
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Guided Biking
- Daily Mileage: 10-42 miles|
- Biking: 1-5 hours|
Starting From
9-day Air Package
$5,895
6-day Bike Tour Only
$4,645
Per person, double occupancy
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
There’s no need to hurry through England’s Cotswolds—this well-paced cycling vacation gives you plenty of time to savor the journey. From the moment you meet your local trip leaders, you’ll feel right at home in this bucolic countryside of rose gardens, thatched-roof cottages, and green meadows dotted with white lambs. Spin past quaint market towns—perhaps pausing to quaff a pint of ale in an authentic British pub. Explore 12th century colleges in Oxford and visit Blenheim Palace—the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Come home to hotels dripping with Cotswolds charm—including a 15th-century weaver’s cottage in Burford—and a 16th-century manor house in Moreton-on-Marsh.
Tour Highlights
- Enter the world of Downton Abbey in Bampton, its stand-in on the beloved PBS series.
- Explore the gardens and staterooms of Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Cycle through a classic English countryside of sheep-dotted pastures, woodlands, market towns, tiny hamlets, and thatched-cottage villages.
- Experience the charms of Bourton-on-the-Water, called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its graceful arched stone bridges.
- Probe the region’s Roman heritage on a 2,000-year-old cycling route and end at the ancient ruins in Bath.
Positive Impact
VBT is proud to support The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. The Cotswolds is the largest recognized Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England. These countryside areas are a family of protected natural parks and landscapes designated for conservation. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty works toward upkeeping the Cotswold Way National Trail, creating wildflower-rich Grasslands, and leading tree planting and biodiversity enhancement projects.
What to Expect
This tour offers a combination of easy terrain mixed with moderate hills, mainly on quiet country roads. Our VBT support vehicle is always available for those who need assistance with the hills. Ideal for enthusiastic beginners to experienced cyclists.
- Daily Mileage: 10-42 miles|
- Biking: 1-5 hours|
- Max Group Size: 20
Cyclists
Support
Ideal for active beginners to more experienced riders.
- Average Daily Mileage: 18-32 mi.
- Average Daily Cycling Time: Up to 4 hrs.
- Average Daily Elevation gain: Up to 2200 feet.
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May61º/46º
Jun64º/52º
Jul68º/55º
Aug68º/55º
Sep63º/52º
Oct55º/46º
Average
Precipitation:
May1.7 in
Jun1.7 in
Jul1.5 in
Aug1.6 in
Sep1.8 in
Oct2.3 in
Air Package |
Tour Only |
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Roundtrip international airfare |
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Airport car service for arrival and departure |
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One night in Oxford and one night in Bath in conveniently located hotels with daily breakfast |
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5 nights in small country estates |
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9 meals: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners |
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Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
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Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)
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Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
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Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
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Electric-Assisted Bicycle (E-bike)
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Road Bicycle (Carbon frame)
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Step-Through (Mixte Hybrid) Comfort Bicycle
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Step-Over (Diamond) Comfort Bicycle
See More >Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
Support Vehicle
Luggage Transportation
Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
Welcome Reception
Facilitated Cultural Experiences
Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure
Accommodations (Please Note: Days are based on the Air Package Itinerary. Accommodations may vary depending on departure date. )
Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions
Air Package Only
2026 Pre-Tour Extension - Oxford
1 Nights From
$345
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $145
- 1 night at the voco Oxford Spires Hotel
- Airport arrival transportation
- Daily breakfast
- City information
Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.
A VBT representative will greet you at London Heathrow Airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Oxford. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
After enjoying an included breakfast at your hotel, spend the day exploring at your own pace with the help of our provided city information.
Included Meals: Breakfast
voco Oxford Spires Hotel
With its lovely location beside the Thames River and amid a lovely parkland, the voco Oxford Spires Hotel is a comfortable haven from which to explore the City of Spires. Cotswolds stone and plush yet elegant interiors combine throughout to create a truly welcoming space of understated luxury. Modern amenities mingle seamlessly with traditional touches in this air-conditioned hotel. Deacon’s Restaurant promises fine cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced from the Oxfordshire countryside, while the bar and lounge—and an outdoor terrace—offer a casual atmosphere for relaxing over a drink or a spot of tea. Each comfortable room is accented with a warmth and décor inspired by the English countryside.
Air Package Only
2025 Pre-Tour Extension - Oxford
1 Nights From
$345
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $145
- 1 night at the voco Oxford Spires Hotel
- Airport arrival transportation
- Daily breakfast
- City information
Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.
A VBT representative will greet you at London Heathrow Airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Oxford. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
After enjoying an included breakfast at your hotel, spend the day exploring at your own pace with the help of our provided city information.
