Skip your way across some of southern England's loveliest spots on this 11-day itinerary that introduces you to the countryside and villages that inspired figures such as Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Shakespeare. The adventure starts in London with a tasting tour of Soho, then you'll grab your car keys and wind through the Cotswolds and Wiltshire at a leisurely pace, taking in highlights from Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Bath while discovering historic castles, stone circles, cozy pubs, and more.
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Caroline M.
Georgia, United States
"Our trip was incredible Alexandra was so responsive whenever we needed help or had questions. The hotels and tours we..." read more
Traveled to England as a couple in November, 2024
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Elaine R.
Colorado, United States
"Glen was amazing for our London tour. He was very knowable on all the sites. He was able to work in some stops we req..." read more
Traveled to England as a couple in October, 2024
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Racquel G.
Georgia, United States
"Hello, This was just a delightful experience was the most amazing. Jane out did herself in every aspect of my experi..." read more
Traveled to England as a couple in October, 2024
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Elizabeth P.
Arizona, United States
"This is our second trip with kimkim and it did not disappoint! We worked with Jane and Marine-Heloise, and they were..." read more
Traveled to England as a family in September, 2024

Highlights

  • Discover the gastronomic highlights of London and Bath on guided food tours
  • Enjoy a chauffeured boat tour along Oxford's River Cherwell
  • Experience genteel Cotswolds life on a relaxed, guided horseback ride
  • Take afternoon tea in the historic surroundings of Bath's Pump Rooms
  • Stroll through the quaint villages of Lacock and Castle Combe

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in London, Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour London
Day 2 London by Vintage Bike, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Production London
Day 3 Drive to Oxford, Chauffeured Punt, Bodleian Library, Oxford's Pubs Oxford
Day 4 Pitt-Rivers Museum, Drive to Chipping Campden via the Cotswolds Chipping Campden
Day 5 Day Trip to Warwick Castle & Stratford-upon-Avon Chipping Campden
Day 6 Hidcote Gardens, Horseback Ride, Explore the Southern Cotswolds Chipping Campden
Day 7 Drive to Bath via Castle Combe & Lacock, Afternoon Tea, Roman Baths Bath
Day 8 Discover Literary Bath, Bath Food Heroes Tour Bath
Day 9 Self-Guided Cycle to Bradford-on-Avon, Free Afternoon in Bath Bath
Day 10 Drive to London via Avebury London
Day 11 Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens, Depart London   

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in London, Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour

Soho and Chinatown are filled with some of the city's best eateries

Welcome to England! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be met by your driver and whisked to your central hotel in the capital, London. A historic city with a timeline stretching back almost 2,000 years, this thriving metropolis has world-class museums, ornate architecture, and an exceptional dining scene. 

After settling in at your hotel, it's off to the legendary Soho district to fill up on gastronomic delights. In the company of an experienced and food-obsessed local guide, you'll discover hidden gems and famous haunts across Soho, Chinatown, and Seven Dials in Covent Garden to taste a variety of international dishes. Visit a former banana warehouse turned culinary start-up and devour the city's best bao buns while learning about the neighborhood venues that hosted legends, including Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. You'll finish at a local bar, where you'll sample an unbeatable combination of cocktails and dessert.

Day 2: London by Vintage Bike, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Production

Step back in time to Tudor London as you catch a peformance at the Globe Theatre

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll spend the morning touring London's streets by bike. This is no ordinary cycling tour—you'll be cruising around on a vintage Pashley bicycle, the epitome of British cycling. From the grandeur of Big Ben to the cobbled streets of East London, you'll ride along atmospheric back streets and cycle lanes to discover a side of the capital beyond the guidebooks. Pedal through elegant royal parks to urban squares and witness London's dynamic street art scene before finishing at one of the city's historic pubs, where you'll toast your fellow cyclists with real ale or craft gin.

