albatravels

We are trying to decide on our onde day/8 hour private tour of Costwold.

We have a company offering the day for 420 pounds and another one for 300 pounds. The real difeerence is the number of hours. They both pick us up in London, the more expensive one seems more customer oriented willing to share his knowledge...the other one sends short emails with little description.
One of the options the chaufferdriven...anyone has experience with this one?

flanneruk

I seriously struggle with the idea of an eight hour "tour" of the Cotswolds, starting from London.

At midnight, starting a few yards from the main A40 road out, I can drive from central London to the first "Cotswolds start here" sign in 82 minutes. Any other time, starting anywhere else, and heading for a honeypot like Burford, you're going to have to allow at least 2.5 hours each way.

Forking out £300, or £420, for a three hour tour of he Cotswolds and a five hour tour of SE England's traffic jams strikes me as really rotten value.

nytraveler

Couldn't agree more.

If you want a day trip - pick a sight that can actualy be seen in one day.

janisj

ditto everything flanner says in spades. What an amazing waste of money. How many of you? No matter the number though, 8 hours starting/ending in London means you'll have 3-4 hours max to see anything.

If you have that much money to spend -- then maybe "eat" a night in London, rent a car and go out to the Cotswolds for over night and have 1.5 - 2 days to explore on your own. You'd get a fair bit of change from your £300-£400+ and actually have some time on the ground.

julia_t

If you really want a chauffeur-driven private tour, then consider taking the train to somewhere like Moreton-in-Marsh or Kemble, where the driver can meet you and start the tour from the moment he picks you up.

There are several companies/individuals offering private tours of the Cotswolds who are based in the Cotswolds. One charges £36 per hour with a minimum of 5 hours - surely that's better value?

janisj

julia_t has the idea for sure . . .

Take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh (or heck - even Oxford) and use a local driver guide and have 8 hours or more IN the Cotswolds. Then take a late-ish train back to London.

A hecka lot cheaper and no wasted time on the M40.

albatravels

These guys will do the tour srating on Moreton, it will still be 300 pounds for 8 hours and I beleive two train tickest to moreton (DH and I) is close to 60 pounds.

CAn you tell me the name of the company that charges 36 pounds/hour? that would be much cheaper

julia_t

It's http://www.tourthecotswolds.co.uk/

I don't know them personally but have heard Tim Harrison is good. Other companies are...

http://www.toursofthecotswolds.co.uk/

and there's lots more info here...

http://www.cotswolds.info/cotswold-tours.shtml

(BTW - it is COTS-wolds, not Cost-wold as you write in your OP!)

Good luck, and let us know how you get on. I think I need to swot up on the Cotswolds and become a tour guide myself LOL!!!

Judyrem

Good info all.

milliebest

We stayed in Moreton in the Marsh and had a driver (Chris Peak)pick us up at 9am and returned at5pm for 280 pounds. He was great!

albatravels

Do you have Chris Peak's contact information?

THANKS YOU Julia for the links...I'll sstart looking.

English is my second language and i had not picked up on the Cotswold spelling...I thought it was odd to name an area Costwold

milliebest

Here is his email.

* [email protected]