BATH & COTSWOLDS TOURS

TOUR INFORMATION

PRICES
Usually single-day tours, but 2 -3-day tours available upon request at a discounted price.
Full-day Tour from as little as £625 /day depending upon the time of year. All tours are fully inclusive but do not include lunch tea or admission to attractions or sites.
Full Payment by card is requested on day of tour .

DURATION
Minimum 8 Hours

STARTING LOCATION
From your Hotel, train station, B&B or wherever you are staying in the Cotswolds.

CASTLE COMBE

Castle Combe, described as the loveliest and prettiest village in the Cotswolds. It was used as a backdrop in films: The fictional Puddleby-on-the Marsh in Dr Dolittle, the 1960’s film with Rex Harrison, and more recently a backdrop to War Horse. This magical village was once a weaving town at the Cotswolds wool trade’s heart: you can still see weavers’ cottages where the local red and white cloth was produced. On the 12th. Century St Andrew’s Church is the modified 15th-century faceless clock (one of the oldest working clocks in England) that used to ring the hours. The Old Rectory tea room offers some of the finest teas in the Cotswolds. If you can’t stop in time for tea, why not try a lunch stop for the perfect day out. Photoshoots of your day are also available.

TETBURY

Tetbury is a small tranquil, charming market town that is off the tourist radar. By the 18thC, Tetbury was one of the most important cloth market towns in Gloucestershire. The square is dominated by the 17thc Market House, which rests on three rows of pillars. South of the square, you can find the magnificent parish church of St Mary the Virgin, which was rebuilt in Gothic style in the late 18thc. The spire, the fourth highest in England, is 186 ft tall. Long street is also the address for HRH, The Prince of Wales’ flagship Highgrove Shop with his private estate just a couple of miles from the centre of Tetbury..

CIRENCESTER

Cirencester, the Corinium and second-largest town in Roman Britain, is often described as the Cotswolds’ capital. The greatest evidence that remains today of the Roman presence is the crossing of the road network, which made Corinium so important and the Amphitheatre at the south of the town. Cirencester has the finest Roman museum in the UK, and mosaics and a Roman Villa can be seen at nearby Chedworth. The Market square is dominated by the cathedral-like church of St John the Baptist, built-in 1490. The town grew in prosperity as a result of the wool trade in medieval times. Markets are held every Monday and Friday. The finest Agricultural College in the UK was founded by Henry4th. Earl of Bathurst, in 1845.

MALMESBURY

On the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Malmesbury is perched on a hilltop, one of Britain’s oldest inhabited sites. The River Avon virtually encircles the town. Because of its location, Malmesbury, during the Civil War, changed hands several times. The west end of the Abbey is riddled with bullet holes where prisoners were executed. The town centre is a blend of 17th and 18th.C architecture overlooked by the imposing Abbey. At the heart of the town is the octagonal Market Cross dating back to 1490. Abbey House garden, some 5 acres, is adjacent to the Abbey

BATH ABBEY

There is nowhere else quite like Bath Abbey. Magnificent stained-glass windows, columns of honey-gold stone and some of the finest fan vaulting in the world that create an extraordinary experience of light and space. There has been Christian worship on this site for over 1200 years, and the Abbey remains a living church. The first sight most visitors have of Bath Abbey is the West front’s unique Ladders of Angels, inspired by Bishop of Bath, Oliver Kings’ dream of ascending and descending angels. Tower tours offer the chance to go behind the scenes and enjoy stunning views of the city..

ROYAL CRESCENT BATH

Bath has a reputation for being the home of some of the UK’s most beautiful architecture. The Royal Crescent is a breathtaking row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent. Built between 1767 and 1774, it is one of Georgian Architecture’s greatest examples in the UK. Untouched since it was built, it enjoys the view across Royal Victoria Park. Pulteney Bridge was built in 1774 was built to connect Bath and Bathwick across the River Avon. The Holbourne Museum is housed in the former Sydney Hotel. Originally built between 1796 and 1799, this grand three-story building is another wonderful example of Georgian architecture.

ROMAN BATH

Nestled among the city’s elegant Georgian buildings, you will find the incredibly well-preserved remains of one of the most important religious spas of the ancient world are a feat of Roman engineering. However, don’t be fooled by the building with its Roman figures that line the terrace above. The building is 18th C, and the statues are late 19thc put in place when the Baths were opened to the public for the first time. A truly magical experience is to view the Roman baths in the evening when the rooms are lit up by torchlight as darkness falls..

LACOCK MANOR

Founded in 1232 and converted into a country house c.1540, the fine medieval cloisters, sacristy, chapterhouse and monastic rooms of Lacock Abbey have survived largely intact. The handsome 16thC stable courtyard has half-timbered gables, a clock house brewery and a bakehouse. The Victorian woodland garden boasts a fine display of spring flowers, magnificent trees, an 18thC summer house, a Victorian rose garden, a newly restored botanic garden and a haha. The Museum of Photography commemorates the achievements of a former resident of the Abbey, William Henry Fox Talbot. Lacock Village, not surprisingly, has been the venue for many films such as The Cranford Chronicles, Larkrise to Candelford, and some scenes in Harry Potter..