Later on, you'll be transported back in time to Shakespeare's London to see a performance at the iconic Globe Theatre, painstakingly built to replicate the original and completed in 1997. Step inside, and you'll find a 360-degree auditorium built from oak beams, lime-plaster walls, and a water-reed thatched roof. You'll follow in the footsteps of 17th-century Londoners and watch one of Bard's best-loved plays in the open-air theater (just like the original, there's no roof over the center yard, so be sure to dress for the weather).

Afterward, cap your day off with a post-theater dinner next door at The Swan London, which offers contemporary British dining with views over the River Thames. Your location in the heart of the city means you're well placed to explore some of the capital's iconic landmarks, such as St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge and the Tower of London, and the city's some 4,000 pubs.

Day 3: Drive to Oxford, Chauffeured Punt, Bodleian Library, Oxford's Pubs

Oxford's Bodleian Library is home to over 13 million books

Today, you'll pick up your rental car and leave the city behind for a two-hour drive west to Oxford. Dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires," the town is home to one of England's oldest and most prestigious universities (the other being Cambridge.) Once you've checked in to your hotel, you'll head down to the riverbank for a relaxing tour of the city along the River Cherwell. You'll travel on a chauffeured punt (flat-bottomed riverboat), where you'll gently glide along the water and see sights including the Botanic Gardens, the playing fields of Magdalen College, and the college gardens of St Hilda's and Christ Church.

Return to dry land, and it's time to explore Oxford's 11th-century university for a tour of one of the highlights, the Bodleian Library. Oxford's main research library, the Bodleian, is home to over 13 million books. You'll find some of these on a visit to the 15th-century Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor's Court, the medieval Duke Humfrey's Library, and Radcliffe Camera, which houses the science library. 

Your final immersion into Oxford life, and the best way to get a feel for the city's past and present, is a self-guided tour of the town's historic pubs. Literary fans should head to the Eagle and Child, the well-known haunt of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, while the Turf Tavern, established in 1381, is known for its historic charm and as the watering hole for the "Harry Potter" cast. When you're ready for dinner, the King's Arms serves hearty English pub classics alongside a selection of cask beers, which can be enjoyed on the pub's riverside terrace.

Day 4: Pitt-Rivers Museum, Drive to Chipping Campden via the Cotswolds

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Stroll Chipping Campden's beautifully preserved High Street

Founded in 1884 by General Pitt-Rivers, Oxford's Pitt Rivers Museum is filled with fascinating objects ranging from centuries-old weaponry to ancient boats and toys, celebrating human ingenuity across the globe. You'll spend the morning roaming the galleries and exhibitions before saying your goodbyes and hopping in the car, ready to drive 1.5 hours north to Chipping Campden. You'll be winding your way through the northern loop of the Cotswolds, a rural area that encompasses six counties and enjoys Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designation.

Stop to stretch your legs and soak up quintessential English village life as you pass by the small towns of Chipping Norton and then Burford, whose wide streets, flanked by medieval buildings and independent boutiques, are worth a potter. Continue to Bourton-on-the-Water, known for its bridges that cross the River Windrush and run gently through the town. Pass through Stow-on-the-Wold, where you'll find excellent options for a delicious lunch, and pass through The Slaughters until you arrive at Chipping Campden.

Check into your hotel, and once you've settled in, head out to explore. Alongside the beautifully preserved golden limestone buildings, you'll find a long and wide High Street that sweeps through the town center and dates from the 14th century to the 17th century, filled with tempting restaurants and bistros.

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Day 5: Day Trip to Warwick Castle & Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the town's major attractions

The UK has its fair share of castles, 4,000 to be precise, and Warwick Castle regularly makes the top 10 list. Built by William the Conqueror in 1068, the medieval fortress is a fantastic place to explore and understand England's medieval history. After a quick 30-minute drive north, you'll reach the castle and have as much time as you like to visit the Great Hall, walk the castle's ramparts, and head down to the dungeons. Meanwhile, there are plenty of interactive shows on the castle grounds to enjoy, whether it's falconry, jousting, or archery.

