Have any of you done a private tour that originates in Windsor? Looking for a tour for 3 people that would pick us up in Windsor but would return us to LHR that night (early morning flight the next morning). We originally planned to do one that included Downton Abbey and the Cotswolds but unfortunately Downton Abbey is closed on our date (Sep 12). Flexible as to destinations - Cotswolds for sure; not interested in Stonehenge. Thanks in advance!

Can you not rent a car for the day? Pick up in Windsor and drop at LHR.

The only other thing I might suggest id contacting your hotel and see if they can arrange a driver. Count on big money.

i know driving would be the simplest, but I'm a weinie when it comes to driving on the left. My daughter is driving in Scotland during this trip but that's mostly rural. Driving would give us the most options of course.

If she can drive in Scotland she can drive in the Cotswolds. Renting a car for the day would cost a fraction the cost of a private tour. Fri Windsor to Oxford is motorway and then through the Cotswolds it’s easy - no single track roads like you’ll see in Scotland

You're right. Of course, we don't know yet if she can drive in Scotland LOL. It will be her first on the left side of the road. She is a highway engineer so I'm hoping for the best

Be brave

But if worse comes to worse -- you could take a taxi to Maidenhead (about 6 miles from Windsor), from Maidenhead take a train to Reading, and from Reading a train to Moreton-in-Marsh. The Maidenhead > Reading > M-i-M trains would take about 1 hr 20 mins if you catch the best schedules (about once an hour). That would at least get you into the Cotswolds. Or from Reading a train to Kingham even quicker -- about 1:10. From either Kingham or M-i-M you could pre-book a taxi to drive you around a few villages.

A Kingham > Stow-on-the-Wold > Bourton-on-the-Water > Burford > Kingham loop is only about 30-ish miles / about 1 hour total drive plus stops so could be done in about 5 or 6 hours not counting the trains/Windsor transits. Throw in Minster Lovell and you would have 40 miles total and will have seen four major Cotswold destinations.

Or Moreton-in-Marsh > Chipping Campden > Hidcote Manor Garden > Broadway > M-i-M would be about 30 total miles / and hour car time.

In either case a taxi would be expensive if you wanted them to wait for you at each stop.

Coming late to this thread, but instead of catching a taxi to Maidenhead, take it to Marlow instead. Marlow is a charming town, worth exploring (something I would not say about Maidenhead) and off the usual tourist radar. Some very good restaurants and pubs. You can catch a taxi to Reading station from there or go by bus (takes an hour and has loads of stops but it is a more scenic way to go). To go by train, you'd have to backtrack to Maidenhead station (it's a nice train route and has a stop next to the Bourne End auction house, which is often featured on the BBC show Bargain Hunt).

I suspect a March post means it's all moot, but pickup in Windsor, drop off at LHR says to me luggage. Hence the need for a vehicle to make sightseeing possible.

Try In the Footsteps Tours -
https://www.inthefootsteps.com/country-house-tours.html
I found them when I was planning my WWII trip and they customize tours. The website shows family history and "heritage tours" that include castles and country homes. The original plan was to pick me up at my hotel in London and drop me off at an airport hotel. I booked them for the same reason - I didn't want to drive on the "wrong side" of the road - but wanted to go to Bletchley Park. I worked with "Jo" via email and she was very nice. We were supposed to go to Althorp House afterwards but it was closed to the public during my dates. The driver was completely flexible with ideas of what to do instead. It was pricey but a really good day.

"From royal residences to stately homes and country houses, In The Footsteps will take you on a journey to discover the best of Britain’s heritage!

Whether you want to visit one of the top ten country houses of Britain or one of the more off-the-beaten-track examples, In The Footsteps can design a tour just for you. You simply tell us what it is you want to see and we design a tour to meet your requirements. With In The Footsteps it is what you want that matters and our award-winning service is guaranteed to meet and may even exceed your expectations."

Adding - in 1990 I planned a trip to Ireland and London for my mom and me to "follow our noses" and explore. I had complete confidence in my ability to drive in Ireland but for some reason was concerned about England. We planned to use London as a base and take day trips/ tours out of London. By the 2nd night in London, I knew that was going to change. I stayed up all night and read guidebooks. My company had an in house Amex office and I'm not sure if I booked the car through them or booked it on my own. This was pre-internet days. We cancelled the rest of of London hotel stay. I had booked "inexpensive" and I hated it. It was at the end of May and we had glorious, okay hot, weather. There was a little bit of drizzly rain as I drove the car away from the airport in London and it snowed on us for about 20 minutes at Loch Lomond. Other than that, glorious blue skies for 2 weeks. It was a magical trip. Mom's "job" was to say "Think left, think left, think left" as I pulled out onto the road/highway. The one time I got cocky and told her I had it now, I pulled out into the right lane of traffic. Whipped right back into the petrol station.

34 years later I returned and decided not to rent a car. I tried out all sorts of trip options that year to see what I wanted to do going forward (post-retirement). I am really glad I hired the private driver for my "countryside" day out of London. I was supposed to do a group tour of Ireland in May 2025 with friends and decided to cancel that trip. Right now I plan to return next May - and rent a car again. Since mom is no longer here, I ordered a little green sign for the dashboard that says "Think Left!". I'm so glad you are having this trip with your daughters. I hope it's as magical as our trip was, many years ago. Make some great memories!

Marlow is worth an overnight before heading off to the Cotswolds. In addition to its good restaurants, historic charm, pubs etc, it has a lovely small hotel: The George and Dragon
https://georgeanddragonmarlow.com/ which is located right off the High Street.

This thread is stale/no longer relevant . . . see one of the OP's much more recent threads.

Must see villages in the Cotswolds

The OP is still planning her September 2025 trip. She has posted several threads asking questions.
Only CarolynAnn could say if her question here is "no longer relevant".

I've often used older threads as a planning resource (both trip queries and trip report threads). No need to be so high-handed and dismissive.

they have already booked their tour and their plans have progressed far beyond what was asked on this thread.