The village of Castle Combe in the Cotswolds

Classic England: Oxford & The Cotswolds

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

9 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1590 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Oxford

Grand and historic, the unique academic ambience of Oxford, boasts the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Visitors can explore famous colleges such as Magdalen College, Christchurch College and New College Hall, along with the magnificent Bodleian Library.

Blenheim Palace

Discover Blenheim Palace, a grand country house just outside Oxford. The palace complex is a World Heritage Site and boasts incredibly ornate state rooms, formal gardens, a miniature train, and fantastic exhibitions.

The Cotswolds

Explore England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretching over 6 counties. The Cotswolds is home to delightfully picturesque villages with quaint stone cottages and medieval churches, surrounded by peaceful rolling landscapes.

Bath

As the name suggests, Bath is home to a wealth of ancient Roman baths as well as Britain’s only natural bathing thermal hot springs. The vibrant city also boasts a wide range of great places to eat and drink, as well as an impressive collection of museums.

Ancient sites

Near Bath, you could travel further back in time and discover Stonehenge. Admire this historic site, with its iconic standing stone circle and Neolithic houses. The impressive standing stone circle towers over the Wiltshire countryside and is a must-see on the route.

Shakespeare & Austen

Take a short detour from Oxford to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. In Bath, make sure to stop by the Jane Austen Centre on historic Gay Street, and enjoy some cream tea in its beautiful Regency Tea Room.

Discover England’s Classic Highlights

This tour explores the highlights of Oxford and the Cotswolds, travelling to some of the most iconic historic sights in England. Begin by exploring the vibrant and bustling city of London before heading to Oxford, “the City of Dreaming Spires.”

From here, travel around the beautiful Cotswolds countryside and enjoy picturesque villages and peaceful landscapes of rolling green fields. Then head westward, where you will discover the ancient city of Bath.

Your journey begins in England’s energetic capital city of London where you will find an eclectic mix of cultures, cuisines, tourist attractions and opportunities to delve into the city’s rich and long-reaching history. You could take a boat trip on the River Thames, visit St Paul’s Cathedral or Westminster Abbey or perhaps, view the cityscape from above on the London Eye.

Travelling on, Oxford was named ‘the city of dreaming spires’ by poet Matthew Arnold and its unique atmosphere has inspired many academics over the centuries. There are plenty of sights to enjoy, including the world-famous Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Camera, the various university colleges, and the Botanic Gardens.

From Oxford, a visit to the grandiose Blenheim Palace and charming Stratford-upon-Avon are highly recommended. Blenheim Palace boasts a priceless art collection in its state rooms, expansive gardens, and several tours focusing on different aspects of life at the palace. Stratford-upon-Avon is the famous birthplace of Shakespeare and home to Stratford’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

This tour then takes you from historic cities to twee villages in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is a captivating area to discover, with picturesque villages and historic castles dotted between a patchwork quilt of rolling green fields. As well as quaint villages and gorgeous landscapes, the Cotswolds are also surrounded by lively cities such as the ancient city of Bath.

Bath boasts numerous ancient Roman baths as well as the UK’s only natural bathing, thermal hot springs. Discover Bath’s striking Georgian architecture, and admire the intricate gothic decoration of Bath Abbey. Whilst in Bath, you might wish to take a day trip to the world-famous, Neolithic standing stone circle of Stonehenge.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in London

Relax and enjoy your first evening in England’s fantastic capital city. You will be spoilt for choice for dinner tonight. London has an incredible restaurant scene with choices from every cuisine in the world and more than 50 Michelin starred restaurants.
Overnight – London

Day 2: London Sightseeing

Today we would recommend getting acquainted with the city on a hop-on, hop-off tour of the main attractions. You could choose to alight at the Tower of London, the London Eye or the Houses of Parliament among many more attractions besides. For those who prefer to go by foot an historic walking tour is another excellent choice.
Overnight – London

Day 3: London Sightseeing

You could visit one of London’s many museums and art galleries today including the Tate Modern Art Gallery or the Natural History Museum. After, spend some time exploring the shops around Covent Garden, take a stroll through one of the London parks and finish with tickets to a show in London’s iconic West End.
Overnight – London

Day 4: London to Oxford

After London, your holiday continues on to the beautiful city of Oxford, home to the prestigious Oxford University. Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring the many film locations spread across the city, while history buffs will delight in Oxford’s wonderful architecture.
Overnight – Oxford

Day 5: Oxford Sightseeing

Oxford offers a wealth of sightseeing options including Queen’s College and the world-famous Bodleian Library. Explore the many attractions in the city, or just soak up the relaxing atmosphere on the banks of the River Thames.
Overnight – Oxford

Day 6: Oxford to North Cotswolds

Travel west towards the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. En route, you may wish to visit magnificent Blenheim Palace, a grand country house and UNESCO World Heritage Site. You could also take the short detour northwards to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Overnight – North Cotswolds

Day 7: North Cotswolds Sightseeing

Discover the North Cotswolds, home to cookie-cutter villages and beautiful landscapes. Each Cotswold village is picturesque in its own unique way and offers delightful sightseeing to idle the day away. For something grander, the spa town of Cheltenham is well within reach.
Overnight – North Cotswolds

Day 8: North Cotswolds to Bath

Heading south you will skirt the edge of the Cotswolds before reaching the vibrant city of Bath, known for its Roman-built baths and stunning Georgian architecture. Bath also has the UK’s only natural bathing, thermal hot springs.
Overnight – Bath

Day 9: Bath Sightseeing

Join a walking tour of Bath and be awed by the city’s incredible Neoclassical architecture, or visit the fascinating Jane Austen Centre. Alternatively, you may wish to take a day trip to visit Stonehenge, one of the most famous Neolithic sites in the UK.
Overnight – Bath

Day 10: Depart Bath

After breakfast, it’s approximately a 2 hours and 30 minute drive back to London, where your unforgettable Classic English tour will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 9 nights including traditional English breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of England with our recommended driving route
7 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
London Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and over 80 other attractions
Tickets for the Oxford City Sightseeing Tour
Tickets for the Bath City Sightseeing Tour
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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