Booking choice: The Complete Cotswolds tour, from $113 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Great Western Railway's Cotswold Line runs from London Paddington through Oxford, Hanborough, Charlbury and Kingham to Moreton-in-Marsh. From Moreton, a local bus reaches Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water.
What the train cannot easily do is link Burford, Bibury, Bourton and Stow in one day, which is exactly what the tours do.
The quick answer
Take a direct train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (from about 1 hour 24 minutes, roughly hourly), then the Pulhams 801 bus to Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, about hourly Monday to Saturday. Bibury and Burford need other buses and much more time. On Sundays, most rural buses do not run.
Can you visit the Cotswolds from London by train?
Yes: direct trains from London Paddington reach Moreton-in-Marsh, a Cotswold market town, in about an hour and a half.
Trainline lists journeys from 1 hour 24 minutes, averaging about 1 hour 33, over a distance of 73 miles, with advance fares from about GBP 14. Moreton itself is a pleasant stone town with a Tuesday market.
Rather not juggle trains and buses? The small-group tour links all four villages for you.
Check dates for the Complete Cotswolds tourWhich station is best for the Cotswolds?
Moreton-in-Marsh, because the 801 bus from outside the town links it to Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water.
Kingham and Charlbury are also on the line but have fewer onward connections. For Bibury, the nearest hub is Cirencester, reached by bus from Kemble station on a different line.
How do the Cotswold buses work?
A few key routes run about hourly on weekdays and Saturdays, less often or not at all on Sundays.
| Bus | Route | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Pulhams 801 | Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham | About hourly Mon to Sat; about every 2 hours on Sundays |
| 855 | Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, Cirencester | About hourly Mon to Sat; no Sunday service |
| X52 | Cheltenham, Northleach, Burford, Oxford | Limited; check the timetable |
Can you see the tour's four villages by train and bus in one day?
Stow and Bourton, yes; adding Bibury and Burford in the same day is very hard without a car.
A realistic car-free day: an early train to Moreton, the 801 to Stow, then on to Bourton, lunch, and back to Moreton for an evening train. That is two villages with generous time in each, which some travelers prefer to four short stops.
Is the train cheaper than a tour?
Often a little, especially with advance fares or a railcard, but you pay for it in planning and fewer villages.
| Train and bus | Complete Cotswolds tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Advance rail from about GBP 14, plus bus fares | From $113 per person |
| Villages | Usually 2 | 4 |
| Time in villages | Flexible, often longer | About 4 hours |
| Guide | No | Yes |
| Sundays | Very limited buses | Runs as scheduled |
Want four villages without timetables? The tour starts in South Kensington.
Explore the Complete Cotswolds tourWhat is a good train itinerary?
Paddington to Moreton in the morning, the 801 to Stow, a walk and lunch, the 801 on to Bourton, then back to Moreton.
- Check the 801 timetable the day before; it changes by season.
- Avoid Sundays, when buses are sparse and stop early.
- Buy an advance return to Moreton-in-Marsh for the best fare.
- Allow a buffer for the last train back to London.
What about Sundays?
Plan carefully or take a tour: most Cotswold bus routes do not run on Sundays, and the 801 runs less often with early last departures.
Tours run on Sundays as scheduled, which makes them the easier choice for a weekend visit.
When is a tour better than the train?
When you have one day, want more than two villages, want Bibury or Burford, or are travelling on a Sunday.
Compare the tours in the best Cotswolds tours from London. The Stratford mini-coach day even starts at Paddington station.
Decided the tour is simpler? Check your date for the Complete Cotswolds day.
Check dates for the Complete Cotswolds tourFrequently asked questions
How long is the train from London to the Cotswolds?
About 1 hour 30 minutes from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh on a direct train.
Is there a train to Bourton-on-the-Water?
No. The nearest station is Moreton-in-Marsh, linked to Bourton by the 801 bus.
Can you get to Bibury by train?
Not directly. The 855 bus links Bibury with Bourton-on-the-Water and Cirencester, Monday to Saturday.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
The Complete Cotswolds Small-Group Tour
- Minibus from South Kensington with a driver-guide, maximum 16 guests
- Burford 1 h, Bibury 40 min, Bourton-on-the-Water 1 h 30 min, Stow-on-the-Wold 50 min
- Check in 8:15am at Urban Baristas, 44 Harrington Road; back at the same spot in the early evening
Cotswolds & Stratford-upon-Avon Mini-Coach
Stratford plus the northern villages, from Paddington, max 16
Oxford & Cotswold Villages Small Group
- Rabbie's driver-guide and a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Oxford 2 h, Burford 45 min, Bibury 45 min
- Departs Stance 3, Green Line Coach Station, Bulleid Way, Victoria
