Be introduced to some of the most enchanting villages in the Cotswolds on a full-day tour from Oxford. Head to the ancient town of Bampton, one of the oldest towns in England, known as the village in the TV series Downton Abbey. Stop to see the village church and library, where many scenes of this popular show were filmed. Continue to Kelmscott, once the summer home of the famous Arts and Crafts movement founder, William Morris. Afterwards you’ll visit Lechlade, an old market town on the River Thames. From there, your route takes you through pretty stone villages with a chance to stop and have a refreshment in a typical village shop. A short scenic drive takes you to Bibury to see its 17th-century cottages, beautiful river, and trout farm. Following the picturesque Coln Valley, drive through narrow country lanes and over rolling hills, before arriving in the quiet town of Winchcombe. Enjoy lunch in a rustic pub and browse the quirky shops. After lunch, a panoramic drive takes you past Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Catherine Parr, 6th wife of Henry VIII. Continue through pretty hamlets to Stow-on-the-Wold, to browse its quaint cafes and antiques shops. Return to Oxford via Woodstock, home to Blenheim Palace where Sir Winston Churchill was born.

With the Cotswolds broken down into mini itineraries, you can be sure you will see the best of the chocolate box views, but also discover more and get off the beaten track with the wider, lesser-known Cotswolds too. Get the best out of your break with our user-friendly, online guide that will make planning a breeze. Simply cherry-pick from the options provided ensuring you won’t miss a thing! Access this Class Cotswolds road trip on 2 devices (mobile, tablet or desktop) for 12 months to help with planning your break before you travel, as well as on your holiday. Cotswolds Itinerary • The suggested mapped route is a fully flexible route that winds through the Cotswolds with a series of mini-themed routes that connect, creating a road trip of 183 miles (292 km) with a drive time of around 7 hours and 35 mins. Depending upon stops, however, you can adjust this to between 3 and 14 nights. Of course, you can tweak this route as much as you like to make your own perfect route. • As you journey through the Cotswolds you will also travel through the ages and discover the history of the land and the ages that defined it. Commencing the times gone by with Neolithic settlements. Bronze and Iron Age forts, and Roman settlements. Learn about how the prosperous wool trade shaped affluent towns and provided the creation of several ‘wool churches’ in the Middle Ages. The more prominent towns in the Cotswolds highlight the Regency period and the Victorians, including the Golden Age of Steam, taking you through thousands of years of history on your road trip. Destinations Guide: • Save hours using our inspiration and signposting to plan your perfect Classic Cotswold driving route. • The destination guides cover 20 destination locations and guides on essential places to visit in the Cotswolds, such as Bronze and Iron Age forts, and Roman settlements. Don’t miss any of the iconic homes and gardens on the route. • The destination guide includes over 220 attractions, experiences and activities to uncover your own England. The Uncover More map includes: • 40+ Viewpoints • 195+ Places of interest • 40+ Hidden gems • 20+ Wild swim spots • 30+ On screen spots The Overnight Stay map includes: • 50+ Cotswolds Campsites • 25+ Motorhome stops & almost wild spots • 120+ Hotels • 135+ B&Bs, guesthouses and lodges