Getting there and around
Flights
The two main airports for international visitors travelling to the Cotswolds are Birmingham Airport (BHX) and London Heathrow (LHR). From Birmingham, it’s approximately a 1½ hour drive to the heart of the Cotswolds and our luxury cottages. Travelling by train from Birmingham can take up to 3 hours. Alternatively, London Heathrow is approximately a 1½ hour drive from the region.
Car rental
Due to the rural nature of the region, car rental is a popular choice amongst holidaymakers. Renting a car at the airport not only makes the trip into the Cotswolds much easier, it also allows you to move around the region with total freedom. While public transport can be used to move from village to village, local bus services are generally infrequent.
Trains
While train services connect all major towns and cities within the region, the railway network in the Cotswolds is not the easiest or quickest means of transportation. This is particularly true of services out of the two main airports used by international visitors. For this reason, car rental is a far more popular option. For domestic visitors, Swindon, Oxford, Cheltenham, and Gloucester are all busy stations within close proximity of our holiday homes in the Cotswolds.
Buses
Buses are generally reliable in the Cotswold region, though they’re also likely to run infrequently and finish their service relatively early. This means that they’re a good option if you’re not looking to travel too far afield or if you’ll only be making the occasional trip.
Taxis
While numerous taxi services operate throughout the area, it’s often a good idea to book your ride in advance. It can also be difficult to find taxis later in the evening, so we would recommend that you arrange your post-dinner taxi the morning of your reservation.
Bicycles
If you’re looking to stay within a relatively small area of the Cotswolds, bicycles can be an excellent means of getting around and seeing the local area. This is particularly true of our luxury Cotswolds rentals near the Cotswold Water Park, where there are a large number of cycle paths and plenty of green space to explore.