cotswolds

Hello janetmcguire2011. I do not know of any guided tour from London to the Cotswolds, returning to London the same day. I think a guided tour starts at Oxford, going to the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire) and returning to Oxford the same day. I recommend riding in a railway train from London to Moreton in Marsh (in north Gloucestershire), and stay at a hotel or B & B at Moreton in Marsh, a minimum of two nights. It is best to rent a car at Moreton and Marsh. If you refuse to rent a car in England, it is possible to ride in busses from Moreton in Marsh, south to two or three small towns, and return to Moreton in Marsh in one day. The bus schedule is on the internet.

We are in London at the moment and have spent considerable time researching tours from here to Stonehenge. In the process we've seen many that include same day tours of the Cotswolds combined with other areas (Bath, Windsor, Salisbury,) but here is a link to one that is just the Cotswolds. However, I would echo Rons comment above that you actually stay there to make the most of the experience.

https://www.londontoolkit.com/whattodo/cotswolds_tours.htm

Good luck.

http://www.premiumtours.co.uk/tours/tour/lunch-in-the-cotswolds.id53.html
Runs Tuesday, Friday and Sundays between April and October, less frequently in the winter months.
Tour leaves London around 8:15 a.m. after hotel pick-ups returning to London around 6:30 p.m.
Adults £82 / Children (3-16yrs) £72 / Seniors & Students £79
Includes lunch in a 17th Century former coaching Inn in Bibury

I recommend the London Walks Company. They do a day tour to the Cotswolds, detailed here:
http://www.walks.com/Standalone/The_Cotswolds_%E2%80%93_Sightseeing_Tour_%E2%80%93_Guided_Walking_Tour/default.aspx

Also look at their website for walking tours around London, and other out-of-town trips.
www.walks.com

Evans/Evans Tours also offer day trips to the Cotswolds. We used them several times to go inside and outside of London.

You could do on your own!!! Take the train from Paddington Station to Moreton-in-Marsh....you then take bus 801 to Bourton-on-the-Waterv then when finished there take bus to Stow-on-the-Wold, then back to Moreton-in-Marsh to get train back to London. Just check the times when the bus leaves to the next village.

Robin Z I am planning my first trip to London this winter - I am so intrigued by the idea of getting myself to the Cotswolds, as you suggest. Any insight on travel time/cost of a DIY day trip?