Edinburgh, York, Oxford+Cotswolds -- tentative itinerary, feedback appreciated

There are direct York to Oxford trains at 1136 and 1337, no change

That is great -- thank you! Yes, I see it now (even though it's a Monday in February). Don't know how I missed it. Again, much appreciated.

I personally would not want to arrive in York on a Saturday afternoon. The city seems to be very popular for stag and hen parties on weekends. When we were there a few years ago (right before the pandemic), the sidewalks were crowded with drunken celebrants by mid-afternoon on Saturday, and it just got worse toward evening. It was not a pretty sight. We finally found a quiet place for a light dinner and retreated to our hotel room without our usual after-dinner walk.

Or maybe the city has put regulations on that sort of thing and it isn’t like that now.

We loved York, and were there over a weekend and didn't see the above-mentioned craziness. But, we were also home to our Airbnb by around 8. If you're going to spend a few days in Oxford, I'd try to make time for a day at Blenheim Palace. We were foiled, again, at our attempt last fall (this time, the place was closed due to a huge corporate event--lots more money in that than in the regular tourist trade). It looks wonderful, though and you could probably spend a full day there. Personally, I'd spend less time in the Cotswolds and a day in Bath instead. The weather should be lovely at the time of your visit, but one or two towns is enough to get a feel for the place.

Thank you for the heads-up Lola. OMG, I would never have imagined that. Is it throughout the city or just specific areas? For example, what might one expect around the Grand York (yes, I know it's pricey)?

Best regards

Thank you Wanderlust - - that is refreshing (and a relief) to hear. As I had replied to Lola, perhaps the partying is confined to specific areas.
We have to spend a weekend somewhere, and York seems better than Edinburgh and Cotswolds for a weekend. Of our 4+ days in Oxford, our "plan" would be only two days in the Cotswolds (other people have said spend a week there; who knows, eh?): 1 day Moreton-in-Marsh/Bourton-on-Water/Stow-in-Wold; the other day Chippenham and CastleCombe (the latter is more of interest). Agreed Blenheim is a consideration as is Bath. Is is possible to get from Oxford to Blenheim by train?

Best regards

I will try to remember where in York that was. I know we were staying at the Dean Court but it wasn’t close to there. I remember walking down that street toward the river to watch a rowing event, but I don’t recall if that was where we saw the boisterous park-goers. It was a Bank Holiday weekend, and that might have brought more parties to town that weekend. And that was 8 years ago, so maybe in the interim York has found a way to discourage such behavior.

Is is possible to get from Oxford to Blenheim by train?

The technical answer is yes. You can go to Hanborough Station on the line to Moreton in Marsh, visit Churchill's grave at Bladon Church, then either walk in via public footpaths through the estate or there is a summer seasonal bus in from the station to the Palace. Or the all year round half hourly #S7 bus . The walk is long, something like 2 miles or so. The S7 leaves from both the Church and the main road outside the railway station.

However the conventional route taken by everyone on this forum is the #S3 bus every 30 minutes from Oxford Railway Station to the Palace Gates.

Thank you again Lola and isn31c
@isn31c -- the bus to Blenheim sounds much cleaner a route.

Bus to Blenheim is very easy, S7 (from Magdalen St) or S3 (Oxford Station or George St) - for those who stay in Summertown, you can also pick up the bus there as it leaves Oxford. A bonus is you get 20% off admission for using public transportation (yes, they did actually ask us to produce bus tickets when we showed our tickets). https://www.blenheimpalace.com/visitus/getting-here/

Finally, highly recommend taking some time to have a little wander around the adjoining village of Woodstock. There are some nice pubs and you can hop on the bus from the village center back to Oxford.

Thank you hopper18

Also, just to add to your comment about an easier taxi ride to Heathrow from Windsor - it's certainly a shorter trip. but there is a direct bus from Oxford to Heathrow, very frequent and comfortable, and is only about £25 for a one way ride if I remember correctly. It's about 90 minutes. Picks up in several places in central Oxford so you don't have to walk far from accomodations.
https://www.theairlineoxford.co.uk/oxford-to-heathrow-bus/

Thank you bethb