Cotswolds and Warwick Castle in one day drive from Oxford

Castle Comb is the outlier so I’d drop it. Bibury only takes a few minutes to see; maybe a half hour. Stow-on-Wold, Bourton on the Water, and Lower Slaughter are fairly close to each other.

Depending on time of year, driving between places could be slow and parking difficult. You’ve selected a couple of the most popular villages to visit. Don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll be at Warwick Castle. Again, depending on time of year, there could be a plethora of events geared for children.

As long as you remain flexible with the Cotswolds portion of the day you can make it work.

It is for mid March (not high season), but will be Saturday. Is it difficult time for parking at polular places?

I have not figured yet, what villages I can/should see in this short time. Places I quoted on my initial post, were based on quick google search. I am fine with, to stay till dark and have dinner in Cotswolds area before leaving for Oxford. Assuming we reach at Warwick Castle by 10 (will pick car at 9 AM), we can spend here 3-4 hours.

Forget about Castle Combe as that is way out of the way for you. I would also ditch Bibury.

Consider adding Chipping Campden & Broadway to your list. I am not so keen on Stow-on-the-Wold but like Lower Slaughter & Bourton-on-the-Water. You may be able to include Burford on your way back to Oxford - but note that it has a main road in the main street - nice old buildings - shame about the traffic.

Also note that Stratford-upon-Avon is not far from Warwick should you wish to see Will Shakespeare's old house.

Also note that the magnificent Blenheim Palace is about 7 miles NW of Oxford. https://www.blenheimpalace.com

Thanks James.
If I have time, would include Stratford-upon-Avon too on first day. Blenheim Palace is planned for next morning, as our first day is already packed.
Are these stops/route looking feasible for you ? Warwick Castle - Broadway - Lower Slaughter - Bourton-on-the-water - Northleach - Burford - back to hotel.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ssYAtEbKGjoEuVNR8

SLOW DOWN !!!

Don't underestimate driving times as they wilol take a lot longer than you might expect. Also add on time for parking and to reach where ever it is you want to visit. For Warwick there is quite a walk from the car park (always busy) to the castle entrance, so your one hour drive allowance from Oxford to Warwick could well need minutes or longer. You also need to factor in food and comfort breaks too. They rapidly eat into the day...

There is a lot to see in Warwick Castle and it is expensive so you want to get your money's worth. You need to allow 3-4 hours here. The church is also worth visiting too as it has all the family tombs in the Beauchamp Chapel. You've seen the castle, now go and look at the tombs!

Broadway - Lower Slaughter - Bourton-on-the-water - Northleach - Burford - back to hotel.

Is that a drive through them on the way back to Oxford? If so, you need to allow 2.5 hours just for the drive. It may only be just around 70 miles but those roads are narrow, slow and overtaking isn't always easy. If you are actually planning to stop and look at any of different village then add an hour for each to them to the drive time.. You are effectively talking about a full day just to do these... . Don't forget in mid March sunset is 6pm and you can't sight see when it is dark...

Forget Stratford upon Avon - that again is a half day minimum...

Blenheim Palace is also going to be a rush if you are just planning on a morning. The palace itself doesn't open until 10.30 and there are a lot of rooms to walk through. They are also stunning so take your time to actually look at them. Allow 60-90 minutes minimum for the house and then any extra time for the gardens. I assume you are going to need something to eat sometime?

There is a danger of trying to cram too much in that you end up seeing very little of a lot and it all becomes a blur.

Keep in mind that sunset in mid March is just after 6 PM.

I have not been inside Warwick Castle so can't comment as to how much time is needed. (I only took a photo from the river bridge).

Your revised route of Cotswold villages is doable - bearing in mind that I don’t know how long you need for Warwick Castle.. Be sure to go into street view and have a look at each village plus the sort of roads you will be driving on.

hi dipan2222

a couple of notes -

your other posts don't indicate the age of the munchkin, but I wonder how easy it will be to prise said child away from Warwick Castle with the promise "we are leaving so we can drive through some pretty towns and villages". The whole atmosphere at Warwick Castle is aimed at kids. Loads and loads of hands on stuff including dressing up as a knight or lady or other medieval person. In my opinion getting them to want to leave after 3 hours would be like going to Disneyland and leaving at lunch-time. And it is expensive for 2 and a half people, surely you want to get your money's worth?