Once you've explored all the castle has to offer, return to Chipping Campden via Stratford-upon-Avon, a bustling town on the banks of the River Avon and famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Spend a few hours seeing the many Shakespearean sights such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or Shakespeare's Birthplace. If you can, squeeze in a visit to Anne Hathaway's Cottage, a charming 15th-century thatched cottage and childhood home of Shakespeare's wife. It's a great place to wander through the large gardens and follow the sculpture trail inspired by the Bard's works.

Afterward, either stop in for dinner, drinks, or both at The Coach House, a historic, award-winning pub with an almost 500-year-old heritage.

Day 6: Hidcote Gardens, Horseback Ride, Explore the Southern Cotswolds

Horseriders on a countryside hack in Stanton

Enjoy a genteel day of country living that starts with an excursion to nearby Hidcote Gardens, part of a historic manor house in the village of Hidcote Bartrim. The 10 acres (4 ha) that comprise these public gardens were inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of decorative and fine arts that originated in Britain in the late 19th century. You'll enjoy a private, two-hour stroll around the gardens to admire its hedges, rare trees and shrubs, mazes of narrowed paved pathways, and secret gardens bursting with colorful blooms.

Afterward, drive half an hour to the Cotswolds Riding equestrian center in the picturesque village of Stanton. Here, you'll saddle up and set off on a relaxed countryside "hack," spending the next few hours trotting the miles of local scenic paths and bridleways, with lookout points in the hills offering fabulous views over southern England. Your pace and route will be decided by your experience level, with everyone from beginners to well-seasoned riders catered to. 

Post-ride, you can complete your Cotswolds immersion with a self-guided tour of the southern loop portion of the Cotswolds. Drive south to Bibury, a picture-perfect village along the River Coln and one of the most photographed places in the area. Stroll the photogenic Arlington Row of Weaver's Cottages, then hop back in the car and follow the river through a series of postcard-worthy villages along the Coln Valley. Your last stop is the village of Painswick, dubbed the "Queen of the Cotswolds," where you could stop for dinner before returning to Chipping Campden.

Day 7: Drive to Bath via Castle Combe & Lacock, Afternoon Tea, Roman Baths

Settle in for a sumptuous afternoon tea in Bath (photo courtesy of The Pump Rooms)

Today, you'll drive two hours south to Bath, your base, for the next three nights. The town's vast array of architectural gems has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Status, and its elegant Georgian architecture is among the finest in the country. Around 1.5 hours into your journey, you'll arrive at two nearby villages that appear to be drawn straight out of a storybook. The first is Castle Combe, known as one of England's most beautiful villages, and with no new houses built since the 1600s, the town's charming cottages adorned with ivy make it a serene spot to stop for a stroll.

A 15-minute drive away is Lacock, another perfectly preserved village with only four streets, whose historic architecture has made it a go-to film location for shows such as "Downton Abbey" and the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice." The main attraction here is the 13th-century Lacock Abbey, built from the beautiful, golden Cotswold stone. "Harry Potter" fans will enjoy exploring the cloisters and abbey rooms, which served as Hogwarts School cloisters in the films.

You might not want to linger too long, as upon arrival in Bath, you have a decadent afternoon treat waiting. Check into your hotel, and then follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens with a sumptuous afternoon tea at The Pump Rooms. This Bath institution has been the social heart of the city for over 200 years. Enjoy an array of sweet and savory delicacies and, of course, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam. Afterward, head next door to visit one of the best-preserved religious spas in the world, the Roman Baths, whose thermal springs still flow with natural hot water.

Day 8: Discover Literary Bath, Bath Food Heroes Tour

The Circle in Bath is one of the city's architectural highlights

Spend the morning exploring Bath's regency history and centuries-old connection to author Jane Austen, who called the city home in the early 1800s, a time when the town was a destination spot for fashionable society. Walk in the footsteps of Austen with a 2.5-hour tour that reveals the nuances of life in Regency England as you explore the elegant Georgian architecture of the Royal Crescent, Sydney Gardens, and the Jane Austen Centre, where guides in period costumes help bring the era to life.

