Daytrips and excursions from Oxford ★★☆

You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and be taken for this day tour to explore the capital city of Wales, Cardiff.

Wales is a separate country that forms part of the United Kingdom. Wales has a population of three million with a long coastline of 1,200 km, it’s a largely mountainous region to the north and its main centres of population are in the South with its capital Cardiff. Wales was an independent country until the late 13th century, it still holds on to a strong separate identity from England with its own language and its national sports. During the 19th century South Wales was one of the most industrial and productive places on earth with its vast coal mines, iron works and other associated industries. Modern Wales has been transformed from its industrial past in to a forward looking and vibrant region; Cardiff has had hundreds of millions of pounds spent on rebuilding and is home to the Welsh Assembly as well as its main shopping hubs and national museums.

Cardiff has become one of the UK’s tourist hotspots due to its cultural heritage and also its many shopping opportunities. Next door to the National Museum is the City Hall, this is the site of local government. All around the museum and City Hall you will find one of the most beautiful civic centres in the world surrounding Alexandra Gardens. Nicknamed the City of Arcades, Cardiff is great place for shopping in style and the Victorian arcades are worth a visit in themselves. Queen St, St Marys Street and The Hayes are the major pedestrianised shopping streets which all branch off the castle, so it is easy to walk from shop to shop without fear of traffic, here you will find the massive St David’s shopping centre, all around there a great number of places to eat.

On this tour you will do the main walking tour of Cardiff city centre which includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park with a "mini Stonehenge", Civic area with impressive buildings such as the National Museum and you will also see the Millennium Stadium, one of the largest in the UK. In your free time you will have the chance to visit the Castle (extra charge) or Museum (free) or do some shopping in the many arcades.

The tour will return to the original meeting point.

The Stonehenge site has the entrance included in your ticket price. You will also get an audio guide given for free as you enter. Toilets, souvenirs plus food and drink is available. Stonehenge is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Europe and is also a UN World Heritage Site. The site was first started in 3100BC and was in use until 300AD, almost 3500 years.

You can walk around the stones and use an audio guide that tells you more about the history of the stones. There is also a new visitor centre exhibition to learn more about this incredible landmark. Please make sure you are back on board the coach at the correct time.

Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK to see and you can learn about its Roman history and the founding of its Roman Bath complex (extra charge), and the citys rebirth in Georgian times and its triumph of architecture in the beautiful Royal Crescent. Also see the only bridge in the UK and one of three in the world that has buildings on both sides.

Many religious buildings such as Bath Abbey are available to visit and free or just ask for donations for entry. There are many street entertainers in the city centre and many shops of all types and of course many restaurants or cafes.

You will be picked up for this tour from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and driven to Stratford-Upon-Avon, one of England's most beautiful market towns situated to the River Avon. This small quaint place is full of history, picturesque Tudor buildings, theaters, shops, many attractions and things to see and do.

The tour will take you to the places where Shakespeare lived in Stratford, including his birthplace on Henley Street. It is open to the public with an exhibition center to learn more about this great man and see where he was born and lived in his early years. You will also be shown the King Edward VI School where Shakespeare went to study, the site of his retirement home and place of death, New Place. You can also visit his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.

The tour will return to the original meeting point in Oxford afterward.

Your full day tour will depart from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford at X and you will arrive in Brighton by approximately 10.30am.

Once you arrive in Brighton, you will take part on a 1 hour walking tour in the city, covering the following sights (entrance fees at own expense):

Brighton is one of the largest resorts on the South Coast of England. Brighton is not just popular as a destination in the summer months but at weekends throughout the year. Brighton is also called the City by the sea or London by the sea.

The Royal Pavilion is one of the most unique buildings in Britain. It was built in the fashion of and Indian Palace and the inside is decorated in an oriental style both of which were fashionable during this time. You can go inside and look around, this will cost about £8

Construction of Brighton Pier began in 1891 and took eight years to complete. Brighton Pier is now the only pier left in Brighton after the older West Pier was destroyed in a fire in 2003. The pier offers great views along the coast in both directions and contains many amusement rides, cafes and bars.

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery has many galleries with exhibits about Brighton as well as collections of pottery and porceline, a world art collection, fine art galleries along with many more. Visiting is free of charge.

After the walking tour you have free time until approx. 4.30pm. The tour will return to Oxford at approx. 7pm.

Please note: All times are approximate and may vary on the day depending on circumstances and are given as a guideline.

