England: Bath & the Cotswolds

Depart home for England. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.

Upon arrival at London Heathrow Airport, England claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill out a PIR form before leaving the customs area—VBT representatives are not allowed in the customs area. Make certain your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so your VBT representative can identify you as you enter the arrival hall. Your VBT representative will be in the arrivals area one hour after the flight has landed. If you exit customs earlier, please remain in the arrivals area. Your VBT representative will be holding a VBT sign and will help arrange a taxi for your transfer (approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes) to your centrally located hotel in Oxford.

If you are going to be delayed for more than 15 minutes at the Lost & Found desk due to delayed or lost luggage, please let our transfer company know by calling Airport Pickups London +44 20 8688 7744 (at a fee). You may also contact our One Call travel assistance to advise of your delay, and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf.

The rest of the day is free to explore this heralded university town and dine on your own, using the VBT City Information as your guide.

Please note: Your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. If you arrive early in the day, you may store your luggage with the reception desk.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in before the scheduled program dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

Hotel: Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel

There’ll be time to relax or explore Oxford after breakfast this morning. After checking out, you can store your luggage at the hotel’s reception desk as you will not leave Oxford until after lunch. Plan to eat lunch or a snack on your own before meeting your VBT representative, as the next scheduled meal is dinner. Meet your VBT representative in the hotel lobby at 1:00 p.m. Please ensure you are dressed ready to start cycling. You may change into your biking gear in the hotel’s public restrooms.

Take a short van shuttle to Aston Pottery, the start of your cycling adventure. After a safety and bike-fitting session, enjoy a pleasant pedal through the countryside to Bampton. This charming village will seem familiar to Downton Abbey fans: it doubled as the fictional Yorkshire village of Downton in the beloved PBS series. Continue cycling through small hamlets and past tree-lined fields into Burford, your home for the next two nights.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

Hotel: The Lamb Inn
Meals: Breakfast (included for Air Package guests only), Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 14 miles

Afternoon
Aston Pottery to Burford: 14 miles

What to Expect: Cycle along mainly flat quiet country lanes, with a gradual incline into Burford.

Cycle the breathtaking Windrush Valley today, crossing the river and traversing the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Ride through the sylvan Wychwood Forest to the village of Leafield and the charming market town of Charlbury. The centerpiece of the day is your visit to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We have arranged special permission for you to enter the beautifully manicured grounds through the back gate and cycle through the 2,000-acre estate, laid out by one of England’s—and history’s—great landscape designers, Capability Brown. All pathways lead to the resplendent palace, where you have free time for lunch and an included visit of the state rooms and the Churchill exhibition. You may also enjoy a leisurely stroll around the grounds. After a rewarding visit, ride or shuttle back to Burford. Those who join the shuttle will stop at the wonderful Swan at Swinbrook pub.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Burford has several options for a fine meal.

Hotel: The Lamb Inn
Meals: Breakfast

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 10 – 37 miles

Morning
Burford to Charlbury:10 miles
or
Burford to Blenheim Palace:18 miles

Afternoon
Blenheim Palace to Burford: 19 miles

What to Expect: Today’s route is more undulating than yesterday’s but again follows quiet country lanes. As you cycle the picturesque Windrush Valley, enjoy views of dry-stone walls, pastures, and agricultural fields along the roadside. Pass the great woodlands of Wychwood Forest before coasting into the small market town of Charlbury. Then continue to the back gate of Blenheim Palace and enjoy the unique privilege of riding through the park, passing the Column of Victory and crossing the beautiful Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge. The afternoon route departs Blenheim through the back gate and traces lovely country lanes to the thatched cottage village of Minster Lovell. Continue along the Windrush Valley back into Burford.

More of the stunning Windrush Valley unfolds before you today, a picture-perfect canvas of the Cotswolds. By day’s end, you will understand why our Trip Leaders call this peaceful region “happy valley.” The Windrush was named for the way its namesake river winds through the rushes, or the tall grasses along the waterway’s banks. Enjoy a reel through the historic Sherborne Estate, part of England’s only remaining 17th-century deer course, created for sport by one John “Crump” Dutton. Your route continues to one of the the Cotswolds’ treasures: Bourton-on-the-Water. This quaint village is sometimes called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for the graceful arched stone bridges that cross the River Windrush in town. There’ll be time to explore its many charms and have lunch on your own. Later, cycle to “The Slaughters”—Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter. The handsome sandstone manor houses and churches recall a stately era of lords and ladies. It is pure pleasure to take a slow pedal through these quintessential English villages. After time here, you may shuttle to your next hotel in Moreton-on-Marsh, or enjoy a longer riding day through more beautiful countryside. This evening, share your discoveries with fellow travelers over dinner at the hotel.