If walking Bath's hilly cobbled streets has helped work up an appetite, you're in luck. This afternoon is dedicated to the city's excellent culinary reputation where, in the company of an enthusiastic local foodie, you'll take a guided walking tour that introduces you to the town's leading artisan food producers while seeing Bath's landmarks. Discover tasty morsels, such as fennel salami and fresh sheep's ricotta, at a selection of the city's leading independent cafés and street food sellers while you hear directly from the innovative individuals driving the current culinary scene.

Day 9: Self-Guided Cycle to Bradford-on-Avon, Free Afternoon in Bath

Cycle past tranquil countryside scenes on the Kennet and Avon Towpath

Discover the gorgeous Wiltshire countryside this morning with a relaxed cycle along the Kennet and Avon Towpath to Bradford-upon-Avon. Let your e-bike take the strain as you weave through the Avon Valley, passing colorful, narrow boats and old stone bridges. Don't miss the ancient bridge in the town center, which still retains two of its original 13th-century arches. Then, see the 19th-century former cloth mills that flank the riverside and stroll The Shambles, where you'll find independent boutiques and excellent places to stop for tea and cake.

Return to Bath, and you'll cycle through the Two Tunnels Path, a Victorian railway tunnel and the longest cycling tunnel in Britain. You'll be accompanied on your ride through the tunnel with an interactive light and sound installation created in collaboration with the award-winning composer Mira Calix. Eventually, you'll emerge from the tunnel to wonderful views overlooking Bath and a gentle pedal downhill and back into the city.

Return your bike, and spend the rest of the afternoon at your own pace. Bath is filled with plenty of tempting, beautifully curated independent stores, so if you're looking for something special to commemorate your trip to the Cotswolds, you'll find it here. Later, when hunger bites, you'll be spoiled for choice. The city's eateries range from retro cafés, Lebanese restaurants, European brasserie fare, and a crop of excellent quality gastropubs, not to mention historic pubs and quirky microbreweries.

Day 10: Drive to London via Avebury

See spring lambs grazing among the ancient stones at Avebury

It's time to wave goodbye to Bath and head back east to the capital. Set off, and around half an hour into your three-hour journey, stop at Avebury. This small village and its wealth of prehistoric monuments in and around it are part of an extraordinary set of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial sites that, together with Stonehenge, form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Park in the village and spend a couple of hours exploring Abury Henge, which contains the world's largest prehistoric stone circle, while a mile to the south is Silbury Hill, the largest human-made mound in Europe.

When you're ready, hop back in the car, and in around two hours, you'll arrive back in London, where you can drop off your rental car, check back into your hotel, and get ready for your final evening in the capital. You have the whole of the city at your disposal, so head to Covent Garden and catch a West End show, dine at one of the area's buzzy brasseries, or go for tapas and a pint at a historic pub in Soho. Whatever you choose, be sure to raise a glass for your trip. Cheers!

Day 11: Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens, Depart London 

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is an oasis of calm in central London

It's your last morning in the capital, and before you transfer to the airport, you could head to Hyde Park, central London's green lung and a vast open space adored by locals who go to jog, dog-walk, swim, or unwind. Leave behind the hustle and bustle for a few hours and brave an open-air swim in the Serpentine, or opt for a gentle row aboard one of the river boats available for hire. If the weather's fine, grab a second takeaway breakfast and coffee, spot the squirrels and swans, or admire the views across the lake from a waterside café.

Just next door to Hyde Park on its western side is Kensington Gardens, another of London's eight Royal Parks. Once the preserve of royalty, the park's palace has been the childhood home of Queen Victoria and more recently home to Diana, Princess of Wales, Princess Margaret, and the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Depending on your timings for the day, wander the historic tree avenues, see the cascading fountains in the Italian Gardens, or go in search of Peter Pan (you'll find a bronze sculpture dedicated to J.M. Barrie's literary hero down by the Long Water).

When you're ready, transfer to the airport in time to make your flight home or continue your European adventure. Safe travels!

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Map

Map of Relaxed Southern England Road Trip: London to Bath via the Cotswolds - 11 Days
Map of Relaxed Southern England Road Trip: London to Bath via the Cotswolds - 11 Days