Cotswolds with Mad Max Tours
Jan 13th, 2012, 08:52 PM
#1
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Cotswolds with Mad Max Tours
DH and I are planning a visit to London, Bath and possibly Oxford this year. We usually travel on our own (not on tours) but would like to visit the Cotswolds and will not drive on the left. Found Mad Max Tours which will allow us to get off the tour and stay in one or perhaps more of their stops: http://www.madmaxtours.co.uk/index.p...1&limitstart=2
We're wondering if anyone has taken a Mad Max Tour and if so how you liked it.
We're also interested in suggestions for small hotels in Bibury, Bath and Oxford. Would like to keep the budget around $200 a night. Thank you.
We're wondering if anyone has taken a Mad Max Tour and if so how you liked it.
We're also interested in suggestions for small hotels in Bibury, Bath and Oxford. Would like to keep the budget around $200 a night. Thank you.
Jan 13th, 2012, 09:05 PM
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We took one of their tours from Bath. It went to Stonehenge and several other small towns and villages, with plenty of time in each place for walking, photos, etc. and a long stop for lunch. It was a long day. We saw a lot. It is not usually my kind of intense day, but we could never have done it on our own. DH really wanted to see Stonehenge and I wanted to see some of the Cotswolds, so it was a perfect fit. We recommend it.
We enjoyed Oxford and love Bath. In Bath, there is a free walking tour that is one of the best city tours I've taken. It has been awhile, so you will have to find out where and when they meet, but it used to be in front of the pump house about 9:00A.M. and took a couple of hours.
We enjoyed Oxford and love Bath. In Bath, there is a free walking tour that is one of the best city tours I've taken. It has been awhile, so you will have to find out where and when they meet, but it used to be in front of the pump house about 9:00A.M. and took a couple of hours.
Jan 13th, 2012, 09:36 PM
#3
Mad Max is a long established company and they do very good tours. One quick comment though -- Bibury is not a place I'd stay if I didn't have a car.
"<i>in front of the pump house</i>" That would be the Pump Room
"<i>in front of the pump house</i>" That would be the Pump Room
Jan 13th, 2012, 10:47 PM
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To support janisj
Bibury is simply useless without a car. With four buses a weekday (one on Sat and none on Sun) to Cirencester, none to anywhere else a visitor would want to go to and taxis that have to come from miles away (for which you pay), you're virtually stuck there with the trout (practically the only full-time inhabitants of the world's prettiest non-place). Its two hotels and its trout farm represent the sum total of the village's cultural, economic and social life. It DOES run to a pretty, partly Saxon, church but - almost uniquely in the Cotswolds - not to regular services in it.
Fabulous walking around the village - but nowhere interesting to walk to. Actually quite a decent base for motorists happy to eat in the hotel each night. The Bibury Court is a nice place to curl up in the lounge with a good book on a wet afternoon, and it's the Flannerpooch's favourite swimming pool. But he, like me, would rather gnaw his right foot off than be stuck there without a car.
Bibury is simply useless without a car. With four buses a weekday (one on Sat and none on Sun) to Cirencester, none to anywhere else a visitor would want to go to and taxis that have to come from miles away (for which you pay), you're virtually stuck there with the trout (practically the only full-time inhabitants of the world's prettiest non-place). Its two hotels and its trout farm represent the sum total of the village's cultural, economic and social life. It DOES run to a pretty, partly Saxon, church but - almost uniquely in the Cotswolds - not to regular services in it.
Fabulous walking around the village - but nowhere interesting to walk to. Actually quite a decent base for motorists happy to eat in the hotel each night. The Bibury Court is a nice place to curl up in the lounge with a good book on a wet afternoon, and it's the Flannerpooch's favourite swimming pool. But he, like me, would rather gnaw his right foot off than be stuck there without a car.
