Cotswolds Itinerary
This is a sample itinerary; it is important to note that your itinerary can be fully tailored or thoughtfully adjusted to suit the individual interests, preferences and pace of each traveller.
Day 1
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Collection from Heathrow Airport for the scenic 90-minute drive to your home for the week: Garden Cottage in Little Faringdon, perfectly situated between the picturesque Cotswold towns of Lechlade-on-Thames and Burford.
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Surrounded by beautiful gardens and rolling farmland, the cottage is luxuriously appointed in classic English country-house style, featuring an eclectic collection of antiques and artworks gathered by the owner over the years.
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In the evening, enjoy dinner with your host, Baroness van Zuylen, before an early night in preparation for the adventures ahead.
Day 2
After breakfast, you will depart with your host by car for Woodstock, home to the magnificent Blenheim Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only non-royal palace in England, as well as the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
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With intricate stone carvings by Grinling Gibbons, a grand library designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the remarkable Blenheim Tapestries and Meissen porcelain collection, and magnificent landscaped gardens and lake created by Capability Brown, Blenheim is rightly regarded as one of the finest palaces in Britain.
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You will enjoy a private escorted tour with a qualified Blenheim guide, followed by time to stroll through the park and formal gardens. Lunch will be at The Orangery Restaurant on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
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In the afternoon, explore the legendary antique shops of Woodstock before returning home via Burford, one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds. Here, you will have the opportunity to browse charming boutiques offering traditional local arts and crafts, and to visit the celebrated Burford Garden Company.
Day 3
On your third day with us, we explore the very heart of the Cotswolds, where Roman history, honey-coloured stone villages and rolling parkland combine in the most enchanting way.
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Our morning begins in Cirencester, once one of the most important cities in Roman Britain. At the remarkable Corinium Museum, exquisite mosaics and artefacts bring 2,000 years of history vividly to life. A gentle walk then leads us to the impressive Cirencester Amphitheatre, where you can stand on the grassy banks and imagine the drama of ancient Roman spectacles. We will wander through the elegant Market Place — and, if our visit coincides with the summer Farmers’ Market (usually held on the second and fourth Saturdays), you may browse local cheeses, breads and artisan delicacies — before strolling beneath the sweeping avenues of Cirencester Park, part of the historic Bathurst Estate.
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From here, we drive into the hills to Stow-on-the-Wold, a quintessential Cotswold market town with its historic square and inviting independent shops. Nearby stands St Edward's Church, a beautiful medieval church whose ancient yew-framed doorway feels almost storybook in its charm. Should you wish, we may also visit Chastleton House, a wonderfully preserved Jacobean manor where it seems as though time has stood still.
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On our return, we pass through the gentle river village of Bourton-on-the-Water — often called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” — before arriving in the picture-perfect village of Bibury to admire the iconic Arlington Row, a row of 14th-century cottages that seem lifted from a painting. We may pause at No.11 Bibury for a relaxed lunch or afternoon tea before returning home — a day rich in history, beauty and the timeless atmosphere that makes the Cotswolds so special.
Day 4
On Day Four, we immerse ourselves in the grand elegance of the Cotswolds’ finest country houses.
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Our morning begins at Buscot Park, a distinguished 18th-century estate set amid magnificent gardens, renowned in particular for its tranquil and beautifully designed water gardens.
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We then continue to Kelmscott Manor, the cherished country home of William Morris. Here, the spirit of the Arts and Crafts movement is evident in every detail — from the romantic, flower-filled gardens to the intimate and atmospheric interiors that remain deeply personal and evocative.
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After our visits, we will pause for a relaxed lunch at a charming countryside pub, enjoying a warm and traditional meal in true Cotswold style.
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If time allows, we may also explore Snowshill Manor, a wonderfully eccentric treasure house of curiosities, or return to Chastleton House, another beautifully preserved Jacobean gem.
Throughout the day, each stop offers timeless charm — a celebration of English gardens, stately elegance and, of course a delicious pause at a welcoming country inn along the way.
Day 6
For your final day, we keep things beautifully relaxed and indulgent before departure.
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We might spend the morning at Daylesford Organic, a much-loved Cotswolds destination where you can gently browse the farm shop, homeware rooms, garden spaces and artisan food counters — all thoughtfully curated and quintessentially English. It is the perfect place to pick up a few last treats or gifts, followed by a leisurely lunch in the café, celebrating fresh, seasonal produce.
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Alternatively, just a few minutes away lies Thyme, an elegant country estate with beautiful gardens and an exceptional restaurant — a rather special setting for a long, relaxed farewell lunch before setting off.
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At any point during your stay, should you wish, we can also arrange a professional deep-tissue massage at the house — a blissful way to unwind after days spent exploring the Cotswolds.
Day Six is simply about ease, pleasure and a graceful close to your time here, before your onward journey to the airport.
Day 5
Today we venture to the magnificent city of Oxford, home to the world-renowned University of Oxford, whose “dreaming spires” have inspired poets, scholars and storytellers for centuries.
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Our morning begins with a guided walk through the historic heart of the university, wandering cobbled lanes and golden-stone quadrangles. Among the most architecturally breathtaking colleges is Christ Church — grand, majestic and instantly recognisable. Its vast Tom Quad and soaring cathedral combine regal scale with spiritual beauty, while the magnificent Great Hall famously inspired the dining hall in the Harry Potter films. It is a place where scholarship, drama and splendour meet in unforgettable fashion.
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We may also step inside the extraordinary Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The Divinity School, with its intricate medieval vaulted ceiling, is truly breathtaking. Just across the way stands the iconic Radcliffe Camera, among the most photographed buildings in Britain.
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A short stroll brings us to beautiful Magdalen College, famed for its graceful cloisters and its deer park — a tranquil green retreat beside the River Cherwell.
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For lunch, we might dine in one of Oxford’s historic establishments — perhaps The Turf Tavern, tucked away down a hidden alley and dating back centuries, or the elegant The Old Parsonage, refined yet relaxed.
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In the afternoon, we could explore the superb Ashmolean Museum — Britain’s first public museum — whose collections span from ancient Egypt to Renaissance masterpieces, or simply enjoy browsing Oxford’s independent bookshops and boutiques. If the weather is kind, a gentle punt along the river offers perhaps the most quintessential Oxford experience of all.
A day in Oxford is not merely sightseeing; it is stepping into centuries of intellect, architecture and tradition, where every stone seems to tell a story.