Hotel: The Manor House Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 13 – 24 miles

Burford to Lower Slaughter: 13 miles
or
Burford to Moreton-in-Marsh: 24 miles

What to Expect: The route begins along the Windrush Valley, passing through the small hamlets of Little Barrington and Windrush. The day’s main hill climb leads up to Clapton-on-the-Hill. Then it’s a lovely downhill coast to Bourton-on-the-Water. Park your bikes and enjoy a stroll around this pretty town with its many bridges and shops. Continue along more rolling countryside into the scenic village of Lower Slaughter. The day’s longer option leads to the hamlets of Lower Swell and Upper Swell through pastures dotted with sheep.

After breakfast, set out into the magnificent hedge- and tree-lined country lanes of the North Cotswolds. Gentle hills surround you as you make your way to the small market town of Chipping Campden, home to the Cotswold Olympics and honey-hued limestone buildings. Browse its Market Hall and central High Street before continuing your reel to the American-inspired Hidcote Gardens, one of England’s most influential Arts and Crafts gardens. Its colorful and intricately designed outdoor “rooms” are full of surprises. After, you may ride or shuttle up to Broadway Tower, where lunch in a small café awaits. Lady Coventry of Worcester had this Gothic folly built at 1,204 feet above sea level strictly for her pleasure. Your lunchtime views take in 16 counties and stretch all the way to Wales on a clear day. Inspired by this beguiling canvas, you continue your ride through the lavender fields at Snowshill and to the village of Guiting Power. This tiny and very tidy village perched on the slopes above the Windrush Valley is owned by a charitable trust. Mostly, though, it is celebrated for its cream tea, renowned as the best in the Cotswolds. After sampling some, you may ride or shuttle back to the hotel.

This evening is free for you to explore Moreton-in-Marsh and try one of its restaurants.

Hotel: The Manor House Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 12 – 41 miles

Morning
Moreton-in-Marsh to Hidcote Gardens: 12 miles
Hidcote Gardens to Broadway Tower: 7 miles

Afternoon
Broadway Tower to Guiting Power: 9 miles
Guiting Power to Moreton-in-Marsh:13 miles

What to Expect: The first section of today’s ride is slightly undulating along lovely tree- and hedge-lined country lanes, passing through pretty hamlets. Stop in Chipping Campden to explore ancient High Street and the Market Hall. You pass over the railway line on the outskirts of Chipping Campden, then cycle uphill towards Hidcote Gardens. Park your bike by the entrance and enjoy a visit. You can shuttle or cycle to Broadway Tower for lunch; the ride is 5.5 miles with a long steady uphill climb. After lunch, the route leads through beautiful countryside down a long, steady hill to beautiful Guiting Power. From here, either shuttle or ride through undulating country lanes back to the hotel.

Shuttle this morning for about an hour and ten minutes through the stunning English countryside to the small village of Sopworth. From here, you cycle along the Fosse Way, a 2,000-year-old Roman route linking Exeter and Lincoln. Remarkable for ancient engineering, the road never veers more than six miles from a straight line for its full distance of 182 miles. You, however, will ride just a fraction of this historic pathway, eventually leaving it to follow a road into the heart of Bath, the elegant Georgian jewel of England. You approach the city via the 200-year old Kennet and Avon Canal, lined with beautifully painted narrow boats.

Rendezvous with your Trip Leaders at the Holburne Museum. You leave your bike here and walk the last half mile to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy lunch and the many sights of this beautiful city, including the unmissable Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, the King’s Circus, Jane Austen’s House, and Bath Abbey. Bath also boasts many boutique shops and opportunities to join locals for English afternoon tea. Try one of the many local restaurants for dinner tonight.