Both Disneyland and Warwick Castle are all day events. So is driving through the Cotswold "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" which is its official designation. Honestly you are trying to fit a gallon into a pint pot.

Be aware of the problems driving into and around Oxford. The bridge by the station in the Botley Road is still closed to traffic as far as I know. That is near where most of the rental offices are so you will need to be aware of the route you need to use. Also if you are coming from from the Cotswolds on the A40 or A44 there is a lot of road works on the way to Oxford which throw in quite a delay. I assume that your route for speed from Oxford to Warwick will be Botley Road > A34 > left onto the M40, off at Junction 15 for Warwick, and into town using the signs for the castle carpark.

If you drive into Oxford you need a permit due to the environmental Zero Emissions Zone. £2 to £10 per day 7 days a week. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/roads-and-transport/oxford-zero-emission-zone-zez

By default you will be sent to a carpark at Warwick Castle that is up to 20 minutes walk away from the entrance. You can park much nearer in the Stables Car Park for a higher fee but spaces there really are limited.

Late morning is the worst time to get around in my experience as it coincides with organised parties although I'm not sure whether this matters so much in March. Much less busy mid afternoon.

Reversing your itinerary might be worth considering as you won't be missing the views on the M40/A34 after dark. Also start earlier.

Thank you for all your help. I will check your suggestions and will review my plans, how best I can do this. Thanks again.

Rebecca , thank you for your advice and suggestion.
After thinking on few aspects and suggestions here, we are changing to not-to-drive and can take https://www.gocotswolds.co.uk/ . I sent them email to clarify few things, but so far it looks much reasonable.
Also, I think it will make more sense to do both day trips (Cotdwolds and Warwick Castle) from London itself, anyway I am not driving now. We can skip Oxford, but that is okay. We will save some time, which we can add to London.

One question here, will 3:30 hours should be reasonable to spend in castle? Accordingly I can book train tickets.

If you leave London Marylebone after 9am you can buy a Super Off Peak ticket. Current price £36.40.
While you specify the train times at purchase that is a fully flexible ticket, so you can use any train out after 9am and any train back.
It is also a walk up ticket, so can be purchased on the day.
The 0902 gets you to Warwick at 1034, so then just spend as long as you want there. No time pressures.
A heads up for you-
The Castle is part of the National Rai! Two for One scheme- https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/warwick-castle. Print the voucher and one of you adults gets in for free with your rail ticket.

Most people use that scheme for London, but it is a national scheme.

Thanks for the link for Two for One. Very helpful to save some money.

I am checking train ticket from London Marylebone to Warwick for March 16 and (9:32 AM - 11:00 AM & 16:14 - 17:45) for £58.00 on chilternrailways website. Please see this - https://imgur.com/F3RYRXB
Is this the one, I can return anytime, even though time mentioned is 16:14 ?

On nationalrail website, "Anytime return" was showing £330 - https://imgur.com/72Cgvox

Yes, the Chiltern Railways Family ticket is an off-peak ticket so you can travel back on any train.

This is good, I was not aware of this.
And this is true for morning also ? Book 9:02 AM ticket and I can go with 9:32 AM train, if I miss earlier one?

Yes, absolutely, any train after 0902 outwards. It is just that the system needs to specify a train. Or the other way round, you book the 0932 and happen to be up and about early, especially if it's a nice day for weather then just jump on the 0902 if you want.
The £330 return is on any train from the start of service at around 6am.

I don't recognise the imgur link. Who are they? Chiltern Railways is at https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/

After putting in the March 16 - that's Saturday so all trains by definition are off-peak on Saturdays - and 2 adults and one child, hit the "Search and Buy" tickets button and scroll way down until you get to Returns. The very first one in your case is Chiltern Railways Family Ticket for £58. You all need to travel together, with the child for this fare, and you're doing that. The £58 gets all of you to Warwick and brings you home, on any train. All the trains taking you to Warwick pass through Banbury so don't worry about that restriction...

The detailed rules are available when you click on the ticket, reproduced below:

Route details Additional information about this fare can be found at
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types.aspx

Break of journey: Outward: A break of journey is not allowed.

Break of journey: Return: Break of journey is allowed.

Ticket restrictions available at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/WZ

Valid only for travel via (changing trains or passing through)
Banbury.

