Oxford, Shakespeare Country and the Cotswolds in

A short trip from London: Blenheim Palace, Shakespeare's hometown, Warwick Castle and honey-coloured villages.

Ideal for a weekend or as an add-on before or after a longer trip; small-group tours and self-drive are both common. You stay two nights in Stratford without changing hotels: day one covers Blenheim Palace and Shakespeare's Birthplace, day two Warwick Castle and the riverside theatre, and day three the villages of the northern Cotswolds, returning to London via Oxford. Bath is not on this route and needs separate planning.

Day by day

Day 1 · Blenheim Palace to Stratford-upon-Avon

Oxford（Blenheim Palace） → Stratford-upon-Avon（Shakespeare's Birthplace、Shakespeare's New Place）

By small-group coach or self-drive: London to Blenheim takes about 1.5 hours, then about 1 hour on to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stay: Old Town Centre

Day 2 · Warwick Castle and the Riverside

Stratford-upon-Avon（Warwick Castle、Anne Hathaway's Cottage、Holy Trinity Church、Royal Shakespeare Theatre）

It's about 25 minutes to Warwick; in the afternoon return to the old town, with Shottery about 10 minutes away.

Evening performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre are popular, so book tickets in advance.

Stay: Old Town Centre

Day 3 · Villages and Back via Oxford

Bath & Cotswolds（Stow-on-the-Wold、Upper and Lower Slaughter、Bourton-on-the-Water） → Oxford（Christ Church, Oxford、Radcliffe Camera） → London

Hops between Cotswold villages take 15–30 minutes; Oxford is about 1 hour away, and London about 1.5 hours beyond.

Christ Church's opening hours change often; check the official website first.

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