There is a big misconception that the only way to explore the Cotswolds is by car, but this isn’t the case! You can absolutely enjoy the Cotswolds by public transport! Does a car have its benefits? Yes, of course. It is convenient; you won’t be tied to a timetable, and you can explore off the beaten path. However, the lanes are narrow, parking is scarce, and we already have a traffic problem! In this blog post, I want to share with you how you can visit the Cotswolds by train and explore all the highlights while using public transport. So don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, the Cotswolds can certainly be explored by public transport!

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Arriving in the Cotswolds by train

If you want to arrive in the Cotswolds by train, you have five options: Moreton-in-Marsh, Cheltenham, Bath, Kemble (near Cirencester), and Stratford-upon-Avon. I will focus on Moreton-in-Marsh as it is the only one of those five that is undisputedly inside the Cotswolds AONB area. Depending on what map you look at, Cheltenham, Bath, and Kemble can be included or excluded from the Cotswolds. Stratford-upon-Avon is definitely not in the Cotswolds; however, many tours tout it as part of it. So, to avoid arguments with my readers, this blog post is specifically aimed at those arriving in the Cotswolds by train into Moreton-in-Marsh. Therefore, all the day trips suggested are based on staying in the gorgeous market town of Moreton.

Moreton-in-Marsh from London

Arriving in Moreton-in-Marsh from London is the easiest option as there is a Great Western train that comes directly from London Paddington. It runs on the hour every hour from 5:53 am through until 22:51. There is one final train at 00:31. During the afternoon, they are a little more frequent with trains at 15:23, 16:23, and 17:34 in addition to those that run close to 10 to the hour. If you buy your tickets in advance, you can get them as cheap as £17.50 for a single ride.

The best way to check times and prices is by visiting Trainline.com or by downloading the app.

I’m a big fan of the app as on the day, it tells me what platform the train is departing from, whether there are any delays, and if I miss a train, what my alternative options are (sadly, that has happened more often than I’d like!).

Moreton-in-Marsh from Oxford

Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh by train is also straightforward since it is on the same line as the London Paddington train. Therefore, there is an hourly service with slightly more frequency in the afternoon. The journey only takes 33 minutes, and when bought in advance, you can get tickets for as little as £12.60. Check the Trainline website for up-to-date times and costs.

Moreton-in-Marsh from Birmingham

Getting to Moreton-in-Marsh from Birmingham is also very straightforward. From Birmingham New Street (the central station), you need to get the Great Western Service to Worcester Parkway, where you will change for the Paddington Service, which passes through Moreton-in-Marsh. This journey takes 1 hour 22min and costs £26.10 when booked in advance through Trainline.

An alternative is to get the train from Birmingham New Street to Oxford and swap there for the Moreton-in-Marsh train. This journey is 20 minutes longer than going via Worcester Parkway and £2 more expensive.

Moreton-in-Marsh from Manchester

Although the journey is a bit longer and much more expensive, it is still very easy to get to Moreton-in-Marsh from Manchester by train. The most straightforward option is to get the Cross Country line from Manchester Picadilly to Oxford and then change on to the Great Western Service to Moreton-in-Marsh. Outside of rush hour, the cheapest ticket I’ve found is £61.70, and the journey will take around 3 hours and 50 minutes.

An alternative would be to get the train from Manchester Picadilly to Birmingham New Street and then swap to the Great Western Service to Worcester Parkway. Here, you will need to switch again to the Paddington service, which stops at Moreton-in-Marsh. Although this trip involves more changes, it is actually 20 minutes faster! The cheapest I’ve found this route is £67.80.

Moreton-in-Marsh from Heathrow Airport

From Heathrow, you have two options for visiting the Cotswolds by train. The easiest, and my preferred option, is to get the Heathrow Express into London Paddington and then take the Great Western Service to Moreton-in-Marsh. The cheapest I’ve found this route is £54.50.

The other option is to take the Elizabeth line to Hayles and Harlington, where you will need to switch to the Reading train. It is only a 4-minute transfer time, and although you just need to cross the platform, it doesn’t give much room for error. Once you arrive at Reading, you need to switch once more to the Great Western Service. You have a 9-minute transfer time this time, but you usually have to walk across the station, so any delays can make it rather tight. The cheapest I’ve found this route is £43.30. 

Both options have a similar travel time of 2 hours, and there is usually a £10 difference in the price (the more direct route via Paddington working out more expensive). However, having missed my connections multiple times in Hayles and Harlington and Reading, I always try and opt for the Heathrow Express via London Paddington.

Moreton-in-Marsh from Gatwick Airport

Despite Gatwick being significantly further away from Moreton-in-Marsh, getting from Gatwick Airport to the Cotswolds by train is still really easy. You will need to take the Great Western Service to Reading, where you will change on to the Great Western Service to Moreton-in-Marsh. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, and I’ve found tickets for as little as £36.50 on Trainline.

