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England's Stonehenge & Countryside Villages

Cotswolds Cultural Walking Tour

7 DaysStarting at $6,595
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Overview

Sometimes, Stonehenge steams at dawn. We know because on our tours we've stood there among the great pillars—no crowds, no ropes to hold us back—and felt the sun stream across Salisbury Plain to touch our faces at the same moment it starts to warm the night-cooled sandstone. It is a simple, awesome, hold-your-breath moment. And you’ll experience it yourself on this amazing journey through Southwestern England. Beforehand, we spend several days in the parts of the Cotswolds we love best. We’ll show you our favorite paths that crook through Technicolor cottage gardens, across sweeping meadows and into the loveliest honeyed-stone villages in the land. We’ll dine with friends in their manor house, and time a visit to the tea shop lady when her scones are warm and fresh. This isn’t just the superficially pretty England, it’s the real thing—a rich cultural experience with personal introductions and remarkable access to non-public places. You’ll simply never forget it.

Join us, to discover the Cotswolds on foot and at eye level.”
Edward Piegza, Founder

Highlights

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• Enjoy afternoon tea in Oxford followed by a curated walk around the famed university

• Visit the sprawling estate of Blenheim, birthplace of Winston Churchill and UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Stroll along cinematic footpaths along the Windrush River Valley

• Learn all about honey-colored Georgian architecture and thatched roofs

• Bake scones during a hands-on lesson with a local baker friend

• Discover Chipping Campden and Hidcote Manor

• Follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen country then enjoy a picnic lunch of local specialties

• Walk through the idyllic setting of farms, fields, and flowers at Dover’s Hill 

• Marvel at the remarkably intact mosaics at the active archeological site at Chedworth Roman Villa

• Experience 'only with Classic Journeys' special access to Stonehenge so you can walk right up to the stone circle when the site is closed to the general public

• Get up close to the iconic baths that date back to Roman times, on foot at eye level

Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    Oxford – 10:30 am – Lobby of The Randolph Hotel

  • Ending Point:

    Bath – 9:00 am – Lobby of the Bath Priory Hotel
Itinerary Map

Click map to enlarge

Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved and cobblestone streets in Oxford, Bath and the Cotswolds villages; as well as well-maintained countryside and riverside trails; and shepherds’ paths of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with some limited elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have and the lower your price. Secure your spot with a deposit of just $500 per person at the time of reservation. Plus, you can always change your mind — there’s no fee to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

Travel + Leisure magazine has named Classic Journeys as the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times. As the editors of T+L say, “Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.” Here’s what that access means for you in the Cotswolds with Classic Journeys.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Experience the Cotswolds on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region, including their favorite parts of the famed Cotswold Way, scenic country paths past grazing sheep, and along the River Windrush to the honey-colored stone village of Burford.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. With an average of fewer than 10 guests per departure, we enjoy special access to Stonehenge so you can experience the stone circle when the site is closed to the general public, a fascinating guided walk with an expert on English gardens at Hidcote Manor, and a private scone making lesson in the home of a local baker.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the Cotswolds, including a manor house with spa, and a hotel dating to 1565.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes, and history of the places you visit with us in the Cotswolds. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know the Cotswolds more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the village where scenes of “Downton Abbey” were filmed, Winston Churchill’s birthplace, an organic farm and creamery, an active archeological site with its remarkably intact mosaics, and a tasting of locally made gins at a Cotswolds’ distillery.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the Cotswolds. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. From tour leaders to village elders to artisans, restaurateurs to hoteliers, we work with the local people to support their livelihoods. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

Accommodations

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

Bath Priory Hotel

A luxurious country house nestled within award-winning gardens, The Bath Priory is a stunning hotel near the center of Bath. Enjoy its upscale accommodations, spa, restaurant as well as its charming English hospitality.

Bay Tree Hotel

Since its first guests in 1565, this perfect Cotswolds hotel has been a favorite. The details are remarkable, from the high-raftered hall to the oak-paneled rooms, tapestries and flagstone floors.

Cotswold House Hotel

This award-winning luxury hotel, will appeal to travelers visiting the Cotswolds, looking for tranquility, sublime comfort. The contemporary style makes Cotswold House and Spa one of the most admired boutique hotels in the Cotswolds.

What’s Included

  • Award-winning hotels that provide you unlimited access to the people and places, culture and history you came to experience
  • All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip and handle behind-the-scenes logistics
  • Admissions to scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary
  • Gratuities for hotels, meals, and baggage
  • All land transportation during the trip

Above & Beyond Benefits

Invisible Check-In

  • When your group arrives, we whisk you and your bags to your room immediately. No waiting – no tipping.

Privileged Access Events

  • One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places and activities arranged just for you.
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