First Timer in UK: 5 Nights London - 4 Nights in Cotswold

If near a bookstore buy the RS Guidebook.
Answers many of your questions. Also peruse the
London Walks website: www.walks.com

Check availability Premier Inn at County Hall. Do it now. You’ll be adjacent to the London Eye and across the Thames from Parliament Square. 20 minute stroll across Westminster Bridge. 30 minute stroll to The Palace.

To my knowledge there is no London City. London, yes. Many differing neighborhoods such as Soho, Westminster, Canary Wharf, Fulham, Brixton to name a few.

Train to Oxford. Rent car there and drive to the Cotswolds. You want small villages: investigate Bibury, Blockley or Stanton.

Given you like history I suggest a day trip to Bletchley Park.

First, do not refer to it as the City of London. The City of London is a small area of Greater London that encompasses the old financial district. It was once known as the "Square Mile"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London

If you mention the City of London to a local they will think you mean this small area. Just refer to it as London. When I first read what you wrote I wondered why you wanted to limit yourself to a small area.

If you say "London City" to a local, they will think you are referring to an airport.

Driving or taking the train is up to you. You will be able to visit more places than just relying on public transportation. My suggestion would be to rent a car in the Cotswolds or Oxford or Bath. You do not want to drive in London. Too any regulations. You'll probably get a fine.

For medical care in England, just look for the closest NHS clinic. If they're closed, seek the closest hospital. If you are staying at a hotel or B & B, they'll have that information.

Several years ago, I took the train from London to Oxford and rented a car there to start my journey rather than renting in or near London.

Since you’re interested in a day trip to Oxford, which is a marvelous place to walk around, you might consider taking an early train from London to Oxford (about an hour) and enjoying a day in Oxford, then pick up a rental car to drive to the Cotswolds later in the day.

There are access restrictions for private cars in the Oxford City Center, so if you rent a car in the Cotswolds and then drive to Oxford, you’ll have to park in a Park and Ride outside the City Center anyway.

There are probably more options for renting a car in Oxford than the Cotswolds, and depending on where you plan to stay, you can drive there from Oxford in about the same time or even faster than a train.

Evidently, there is no left luggage storage at the Oxford train station, but there are several companies that provide this service.

https://radicalstorage.com/luggage-storage/oxford/station/luggage-storage-station?dropOff=2022-04-14T18:45:15%2B01:00&pickUp=2022-04-15T12:00:49%2B01:00&bags=2

https://usebounce.com/city/oxford

https://stasher.com/luggage-storage/oxford)

You can also take the train or bus from London or Oxford to somewhere such as Morteon-in-Marsh or Chipping Norton and then rent a car, but I’m not familiar with the rental availability in that area.

All the best,

Raymond

just to clarify - there is no railway in or near Chipping Norton and no station.

Nigel,

Good catch.

I meant to write "You can also take the train or bus from London or Oxford to somewhere such as Morteon-in-Marsh or Chipping Norton and then rent a car."

I've edited my original post to add the missing phrase "or bus."

Raymond

Thank you all!

Super helpful! I have decided to train to Oxford - spend a day there and rent a car and drive to Cotswold!