England: Bath & the Cotswolds
The charming Cotswolds unfold before you on this UK cycling holiday, as you spin from bucolic countryside to the Georgian jewel of Bath.
Guided Biking
- Daily Mileage: 10 - 42|
- Biking: 1 - 5 hr|
- Group Size: 20
Starting From
10-day Air Package
$5,745
7-day Bike Tour Only
$4,695
Per person, double occupancy

England: Bath & the Cotswolds
The charming Cotswolds of your imagination come to life before your eyes on this UK cycling holiday. You’ll pedal along tranquil country lanes, viewing the woodlands, sheep-dotted pastures, and agricultural fields of the Windrush Valley, pausing to explore market towns, tiny hamlets, and thatched-cottage villages. Contrast these discoveries with visits to the splendid Hidcote Gardens, magnificent Blenheim Palace, and the Georgian jewel of Bath. You’ll also touch the region’s ancient roots as you cycle the 2,000-year-old Fosse Way, explore the Roman ruins of Bath. Lunch at a local pub, daily English breakfasts, and overnights at small country estates round out your authentic experience of this wonderful corner of England.What to Expect
This tour offers a combination of easy terrain mixed with moderate hills, mainly on quiet country roads. Our VBT van support is always available for those who need assistance with the hills. Ideal for enthusiastic beginners to experienced cyclists.
- Daily Mileage: 10 - 42|
- Biking: 1 - 5 hr|
- Group Size: 20
Cycling
Cyclists
Support
Tour Highlights
- Enter the world of Downton Abbey in Bampton, its stand-in on the beloved PBS series.
- Explore the gardens and state rooms 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.
- Marvel at the artistry of Hidcote Gardens, one of England’s most influential Arts and Crafts gardens.
- Probe the region’s Roman heritage on a 2,000-year-old cycling route and end at the ancient ruins in Bath.
- Fuel up each morning with a hearty English breakfast.
Average High /
Low Temperature (°F):
May72º/49º
Jun79º/56º
Jul79º/59º
Aug81º/61º
Sep75º/55º
Oct63º/47º
Average
Precipitation:
May2.8 in
Jun2.5 in
Jul1.5 in
Aug2.6 in
Sep2.2 in
Oct2.7 in
Air Package | Tour Only |
|
---|---|---|
Roundtrip international airfare | ||
Transfers to and from international airport | ||
One night in Oxford and one night in Bristol in conveniently located hotels with breakfasts included | ||
6 nights in small country estates | ||
10 meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners |

