Cost of Travel between LHR Airport & Chipping Campden

I can answer part 2 of your question. You will definitely need a car to tour the Cotswolds. Public transportation, where it exists, is not useful for the tourist. We rented a car at Heathrow and drove to Mickelton which is very near Chipping Campden. I remember it to be a pretty long drive. I used my own Garmin GPS with fresh England maps and it worked great. This was in 2014. Today I would probably use google maps on my smart phone (with a power cord). The GPS worked great in getting around the Cotswolds, too. I did not notice any car rental or taxis in Chipping Campden. Might be some but it is fairly small. No train station there either. The only practical alternative to renting a car would be to engage a private guide for the whole trip which would be very nice but really, really expensive.

Driving on the left did not take me long to learn but you do have to concentrate for a while. Your drivers seat is on the right which helps remind you. It was not too much of a problem for me. But, of course, it is entirely up to you to access how well you would handle this. By the way, I was 72 when we did this.

Good luck and enjoy, Robbie

A post from TA on driving in England:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k6722631-Driving_in_the_UK_for_Americans-London_England.html

I agree with Robbie, it is an easier option to rent a car. My husband and I decided to rent a cottage and use rental car to explore. I was the driver, he did not want to drive. Also, he was my navigator. His sense of direction is much, much better than mine. He was, also, my gentle voiced reminder to keep to the left. FWIW, I had one of the best afternoon teas at Badgers Hall in Chipping Campden.

I don't think it's a good idea to fly overnight (I am assuming) to London, arrive probably sleep-deprived and jetlagged, pick up a rental car, and drive on the other side of the road to the Cotswolds. I would not be a safe driver under those comditions. Are you sure you will be?

How about getting a train or bus to Oxford, which will be a pleasant place to walk off your jetlag. Oxford has a lot of sights should you both be raring to go on your arrival day. You could rent a car in Oxford, picking it up on the morning of Day 2, and begin your driving then.

The only town in the Cotswolds with rail service is Moreton-in-Marsh, which is a relatively short train hop from Oxford. I doubt that there are rental cars available in Moreton, but I have not checked.

Incidentally, GoCotswolds runs one-day van trips in the Cotswolds, starting at the Moreton train station. I enjoyed the one I took last year and think it was a fine introduction to the area. If you don't plan to do town-to-town walking, a one-day van trip may be all you need. And I say that as someone who generally prefers independent sightseeing.

There used to be a small rental place for cars in Moreton-in-Marsh but no more. Unless something has opened recently, in which case I'd like to know...

Thank you all so much for all your help and insight including the website information. I wouldn't try to drive from London I think that would be taxing my confidence even for such a independent soul as myself. I have read there are some rental cars available 6 miles North of Moreton-in-Marsh - per Rick Steves "England" book. I was considering taking Uber to that point possibly and renting. I think I could adjust to left-side driving easier perhaps in the smaller villages thinking perhaps less traffic during the week as we will be there from Wed, Thurs & Fri. Good to know the gps on my phone will work as I won't have the advantage of the navigator with my Granddaughter being so young. You've given some good information for me to consider and you have my gratitude & appreciation for taking the time to answer my query.
Thank you,
Lene

Why not just rent the car at the airport and drive yourself to Chipping Campden. The money you’d save will help pay for the rental. Most of the way it’s interstate so that gives you time to adjust to driving on the left (it’s easier that you’d think). Reserve an automatic if you don’t want to shift on the left. Chipping Campden is between 2-2.5 hours from the airport. I’ve driven to both Cheltenham and Bath (about the same distance as CC) after an overnight flight multiple times and didn’t have a problem. However, only you know if you’d be safe driving it.

It can be difficult learning about driving on the left in villages and on lanes because there can be gaps in the traffic when you may forget, and then react incorrectly when a vehicle does approach. Narrow lanes with 60 mph speed limits encourage some drivers to drive fast on straight bits so you can be surprised. Lanes often have no centre markings (no edge markings either) so you have little to remind you to keep left.

Motorway and dual carriageway driving constantly reminds you, and you will learn quickly.

I don't recommend city driving for anybody, certainly nobody new to these green and pleasant lands.

I believe I may wait until my next trip to give it a try, when my husband will be along to help navigate I didn't consider the speed limits being 60 on the narrow curvy roads and I believe you may be correct in the surprise and my reverting to what is natural for me. I'll do more walking between the villages/towns and taxi drop-offs.
Again thanks to all who've given advice you've helped me reach a decision.

Lene

Just because the national speed limit on country roads is 60 - Europe tends to legislate maximum speeds for different types of roads rather than prescribe the speed they expect you to drive at - you don't have to do that speed. Some will in places, but other vehicles usually found on country roads like bicycles, horses, trucks, pedestrians or tractors all will travel slower.

But it is a different style of driving.

And if you're going decidedly under the speed limit on a country road, people are decidedly more pleasant about it than they are in the USA where the speed limit is assumed to be the minimum. In our Wiltshire and Wales ramble, we spent a lot of time with me saying 'speed limit is X, reasonable and prudent is nowhere near that' and everything was just fine.

The nice thing about picking up a car at Heathrow is that, while the motorways move at a higher speed, you don't have to make nearly as many driving decisions as you would in city/town/countryside driving early on, and the trip on the M Whatever westward out of there is actually a little like having the training wheels on for getting used to 'wrong side' driving. Just plant yourself in the slow lane, go the prevailing rate of speed, and I think it's an easier and more gradual adjustment than picking up a rental in the middle of a town that requires dealing with narrow roads, one ways, zebra crossings, and roundabouts to escape from right off the bat.

Transit options are useful for getting to and from walking holiday starting points and local bus options are useful bailout options. It is a luxury to drive a rental to the start of a walk only to find a parking storage facility. I found this link to local bus service in the Cotswold District that offers alternatives to cars:
http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/getting-around/buses-trains/

Trains

The Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main
line trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North
and the South West of England. There are main line railway stations at
Bath, Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving
Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stroud, Charlbury, Kingham and Oxford.

Buses

It is also easy to get around by bus with many local bus services
linking main towns throughout the area, including the RailBus services
linking to the Cotswolds & Malverns Line trains.

More transportation links and timetables:
http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/visiting-and-exploring/cotswolds-train-station/

Thank you for the links I'm taking a look at them now. I do believe I could drive but since I will have my Granddaughter along I'm thinking I had better make that attempt on my next trip when I have my husband with me to help navigate. Folks have been so generous to take the time to respond to my request I'm so grateful.
Lene