Take in two of England’s famous UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites in one day on this adventurous day trip from Oxford. Travel by coach to the prehistoric site of Stonehenge and learn of the area’s significance via your audio guide. Explore the visitor center, where objects unearthed from the site are on display. Then, follow a guide though the ancient streets of Bath and discover top attractions including Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, and the Royal Crescent. This tour includes guide, entrance fees, and round-trip travel from Oxford.

Hop aboard your coach in central Oxford in the morning, then travel in comfort to the UNESCO–listed site of Stonehenge. Nestled in the beautiful county of Wiltshire, Stonehenge is widely considered among the world’s most mysterious prehistoric sites.

On arrival, explore Stonehenge at your own pace and admire the unique rock monuments up-close. With your audio-guide to hand, gain insight into the site’s fascinating history. Then, head to the visitor centre — home to a world-class exhibition featuring 250 ancient objects from around the area.

Continue onward to Bath, a Georgian spa town hidden in the Somerset hills. During your guided walking tour, take in top attractions including Bath Abbey, Bath Circus, the Jane Austen Centre, and the beautiful Royal Crescent, and learn of Bath’s interesting heritage.

When your time in Bath comes to an end, return to central Oxford to conclude your tour.

On this full-day tour departing from Oxford you will visit two beautiful and historical sites: the nearby World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace and the charming villages which make up the area of the Cotswolds.

Departing central Oxford in the morning, you will start the day by visiting the magnificent Blenheim Palace located just a short journey north of Oxford. Entrance to the palace, park and the gardens is included in the tour. See one of the most impressive and biggest houses in all of England.

Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is the main home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has been the home to the Churchill family for about 300 years and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during World War II.

After plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings you will then continue into a national area of outstanding beauty - The Cotswolds. It is full of quaint small villages with houses and churches that date back around 500 years with most buildings made in local limestone (similar to Bath or some Oxford University Colleges).

After another short journey that shows you some of the Cotswold villages and the natural landscape of fields and gentle rolling hills, you will stop at one of the prettiest of all the villages, Bourton-on-the-Water. After a quick tour you have time for lunch (own expense) and free time to enjoy any of the attractions, sights or events on offer.

Departure will be late afternoon returning to Oxford by 5pm and returning to Bournemouth by 7pm.

Your full-day tour of Brighton and Portsmouth will depart early from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford near the Ashmolean Museum and you will arrive in Portsmouth at approximately 10am.

There will be a short walking tour upon arrival in Portsmouth and then free time until departure at 12 noon to Brighton. You will see the famous historic dockyard and HMS Victory.

You will arrive in Brighton at approx. 1pm and have a 1-hour walking tour followed by free time before departure from Brighton at approx. 5pm. You will see the famous Brighton sites, such as historic North and South Lanes, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Pier and more.

You will return back in Oxford at approx. 8.30pm.

The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries.  Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best.

You start your unforgettable Cotswold journey driving to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters).

Continuing through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons to Bourton-on-the-Water (the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush).

From Bourton-on-the-Water your route takes you through some enchanting Cotswold villages to Broadway – the village which inspired artists and writers, such as Frank Millet, J M Barrie and William Morris.

After a lunch stop you continue on to the beautiful market town of Chipping Campden, often considered the centre of the Arts and Crafts movement in the Cotswolds and then on to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here you can browse among the narrow footpaths and the antique shops and art galleries.

You return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton with our final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).

The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries.  Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best. This is an extended half-day tour from Oxford, ideal for those who would love to see some of the Cotswold villages, but cannot spare a whole day.

Your ‘Cotswold Taster’ begins with a drive to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters). Continue through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons, and arrive in Bourton-on-the-Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush.

From there follow a picturesque route through Lower Swell to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here, enjoy exploring the narrow streets with their quaint shops and cafes. Return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, with a final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) before returning back to Oxford.

The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries.  Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops.  Let us take you on an unforgettable adventure through the stunning scenery, combining the best of the North and South Cotswolds.

This Cotswold Tour introduces visitors to some of the most enchanting villages of the South and North Cotswolds, starting with a drive to the ancient market town of Bampton, one of the oldest towns in England and now well known as the village of Downton in the popular TV series Downton Abbey.  We continue via Kelmscott, the home of the Arts and Crafts founder, William Morris, to Lechlade on the River Thames.  From there, our journey takes us through some pretty Cotswold stone villages to idyllic Bibury, with its 16th century cottages and trout farm.  Heading up the Coln Valley we travel through a succession of stone hamlets, hidden valleys and breath-taking scenery, arriving in the beautiful town of Winchcombe for lunch.  Enjoy lunch in a rustic pub or restaurant or take the time to visit Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Catherine Parr, the 6th wife of Henry VIII.  Our Cotswold Adventure continues through more stunning countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds, with its charming cafes and antiques shops.  We return to Oxford via the quaint village of Cornwell and the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, passing finally through Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).

