Experience a wealth of England’s rural and historical treasures, and the fictional ‘Downton Abbey’ village, on this full-day trip from London with an expert guide. Marvel at splendid Blenheim Palace, the UNESCO-protected country house where Sir Winston Churchill was born, and discover the enchanting scenery of the Cotswolds, with visits to an idyllic village: either Bibury or Bourton-on-the-Water. Lastly, explore the pretty village of Bampton to see some of the locations where the much-loved TV series, ‘Downton Abbey’, was filmed, and enjoy time for lunch here before returning to London.

Full-day trip to Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, and Downton Abbey village from London, led by an expert guide
Explore Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir William Churchill
Revel in the quintessentially English villages and thatched-roof houses of the Cotswolds from the comfort of a luxury coach
Visit the charming village of Bibury or Bourton-on-the-Water
Enjoy a walking tour of the village of Bampton, featured in Downton Abbey as Downton village
Please note a visit to Highclere Castle is not included

What's Included

Professional guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Free WiFi on coach
Audio guide
Blenheim Palace, State Rooms and Gardens (if option selected)

Optional gratuities
Food and beverages
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UK
Tour departs at 9 am (boarding at 8.30 am), Victoria Coach Station, Gate 1-5, Evan Evans Tours

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

15 Victoria St, London SW1V 1JU, UK
Tour finishes near Victoria Station

What To Expect

Depart Victoria coach station by comfortable, air-conditioned coach, and travel northwest into scenic Oxfordshire.

After approximately 1.5 hours on the road, stop at UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir William Churchill. Head inside, put on your audio headsets to hear commentary from your guide, and stroll around the opulent State Rooms of this magnificent stately house, built in the 1700s. Admire the priceless artworks and tapestries that adorn the walls and view the formal gardens on a leisurely walk in the grounds.
 Back aboard your coach, soak up the views of the gorgeous Cotswolds region, where rolling green hills give way to stone-built market towns and thatched villages. Stop in at one of two charming villages: the picture-postcard hamlet of Bibury, to amble past its famous weavers’ cottages, originally built as a wool store in 1380, and the 12th-century St. Mary's Church.
 Or, drive on to idyllic Bourton-on-the-Water, sometimes known as ‘Little Venice’ for the series of handsome low bridges that cross the Windrush River that flows through the village center. Amble through the lanes and admire the lush greens, quaint shops, and stone banks along the riversides.
 Finally, continue to Bampton, the classic English village that doubled as fictional Downton village in the famous TV drama series of Downton Abbey. View the church where Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley were wed and the house that served as Isobel Crawley’s home. Pass the old school that was Downton Hospital and buildings that starred as two village pubs. While you’re here, take the opportunity to relax over lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant or café, and then return to London where your trip finishes at Westminster.

Blenheim Palace

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Bampton Heritage & Visitor Centre

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bourton on the Water

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Burford Library

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please Note: this tour does not visit Highclere Castle
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
For a wheelchair user : Please inform us in advance if you intend to bring wheelchair.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 52 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.0

550 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 550 reviews

A must do trip!!

AUDREY_P, Apr 2024

Wonderful trip. Eileen our tour guide is a Gem. Zero the driver was amazing. Amazing history. Countryside is unique. Had lunch. Had some ice cream. Evans Evans organise Fantastic trips. The coach was comfortable and clean.

A fun day trip!

Andrew_W, Apr 2024

Eileen was terrific. She was very knowledgeable and funny at the same time! We learned facts about British history and lifestyle! Made it a very enjoyable experience!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Andrew_W Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about our services. We are glad that our team did a great job. We will pass on your kind words over to Eileen We hope to welcome you onboard another one of our tours in the future! Best wishes Evan Evans

Loved Downton Village...