Hotel: The Francis Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 miles

Morning
Sopworth to Bath: 19 miles

What to Expect: Today’s route is relatively flat, with just three short uphill sections and a long downhill to join the canal. Our route along the Fosse Way is very straight. Cycle along quiet lanes through beautiful countryside, a bit less sedate in feel to the northern Cotswolds but nonetheless beautiful. Upon reaching the canal, you follow a car-free towpath of compact gravel. Pass through one of the canal tunnels before arriving at the Holburne Museum. In keeping with local etiquette, please walk your bike through Sydney Gardens to the museum.

Shuttle 40 minutes to the small village of Sherston, an ancient Roman settlement. The morning’s ride again follows the Fosse Way, passing charming hamlets such as Yatton Keynell, which is surrounded by tranquil conservation area, and Biddestone, situated within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As you ride, the Cotswold Hills and Mendip Hills mark your progress and lead you to the old wool town of Bradford-on-Avon in the Avon Valley. At the river, follow again the Kennet and Avon Canal through the valley and rejoin the section from yesterday to the Holburne Museum in Bath.

Those who prefer a shorter ride today can begin riding in Neston instead, following the same route into Bath.

This afternoon there’ll be free time to continue your exploration of Bath or just to relax and reflect on your week. This evening, recount your memorable journey over a festive farewell dinner.

Hotel: The Francis Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 17 – 30 miles

Morning
Neston to Bath: 17 miles
or
Sherston to Bath: 30 miles

What to Expect: This undulating route has two hills (one if you start at Neston) and traverses pretty southern Cotswolds countryside on quiet lanes. The final 9 miles follow the car-free towpath of compact gravel on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Sections of the towpath are single file. Enjoy the tranquility of this scenic region on your final cycling day. Again, please follow local etiquette and walk your bike through Sydney Gardens to the museum.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel, say goodbye to your Trip Leaders, and transfer approximately 50 minutes to Bristol. Please note that hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m. You may leave your bags with reception while you explore.

Bristol is steeped in English and world history. John Cabot set sail from here in 1497 and discovered the Canadian province of Newfoundland. Despite its inland harbor location, Bristol was one of the world’s greatest ports in the 17th and 18th centuries.

When trade declined, the burgeoning city became noted for its engineering prowess. It was soon synonymous with its famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a titan of the Industrial Revolution. The city is a living history of his accomplishments. He designed the magnificent Temple Meads Railway Station and the steamship, SS Great Britain, the first iron hulled screw-propelled steamship to cross the Atlantic. His Clifton Suspension Bridge is a symbol of the city.

Bristol today is modern, vibrant, and attractive, home to richly varied architecture. Fine old churches, elegant Georgian terraces and crescents (especially in the Clifton suburb), and imposing Victorian public buildings all grace its cityscape. Strap on your walking shoes and stroll Gloucester Road, said to be Europe’s longest stretch of independent shops. Sample a buffet of international cuisine at the St. Nicholas Market. And perhaps grab a pint at a pub along the city’s shop-lined Floating Harbor. One of the best ways to take it all in is via the Open Top sightseeing bus.

Hotel: Hotel du Vin, Bristol
Meals: Breakfast

Early this morning*, transfer to London Heathrow Airport for your departing flight. Please ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated transfer time**.

*Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the front desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

**Please note: VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense.

Meals: Breakfast

Meet your fellow travelers and VBT Trip Leaders at 1:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Oxford Hotel (73 High Street, Oxford OX1 4BE, Tel +44 1865 248 332). You will have a chance to change into your biking gear in the hotel’s public restrooms. Please note: Plan to eat lunch or a snack on your own beforehand, as the next scheduled meal is dinner.

If your arrival is delayed, please contact our hotel in Oxford to advise staff and they will pass your message along to your VBT Trip Leaders. In the event of delays, also please see page 3 of “For Travel-Related Emergencies.” VBT highly recommends flying to England at least one day before the tour begins. This allows you to rest and recover from jet lag before you begin sightseeing and biking.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.

Hotel: The Lamb Inn
Meals: Breakfast (included for Air Package guests only), Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 14 miles

Afternoon
Aston Pottery to Burford: 14 miles

What to Expect: Cycle along mainly flat quiet country lanes, with a gradual incline into Burford.