A unique opportunity to combine a tour of the Cotswolds with a visit to Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon, with its famous theatres and quaint medieval timber-framed houses. Come and discover idyllic stone villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let us help you to enjoy the English countryside at its best.

Our Cotswolds and Shakespeare Tour combines the beauty of Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon with a drive through some of the breathtaking scenery of the North Cotswolds. We leave Oxford and head north through “the Tews”, a group of delightful ironstone villages. We pass the site of English Civil War Battle of Edgehill and several stately homes, including the beautiful Elizabethan Charlecote Park, before arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon. Our short guided walk of Shakespeare’s home town will take you past charming timber-framed houses, the Shakespeare theatres and the River Avon, finishing with an optional visit of Shakespeare’s Birthplace. After lunch, we leave Stratford, passing by Anne Hathaway’s cottage and head into the Cotswolds. A delightful cross-country route takes us through the village of Ilmington and past the famous Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor Gardens, to our next stop in Chipping Campden – the centre of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds. Here, you can browse in the quaint shops or visit the impressive ‘wool church’ and ruined manor house. We return to oxford, following another scenic route through the stone villages of Broad Campden and Blockley. We stop in the busy market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, with its art galleries and antiques shops and then continue on to Oxford via Chipping Norton and Woodstock the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).

Meet your guide in central Oxford, and then hop inside an air-conditioned minivan and head to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born. Learn about the town’s famous ex-resident on a minibus tour of Stratford, including his school and the Holy Trinity Church where the playwright and poet was baptized and buried. Hop out of your minivan and head inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace — now a museum — and see a range of exhibits about the beloved bard.

Next, make a brief stop in Shottery for photos of the thatched-roof English cottage of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Then, continue to the Cotswolds, the attractive region that prospered from its wool trade during the Middle Ages. Admire the scenery as you travel along tiny one-track lanes through gently rolling hills, and gaze at the golden-stone villages, green pastures and pretty churches that adorn the landscape. With your guide, walk around the village of Burford, explore the delightful Coln Valley and tour the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter before lunch (own expense) in the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
When the time comes, take a seat inside to your minivan and travel back to Oxford. Upon your return, set off on a walking tour around the genteel city, famed for its prestigious university. Stroll around the city center and look out for the some of the notable university buildings, seeing some of the eminent colleges such as All Souls, Christ Church and Divinity School, and learn about the well-known writers, artists and politicians who studied inside the colleges’ walls.
Hear about the lives of JR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll — who each lived in the city — and see places used as filming sites in the popular Harry Potter movies. Your tour then concludes near Oxford train station, leaving you free to continue exploring the city's narrow streets and lanes as you wish.

Leave Oxford by air-conditioned minivan, and travel out into the glorious countryside that surrounds the city. On the journey, your guide will keep you entertained with tales and trivia about the Downton Abbey TV series that has a fan base spread all over the world.

Filmed mostly in and around Oxfordshire, the British period drama of Downton Abbey documents the dramas and scandals of the fictional Crawley family and their servants in the days leading up to and after World War I. Hear insider gossip about characters such as Lady Mary, and discover little-known facts about the shooting locations included on your tour. Stop at a farm nestled in the hills near Cogges and enjoy a hot drink (own expense) in the farm’s rustic cafe before you check out filming locations around the farm.

Continue to Bampton in the Cotswolds. The stone cottages and leafy, twisting streets in this quintessential English village might look familiar; scenes depicting the Downton village are often shot here and appear throughout the entire series. On a walking tour, see the village church — the site of Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley — and the house that was once used as the Crawley family home. Stroll along the main street, spotting shops and the fictional Grantham Arms pub that appear in many episodes.

Travel onward to the historical village of Shilton to explore its center, including a quaint village pub that is surrounded by ponds, medieval bridges and wells. From Shilton, travel to a pub in Swinbrook for lunch (own expense) where Lady Sybil eloped with the family chauffeur Branson; enjoy a quick stop in the village of Bladon to see the graves of Sir Winston Churchill and his wife; and finish the tour at Blenheim Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While not used as a Downton Abbey filming location, one can imagine the palace's stately grandeur that would impress the Crawley family. Take a walking tour that delves into the history of Winston Churchill's ancestral home, originally given to the first duke of Marlborough as a gift from the English Parliament. Wander through the State Apartments, and then explore a section of the beautiful landscaped gardens that feature the Temple of Diana. Finally, return to your minivan and travel back to the start point in Oxford where your tour finishes.