Included Meals: Breakfast
voco Oxford Spires Hotel
With its lovely location beside the Thames River and amid a lovely parkland, the voco Oxford Spires Hotel is a comfortable haven from which to explore the City of Spires. Cotswolds stone and plush yet elegant interiors combine throughout to create a truly welcoming space of understated luxury. Modern amenities mingle seamlessly with traditional touches in this air-conditioned hotel. Deacon’s Restaurant promises fine cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced from the Oxfordshire countryside, while the bar and lounge—and an outdoor terrace—offer a casual atmosphere for relaxing over a drink or a spot of tea. Each comfortable room is accented with a warmth and décor inspired by the English countryside.
Air Package Only
2026 Post-Tour Extension - Bath
1 Nights From
$295
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $195
- 1 night at The Bird Hotel
- Airport departure transportation
- Daily breakfast
- City information
After another included breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a full day of independent exploration, using our provided city information to uncover more of the area’s hidden gems and highlights.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel approximately two hours to London Heathrow Airport for your departing flight. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.
Included Meals: Breakfast
The Bird Hotel
The Bird Hotel is a unique, independently owned boutique hotel refurbished from a Victorian villa. With 29 individually-designed rooms – many offering views over the famous Recreation Ground, Bath Abbey, and beyond – The Bird is a gentle stroll from the heart of the city and hosts its own cosmopolitan restaurant featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Air Package Only
2025 Post-Tour Extension - Bath
1 Nights From
$295
per person, double
occupancy
Single Supplement: From $145
- 1 night at The Bird Hotel
- Airport departure transportation
- Daily breakfast
- City information
After another included breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a full day of independent exploration, using our provided city information to uncover more of the area’s hidden gems and highlights.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel approximately two hours to London Heathrow Airport for your departing flight. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time.
Included Meals: Breakfast
The Bird Hotel
The Bird Hotel is a unique, independently owned boutique hotel refurbished from a Victorian villa. With 29 individually-designed rooms – many offering views over the famous Recreation Ground, Bath Abbey, and beyond – The Bird is a gentle stroll from the heart of the city and hosts its own cosmopolitan restaurant featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

This was our virgin voyage with VBT, and we knew not what to expect. We are not experienced cyclists. Never donned padded shorts before this trip. But, after pedaling six glorious days through magnificent countryside, on routes thoughtfully set up; securely guided by two friendly and oh so helpful locals who shared their knowledge of the area and were as personable as all get out, we will certainly be joining a VBT tour again. As we found out, 75% of our group already had. Conner and Mick were outstanding guides-attending to any need of any type at any time - on the ride or at the stops in between. They could not do enough for you - and always with an eager smile. They were like your best buddies taking you for a spin through their homeland. Just the best. The accommodations provided were great - warm, quaint, with excellent food. I really could go on, but let me simply say....we can't wait for our next VBT trip!
The Cotswalds Guided Bike Tour was GREAT!
We had great hotels and guides and interesting cities and towns to explore. The big negative is that the roads and country lanes had roads covered in potholes, loose gravel at the bottom of the hills and drivers who at high-speed drove by leaving not much room. We had 15 riders and eleven falls of the bikes. I had one when a person knocked me off my bike by putting his elbow out to hit my mirror when I rode by with no room to move over. All the other trips I have rode on had safer roads. The biggest complaint we had was when we landed at Heathrow, Terminal 2, we saw no driver to pick us up. We came out from baggage claim and no one with a VBT sign. We looked around for 15 minutes and then went to The Currency Exchange Kiosk as noted in our travel paperwork. After 10 minutes standing there, a man offered his help and called the Company on our paperwork. They said someone was on the way and to stay there. It took them a couple minutes to recognize our name and pickup information. After 30 more minutes waiting at the Kiosk, my wife walked around again and spotted a man holding a VBT sign and he told us that he had been there for 50 minutes. We knew that wasn't true and we both had searched for anyone with a VBT sign. The second incident with ground transportation came when we were scheduled to leave our hotel in Dublin. We were supposed to be picked up at 11:00am for a two-hour ride to Heathrow. At 11:10, our hotel desk person called APL Cars London and they said they would be there at 11:20am. At 11:30, the desk lady called again for up and they Company told her the driver was almost there and not to worry as our plane was taking off late. Our desk person to her that she checked, and our flight was on time, so we knew the ride person was lying. Our ride finally showed up at 11:50 am, 50 minutes late. We did get to the airport in time for our flight nut we were nervous with the rushed ride, worrying about checking in our bag, and finding our gate. We would have been more comfortable if we had started on time. VBT should reconsider using this ride company and they were late both coming and going on our trip.
rough roads and unreliable airport ride service.
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