Travel to the Cotswolds

It is perfectly possible to visit the Cotswolds from London just for the day, but we recommend that you plan to stay at least one night in the Cotswolds for two reasons. Firstly, you will need time to enjoy the area and, secondly, early morning and evening are the most romantic times in the Cotswolds, often with glorious sunsets and beautiful early morning birdsong. In popular villages, you will also avoid the crowds and have more chance to meet local people.
The area is an excellent base for touring, ringed by Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cheltenham and Gloucester.

By Rail

Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North and the South West of England. There is a direct link from Heathrow Airport. Trains from London depart from Paddington Station and have a fastest journey time of 1hr 40 minutes to Gloucester and 2 hours to Cheltenham. There is a direct link from Birmingham Airport with a fastest journey time of 1hr 15 minutes to Cheltenham and 1 hr 30 minutes to Gloucester.

Check train schedules to Cotswolds towns if you are coming for a visit or if you are planning to travel by train London to the Cotswolds directly check out the schedules for these trains. In Gloucestershire & The Cotswolds there are main line railway stations at Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse and Stroud. Visitors including the county as part of a rail based holiday are recommended to plan accommodation within easy reach of these stations.

For detailed rail information and prices please look at the following sites:
www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com

By Bus

The National Express network runs bus travel throughout England. It offers a rage of discount fares and trail passes. The main route to Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds from London starts at Victoria Coach Station. The main bus stations in Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds are at Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud. Click here for information on local buses in the Cotswolds.

By Road

Coach trips to the Cotswolds are hugely popular due to the easy access that the M4 and M40 provide to Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds from London and the South East. Cotswolds bus tours also take advantage of the easy access and for car tours Cotswolds provides the M5 which is a direct link to Birmingham, England's North Country and the Counties of Devon and Cornwall.

Car Hire

Another way to explore Gloucestershire is by car, there are many car rental companies to choose from to give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. For more information on car hire in Gloucestershire please visit Hertz and Avis websites or the following:- www.budget-stansted.com

By Air

Travelling via flight to Cotswolds couldn't be easier. The easiest airport for travelling to the Cotswolds is Birmingham, a 1 hour drive away. Of the two London airports, the region is best accessed from Heathrow. The 65 mile drive should not take more than 90 minutes. Gatwick airport is 2 hours drive away. Gloucestershire Airport is just 10 minutes from the centre of the beautiful Regency town of Cheltenham Spa and the Roman city of Gloucester. You can fly from Belfast, the Isle of Man and Jersey, and the airport is also used for chartered flights.