blenheim Palace dates back at least 300 years and is the family home of one of Britains most aristocratic families. In the evening, head to Wapping Wharf, where old shipping containers have been repurposed into taco restaurants and Persian takeaways. Getting there: Trains run direct from Oxford to Paddington Station all through the day. cotswolds upon stratford aladyinlondon Theres no doubt that some of the best places to visit in England are all located in the southwest of the country. Little has changed in Castle Combe for centuries, and the sandstone houses are some of the most historic in the country. tour companies offer dedicated day tours to Stratford-upon-Avon, 10 Best Things to Do in Pai, Thailand and Much More, 20 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the World.

If you dont have a car, then join a group tour from Oxford instead. Tourists have been visiting Bath since the Roman era to bathe in the citys fabled hot springs. oxford streets trip road england cotswolds itinerary london week buildings colorful The Cotwolds might be the most popular countryside day trip from Oxford, but head east instead of west and youll soon find yourself in the equally beautiful surroundings of the Chiltern Hills. Learn more about the history and archaeology of Stonehenge at the visitors center before walking in the shadow of the stones themselves. If youre looking for museums, then the British Museum and Natural History Museum are both completely free to enter. This ancient city is perhaps even more historic than Oxford. Journey time is usually one hour. If youre a fan of any of the 16th-century playwrights works, then youll love visiting Shakespeares birthplace, Shakespeares former school, and the cottage of his wife, Anne Hathaway. The bus is cheaper than the train but takes around two hours. Getting there: Public transport to Castle Combe is limited, so youll need to make the 90-minute drive in a hire car or join one of the many group tours that depart from Oxford. Follow the footpaths out of the town, and youll soon be surrounded by the glorious countryside of Oxfordshire, too. Dont forget that there are so many things to see in England beyond Oxford, including the nations capital, London. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. Although many of the day trips mentioned below can be done by public transport, consider renting a car for the day to give yourself more flexibility and independence. National Express buses also travel the route, or its just under two hours by car (But keep in mind that there are few places to park in Bristol.). Another of the Cotswolds most popular tourist destinations is the town of Burford. Home to the centuries-old and world-renowned Oxford University, Oxford is a bustling city thats packed with medieval sites, history-laden museums, and lots and lots of other tourists. Given its proximity to the city, its often called the Gateway to the Cotswolds. People come from all over the world to see the Model Village, a tiny, scaled replica that was painstakingly built by hand to create a miniature version of Bourton-on-the-Water. During the day head to St. Nicholas Market, where you can gorge on pies and gyros or dine on falafel and Portuguese egg tarts. Getting there: Bath is an easy train trip from Oxford as its 1.5 hours each way with a change at Didcot Parkway. Lots of tour companies offer dedicated day tours to Stratford-upon-Avon, too, often with added stops in villages in the Cotswolds. Theres not all that much to do in Castle Combe, but thats all part of its enduring charm. Required fields are marked *. The charming villages of the Cotswolds are just a short drive away, while the impressive cities of Bath and Bristol are easily reachable by train. Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most famous destinations in the Cotswolds, and its just a one-hour car ride from Oxford. Youll find medieval streets, historic bridges over the River Windrush, and beautiful sandstone houses as you stroll through Burford. Bristol is one of the UKs trendiest cities; after all, this is the hometown of the famous street artist Banksy. Its long been the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, and its the only building in the country thats not owned by royalty that can legally be called a palace. If youre traveling to the UK, then why not use our Oxford day trips guide to plan your next adventure? You should save time to visit Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Center, and Pulteney Bridge, and to take a walk along the River Avon. One of the best side trips from Oxford is a day out in Bath.

Small footbridges cross over the river in the center of the village, where youll find plenty of characteristically charming streets and old-fashioned houses. Few other rocks in the United Kingdom are quite so famous as Stonehenge, and when youre staying in Oxford, this ancient prehistoric monument is just a day trip away. Getting there: The easiest way to travel from Oxford to Bristol is by train. Getting there: To travel by train from Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon, youll need to change in Leamington Spa. From Paddington, you can easily hop on the underground to visit famous sights and attractions like Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Hyde Park, and so much more. All Rights Reserved. You can compare car rental deals and find the cheapest prices at Rentalcars.com, an aggregation site that searches and displays prices and availability from hundreds of car rental companies so that you can be sure of getting the best possible car for your budget. Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article. Alternatively, you can take the Oxford Tube, a bus service which connects you to London Victoria Bus Station. Getting there: The best option for traveling to the Chiltern Hills is to hire a car for the day, as public transport is limited. Bourton-on-the-Water is so named because the picturesque village sits around the beautiful banks of the River Windrush. 2022 Road Affair, LLC. If youre after some excellent food, then head to Borough Market or Camden Town, then jump on the last train back to Oxford after a few drinks out in the capital. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. This vast country estate with its extravagant mansion is one of the best day trips from Oxford, in part because it is a quintessentially British sight to see. With its excellent train, bus, and road connections, historic Oxford is an excellent base from which to start exploring. Bristol is as much about the food as it is the street art, and after seeing the major sights and attractions, make sure youve got plenty of spare time for eating and drinking. Your email address will not be published. Travel time is around 1.5 hours. Getting there: Stonehenge is located off the A303, around 90 minutes to the south of Oxford. Countless travel publications have named Castle Combe the prettiest village in England, and while theres fierce competition just in the Cotswolds, youll soon see why its so attractive when you stroll over the medieval bridge and wander through the picture-perfect streets. Curiously, one of the biggest attractions in Bourton-on-the-Water is actually the smallest sight in the village. Dont want to drive or deal with the hassle of public transport?

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