Day Trips
A Day Trip to the Cotswolds from London
Honey-stone villages, rolling hills and a country pub: how to do the Cotswolds as a day trip from London.
In short: our top picks are Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and Stow-on-the-Wold. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
The Cotswolds are England at its most picture-perfect: honey-stone villages, rolling green hills and country pubs with a fire in the grate. Closer to London than you might think, they make a wonderful day out from the city. This is how to do the Cotswolds in a day, without a car if need be.
| Place | Price |
|---|---|
| Bourton-on-the-Water | |
| Bibury | |
| Stow-on-the-Wold | |
| Daylesford Organic Farm | £££ |
| Broadway Tower |
-
Editor’s choice
Bourton-on-the-Water
Why we pick itThe Venice of the Cotswolds, with low bridges over the river; pretty, popular and easy to reach.
-
Bibury
Why we pick itArlington Row's honey-stone cottages are the most photographed scene in the Cotswolds for good reason.
-
Stow-on-the-Wold
Why we pick itA handsome market town of antique shops and country pubs; a fine base for a day's wandering.
-
Daylesford Organic Farm
Why we pick itA famous farm shop, cafe and spa; a smart, delicious stop for lunch in the heart of the hills.
-
Broadway Tower
Why we pick itA hilltop folly with panoramic views across the Cotswolds.
Before you book
The Cotswolds are easiest by car, but you can reach the main towns by train to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kemble and a taxi. Pick two or three villages rather than chasing them all. And book a country-pub lunch ahead; the good ones fill, especially on a sunny weekend.
Related guides
Experiences Things to Do in London
Our considered guide to doing London well: the experiences, views and evenings worth your time.
5 places Read guide →
Experiences The Perfect London Itinerary: Two to Three Days
How to see the best of London in a weekend, balancing the icons with the corners that make it worth it.
5 places Read guide →
Day Trips A Day Trip to Bath from London
Roman baths, Georgian crescents and a grand lunch: how to do Bath as a day trip from London.
4 places Read guide →
Day Trips best weekend breaks near london
Six overnight escapes within roughly two hours of London, from a 600-year-old Cotswolds coaching inn to a thermal spa hotel in Bath and a smugglers' inn in Rye.
6 places Read guide →
Day Trips best country house hotels near london
Six grown-up country houses within easy reach of London, from Cliveden's grand terraces to Heckfield's quiet farmhouse polish. The drive times, the draws and how to book.
6 places Read guide →
Day Trips cambridge day trip london
King's Cross to Cambridge in under an hour. A punt down the Backs, King's College Chapel, the Fitzwilliam, and where to sit down for lunch once your feet have had enough.
6 places Read guide →From the Journal
The Art of the London Date Night
Dinner is the easy part. The idea is what people remember. A guide to dates that actually land.
14 Aug 2026Read →
London Off the Script: The Unusual and the Free
The London you remember years later is rarely the one on the list, and the best of it tends to cost nothing at all.
12 Jun 2026Read →
Things to Do for Two: A London Date Beyond Dinner
The most memorable London dates are often the ones where dinner is a footnote and the evening is shaped by something you did together.
4 Jun 2026Read →Readers also viewed
Day Trips The Best Country House Hotels Near London
Six grown-up country houses within easy reach of London, from Cliveden's grand terraces to Heckfield's quiet farmhouse polish. The drive times, the draws and how to book.
6 places Read guide → Day Trips The Best Weekend Breaks Near London
Six overnight escapes within roughly two hours of London, from a 600-year-old Cotswolds coaching inn to a thermal spa hotel in Bath and a smugglers' inn in Rye.
6 places Read guide → Day Trips A Cambridge Day Trip From London
King's Cross to Cambridge in under an hour. A punt down the Backs, King's College Chapel, the Fitzwilliam, and where to sit down for lunch once your feet have had enough.
6 places Read guide →
Day Trips A Day Trip to Windsor from London
The royal castle, the Great Park and a riverside lunch: how to do Windsor as a day trip from London.
4 places Read guide →