Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh
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!
Options
Moreton-in-Marsh 9.30AM
Moreton-in-Marsh pick up: Please meet in the car park at Moreton-in-Marsh rail station at 09.25 for departure by 9.30AM.
Starting point:
Car Park Moreton In Marsh Station Station | APCOA, Station, Station Rd, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0AA, UK
What's included in Secret Cotswolds Tour from Stratford-on-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
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.
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.
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!)
Inclusions
- 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
- 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.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Please wait in the car park front of the ticket office at Moreton-in-Marsh train station. Arrive at 09.25 and be ready to depart at 09.30. Look out for a big white, green and purple Mercedes minibus, driven by one of our friendly guides in Go Cotswolds uniform. You shouldn't be able to miss us!
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
You don't need to print your ticket - please just have it handy on your mobile phone and be prepared to show it to your guide if requested.