Once you have arrived in the Cotswolds by train

Once you have made it to Moreton-in-Marsh, you need to decide where to stay. Personally, I think Moreton is an excellent base from which to explore the Cotswolds, and once you’ve arrived by train, you can dump your luggage and explore at your leisure. Of course, I’m biased since I live here! For starters, there is no shortage of accommodation options catering to all budgets, from manor homes to traditional inns, cosy bed and breakfasts, and over 60 Airbnb listings to choose from! Check out Tripadvisor for any deals. Just one word of warning: when booking, make sure it is within walking distance of the train station, and not in a neighbouring village!

As well as plenty of places to stay the night, Moreton-in-Marsh also has a plethora of restaurants to choose from, all of which can be found on the high street! A new Italian restaurant has just opened, and it has firmly become my favourite eatery in town! If you are in Moreton, do check out Bellini!

How to get to the most remote Cotswold villages by public transport

Most people assume that if you wish to explore the Cotswolds by public transport, you have to give up on the idea of visiting the hidden gems. But that isn’t the case at all! Of course, you can hike to many of them, or even bike there, but there is also a minibus you can take to most “must-see” spots in the Cotswolds that even those with cars often miss!

The Robin is an on-demand bus service that operates in the North Cotswolds, providing transport links to villages without a regular bus service. The service is fully accessible and can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance or with just an hour’s notice! The service costs only £2,50 for journeys under 7 miles and £4 for longer trips. Currently, the government is running a fare cap scheme to support public transport users during the economic crisis, meaning all journeys are capped at £2 until December 2024.

So, if you think exploring the Cotswolds using public transport means missing out on the hidden gems, please think again, as the Robin covers even the tiniest villages! You can see the complete list of villages on The Robin website. However, here is a list of my favourite spots which you can’t reach using the regular bus service:

Small Cotswold villages you can access by public transport

• Bleddington: The Kings Head in Bleddington is one of my favourite pubs in the Cotswolds, and they make the best Sunday roast!
• Blockley: One of the most picturesque villages which is rarely on the tourist trail. There is a lovely walk from Moreton-in-Marsh to Blockley if you would prefer stretching your legs instead.
• Bourton-on-the-Hill: Nothing much to do here, but it is a gorgeous little village. This one is again within easy walking distance of Moreton-in-Marsh. If you like gardens, I recommend visiting Bourton House and walking around their gardens.
• Daylesford: People rave about Daylesford Farm as a shopping experience. It’s not really my thing, but it’s certainly a popular activity!
• Lower Slaughter: Winner of the “prettiest village in England” award, I certainly wouldn’t miss this!
• Stanway: I love Stanway and neighbouring Stanton. In fact, I’d say Stanton is my favourite village in the Cotswolds. It has definitely been plucked out of a fairytale!
• Winchcombe: A great base if you want to go hiking. Cleeve Hill is easily accessible from the town with lots of different routes up. It is also very different to the rest of the towns in the Cotswold, with timber-framed houses replacing the typical honey-coloured stone houses you find elsewhere. Winchcombe is often overlooked, but I would certainly include it in your itinerary.

With 59 potential destinations to choose from with The Robin, you don’t have to miss out on the best of the Cotswolds just because you are reliant on public transport!

How does The Robin work?

You can book over the phone, online or via their app up to two weeks in advance or up to 1 hour before you wish to travel. The Robin uses an intelligent software system that helps group all the requests in real-time to create clever journey plans. You will be presented with several options so that you can choose the one that suits you best. You will then receive a reminder text 30 min before your pick-up time and again 10 minutes before. If the service is experiencing any delays you will also be notified. It is an excellent service!

The minibuses carry up to 16 people and have one wheelchair space. Best of all, the service is available for absolutely everyone! The only downfall is that the service only runs Monday to Saturday (including bank holidays).

You can pay for your fare in cash or via the app, and contactless payments will be introduced soon, too.  

Day trip ideas in the Cotswolds using public transport

Timetables are liable to change, so I recommend always checking the relevant websites for the most up-to-date timetable before finalising your plans for the day!

All the trips have been planned with Moreton-in-Marsh as their starting point.

Cotswolds by bus: Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water

A visit to the Cotswolds can only be complete with a visit to the charming towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. Here is a laid-back itinerary allowing you to enjoy both towns using public transport.

9:25 – Catch the 801 Pulhams Bus from the train station towards Cheltenham. It departs roughly every 1:30 hours, and you can find the full timetable on their website. There are three other bus stops in Moreton if they happen to be easier for you.

9:45 – Arrive in Stow. Take in the history of the old market square, geek out on history, do some shopping, enjoy one of the many coffee shops, and make sure you don’t miss out on Tolkien’s Doors of Durin! In my Stow-on-the-Wold Guide I share everything there is to do in Stow.

