The Cotswolds day trip from London
A day trip to the Cotswolds from London: the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter joined by a field path, Bourton-on-the-Water with its low bridges, and Arlington Row in Bibury. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
The Cotswolds in 1 day
Day 1
Stow-on-the-Wold
A hilltop market town of honey-coloured stone with a large square, antique shops and old coaching inns.
Upper Slaughter
A quiet village of stone cottages beside the River Eye, linked to Lower Slaughter by a short field path.
Lower Slaughter
A small village where the River Eye flows past stone cottages and an old watermill.
Bourton-on-the-Water
A village with low stone bridges over the River Windrush, often called the Venice of the Cotswolds.
Arlington Row, Bibury
A row of 17th-century weavers' cottages in Bibury, among the most photographed scenes in England.
Getting there
Trains from London Paddington reach Moreton-in-Marsh in about 1 hour 30. From there a car, taxi or local tour is the practical way round: the villages are 10 to 30 minutes apart by road and buses are few.
Staying in London? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to The Cotswolds
Late spring and early summer are the prettiest, with gardens in flower. Summer weekends are busy in Bourton. Autumn colours are lovely; winter is quiet, with short days and some cafés closed.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in The Cotswolds on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in The Cotswolds on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in The Cotswolds on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for The Cotswolds
- A car or a small-group tour makes the day much easier than buses.
- Walk the field path between Upper and Lower Slaughter: about 1.5 km along the River Eye.
- Bourton-on-the-Water is busiest from late morning; Bibury is quieter later in the afternoon.
- Wear shoes for muddy paths, especially after rain.
- Castle Combe is further south: add it on a car day or from Bath.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arlington Row, Bibury: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bourton-on-the-Water: Dennis Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lower Slaughter: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stow-on-the-Wold: Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
