marsha

We'll be in London for a few days in Dec. Would love to get out into the Cotswolds for a day. Is that possible? And what would be the best way to do it? By train part of the way? Rent a car or what?

John

Marsha- the Cotswolds is more akin to a very large region. You could not see ALL of it in one day, but you could hit a few keys areas and get a feel for it. I must warn you though, it is very hard to go back to London after you have experienced the laid back-ness of the country side.

elaine

I have not done it yet, but <BR>There is a Costwold Link bus service that runs twice daily in both directions from Bath to Stratford, making stops en route that include the best towns in the Costwolds. You can use this to daytrip from Bath or Stratford to a Cotswold town, vice-versa, or within the Costwolds. <BR>Website for the X55 Cotswold Link schedule: http://www.gloscc.gov.uk/pubserv/gcc/ <BR>environ/trans/news.htm <BR>That bus service would connect with train services to London at Moreton-in-Marsh and Kemble, as well as at Stratford and Bath. <BR>Another bus line www.firstbadgerline.co.uk/tt/x55ms.htm <BR>One website for Costwolds: www.broadway-cotswolds.co.uk/ <BR> <BR>Full day tour of the Cotswolds (minibus) with the Cotswold Experience. I believe they operate out of Bath, but I'm not sure. Their website is: <BR>http://www.visitus.co.uk/bath/tours/ <BR>cotswold.htm <BR>Others more experienced with doing this from London may have better suggestions <BR> <BR>

fiona

There are regular direct trains from London into the Cotswolds (I am from Cheltenham) and it takes about 2 hours from Paddington. Stay at least one night or two and soak up the atmosphere, the Roman Baths in Bath, Warwick Castle, plus lots of quaint Cotswold villages with real charm, will make it difficult to return to the "Big Smoke"! Have fun!

David White

Marsha, <BR> <BR>With only one day to spare, you'll have to focus on part of the Cotswolds. One possiblity is to take the train to Bath (its about an hour and a half from London's Paddington station). <BR> <BR>Bath itself is worth at LEAST a day trip, so you could just tour this wonderful small city--the Roman Baths and the city's architecture are outstanding. But if it is the quaint Cotswold villages and countryside you are after, there are day tours that run out of Bath to give you a flavor of this beautiful area. <BR> <BR>An alternative is to take the train from London to Warwick--the castle there is superb and the small town is worth a stroll (the train takes 2+ hours though). Stratford-upon-Avon is another possiblity. Again, if you wanted to see Cotswolds countryside, you would have to take a bus tour from these destinations. <BR> <BR>Finally, if the idea of taking a big tour bus doesn't bother you, there are a number of day tours to the Cotswolds that leave directly from central London. (Evans tours is one operator). It's not the idea way to explore the back roads, but it is convenient for a quick trip. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>David White <BR> <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com

Billy

OK all of the above are good suggestions and here is another idea, which we have done. In London, go the Victoria Coach station (NOT the train station) and take a coach (Brit-speak for bus to us Yanks) to Oxford. Inexpensive and really as fast as the train since the train stops often. At the Oxford coach station there is a tour company that offers mini-van day tours of the Cotswalds. <BR> <BR>When we did this there were only 5 of us in the van, plus the driver and guide. Our guide was an Oxford PhD in English History and really knew the ins and outs of the Cotswalds. We got a really good overview of the area, saw some really nice villages (did not hit any of the bigger towns), stopped for lunch in a small village pub (not included in the cost). This was not just a ride and stare out the window tour. We stopped in each village, got out and walked around, visited some old churches, a wool weaving shop, etc. This was a very nice way to get an overview of the area, with a very good guide, and it was not very expensive (sorry do not recall the exact cost). <BR> <BR>After the tour returned to Oxford we returned to London by coach and were back in time for a normal dinner hour. Check it out.