12:45 – Take the 801 Pulhams Bus to Bourton-on-the-Water. The last bus from Bourton-on-the-Water back to Moreton-in-Marsh is at 7 pm, so you have the whole afternoon to enjoy at your leisure. After a bite to eat, I recommend walking to Lower and Upper Slaughter, two of the most beautiful villages in the Cotswolds. Including both villages is a 5.7-mile walk that should take you no more than 3 hours to complete. However, if you don’t fancy walking that far, Lower Slaughter is only 1.9 miles. I have written a complete guide of things to do in Bourton-on-the-Water to inspire you on how to spend your time. One thing I wouldn’t miss though, is the Model Village.

Cotswolds by bus: Stratford-upon-Avon

Although not strictly in the Cotswolds, it would be a pity to be in the area and not explore the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace. You can easily spend a whole day in Stratford, especially in nice weather. Some of my favourite things to do in Stratford include Shakespear’s birthplace museum, the butterfly farm, and hiring a boat to explore the river. My favourite restaurant is the Giggling Squid. Although a chain restaurant, I can’t fault the quality of their food. Their food is as good as anything I ate while in Thailand!

You will want to catch the 9:45 bus from the train station to make the most of the day in Stratford-upon-Avon. The last bus back from Stratford-upon-Avon is at 18:37 from Wood Street.

Cotswolds by bus: Broadway and Chipping Campden

The two other major towns in North Cotswolds are Broadway and Chipping Campden, neither of which I would want you to miss. The good news is that there is a bus service connecting Moreton-in-Marsh to these towns too, and as it happens it passes through several of the smaller villages if you wanted to explore them on route!

9:24 – Catch the Stagecoach 1 bus destination Stratford-upon-Avon from the Corn Exchange, on the High Street. I recommend getting off at the Broadway Picnic Area and walking from there to Broadway Tower and down from Broadway Tower into Broadway. Alternatively, you can stay on the bus all the way to Broadway. My favourite thing to do in Broadway is simply to walk up and down the High Street with its wide avenue of Chestnut Trees. For a complete list of things to do in Broadway, check out my Broadway Guide.

12:54 – Catch the Stagecoach 1 bus again, this time from the Lygon Arms, destination Stratford-upon-Avon. You will be dropped off in Chipping Campden, where you can enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Walking through Chipping Campden is like walking through history since little has changed on the High Street in centuries. I’ve written a full guide of things to do, but once again, the most joy I get in Chipping Campden is simply marvelling at the architecture! But for inspiration on what activities to do, please check out my Chipping Campden guide.

The last bus back to Moreton in Marsh from Chipping Campden departs at 17:50 from the Chipping Campden Town Hall.

Am I managing to convince you that it is possible to explore the Cotswold by using public transport?

Cotswolds by bus: Bibury

No trip to the Cotswolds is complete without visiting the famous Arlington Row in Bibury. Did you know that these cottages are the most photographed houses in England? They also appear on the first page of British Passports.

9:30 – You will want to start by getting the 801 out of Moreton-in-Marsh. You will need to get out in Bourton-on-the-Water, at the Edinburgh Woolen Mill, and hop on the 855 bus to Cirencester. This will drop you off in Bibury at 10:35. If you are just interested in getting some great shots for Instagram, you have enough time to do this before catching the 11:17 bus back to Moreton-in-Marsh (with a change in Bourton). If you want to explore Bibury at a more leisurely pace though, then the next returning bus is at 13:32, which will allow you to explore Bibury in a little more depth. For inspiration, check out my Bibury Guide.

An alternative to public transport: Join a tour!

If the idea of using public transport sounds a little daunting, but you still want to explore all the main sites as well as the hidden gems of the Cotswolds, then why not book a tour? There is a great company operating in the Cotswolds called Go Cotswolds. They run small group tours starting from Stratford-upon-Avon and Moreton-in-Marsh and cover all the main towns. They also cover one of the most picturesque villages which you can’t reach by any means of public transport: Snowshill!

I recently went on tour with them as I wanted to make sure they offered a good service before recommending them, and I have to say I was super impressed. Despite having lived here for 9 years and having visited all the places already, I still discovered lots I didn’t know. Highly recommend them! I even wrote a post about it if you want to find out more.

You can find more details of their tour on Get Your Guide.

They also have a new tour starting in 2024 which includes my favourite village of all: Stanton! Check it out on the below link!

Is it possible to explore the Cotswolds by public transport?

Yes! You can arrive in the Cotswolds by train and you can explore using the network of buses that operate in the area. The addition of “The Robin” bookable bus service has undoubtedly opened up the option of exploring the Cotswolds by bus, but even without it, you can still access the best parts of the Cotswolds! And, best of all, you will be doing so while saving money and emitting 67% less emissions into the atmosphere! Now there is an excellent reason to explore the Cotswolds by train and bus!

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