Self-Launched Cotswolds Walking Adventure

Take the train from London Paddington to Kemble (via Swindon, ~1hr 20min, ~£30–45 depending on advance booking). From Kemble, a local taxi or Uber to Tetbury takes around 15 minutes (~£12). Spend the morning on a self-guided walking tour of Tetbury (3km), visiting the 7th-century St Mary's Church and the famous Gumstool Hill. Pre-book a timed entry ticket to Highgrove House gardens directly via the Highgrove website (£28pp) for the afternoon — book well in advance as slots fill quickly. Head to your B&B or pub accommodation near Rodborough in the early evening and enjoy dinner at a local inn.

🚌Train: London Paddington → Kemble (GWR, ~£30–45). Taxi: Kemble station → Tetbury (~£12). Local taxi or bus to Rodborough area (~£10).

🛏The Bear at Rodborough (book direct or via Booking.com) or a nearby B&B/guesthouse — budget ~£70–100pp for a shared/twin room. Cheaper options in Stroud from ~£45–60pp.

• →Train from London Paddington to Kemble (via Swindon, ~£30–45 advance)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Tetbury town centre (3km, free)
• →Visit St Mary's Church, Tetbury (free entry)
• →Pre-book Highgrove House gardens ticket direct via highgrovegardens.com (~£28pp)
• →Evening pint and dinner at a Rodborough area pub

After breakfast at your inn, set out on foot along the ancient Roman road and then alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal into Bath (~10.7km, 2.5–3hrs walking). Explore Bath Abbey (free entry to exterior, suggested donation £4 for interior) and the iconic Royal Crescent (exterior free, No. 1 Royal Crescent museum ~£13pp). In the afternoon, visit the Roman Baths — book tickets in advance online to skip queues (~£22pp). Grab lunch independently at one of Bath's many cafés. Return to your Rodborough inn by bus (First Bus from Bath to Stroud, ~£5) or taxi.

🚌Walk from Rodborough to Bath (~10.7km). Return bus: Bath → Stroud/Nailsworth (First Bus, ~£5). Local bus or taxi back to accommodation (~£5–8).

🛏The Bear at Rodborough (or similar B&B near Rodborough/Stroud, night 2 of same booking)

• →Walk the 2,000-year-old Roman road and Kennet & Avon Canal towpath to Bath (~10.7km)
• →Visit Bath Abbey (suggested interior donation ~£4)
• →Explore the Royal Crescent exterior (free) and No. 1 Royal Crescent museum (~£13pp optional)
• →Pre-book Roman Baths entry via romanbaths.co.uk (~£22pp)
• →Return to Rodborough by bus via Nailsworth (First Bus, ~£5) with optional pub stop

Checkout and take a local taxi or the Cotswold Explorer bus to Bibury (~30 min, ~£8–12 by taxi). Explore the iconic Arlington Row weavers' cottages (exterior free, National Trust grounds). Walk the Monarch's Way footpath (~4km) to Chedworth Roman Villa — book entry online via the National Trust (~£13pp). Continue on foot or by local taxi into Burford (~10km total), the 'gateway to the Cotswolds'. Stroll down the famous High Street, browse the antique shops, and visit St John the Baptist Church (free) to see Civil War prisoner carvings. Check in to your Burford inn for the night.

🚌Taxi or Cotswold Explorer bus: Rodborough → Bibury (~£8–12). Walk Monarch's Way (~4km). Taxi or walk: Chedworth → Burford (~£10–15 by taxi if needed).

🛏The Prince of Burford (book direct) or a Burford guesthouse/B&B — budget ~£65–90pp for a twin/double room.

• →Local bus or taxi from Stroud/Rodborough to Bibury (~£8–12)
• →Self-guided walk of Arlington Row and Bibury village (free)
• →Walk the Monarch's Way to Chedworth Roman Villa (~4km)
• →National Trust entry to Chedworth Roman Villa — book via nationaltrust.org.uk (~£13pp)
• →Walk or taxi into Burford and explore the High Street (free)
• →Visit St John the Baptist Church and Civil War prisoner carvings (free)

After breakfast, take a local bus or taxi from Burford towards Woodstock for Blenheim Palace (~40 min). Purchase entry online in advance (palace + park ~£32pp) — the Capability Brown parkland is spectacular, with lakes, serpentine streams and formal gardens. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the grounds (buy supplies at a Burford deli or Woodstock village shop the morning before). Spend the afternoon touring the State Rooms and the Churchill exhibition inside the palace. In early evening, take the S3 bus or a taxi (~20 min, ~£15) to Moreton-in-Marsh and check in to your final two nights' inn.

