Chipping Campden: hiking question and Stratford side trip question

Hi! I can help with the cab question in a general way.

First: the idea of going to see a play is not crazy at all! It’s a great idea!

In the UK, getting a cab from one town to another close by is very common and normal. Chipping Campden and Stratford-Upon-Avon are 12 miles apart. So a cab after the show would be a cinch.

The first cab company I looked at in Stratford said:

“From 1ST CALL TAXI STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Taxi service. Airport transfers, school runs etc. Hackney WAV. Stratford-upon-Avon licensed driver. Covering Stratford-upon-Avon District and whole Warwickshire including surrounding areas like Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire. Competitive prices and reliable professional drivers."

Check out the run time for the play and then add 15 minutes as a buffer. Call a cab company and make a booking for that time. Easy peasy!

We’ve spent time in a small commuter town between London and Brighton and got very reliant on the local cab company to take us hither and yon - including to delightful little places in the South Downs that we never thought would be accessible without a car.

Have a blast!

Regarding Hiking Poles, there is a Chain of Outdoor Stores across the UK called Millets.

At least at my local store they are having a perpetual sale at up to 60% off. I don't know if that is peculiar to my store or nationwide. But especially at sale prices it would probably be cheaper to buy than rent, then just gift them to wherever you are staying for future guests.

I believe you can also pre-order on line then collect at a convenient store- https://www.millets.co.uk/

The taxi back from Stratford, if you allow £2 per mile should be around £25 as a ballpark figure.

We loved Chipping Campden and stayed at the Volunteer Inn that has the best pub in town and a great Indian restaurant.

We did day trips to Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Stratford Upon Avon.

You really need a car in the Cotswolds, not sure how much a taxi would cost, but likely expensive.
Consider renting a car in Oxford.

You may struggle to find somewhrer to hire walking poles from in the Cotswolds. Have you considered buying when you arrive? This question was posed on Trip Adviser earlier this year.

The only place I have found from google is this company which says it will "deliver to and collect from any UK address, excluding Northern Ireland." However, it doesn't list an address and only gives a mobile number... That always makes me feel twitchy....

If you're only planning a single day trip from Chipping Camden (ie to Stratford) then I think the easiest and cheapest option would be to get a bus there* and a taxi back. I suggest you choose a company and email or phone them to book a taxi and if you mention that you are going to the theater then I'd guess they'd know how long to add to the likely finish time to get out of the building and they probably have a preferred pick up point. They should also be able to quote you a cost (taxi tips in the UK are typically 10%).

If you want to do several day trips, then yo might be better off renting a car.

*Looking at Google maps, it seems that buses run from "The Bratches" which is a bit under a mile out of Chipping Camden itself. I'm not familiar with the town - is this correct?

Buses run by Stagecoach run from Chipping Campden Town Hall to Stratford McDonalds at 0633, 0852, 1011, 1113, 1314, 1533, 1813 and 1913 Monday to Friday all also calling at The Bratches. The 1813 arrives at Stratford at 1857, likely very nice timing for an evening play.

On a Saturday the 0633 is at 0735 and the 1533 at 1556- all other times are the same.

No Sunday service

If I understand you correctly, you want to spend 2 nights in Chipping Campden (which gives you one full day there) and do some hiking plus do a day trip to Stratford and stay for a play in the evening. Is that right? If it is and you want to do both I would think you would have limited time in Stratford, but probably enough time for dinner and the play. Unless you are going to be somewhere before and after your time there that requires a car I would think a taxi both ways would be the best option.

Edited to add that a bus could take you to Stratford, but a taxi might be faster if you are short on time.