Cycle the breathtaking Windrush Valley today, crossing the river and traversing the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Ride through the sylvan Wychwood Forest to the village of Leafield and the charming market town of Charlbury. The centerpiece of the day is your visit to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We have arranged special permission for you to enter the beautifully manicured grounds through the back gate and cycle through the 2,000-acre estate, laid out by one of England’s—and history’s—great landscape designers, Capability Brown. All pathways lead to the resplendent palace, where you have free time for lunch and an included visit of the state rooms and the Churchill exhibition. You may also enjoy a leisurely stroll around the grounds. After a rewarding visit, ride or shuttle back to Burford. Those who join the shuttle will stop at the wonderful Swan at Swinbrook pub.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Burford has several options for a fine meal.

Hotel: The Lamb Inn
Meals: Breakfast

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 10 – 37 miles

Morning
Burford to Charlbury:10 miles
or
Burford to Blenheim Palace:18 miles

Afternoon
Blenheim Palace to Burford: 19 miles

What to Expect: Today’s route is more undulating than yesterday’s but again follows quiet country lanes. As you cycle the picturesque Windrush Valley, enjoy views of dry-stone walls, pastures, and agricultural fields along the roadside. Pass the great woodlands of Wychwood Forest before coasting into the small market town of Charlbury. Then continue to the back gate of Blenheim Palace and enjoy the unique privilege of riding through the park, passing the Column of Victory and crossing the beautiful Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge. The afternoon route departs Blenheim through the back gate and traces lovely country lanes to the thatched cottage village of Minster Lovell. Continue along the Windrush Valley back into Burford.

More of the stunning Windrush Valley unfolds before you today, a picture-perfect canvas of the Cotswolds. By day’s end, you will understand why our Trip Leaders call this peaceful region “happy valley.” The Windrush was named for the way its namesake river winds through the rushes, or the tall grasses along the waterway’s banks. Enjoy a reel through the historic Sherborne Estate, part of England’s only remaining 17th-century deer course, created for sport by one John “Crump” Dutton. Your route continues to one of the the Cotswolds’ treasures: Bourton-on-the-Water. This quaint village is sometimes called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for the graceful arched stone bridges that cross the River Windrush in town. There’ll be time to explore its many charms and have lunch on your own. Later, cycle to “The Slaughters”—Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter. The handsome sandstone manor houses and churches recall a stately era of lords and ladies. It is pure pleasure to take a slow pedal through these quintessential English villages. After time here, you may shuttle to your next hotel in Moreton-on-Marsh, or enjoy a longer riding day through more beautiful countryside. This evening, share your discoveries with fellow travelers over dinner at the hotel.

Hotel: The Manor House Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choices:
Cumulative Distance Range: 13 – 24 miles

Burford to Lower Slaughter: 13 miles
or
Burford to Moreton-in-Marsh: 24 miles

What to Expect: The route begins along the Windrush Valley, passing through the small hamlets of Little Barrington and Windrush. The day’s main hill climb leads up to Clapton-on-the-Hill. Then it’s a lovely downhill coast to Bourton-on-the-Water. Park your bikes and enjoy a stroll around this pretty town with its many bridges and shops. Continue along more rolling countryside into the scenic village of Lower Slaughter. The day’s longer option leads to the hamlets of Lower Swell and Upper Swell through pastures dotted with sheep.

After breakfast, set out into the magnificent hedge- and tree-lined country lanes of the North Cotswolds. Gentle hills surround you as you make your way to the small market town of Chipping Campden, home to the Cotswold Olympics and honey-hued limestone buildings. Browse its Market Hall and central High Street before continuing your reel to the American-inspired Hidcote Gardens, one of England’s most influential Arts and Crafts gardens. Its colorful and intricately designed outdoor “rooms” are full of surprises. After, you may ride or shuttle up to Broadway Tower, where lunch in a small café awaits. Lady Coventry of Worcester had this Gothic folly built at 1,204 feet above sea level strictly for her pleasure. Your lunchtime views take in 16 counties and stretch all the way to Wales on a clear day. Inspired by this beguiling canvas, you continue your ride through the lavender fields at Snowshill and to the village of Guiting Power. This tiny and very tidy village perched on the slopes above the Windrush Valley is owned by a charitable trust. Mostly, though, it is celebrated for its cream tea, renowned as the best in the Cotswolds. After sampling some, you may ride or shuttle back to the hotel.

