The idyllic and tranquil villages of the Cotswolds are one of the top tourist destinations in England. Each summer these little towns see a surge in visitors, all enjoying the quintessential English countryside lifestyle. Here you’ll find thatched cottages, authentic pubs and grand manor houses. But can you visit The Cotswolds without a car? Their location in the heart of the British countryside can make them tricky to get to and ever trickier to get around!
This can cause problems if you:
a) are visiting from another country without your car
b) don’t drive, or
c) don’t feel comfortable hiring a car
So, is it Possible to Visit the Cotswolds Without a Car?
It is absolutely possible to visit the Cotswolds without a car and in this blogpost I’ll tell you exactly how to do it, including:
- How to get to the Cotswolds without a car
- Alternative methods of transport once you arrive
- Where to base yourself if you don’t have a car
- The perfect no-car Cotswold itinerary
No Car Cotswolds Itinerary
This blogpost is designed to help you create your own itinerary by providing you with all of the information you need about public transport and best places to stay.
However, if you’d prefer to use a ready-made itinerary (or are looking for some inspiration), check out this blogpost. Here I’ve created the perfect 3 day Cotswold Itinerary for if you don’t have a car. This includes where to stay, which places to visit, and a detailed guide of how to get to and from each one. You can read the whole itinerary here.
But this is it in a nutshell:
Day 1: Moreton in Marsh & Stow-on-the-Wold
Day 2: Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, & The Slaughters
Day 3: Broadway & Chipping Campden
Where to Stay in the Cotswolds with No Car
Before you work out how you’re going to get to the Cotswolds, you first need to decide exactly where you want to get to! The Cotswolds cover 787 square miles and encompass a number of different villages, towns, and even cities! It’s important to pick a location that allows for easy public transportation. These are the places I’d suggest:
1. Moreton in Marsh
If I could suggest just one place to stay in the Cotswolds without a car, it would be Moreton in Marsh. It’s by far the most easily accessible and offers the best public transport to the surrounding towns and villages.
You can get here using the direct train from London Paddington.
Moreton in Marsh is a beautiful town in the north of the Cotswolds. It’s incredibly pretty with lots of great pubs, restaurants and independent shops. It’s also one of the most well-connected locations in the Cotswolds and offers a great network of public transport in order to visit the neighbouring towns and villages.
Useful Buses
801 – will take you to popular locations such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water (two of my personal favourite spots in the Cotswolds)
51 – will take you to the historic town of Stratford Upon Avon, where William Shakespeare was born
855 – offers transportation to Cirencester, Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Aldsworth
Johnson’s Service 1 – connects Moreton with Chipping Campden, Broadway, and Blockley.
Accommodation in Moreton in Marsh
Manor House Hotel: this 4 star hotel is only 5 minutes walk from the train station and dates back to 1545. It also has an aware winning restaurant!
Walnut Cottage: if you prefer to have your own space, Walnut Cottage has everything you need for a relaxing stay.
The Bell Inn: this pub has a range of lovely rooms on offer and boasts a central location
2. Stow on the Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a great location to base yourself when visiting the Cotswolds. There’s a number of great places to stay, as well as authentic pubs to visit. Check out this Ultimate Guide to Stow on the Wold to find out more about what you can do here! To get here, you just need to take the 801 bus from Moreton in Marsh station. Like Moreton, it’s well connected:
Useful Buses
801 Bus – will take you to popular locations such as Moreton in Marsh and Bourton-on-the-Water
855 Bus – offers transportation to Cirencester, Bibury, Moreton in Marsh, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Aldsworth
Accommodation in Stow on the Wold
The Kings Arms Hotel, Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AF
The Sheep on Sheep Street, Sheep St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AU
The Porch House, 1 Digbeth St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1BN
3. Gloucester
If you’re looking to stay in a city in the Cotswolds, Gloucester is a good bet. Famous for its Cathedral, and literary associations (Beatrix Potter’s ‘The Tailor of Gloucester’ was a childhood favourite of mine!), there’s plenty to do and see.
Like the other locations on this list, it’s easily accessible and is close by to a number of other popular destinations in the Cotswolds.
Useful Buses
882 – connects Gloucester with Cirencester, Kemble, and Tetbury
Where to Stay in Gloucester
Cosy Country Cottage in the City Centre: Ferncroft Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JJ
The New Inn: 16 Northgate St, Gloucester, GL1 1SF
How to Get from London to the Cotswolds Without a Car
1. How to Get to Moreton in Marsh
There’s a direct train route from Paddington Station to Moreton in Marsh, making it a very accessible option. The journey takes around 1.5 hours and trains run regularly between stations.