David_O, Apr 2024

Loved Downton Village portion. Palace part was taken over by fashion displays and was not interested. More time for gardens.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear David, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We're delighted to hear that you loved the Downton Village portion of the tour. We understand your preference for spending more time in the gardens rather than the fashion displays at the palace. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we'll certainly take it into consideration as we strive to continuously improve and tailor our tours to better meet the preferences of our guests. We want every aspect of your experience to be enjoyable and memorable. Thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for more delightful adventures in the future! Kindest regards, Evan Evans Team

Great experience

Allison_L, Apr 2024

Loved the trip to the countryside. We especially enjoyed time at Blenheim Palace and a chance to explore Burton on the Water.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Allison_L Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us. We hope to see you again on another one of our tours! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Please don’t waste your day doing this tour

Karmany_R, Apr 2024

A complete waste of time! We had the worst tour guide, she wouldn’t stop talking, she was on the microphone for the full duration of the trip. Many of us asked her to stop the commentary as it was loud and unnecessary but she just went on. It’s was extremely unpleasant, if I could have found alternative transportation back to central London I would have left the tour. In terms of the places- only Blenheim Palace was good the rest was a complete waste of time. We did not see Cotswold village but rather saw another part of Cotswold. Downtown Abbey we saw a shop and a church- absolute waste of time and money.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Karmany_R, We apologise for the inconvenience caused. This is not our usual standards. Please send us an email at reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk with some more information. Thank you for reaching out. Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

The schedule was a bit...

Charlotte_C, Mar 2024

The schedule was a bit packed. Find it a bit boring in Bampton if you’re not a downtown abbey fan. The other two places are fine, wish we could have more time.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Charlotte_C, Thank you for leaving us feedback about your tour experience - any feedback we get is important for us as it helps us improve for future visits. We are grateful you took the time to leave us a 4* review and we're sorry to hear you wanted more time at the locations. We agree that we would like to give more time at each venue, however due to time constraints, this is unfortunately not possible. If you need any more assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk. We hope you choose us again for your future tour experiences. Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

Good place and nice guild...

Aimurai_P, Mar 2024

Good place and nice guild . Blenheim Palace and Downton Abbey Village were good place to visit. I liked Cotswolds .We have short time at Bourton on the water.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Aimurai_P, Thank you for taking the time to let us now how we are doing. We massively appreciate the 4* review and the lovely feedback about the tour venues. We are sorry to hear that you wanted to spend more time in Bourton-on-the-Water and we agree that we would love to give our customers more time at each location. However, this is not possible due to time constraints. Thank you again for the wonderful 4* review and we hope you will choose us again for your future trips. If you need any more assistance, please do not hesitate to contact reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk. Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

A Great Way to Spend a Day in the English Countryside

bleber3, Mar 2024

All three stops were beautiful. The people we encountered were all friendly and helpful. The Churchill Exhibit at Blenheim Palace was very well presented and informative. The tour guide, Sheila, and the bus driver, Rod, also made the trip very pleasant. My thanks to both of them.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello bleber3 Thank you for leaving us this wonderful 5* review! We are glad that the team has managed to meet your needs and were able to offer you the service you expected. We will pass on the kind words over to Sheila and Rod, they will be delighted to know that they were able to make the day a memorable one for you. We hope you come visit us again soon Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Not enough time at...

Smrithi_V, Mar 2024

Not enough time at Cotswold, very rushed trip, not much to do at last stop— considering the trip is named after downtown abbey which was only a 20 minute stop. Professional staff and good driver.

Engaging Guide and a Stress-Free Day!

Kate_J, Mar 2024

We had the best time on this tour! Our guide, Kevin, was fantastic. His humor and engaging storytelling kept me and my teenager totally entertained. Kevin's knowledge of the area's history was impressive, and he really made history come alive! Thanks also to Greg for his smooth and safe driving of the bus. We felt like we had plenty of time to explore each stop, making this a stress-free way to see Blenheim Palace, the village where Downton Abbey was filmed, and the charming Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello Kate_J Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about our services. We are glad that our team did a great job. We will pass on your kind words over to Kevin and Greg We hope to welcome you onboard another one of our tours in the future! Best wishes Evan Evans

Cotswolds

kelley_b, Mar 2024

Good trip to the countryside with family. Enjoyed walking through the town . Our guide was great. I would recommend this trip .

