If you've seen the television series Downton Abbey, you'll be familiar with the beauty of the Oxfordshire countryside from your screens, but on this full-day tour, you'll get to experience it with your own eyes. The Cotswolds are England's largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, full of rolling hills, babbling brooks and picture-perfect stately homes and villages, each more quaint than the last.
One of these is Bampton, the village used for much of the filming in the television series. If you're a fan of the show, you'll recognize the home of Isobel Crawley, the Downton Cottage Hospital, the village church, as well as the filming location for two fictional local pubs, The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck.
Next, you'll head to Bourton-on-the-Water, affectionately also known as 'Venice of the Costwolds', so named due to its location on the river. Stroll along the river banks, exploring cafes and shops full of beautiful hand-crafted trinkets, or try a traditional afternoon tea in this peaceful haven before heading on to grander things.
Blenheim Palace is a jaw-dropping stately home, perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Its gardens are also something to be marveled at. Designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, you'll want to spend some time exploring the intricately landscaped exterior and through the 2,000 acres of parkland, walking in Churchill's footsteps and even stumbling across the spot in which he proposed to his sweetheart Clementine.
Expert guide
Entrance to Blenheim Palace