This evening is free for you to explore Moreton-in-Marsh and try one of its restaurants.

Hotel: The Manor House Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 12 – 41 miles

Morning
Moreton-in-Marsh to Hidcote Gardens: 12 miles
Hidcote Gardens to Broadway Tower: 7 miles

Afternoon
Broadway Tower to Guiting Power: 9 miles
Guiting Power to Moreton-in-Marsh:13 miles

What to Expect: The first section of today’s ride is slightly undulating along lovely tree- and hedge-lined country lanes, passing through pretty hamlets. Stop in Chipping Campden to explore ancient High Street and the Market Hall. You pass over the railway line on the outskirts of Chipping Campden, then cycle uphill towards Hidcote Gardens. Park your bike by the entrance and enjoy a visit. You can shuttle or cycle to Broadway Tower for lunch; the ride is 5.5 miles with a long steady uphill climb. After lunch, the route leads through beautiful countryside down a long, steady hill to beautiful Guiting Power. From here, either shuttle or ride through undulating country lanes back to the hotel.

Shuttle this morning for about an hour and ten minutes through the stunning English countryside to the small village of Sopworth. From here, you cycle along the Fosse Way, a 2,000-year-old Roman route linking Exeter and Lincoln. Remarkable for ancient engineering, the road never veers more than six miles from a straight line for its full distance of 182 miles. You, however, will ride just a fraction of this historic pathway, eventually leaving it to follow a road into the heart of Bath, the elegant Georgian jewel of England. You approach the city via the 200-year old Kennet and Avon Canal, lined with beautifully painted narrow boats.

Rendezvous with your Trip Leaders at the Holburne Museum. You leave your bike here and walk the last half mile to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to enjoy lunch and the many sights of this beautiful city, including the unmissable Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, the King’s Circus, Jane Austen’s House, and Bath Abbey. Bath also boasts many boutique shops and opportunities to join locals for English afternoon tea. Try one of the many local restaurants for dinner tonight.

Hotel: The Francis Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 19 miles

Morning
Sopworth to Bath: 19 miles

What to Expect: Today’s route is relatively flat, with just three short uphill sections and a long downhill to join the canal. Our route along the Fosse Way is very straight. Cycle along quiet lanes through beautiful countryside, a bit less sedate in feel to the northern Cotswolds but nonetheless beautiful. Upon reaching the canal, you follow a car-free towpath of compact gravel. Pass through one of the canal tunnels before arriving at the Holburne Museum. In keeping with local etiquette, please walk your bike through Sydney Gardens to the museum.

Shuttle 40 minutes to the small village of Sherston, an ancient Roman settlement. The morning’s ride again follows the Fosse Way, passing charming hamlets such as Yatton Keynell, which is surrounded by tranquil conservation area, and Biddestone, situated within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As you ride, the Cotswold Hills and Mendip Hills mark your progress and lead you to the old wool town of Bradford-on-Avon in the Avon Valley. At the river, follow again the Kennet and Avon Canal through the valley and rejoin the section from yesterday to the Holburne Museum in Bath.

Those who prefer a shorter ride today can begin riding in Neston instead, following the same route into Bath.

This afternoon there’ll be free time to continue your exploration of Bath or just to relax and reflect on your week. This evening, recount your memorable journey over a festive farewell dinner.

Hotel: The Francis Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today’s Ride Choice:
Cumulative Distance Range: 17 – 30 miles

Morning
Neston to Bath: 17 miles
or
Sherston to Bath: 30 miles

What to Expect: This undulating route has two hills (one if you start at Neston) and traverses pretty southern Cotswolds countryside on quiet lanes. The final 9 miles follow the car-free towpath of compact gravel on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Sections of the towpath are single file. Enjoy the tranquility of this scenic region on your final cycling day. Again, please follow local etiquette and walk your bike through Sydney Gardens to the museum.

Your tour ends after breakfast today. The hotel will help arrange a taxi to the train station, where you can catch service to Paddington Station in London.

Hotel: Hotel du Vin, Bristol
Meals: Breakfast