Ticket is refundable

Fare Validity

You can travel from the following stations: London Marylebone, London
Paddington

This ticket is valid from London Marylebone

This ticket is valid to Warwick

Outward - Valid until 16 Mar 2024

Return - Valid until 15 Apr 2024

When can I use an off-peak ticket?

Off-Peak Return tickets are valid for outward travel on the date shown
on the ticket and until 04:29 the following day.Off-Peak Return
tickets are valid for return travel within one calendar month from the
start date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 after last day of
validity.

Off-Peak Day Return tickets are valid for travel on the date shown on
the ticket and until 04:29 the following day. All travel must be
completed by this time.

Off-Peak Day Single tickets are valid for outward travel on the date
shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.

Off-Peak Single tickets are valid for outward travel on the date shown
on the ticket and until 04:29 the following day.

Very good to know. Thank you so much.

Nigel , that was the screenshot of fare, what I am seeing. Just wanted to share to confirm, if I am looking at correct fare and page.

I was thinking to keep one base to avoid time waste in pack/unpack. But on other you are right, I am keeping far those two desired places. I will think on it review plans again

From Oxford the train to Warwick takes one hour. You have to switch trains at Banbury- no problem- both trains there and back leave from the same platform at Banbury.
The reason is that all trains from Oxford pass through Warwick without stopping.

By a quirk of the fare system it is the same fare from Oxford as from London- on that route it is called a Groupsave ticket.

The first train you can use is at 0939, in the week, or any train at the weekend. Again this is a totally flexible ticket after 0939 weekdays and can be bought on the day at the station.

Note that if your Day 2 (the Cotswolds) is literally that then you need to be careful. The first Sunday train from Oxford to Moreton is at 0846, arrives 0918. If that is late or there is engineering work on the line that Sunday you miss your tour.

Far better off to do Moreton (Cotswolds) on Day 1 (Saturday) and Warwick on Day 2 (Sunday). On Saturday take the 0745 from Oxford, arrives Moreton 0818 for the comfort factor. The groupsave fare for that journey is £25.05.

NOTE that, if you are doing any other rail travel at all during this vacation and your child is under 16 you will be better off getting a Family and Friends Railcard for £30- that gives you 1/3 off adult prices off peak and 60% off child fares.

So the groupsave of £58 to Warwick becomes £35 and to Moreton £25.05 becomes £19.10

I contacted GoCotswolds about the tight timeline of train and they replied - "The train which arrives at Moreton-in-Marsh at 9.18AM is perfect. Moreton-in-Marsh is a very small station, so it will only take 1-2 minutes for you to walk from the train to the car park out front. Trains on this line are usually very reliable, but in case of minor delays we can wait up to 9.45AM. We usually know about major disruption in advance (for example strikes, planned engineering work), so if anything like this affects you, then we will let you know as soon as possible and provide you with options. In the rare case of major, unforeseen delays or cancellations on the day of the tour, we will keep in touch with you and make a plan - we can usually find a way to help you join the tour somehow!"
But Yes, I agree with your point.

I am checking £30 "Family and Friends Railcard". To check it, I tried few options.
London Marylebone to Warwick Train won't reduce any fare.
London Paddington to MiM, it reduces from £65 to £39, which is £26 discount.

Then I will have multiple trip in London city in Tube. I am reading in a quick search "With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £21.50)".

With this calculation, it looks like worth ?

Marylebone to Warwick it will reduce the fare after 0930 weekdays, anytime at weekends.
The big decision to make first is, are you staying in London or Oxford.
Then we can sort things out from there?
Travelcards don't come into the equation on tickets to Warwick or Moreton.
I'm a bit more ambivalent than Rebecca on that question, but would still lean heavily towards Oxford.

We will be staying in London and do day trips to Warwick (Monday) or Moreton (Saturday), and rest other days in London and around.

Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh for Saturday without card and it shows £65 (return) for 7:52 AM.
Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh for Saturday with RailCard and it shows £39 (return) for 7:52 AM.

Marylebone to Warwick for Monday without card and it shows £58 (return) for 9:02 AM (and later too)
Marylebone to Warwick for Monday with RailCardcard and it shows £54.90 (return) for 9:02 AM (and later too)

Looks like, with Railcard, it will give us same discount, of the price of RailCard.