Car-free Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are 800-square miles of rolling countryside and picture-perfect villages. This is a National Landscape, meaning it’s recognised for its beauty and character. The Cotswolds thread their way across five counties: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.
Car-free visitors have plenty of options for exploring the area’s many highlights. There are train stations, bus routes and scenic bike rides that take you to the heart of the Cotswolds’ honey-coloured villages. Plus there are more than 3,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways.
Car-Free Cotswolds is a partnership with Good Journey, Cotswolds Tourism, West Oxfordshire District Council and Cotswold District Council.
Discover the attractions, discounts and adventures on offer for car-free visitors to the Cotswolds.
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Discover discounts and rewards
You’ll be welcomed with discounted entry, free drinks and other tempting rewards when you arrive car-free at many Cotswolds attractions and businesses. These include:
- Birdland: get 10% off at Birdland Park & Gardens in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water
- Blenheim Palace: enjoy 20% off when you visit the birthplace of Winston Churchill car-free
- Cogges Manor Farm: get 10% off entry to this manor house and farm, which has a 1,000-year history
- Corinium Museum: get 10% off and discover the history and archaeology of the Cotswolds
- Go Cotswolds: enjoy a free hot drink or beer on selected minibus tours of the area
- Westley Farm: get £20 cash-back for arriving by train at the holiday cottages or woodland glamping
- Westonbirt Arboretum: enjoy discounted entry when you arrive by train, bus or bike at one of the most spectacular tree gardens in the world.
Check our map to find the full range of Car-Free Cotswolds offers.
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Car-free adventures in the Cotswolds
- Burford is a beautiful market town full of independent shops and cafés. You can go for a riverside walk or a vintage bus ride. Discover two amazing family-friendly attractions just outside the town.
- Kingham is a great destination for foodies, history fans, cyclists and walkers. Visit this Oxfordshire village on the scenic Cotswold line to enjoy stunning views along the way.
- Woodstock, near Blenheim Palace, makes a great base for exploring the Cotswolds. However, the town itself offers so many things to see and do that you might not want to leave!
- Cheltenham’s attractive Georgian terraces, restaurants and art galleries are just a bus ride away from bracing walks along the Cotswold Way.
- Gloucester provides a good base for exploring by train and PlusBus (which gives discounted bus travel). With connections to Beatrix Potter and Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, there are many atmospheric streets and buildings to explore. Climb Robinswood Hill for 360-degree views and visit the National Waterways Museum.
The Great Western Railway runs from London, through Oxford and the Cotswolds to Worcester and beyond. Check out our suggestions of things you can see along the way. Highlights include Oxford’s historic architecture, a selection of scenic walks, and Worcester cathedral.
Check our map for more ideas and inspiration for exploring the area.
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How to reach and explore the Cotswolds without a car
Trains, buses and coaches
Trains run direct from London, Reading, Oxford, Worcester and Hereford to Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury), Cam & Dursley, Charlbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hanborough, Kemble, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stonehouse and Stroud.
For train times and tickets visit trains.goodjourney.org.uk
You can explore much of the area by bus with a bit of planning. Most buses on the western side of the Cotswolds are run by Stagecoach or Pulhams.
Plan your journey to the Cotswolds by bus or coach.
Bike hire
There’s a good choice of bike and e-bike hire operators, with plenty of options for cycle tours and routes. Find out details for cycling in the Cotswolds.
Tours
A bus tour with a local company like Go Cotswolds or Cotswolds Guided Tours offers a friendly and convenient way to explore many of the area’s fascinating highlights.
Check this guide to tour providers in the Cotswolds area. This includes walking, cycling and themed tours.
