Cotswolds Essential Tour of Iconic Villages

We at Albion Touring have been curating and running tours throughout Britain and the World for over 30 years. Our essential Cotswolds tour brings together 7 together of the area's most iconic places, from the "Capital of The Cotswolds" - a must see on market day, to hidden villages and coaching towns. Our essential Cotswolds tour is a whole day experience featuring some of England's most charming itineraries, where folklore abounds and the wealth from the wool trade is all around us. We'll visit places tucked way otherwise closed to the larger tour groups. Want to see the "hobbit" door in medieval church? How about having a pint of English ale in England's oldest tavern? One of the must sees is a quaint thatched village right on the edge of the Cotswolds by the ruins of a medieval manor house.
The panoramic rooves on our vehicles means that we get to see much more of the countryside.

What's included:

• All entrances when accompanied by guide.

What to expect:

Duration: 10 hours

Cirencester

Cirencester

Styled the "Capital of the Cotswolds" , this market town features an impressive "wool church" with the largest church porch in the country.
On market days we can browse the stalls and visit Saint John's the Baptist church, an impressive "wool" church and where you an see Anne Boleyn's ornately decorated cup, a gift to her daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth.
The hotel nearby displays a Roman mosaic within the lobby floor.

30 minutes

Bibury

Bibury

To the loveliest village in the Cotswolds, the charming village of Bibury, where visitors can view Arlington row, a series of medieval cottages by the river Coln.

15 minutes

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water

Described as the Venice of the Cotswolds, the town of Bourton on the Water. Visitors can stroll along the river Windrush and cross over the foot bridges to visit the perfumery, one of the many attractions in the town.

20 minutes

Lower Slaughter

Lower Slaughter

An ideal photo-stop, where the Victorian water-wheel, still in operation, can be seen as well as a rare sheep breed which produced so much wealth for The Cotswolds.

10 minutes

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold, where the winds blows cold. Built on a hill didn't save Stow from the ravages on the English Civil war as we shall find out. We are now in the heart of the Cotswolds where we will see the "hobbit" door in the parish church and maybe time for a quick pint in England's oldest pub?

30 minutes

Burford

Burford

Burford can justifiably claim to be the loveliest town, in The Cotswolds, featuring the effigies of local gentry and wool rolled top tombs in the church's graveyard. Beneath the peaceful façade of Burford lies a turbulent past, which we will talk about on our tour, and features the notorious, Tom, Dick and Harry.

20 minutes

Minster Lovell

Minster Lovell

The ruin of Minster Lovell hall holds a gruesome story! Yet this peaceful place, by the river Windrush is a delightful place to conclude our tour. There are some splendid a examples of thatched buildings nearby as well.

20 minutes