“Given the rolling hills and narrow roads of the five-county expanse of the Cotswolds, one of the best means of enjoying the region is from the comfort of a luxury Mercedes Viano with a Best Cotswold Tours guide without the anxiety of driving on the wrong side of the road” Mark Thompson. Metro Source Magazine.

Timothy M

1 October 2023

A Picture Perfect Day in the Cotswold with fantastic Mark Ransom My wife and I spent an absolutely fabulous sunny day touring the Cotswolds with Mark Ransom as our outstanding guide. He picked us up in his immaculately clean and comfortable van from Heathrow airport and told about the area as he drove to our hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold. The following morning he met us at the hotel at 9:30am as planned for our private tour. He drove us to the many fairytale villages we wished to see (and many more we didn’t know about!) at a relaxed and unhurried pace. As a retired farmer who grew up in the Cotswolds, his knowledge was vast and his explanations were fascinating. He took us to some special gardens, unique shops, an ancient church, and pristine ponds. The views were breathtaking, and Mark allowed plenty of time for photographs and wandering in the various villages which were as charming as he was! Mark’s own expertise in photography was an added benefit. He arranged for lunch at a lovely cafe in the country. We did not want the day to end, but had to get back to London. Mark took us to the train station in Kingham, helping us with our luggage, for an evening train to Paddington Station. Thank you, Mark, for a delightful and memorable day! We will highly recommend you to everyone we know!

bobbiehpvb

23 September 2023

Great way to see the area Our day with Mark was a wonderful way to see the Cotswolds. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, we were able to cover a lot of ground and see a lot of the sites. Having a knowledgeable guide take us around and give us the backstory and history of a lot of the places was an added bonus. Given the weather, Mark was very flexible and was able to help us make good choices to see as much as possible. Mark himself is very personable and we enjoyed the time we spent with him. We highly recommend this excursion.

kids04

17 September 2023

Great day! Mark did an amazing job of taking us around for the day. My sister coordinated everything ahead of time and he showed us everything we wanted to see, and a few extra stops as well. He picked us up on time in his new air conditioned van which was large and comfortable for the four of us. Not only did Mark show us around all the towns, but he also provided us with a lot of history and answered all the questions we had. His personality is friendly, and we really enjoyed spending the day with him. He even made lunch reservations for us! Highly recommend using Mark to show you around the beautiful Cotswold villages.

palady1

15 September 2023

Outstanding & Comprehensive Cotswolds Private Tour Our day with Best Cotswold Tours was wonderful! Mark put together an outstanding itinerary based on our requests and by including additional sights that he felt best matched our interests. It was a completely customized tour for us that went at the pace that we chose. Having lived in the Cotswolds his entire life, he is full of enthusiasm and interesting information about the area. It was such a gift to be able to experience so much of what the Cotswolds have to offer through his first hand knowledge. Thank you so much, Mark, for making our Cotswolds visit so comprehensive, enjoyable, and unforgettable!

Patricia C

15 September 2023

Day in Cotswolds with Mark Ransom Mark was amazing. On time, clean car. He was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and entertaining we loved our entire day with him. He accommodated our very ambitious itinerary and had so much input into all we saw. I would recommend him unreservedly Patricia Calvelo

Marilyn K

7 September 2023

Hidden Gems of the Cotswolds We visited on a warm, sunny day and saw the Cotswolds at its best. Mark was super interesting and took the time to show us some hidden gems we otherwise may not have visited. Very professional, super comfortable vehicle and would highly recommend.

Andrea F

1 September 2023

Amazing Cotswolds Tour Mark from Cotswolds Tours was the most informative and knowledgeable guide. He was so easy to communicate with, tailored our tour to our individual interests and was able to share his knowledge and passion for the beautiful villages of the Cotswolds with us. We had the most wonderful day and can highly recommend Mark.

Taavi A

28 August 2023

Private and customized high end experience This was a great tour! Very customizable, and the customer service was wonderful. Our train got cancelled and Mark went out of his way to get us home after a long day. We asked for a tour with less tourist-y places, and our guide did just that, finding some hidden gems for us. We still had a wonderful time and learned a lot. We highly recommend Mark!

Nancy G

20 August 2023

Fun Guide and Fabulous Tour! Mark was a wonderful tour guide. He organized a trip that perfectly fit into our tight schedule. We traveled through the gorgeous landscape stopping for photos when requested. We had a morning coffee in a lovely village and afternoon lunch in another beautiful place. We visit a small private brewery where we sat by a picturesque pond with swans performing perfectly! Mark was so knowledgeable about everything Cotswold! He was fun and funny and knows how to handle a group of young to elderly women with all different needs! My best day in England for sure!

Enquiry Form

Full Name

Email Address

Number In Party

Contact Number

Collection Point

Preferred Date

Extra Details

BEST COTSWOLD TOURS

TELEPHONE

+44 (0)755 755 0893

Porters Farm, Wyck Rissington, Bourton on the Water Glos GL54 2PN

Best Cotswold Tours