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hello kelley_b Thank you so much for this lovely review, we are so happy to hear you had such a good experience with us. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

Informative fun day.

warwick_a, Mar 2024

We enjoyed our trip very much, our tour guide was knowledgeable friendly and funny. Our bus driver was very good at his job, very skilled at navigating the London traffic.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear warwick_a, Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip, and it's wonderful to know that our knowledgeable, friendly, and humorous tour guide, along with our skilled bus driver, contributed to making your journey memorable. If you have any further feedback, comments, or if there's anything else you'd like to share, please feel free to let us know. We're here to assist you with any future travel plans or inquiries. Thank you for choosing our services, and we look forward to welcoming you on more enjoyable tours in the future! Safe travels! Best regards, Evan Evans Team

An escape to the country

April_W, Feb 2024

Blenheim Palace was beautiful. I didn’t expect to love it so much. Get the chocolate and caramel cake! A Don’t forget the stables. Fun little tour.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Dear April_W, Thank you so much for sharing your experience of the Blenheim tour with us! We're thrilled to hear that you found it beautiful and that it exceeded your expectations. The chocolate and caramel cake is indeed a delightful treat, and we're glad you enjoyed it. Exploring the stables can be such a fun and unique experience, and we're pleased to hear you appreciated the tour. We hope you'll visit us again soon for more wonderful moments and discoveries! Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

One day at Costwolds

Maria_M, Feb 2024

We have spent a fantastic and unforgetable day. It was a nice and interested group of people of different nationalities. We enjoyed to visit the Blenhem Palace, the cream tea at Bouton-on-the-Water, the green lands and, of course, the village of Downton Abbey with the beatiful Church, were children were playing and were we have been so nicely welcomed. Our guide was fabulous: thank you so much, Leslie! We will remember you and all the history and stories you told us as well as your smile. The bus was very comfortable and the driver was very safe and competent. Only the rain, during the afternoon was a little unpleasant.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Dear Maria_M We would like to thank you for your kind words and for sharing it with the rest of the community. Our team works very hard to provide the best service and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your visit to our establishment. We hope you come visit us again soon! Best wishes Evan Evans Team

Downton abbey day with fans

Ulla_L, Jan 2024

Chris guide was very clear and informative and driver Greg very good, Lovely day even I thought we would visit the Dounton abbey manor house. But to see the village where filming took place was lovely, very good day

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Dear Ulla, Thank you so much for the feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your tour. Please come back soon! Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

Perfect day trip

arzu_b, Jan 2024

Our tour guide Chrissy was excellent and thanks to our driver Greg we had a pleasent trip all day. The locations were so worthy to see, especially the Blenheim Palace was exceptional. I definitely recommend it!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Hi arzub, Thank you for leaving us this wonderful 5* review! We are glad that the team has managed to meet your needs and were able to offer you the service you expected. We will pass on the kind words over to Chrissy and Greg, they will be delighted to know that they were able to make the day a memorable one for you. We hope you come visit us again soon Best wishes Evan Evans

Would love to return in the Cotswold only, for the entire day!

Claudine_S, Dec 2023

Downton abbey village which is Brampton we’re the series was film, nice to see the house and church from the film. Churchill museum at Bleinheim castle The Cotswold was ok not. Nothing really special only one house with a thatch roof

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hi Claudine_S, Thank you for leaving us feedback about the tour. We are glad that our team did a great job. We work very hard to ensure that our customers get outstanding service, and it makes us very happy that it reflected during your recent visit. Best wishes Evan Evans

Amazing thank you

Bernadette_A, Nov 2023

Great tour guide. Nice pace of day. Beautiful places we visited. Very informative and absolutely loved the day!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hello Bernadette_A, Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback about your tour. Seeing that you had a 5-star experience is all we could hope for! Your review means a lot to us. We can't wait to welcome you again soon! All the best Evan Evans

I enjoyed everything. The tour guide and bus driver were very helpful

Gloria_T, Nov 2023

The Churchill estate was vast and breathtaking. The shopping Village had some real treasures, especially the motor exhibition. Finally the Downton Abbey church and Village took me back to the films/TV. Of course I wanted more but thats because it was all very breathtaking. Loved it all. Manu and Jerry are the best!!!

Mislead once again!

LORI_C, Oct 2023

Very disappointing the first thing the tour director said no such thing as downtown abby road we are not going there. Very misleading as that is why I booked this tour. Once again my booking had no entrance to Blenheim. We were able to go as the nice tour director got me in. Dont count on Viator as they told me once again all is set. Admission to all included. Will never use them again or reccomend them!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear LORI_C, Thank you very much for the time you have taken to write this review. We are incredibly sorry to hear your feedback. At Evan Evans, we pride ourselves in delivering the very best experience to our guests, and what you describe is certainly not in keeping with our usual standards of service. Regarding the admission fee, Viator is one of our partners that we work with, we would like to apologise for the misinformation and we will pass on your feedback. Thank you again for your feedback and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future. Best wishes, Evan Evans Team

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