Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh
66 Reviews
4.98 out of 5 stars Based on 66 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor
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Recommended by 100% of reviewers
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Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Oxford, England
8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Overview
Experience the 'secret' side of the Cotswolds with a local guide in a small and friendly group of up to 16 people.
On our Secret Cotswolds tour, we'll explore picture-postcard Cotswold towns and villages - but not the famously "busy" ones! Escape the crowds of "honeypot" destinations in the Cotswolds and explore stunning, quieter locations, off the usual tourist trail. As well as better known Burford and Broadway, you'll discover the Cotswolds' very own standing stone circle, the timeless village of Stanton and the fascinating Cotswold village of Guiting Power.
Tours depart from Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, or from Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds.
Travelling from London or Oxford? Take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh! You'll skip all the traffic, enjoy a charming, scenic train ride, and get to spend even longer in the beautiful Cotswolds!
What's Included
- Pickup from Stratford-upon-Avon town centre (8.50AM) or Moreton-in-Marsh rail station (9.30AM)
- Admission to The Rollright Stones - we make a donation for every visitor
- Souvenir booklets with maps, photos and information
- Travel the back roads in a spacious, comfortable, 16-seater Mercedes minibus
- Fun, friendly, local driver-guide to share stories and enhance your day
- Gratuities
- Food and drink - please bring your own, or money for food and drink on the go
Meeting Location
Meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Moreton-in-Marsh
Passengers joining the tour at Stratford-upon-Avon will be collected from Shakespeare's Birthplace Coach Terminal at 08.50. Then, we travel to the Cotswold town of Moreton-in-Marsh, where we collect our final guests from Moreton-in-Marsh rail station at 09.30. From Moreton-in-Marsh, it's a 15 minute drive to our first official stop. We'll provide an introduction to the tour en route.
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Rollright Stones
Discover the secrets of The Rollright Stones, the Cotswolds’ very own ancient stone circle – a ‘mini Stonehenge’! This is a fascinating place to start our tour, learn some Olde English myths and legends, and drink in panoramic views across the Cotswolds countryside. Admission to The Rollright Stones is a donation of £2 per person, but we make this donation for you by arrangement with The Rollright Trust.
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Cotswolds
En route to our next stop, enjoy a scenic drive (approx 40 minutes) through the picturesque countryside made famous by the TV show ‘Clarkson’s Farm’* and discover tiny Cotswold villages far off the beaten track. (*Please note that while this tour passes through farmland owned by Jeremy Clarkson, we do not pass or stop at Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Queues for the farm shop can be hours long, and there just isn’t time to visit on a one-day tour!)
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Burford
This vibrant, authentic Cotswold market town is a wonderful place to learn about the history of the area, photograph classic Cotswold cottages, and seek out delicious homemade cake.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Guiting Power
Shhh… don’t tell anyone, otherwise this will become the next tourist trap! Gorgeous, remote and unspoilt, Guiting Power provides a slice of genuine Cotswolds countryside life. Have a pint in the local pub, or try one of David Beckham's favourite sausage rolls!
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Broadway
Perhaps not-so-secret, but the ‘Jewel in the Cotswolds Crown’ is not to be missed! There are art galleries to browse, independent retailers to support, and gorgeous traditional cottages to admire.
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Stanton
Fall in love with the quiet, charming village of Stanton, which is regularly voted as one of the most beautiful and unspoilt villages in the Cotswolds.
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Moreton-in-Marsh
Leaving Stanton behind, now it's 5pm and time to say farewell to some of our passengers at Moreton-in-Marsh station. We hope you made friends and good memories!You don't have to end your tour where you started - if you joined us in Stratford-upon-Avon, why not spend a night or two in the pretty Cotswolds market town of Moreton-in-Marsh? We have plenty of space for your luggage, and Moreton has several accommodation options, as well as a rail station for your onward travel.
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are two pick-up points for this tour: Shakespeare's Birthplace Coach Terminal, Stratford-upon-Avon – Departure at 08:50; Moreton-in-Marsh Rail Station – Departure at 09:30. Please note your ticket may display the tour start time as 08:50, regardless of your chosen pick-up location. However, if you selected Moreton-in-Marsh, your actual departure time is 09:30. Kindly arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled departure.
- Look out for our friendly guide in Go Cotswolds uniform, driving a large white minibus with green and purple Go Cotswolds branding—you won’t miss us!
- Double-check your selected pick-up point. Occasionally, we don’t stop at both, so arriving at the wrong location could result in being left behind. To change your pick-up point, please log in to your account to update your booking. Need help choosing the best option? Contact us!
- If you are arriving in Moreton-in-Marsh by train, the train arriving at approximately 09:17–09:20 is ideal. It’s a small station, and it’s just a 1–2 minute walk to the car park where your guide will meet you.
- If you are arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon by train, note that our pick-up point is a 5–10 minute walk from the station. Please note that on Sundays, there are no trains arriving before the tour departs.
