The Cotswolds Without A Car: A Guide To Getting Around
What are the best ways to explore the Cotswolds without a car? From trains and buses to the region’s wonderful network of paths and cycle routes, you really won’t miss your own four wheels at all.
Whether you’re travelling here by train or bus, or simply want to leave your vehicle in the hotel car park for the week, here’s how to travel around the Cotswolds without a car.
The Cotswolds by train
How do you get from London to the Cotswolds without a car? Thanks to frequent rail services, it’s easy – and in fact, avoiding the summer traffic on the A44 and A429 can be a good idea.
The Cotswolds are closer than you think. It takes just an hour and a half to travel from London Paddington to our closest station at Moreton-in-Marsh. From here, it’s less than 8 miles by taxi to Upper Slaughter (there isn’t Uber in the Cotswolds, but there are plenty of local taxi firms).
It’s also just an hour and a half from London Paddington to Stroud, a bit longer to Gloucester, and about two hours to Cheltenham Spa station. Bath Spa is a speedy one hour twenty from Paddington, and Kemble is only just over an hour!
Once you’re here, you can travel easily between towns using the railway network, although there aren’t many branch lines to smaller villages. To find out more, take a look at GWR’s website.
Catching the bus around the Cotswolds
The best way to travel around the Cotswolds without a car is by bus. Using the bus can make your holiday feel more relaxed: no route finding, no busy car parks, long pub lunches involving the local ciders…
There’s a good network of services between villages, with our neighbour Bourton-on-the-Water being particularly well-served by buses.
However, if you’re used to city transport, you might find that rural bus services have rather more limited availability, especially out of season. Always plan ahead and double check before you set out.
Save details of bus services from Pulhams Coaches and Stagecoach on your phone, and of course, hotel receptions are mines of information for this sort of thing!
Exploring the Cotswolds on foot
The Cotwolds has some of the best and most beautiful walking trails in Britain. There’s the famous Cotswolds Way, which passes through 102 miles of wonderful countryside. Closer to Lords of the Manor, you can pick up paths from the Windrush Way and the Warden’s Way.
You don’t have to be on a hiking holiday in the Cotswolds to appreciate our lovely footpaths. Simply walking to the next village for lunch or a pub meal is a lovely way to spend a few hours.
Even if you’ve driven down to the Cotswolds, you can leave the car at your hotel and make the most of our network of walking routes.
Here are a few of our favourite walks in the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds on a bike
If you don’t want to drive in the Cotswolds, but would like to get around a bit faster, choose pedal power. As well as footpaths, the Cotswolds has a great network of cycle routes, and you can see a lot of the area without having to go near a road.
Sustrans recommends these traffic-free Cotswold cycling paths, which make a great family day out. The Windrush Valley cycle route is especially lovely.
If you don’t want to bring your bikes down to the Cotswolds, or if you’re coming here by train, you can hire bicycles from Hartwells Cotswold Cycle Hire in Bourton-on-the-Water. They’ll even provide you with a helmet.
Tours of the Cotswolds
If you just want a taster trip to the Cotswolds, you can book a day tour from London that takes in some of the many beauty spots. Travel companies like Rabbies offer a one-day tour of the Cotswolds, as well as longer itineraries (transport and tours provided, but not accommodation).
You can also pick up a coach tour when you’re here, which is an easy way to visit the main sites if you’re on your Cotswold holiday without a car. Your hotel reception or the local tourist information centre will be able to advise what’s available during your stay.
Horse riding in the Cotswolds
While a pony isn’t a viable alternative to a car for going to the shops, a hack around the Cotswolds on horseback is a great way to see the scenery.
Book a hack with a local riding stables, and spend an enjoyable hour or afternoon exploring the area. Our local riding stable, Bourton Vale Equestrian, does a route around the Slaughters, while Barton End Stables in Nailsworth offers all-day hacks for more experienced riders (some including a stop-off down the pub).
Book your Cotswolds Holiday
There are plenty of different options for travelling around the Cotswolds without a car. You really get to know an area well when you’re travelling by bus or using the footpaths, and we think that a car-free holiday can be extra relaxing.
If you’re thinking of booking a holiday in the Cotswolds, take a look at the availability at the Lords of the Manor (and remember, we’re less than eight miles from a mainline station!).