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)
See More >Biking Packages Include:
Custom VBT Bike and Helmet
Two Local, Bilingual Trip Leaders
Vehicle Support
Luggage Transfers
Ride with GPS and Daily Route Notes
Welcome Reception
Facilitated Cultural Experiences
Your Choice of VBT Branded Gear for Your Adventure
Accommodations
Enjoy Your Vacation Longer With Low-Cost Trip Extensions
Air Package Only
2021 Pre-Trip Extension - Henley-on-Thames
2 Nights From $495 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $195
- 2 nights at the Hotel du Vin Henley-on-Thames or The Red Lion Hotel, Henley-on-Thames
- Daily English breakfast
- City Information
- Airport transfers
Depart home for England. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary.
Upon arrival at London Heathrow Airport, 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.
Once you have cleared customs, a VBT representative holding a VBT sign meets you and assists you with your transfer by taxi (of approximately one hour) to your centrally located hotel in Henley-on-Thames. The meeting location will depend on your arrival terminal:
Heathrow Terminal 2: Currency Exchange Kiosk (Travelex)
Heathrow Terminal 3: WHSmith Store, located on the right-hand side of the arrivals gate
Heathrow Terminal 4: Costa Coffee Shop
Heathrow Terminal 5: Costa Coffee Shop
If you are going to be delayed meeting our transfer representative for more than 15 minutes due to delayed or lost luggage, please let our transfer company know by calling Airport Pickups London +44 20 8688 7744. You may also contact Allianz Global Assistance to advise of your delay, and they will contact our transfer service on your behalf. Our drivers are generally able to wait for up to 45 minutes from the time your flight lands, after which you would be responsible for your own transfer.
The rest of the day is free to explore the charms of Henley-on-Thames and dine on your own, using your VBT City Information as your guide.
Please note: Your hotel room may not be available until 3:00 p.m. If you arrive early, you may store your luggage with the reception desk.
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.
Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Henley-on-Thames or The Red Lion Hotel, Henley-on-Thames
Today, explore Henley-on-Thames, a 13th-century civil parish and one of the most beautiful towns in England. Spread along a scenic stretch of the River Thames, Henley lies within the embrace of a beautiful Chiltern landscape of wooded hills and green fields. Just a few strides from the riverbank is the very heart of Henley with its historic church, town hall, and market square. You have ample time during your stay to take it all in and to browse the many boutiques.
Known the world over for its famous annual Royal Regatta, Henley attracts some of the world’s finest rowers. Learn more about the town’s sporting heritage at the award-winning River and Rowing Museum, ceremoniously opened by Queen Elizabeth II herself in 1998. Stroll along the beautiful Thames path national trail as boats and swans drift along the calm waters. Many buildings will seem familiar to fans of the TV series Midsomer Murders. Your hotel can help you arrange a location tour of some iconic filming locations. Henley-on-Thames offers lovely pubs, numerous cafés, and great restaurants to keep you refreshed.
Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Henley-on-Thames or The Red Lion Hotel, Henley-on-Thames
Included Meals: Breakfast
Check out of your hotel, meet your driver in the hotel reception area at 10:00 a.m., and shuttle to Oxford (about 45 minutes). After checking into your Oxford hotel, the remainder of the day is free.
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.
Oxford is undoubtedly England’s most recognizable city outside of London, famous the world over for its prestigious University, the oldest in the English-speaking world. Wander the network of cobbled lanes lined with noble buildings spanning some 800 years. Ascend St. Martin’s Tower, also called “CarfaxTower,” for sweeping views of the city’s rooftops and soaring spires. Visit some of the college buildings, such as Christ Church College where you’ll find the Tudor dining hall, which provided inspiration for the Great Hall at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. A tour of Oxford’s castle will unveil stories of the last 1,000 years. For a taste of more recent history, browse the stalls of the historic Covered Market, open since 1774.
VBT Air Package guests will arrive throughout the day.
Accommodation: voco Oxford Spires Hotel, Oxford
Included Meals: Breakfast
Air Package Only
2021 Post-Trip Extension - Cheltenham
2 Nights From $495 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $195
- 2 nights at the Hotel du Vin Cheltenham, Cheltenham
- Daily English breakfast
- City Information
- Airport transfers
After a relaxing breakfast, join the VBT transfer at 10:00 a.m. for the drive to Cheltenham (approximately 1 hour). Please note that hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m. You may leave your bags with reception while you explore. VBT provides you with City Information that includes recommendations.
Situated at the Cotswolds’ edge, Cheltenham is beloved by locals and visitors as an inland spa resort. Its handsome Regency architecture, broad avenues, and fine parks lend the city an elegant air that belies its humble beginnings as a modest market town. King George III traveled here in 1788 to treat his infirmities, setting into motion a building boom of Regency houses and a rush of nobility eager to take the curative waters. Thus, “Cheltenham Spa” was born. Today, it remains one of the most fashionable health resorts in the country.
There are several sites where you can take the medicinal waters during your stay. The classical, colonnaded Pittville Pump Room, with its aqua-green dome rising above the lakes of Pittville Park, draws visitors who have a taste for history. It was the last of the spa buildings built in Cheltenham—and the largest. You can still drink from its original pump, which draws England’s only natural alkaline water from the springs below.
To take in the refined ambiance of Cheltenham, stroll the Promenade, lined with fine Regency terraces and the Neptune Fountain. In the posh Montpellier district, browse small boutiques and stop by one of many wine bars and restaurants. English composer Gustav Holst was born here; his childhood home is the Holst Birthplace Museum, where you can see the piano on which he composed The Planets. The musician is immortalized atop a beautiful fountain in the Montpellier Gardens.
Tonight, stop in for a pint at one of the many pubs and chic restaurants, all within walking distance of your centrally located hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham, Cheltenham
Included Meals: Breakfast
You may wish to venture a little farther afield today. Perhaps enjoy a nostalgic train journey on the volunteer-operated Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. The 28-mile (45.1 km) round-trip operates steam and heritage diesel trains between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds. Just sit back and relax as you take in lovely views of sleepy hamlets and villages and enjoy outstanding vistas of the Malvern Hills and beyond.
Accommodation: Hotel du Vin Cheltenham, Cheltenham
Included 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.
Included Meals: Breakfast

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