Shakespeare Country and the Cotswolds

Day 1: Oxford
Day 2: Oxford - Woodstock, 10 mi. (16 km)
Day 3: Woodstock - Kingham, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 4: Kingham - Stratford upon Avon, 23 or 32 mi. (37 or 51 km)
Day 5: Stratford upon Avon - Broadway, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
Day 6: Broadway - Chipping Campden, 12 mi. (19 km)
Day 7: Chipping Campden to Moreton in Marsh, 8, 24, or 36 mi. (13, 38, or 57 km)
Day 8: Moreton in Marsh

Day 1: Oxford
Arrive in Oxford on Friday and check into your hotel adjacent to the heart of the city. Enjoy the treasures of this beautiful city today and stroll through the lovely colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture and gardens. Take in the museums, galleries, and libraries galore, and perhaps a concert or play. Discover the little tea rooms and fine restaurants, the unique shops and back streets, and the river backwaters dotted with punters and rowing eights.

Sample accommodations
Classic: Tower House
Luxury: The Randolph

Day 2: Oxford - Woodstock, 12 mi. (19 km)
Meet your host first thing at your hotel. They will check your bicycle and run through your itinerary. Then your cycling journey begins along the Oxford Canal which lies very close to your hotel. This delightful and rural waterside ride leads out of Oxford, past houseboats and locks, and through pretty villages. Not far from the canal, sits the Cotswold stone village of Woodstock and the grandiose Blenheim Palace set in 2000 acres of Capability Brown landscape. Built in the 18th Century, it was the birthplace of Winston Churchill and the 12th Duke of Marlborough lives there. We know the mileage is low this day, but to really enjoy Blenheim, you need sufficient time to do so. You will stay in the heart of this lovely village.

Sample accommodations
Classic: The Blenheim Buttery
Luxury: The Bear

Day 3: Woodstock - Kingham, 23 mi. (37 km)
Today’s ride explores classic Cotswolds country. There are twisting lanes leading through pretty villages; tiny bridges crossing gurgling rivers, old woodlands, hidden tracks nestling in the valleys and wonderful views. Cozy pubs dot the route. Your inn tonight overlooks the village green in one of these villages.

Sample accommodations
Classic: The King's Head Inn
Luxury: Kingham Plough

Day 4: Kingham - Stratford upon Avon, 23 or 32 mi. (37 or 51 km)
Start the day with either a short train hop or a gentle pedal to the Cotswold market town of Moreton-in-Marsh where the high street formed part of the Roman Fosse Way. Linger in the shops and cafes before cycling gently on through peaceful country lanes to enjoy the renowned gardens of Hidcote and Kiftsgate before freewheeling downhill through ancient villages, to join an old railway track route that leads straight into Stratford. This old market town is of course known worldwide through its most famous resident, William Shakespeare. Your overnight stay is in the heart of the town with all its half-timbered buildings.

Sample accommodations
Classic: The White Swan Hotel
Luxury: The Arden Hotel

Day 5: Stratford upon Avon - Broadway, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
Take the morning to further enjoy Stratford as there's much to see. Visit the restored Tudor houses associated with Shakespeare and the Royal Shakespeare Company's theatre. Stroll around the backstreets, browse the shops, linger in a cafe or take a boat trip on the river Avon. Pedal off after lunch on an easy ride to the neat gardens and pretty cottages of Broadway where you will stay the night. If you are keen to cycle further, we provide directions to Sudeley Castle and Winchcombe, which offers a lovely return journey through a string of gorgeous villages.  Your overnight stay is in the heart of Broadway.

Sample accommodations 
Classic: The Olive Branch Guest House
Luxury: The Lygon Arms

Day 6: Broadway to Chipping Campden, 12 mi. (19 km)
This will be one of your favorite days of cycling in England ever - despite the inclusion of the only real hill of the entire route! Leave all visitors behind as you take an idyllic rural track through sheep-clad hills to the delightful village of Snowshill where you can visit the manor house. Ride on through purple lavender fields and look forward to a refreshment stop near the Broadway Tower, which affords breathtaking views over 12 counties on a clear day. The breathtaking vistas continue with a downhill route for the rest of the day that leads to the 'must-see' 14th-century honey-colored stone buildings of Chipping Campden. For the last night of the tour, you will stay in the heart of this town. Soak up the very special atmosphere of the place and relax after a stunning day of cycling. Again, we know the mileage is not great this day but there is just so much to see and enjoy!

Sample accommodations 
Classic: Bantam Tea Rooms
Luxury: Cotswold House

Day 7: Chipping Campden to Moreton in Marsh, 8, 24, or 36 mi. (13, 38, or 57 km)
Your final day gives you a couple of fascinating options. Start the day by cycling through some lovely hidden villages to reach Moreton in Marsh. From here you can pedal further on through the Cotswolds across fords and fields to discover ancient Stow on Wold whilst the longest ride also takes you to the lovely hamlets of the Slaughters and to Bourton on Water with a hill. All routes lead back to Moreton for your final night in the heart of this Cotswold market town.

Sample accommodations 
Classic: 
Luxury: The Manor House Hotel

Day 8: Moreton in Marsh
Departure

Looking for more?  View all our featured bike trips, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.

Two levels of accommodations are offered for this tour, classic accommodation and luxury accommodation.
Classic: 2 inns, a Victorian guest house and a small, lakeside hotel.
Luxury: 4 country house hotels, all 4 star or above. Ask us for a hotel list.