🚌Taxi or local bus: Burford → Woodstock (near Blenheim, ~£10–15). Bus or taxi: Woodstock → Moreton-in-Marsh (~£15).

🛏The Redesdale Arms, Moreton-in-Marsh (book direct) or a nearby guesthouse — budget ~£65–90pp for a twin/double room.

• →Bus or taxi from Burford to Woodstock/Blenheim (~£10–15)
• →Pre-book Blenheim Palace entry via blenheimpalace.com (~£32pp, palace + park)
• →Self-guided walk around the Capability Brown parkland (~8.3km)
• →Picnic lunch in the palace gardens (self-catered, ~£8–10)
• →Tour State Rooms and Churchill exhibition (included in ticket)
• →Bus or taxi to Moreton-in-Marsh (~£15)

Take a local taxi or the Cotswold Link bus from Moreton-in-Marsh to Chipping Campden (~15 min, ~£8–12). Walk through fields to Hidcote Manor Garden — pre-book entry via the National Trust (~£17pp); the series of 'outdoor rooms' created by Lawrence Johnston are extraordinary. Continue on foot (~3km) to Broadway Tower for panoramic views across up to 16 counties (entry ~£5pp). Walk down into the picture-perfect village of Broadway (~2km), explore the golden High Street and pop into the historic Lygon Arms. Return to Moreton-in-Marsh by local bus or taxi for your included dinner at your inn (budget ~£20–25 if self-paying).

🚌Local taxi or Cotswold Link bus: Moreton-in-Marsh → Chipping Campden (~£8–12). Walk throughout the day (~8km total). Return taxi/bus to Moreton-in-Marsh (~£8–12).

🛏The Redesdale Arms (or similar), Moreton-in-Marsh — night 2 of same booking.

• →Local taxi or bus: Moreton-in-Marsh → Chipping Campden (~£8–12)
• →Walk from Chipping Campden through fields to Hidcote (~3km)
• →Pre-book Hidcote Manor Garden entry via nationaltrust.org.uk (~£17pp)
• →Walk to Broadway Tower (~3km) and pay entry (~£5pp)
• →Walk into Broadway village (~2km) and explore the High Street (free)
• →Visit the Lygon Arms (free to browse, Charles I connection)
• →Return to Moreton-in-Marsh by bus or taxi (~£8–12)

After breakfast, take the train or bus from Moreton-in-Marsh to Oxford (~50 min by train, ~£15–20; or Stagecoach X8 bus ~1hr 10min, ~£8). On arrival, join a self-guided or pre-booked walking tour of Oxford's colleges — the free Oxford self-guided walking map covers all key sights. Highlights include the Bodleian Library (exterior free; tour ~£9), Christ Church College (entry ~£18pp), the historic Turf Tavern pub (free to visit), and the Cherwell River punts (hire from ~£25/hour per punt, split between group). Head to Oxford station for the direct train to London Paddington (~1hr, ~£15–30 advance fare) after lunch.

🚌Train: Moreton-in-Marsh → Oxford (Chiltern Railways, ~£15–20). Train: Oxford → London Paddington (GWR, ~£15–30 advance).

🛏No accommodation — departure day.

• →Train or bus: Moreton-in-Marsh → Oxford (~£8–20 depending on option)
• →Self-guided Oxford walking tour using free maps from the Tourist Information Centre
• →Visit Bodleian Library exterior (free) or take an interior tour (~£9pp optional)
• →Enter Christ Church College (~£18pp optional)
• →Stop at the historic Turf Tavern for a drink
• →Watch punt boats on the Cherwell (or hire punts from ~£25/hr split across group)
• →Train: Oxford → London Paddington (~1hr, ~£15–30 advance)