- Uber and similar services are not widely available in the Cotswolds, and local taxis can be difficult to book last minute. We strongly recommend booking taxis in advance or using public transport where possible.
- If you're not at your pick-up point on time (08:50 in Stratford-upon-Avon, 09:30 in Moreton-in-Marsh) and we can't contact you, the tour will depart without you. Make sure we have your correct mobile number with international dial code before your tour.
- After the tour, please plan any onward travel as follows: from Moreton-in-Marsh: After 17:00; from Stratford-upon-Avon: After 17:30
- We have plenty of secure luggage space on board our vehicles, though please note our guides may not be able to assist with very heavy luggage
- Children aged 3–15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry, no children under 3.
- Tours run in all but dangerous weather—please dress appropriately!
- The total tour duration of 8 hours includes travel time. Approximate travel times are as follows: 30 minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon to Moreton-in-Marsh (for those who select pick up in Stratford-upon-Avon); 15 minutes from Moreton-in-Marsh to The Rollright Stones; 40 minutes from The Rollright Stones to Burford (this scenic drive is described in the itinerary); 40 minutes from Burford to Broadway; 10 minutes from Broadway to Stanton; 30 minutes from Stanton to Guiting Power; 30 minutes from Guiting Power to Moreton-in-Marsh.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh?
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-17949P15
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.98
66 reviews
Average 4.98 out of 5 stars based on 66 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.
Filter by:
Q:
What is the cancellation policy for the Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh?
A:Apr 2025
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
Q:
What's included in the price?
A:
Apr 2025
The following is included:
- Pickup from Stratford-upon-Avon town centre (8.50AM) or Moreton-in-Marsh rail station (9.30AM).
- Admission to The Rollright Stones - we make a donation for every visitor.
- Souvenir booklets with maps, photos and information.
- Travel the back roads in a spacious, comfortable, 16-seater Mercedes minibus.
- Fun, friendly, local driver-guide to share stories and enhance your day.
The following is NOT included:
- Gratuities.
- Food and drink - please bring your own, or money for food and drink on the go.
Q:
What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q:
What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:
The minimum age to participate is 3. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025
Q:
My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:
If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025
Q:
Is this an accessible tour?
A:Apr 2025
Accessibility information for the Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Q:
Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Pickup from Stratford-upon-Avon town centre (8.50AM) or Moreton-in-Marsh rail station (9.30AM)
- Admission to The Rollright Stones - we make a donation for every visitor
- Souvenir booklets with maps, photos and information
- Travel the back roads in a spacious, comfortable, 16-seater Mercedes minibus
- Fun, friendly, local driver-guide to share stories and enhance your day
- Gratuities
- Food and drink - please bring your own, or money for food and drink on the go
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are two pick-up points for this tour: Shakespeare's Birthplace Coach Terminal, Stratford-upon-Avon – Departure at 08:50; Moreton-in-Marsh Rail Station – Departure at 09:30. Please note your ticket may display the tour start time as 08:50, regardless of your chosen pick-up location. However, if you selected Moreton-in-Marsh, your actual departure time is 09:30. Kindly arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled departure.
- Look out for our friendly guide in Go Cotswolds uniform, driving a large white minibus with green and purple Go Cotswolds branding—you won’t miss us!
- Double-check your selected pick-up point. Occasionally, we don’t stop at both, so arriving at the wrong location could result in being left behind. To change your pick-up point, please log in to your account to update your booking. Need help choosing the best option? Contact us!
- If you are arriving in Moreton-in-Marsh by train, the train arriving at approximately 09:17–09:20 is ideal. It’s a small station, and it’s just a 1–2 minute walk to the car park where your guide will meet you.
- If you are arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon by train, note that our pick-up point is a 5–10 minute walk from the station. Please note that on Sundays, there are no trains arriving before the tour departs.
- Uber and similar services are not widely available in the Cotswolds, and local taxis can be difficult to book last minute. We strongly recommend booking taxis in advance or using public transport where possible.
- If you're not at your pick-up point on time (08:50 in Stratford-upon-Avon, 09:30 in Moreton-in-Marsh) and we can't contact you, the tour will depart without you. Make sure we have your correct mobile number with international dial code before your tour.
- After the tour, please plan any onward travel as follows: from Moreton-in-Marsh: After 17:00; from Stratford-upon-Avon: After 17:30
- We have plenty of secure luggage space on board our vehicles, though please note our guides may not be able to assist with very heavy luggage
- Children aged 3–15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry, no children under 3.
- Tours run in all but dangerous weather—please dress appropriately!
- The total tour duration of 8 hours includes travel time. Approximate travel times are as follows: 30 minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon to Moreton-in-Marsh (for those who select pick up in Stratford-upon-Avon); 15 minutes from Moreton-in-Marsh to The Rollright Stones; 40 minutes from The Rollright Stones to Burford (this scenic drive is described in the itinerary); 40 minutes from Burford to Broadway; 10 minutes from Broadway to Stanton; 30 minutes from Stanton to Guiting Power; 30 minutes from Guiting Power to Moreton-in-Marsh.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