If you were hoping to also visit Oxford as part of your trip, there’s also a direct train route between Oxford Station and Moreton in Marsh.
2. How to Get to Stow on the Wold
To get to Stow on the Wold, you’ll need to catch the train to Moreton in Marsh. Once you’ve arrived, wait at the railway station for the 801 bus heading towards Cheltenham. Ride 4 stops until you arrive at Stow on the Wold. You can see the 801 bus timetable here.
3. How to Get to Gloucester
Again, there’s a direct train from London Paddington to Gloucester that takes around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Is there Uber in the Cotswolds?
There’s currently no Uber or Lyft in the Cotswolds, so, if you do want to travel by car, you’ll need to use a good old fashioned taxi service.
Cotswolds By Taxi
There are a number of local taxi services in the Cotswolds. People in the area tend to be very friendly and you’ll find that taxi drivers will be more than willing to give you recommendations.
The best way to get a taxi is probably to ask at your hotel (or at the local pub) for a taxi recommendation. They’ll be able to give you the phone number or even book it for you!
Alternatively, here are a few local taxi operators:
- Siren Cars: run across the Cotswolds and will pick you up from airports such as Birmingham, Bristol, London Gatwick, and London Heathrow
- Chipping Campden Taxis: offer rides around the surrounding North Cotswolds area
Cotswolds by Bus
As you can probably tell, the easiest way to get around The Cotswolds without a car is by bus. There are a number of public buses that run between the main destinations in The Cotswolds.
It’s important to note that buses don’t run as frequently in the countryside as they do in London. So make sure to plan ahead and check bus timetables on google.
You may also find that there’s a reduced service on Sundays and public holidays, although this isn’t always the case. This will be clearly mentioned on the bus timetable.
You can purchase single or return tickets on the bus using cash.
Cotswolds by Foot
If you’re looking to really enjoy the rural English countryside, exploring The Cotswolds by foot isn’t a bad idea.
The most famous waling route in The Cotswolds is The Cotswolds Way. This 102 mile walk stretches from Bath to Chipping Campden, and winds through various villages and towns on route. Obviously, you don’t need to walk the whole route (but good on you, if you do!). Instead you can pick a small section to walk through.
You can find more information about The Cotswolds Way including maps, trail information, and route descriptions here.
There are also a number of shorter, well sign-posted walks. For example, the walk between Bourton-on-the-Water and Lower Slaughter is only 1.3 miles.
Alternatively you could try the 3.5 mile circular walk from Broadway to Snowshill (one of the most underrated villages in The Cotswolds – click here to find out why!).
However, walking will only get you so far. It’ll definitely limit how much you’re able to see in a short space of time.
Tours of the Cotswolds
A popular way to see the Cotswolds without a car is to sign up for a tour. This is a great option if you’d prefer not to use public transport. You can find both day tours and multi-day trips, so there should be something for everyone.
Of course, the main downside of using a tour is that you are tied to the operator’s itinerary and time scale. You don’t have as much control as if you were sorting your own transport – but you also don’t have any stress that might come along with that!
Here are a few options for tours in The Cotswolds:
Rabbie’s
Rabbie’s Tours offers a 2 Day Itinerary through The Cotswolds, Bath, & Oxford. The tour includes transportation from London, so is a great option if you’re an international visitor.
Go Cotswolds
Go Cotswolds offer small-group guided day tours for just £45 per person. The guides are experienced and knowledgeable about the area. You can be picked up from Stratford Upon Avon, Moreton-in-Mrash, or Chipping Campden.
Where to Visit Near The Cotswolds (If You Don’t Have a Car)
Stratford Upon Avon
This historic town is a popular stop on the tourist trail. Small but mighty, there’s plenty to keep you busy here. You can easily get here from Moreton in Marsh using the 51 bus. Some of the best things to do in Stratford Upon Avon:
- Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- See a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company
- Go rowing on the River Avon
- Visit Shakespeare’s Grave
Oxford
This University city is one of the most beautiful places in England. There are a number of great museums, shops, and libraries to visit. You can catch a direct train from Moreton in Marsh to Oxford. Some of the best things to do in Oxford are:
- Bodleian Library
- Pitt Rivers Museum
- The Ashmolean
- Botanic Gardens
Let’s Wrap It Up
In conclusion, it’s definitely possible to visit The Cotswolds without a car. In fact, it’s actually quite easy! And with so many beautiful spots to see, it’s definitely worth the trip – with or without a car.
Oh what a gorgeous place!
Lisa | lisaautumn.com