Jan 14th, 2012, 05:40 AM
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janisj & fanneruk--
Where would you stay in the Cotswolds that is reachable via Mad Max? The Mad Max website reads
"Tour Highlights include many of the following:-
Bibury, Stow- on- the- Wold, Castle- Combe, Badminton, Tetbury, The Coln valley and The Slaughters."
Friends recommended Bibury but also encouraged us to drive which we will not do in the UK.
Where would you stay in the Cotswolds that is reachable via Mad Max? The Mad Max website reads
"Tour Highlights include many of the following:-
Bibury, Stow- on- the- Wold, Castle- Combe, Badminton, Tetbury, The Coln valley and The Slaughters."
Friends recommended Bibury but also encouraged us to drive which we will not do in the UK.
Jan 14th, 2012, 05:57 AM
#6
"<i> include many of the following:-
Bibury, Stow- on- the- Wold, Castle- Combe, Badminton, Tetbury, The Coln valley and The Slaughters."</i>"
Well --first of all there is no guarantee MadMax will go to any one of those specific towns/villages. Their route can change on the fly.
Of those Stow on the Wold will have the best transport options - but what if you book in Stow and the tour bypasses it on your day??
If you are dead set against driving, your main options are:
• Just do the day trip w/ MadMax and return w/ them to Bath;
• Go to the Cotswolds by train (to Moretone-in-Marsh - from London or Oxford are easiest) and use public transport to stay someplace like Chipping Campden or Stow;
• Train to the Cotswolds and hire a drive/guide to take you around
But honestly --driving is the easiest option.
Bibury, Stow- on- the- Wold, Castle- Combe, Badminton, Tetbury, The Coln valley and The Slaughters."</i>"
Well --first of all there is no guarantee MadMax will go to any one of those specific towns/villages. Their route can change on the fly.
Of those Stow on the Wold will have the best transport options - but what if you book in Stow and the tour bypasses it on your day??
If you are dead set against driving, your main options are:
• Just do the day trip w/ MadMax and return w/ them to Bath;
• Go to the Cotswolds by train (to Moretone-in-Marsh - from London or Oxford are easiest) and use public transport to stay someplace like Chipping Campden or Stow;
• Train to the Cotswolds and hire a drive/guide to take you around
But honestly --driving is the easiest option.
Jan 14th, 2012, 08:02 AM
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We were in Bath last fall, stayed at Apple Tree Guest House, 7 Pulteney Gardens. We walked to the meeting place for Mad Max Tours and took their day tour of Cotswolds, returning to Bath. It was a very full day. Would recommend both our lodging choice and Mad Max Tours. Worked well for us, although you don't get a lot of time in each town so that's something to consider.
Also second the recommendation of the walking tour of Bath. Ours was with a retired professor from the University, was informative and enjoyable.
We liked Bath. Small, walkable, picturesque, easily reachable by train from London.
Also second the recommendation of the walking tour of Bath. Ours was with a retired professor from the University, was informative and enjoyable.
We liked Bath. Small, walkable, picturesque, easily reachable by train from London.
Jan 14th, 2012, 12:47 PM
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Two hotels in Bath that I like areThree Abbey Greene:
http://www.threeabbeygreen.com/homepage,intro.htm
One of its sister properties The Henry:
http://www.thehenry.com/
Also recommend the free walking tour:
http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-ma...-guides-p43001
http://www.threeabbeygreen.com/homepage,intro.htm
One of its sister properties The Henry:
http://www.thehenry.com/
Also recommend the free walking tour:
http://visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-ma...-guides-p43001
Jan 14th, 2012, 03:50 PM
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Claire50--thank you for sharing your experience in Bath and the Mad Max tour. Breakfast at the Apple Tree sounds great. Your description of Bath suits us as travelers as well.
Walkabout--Three Abbey Green looks like a place we would like. The location seems excellent.
We haven't been to Britain in 8 years and are looking forward to returning.
Walkabout--Three Abbey Green looks like a place we would like. The location seems excellent.
We haven't been to Britain in 8 years and are looking forward to returning.
