adeo Travel · Independent Rail Tour

Heart of England by Rail

8-day self-guided rail tour of Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and London

Heart of England by Rail, a rail journey with adeo Travel

adeo Travel runs this 8-day self-guided rail tour of the heart of England, using an 8-day BritRail Pass to link Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and London. The trip opens in Bath at the Roman Baths and Pump Room, followed by a small-group day tour to Stonehenge and Cotswold villages such as Castle Combe and Lacock. From Oxford, a short rail ride to Moreton-in-Marsh reaches more Cotswolds villages including Stow-on-the-Wold, before the train continues north to Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare's Birthplace and a rail day trip to Warwick Castle. The tour ends with a day in London taking in Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Most days move by train between historic towns, with only the Stonehenge excursion using a local driver instead. This suits travelers who want England's Regency and Tudor history covered by rail, planning their own time between the two included small-group tours.

What to know before you look closer

  • All four hotels are listed as "(or similar)", so the exact property may be substituted.
  • Stonehenge admission is excluded from the Stonehenge and Cotswolds Villages tour from Bath and must be paid locally, and the Warwick Castle inclusion excludes the castle dungeon.
  • Day 2's Stonehenge and Cotswolds excursion is the only day of the eight that does not include a scheduled train journey, using a local driver instead.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Bath

    Bath City and Roman Baths

    Arriving in London Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, validate your BritRail Passes and join the Britain rail network. Glide through the English countryside to Bath, home to the Elizabethan Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and the Roman Baths and Pump Room.

  2. Day 2overnight: Bath

    Stonehenge and Cotswold Villages Excursion

    Join a local driver on a small-group day tour through the villages and countryside of Wiltshire, visiting Castle Combe, Avebury village, Silbury Hill, Stonehenge and Lacock Village.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Oxford

    Medieval Oxford

    Board the train to journey to the historic university city of Oxford. Explore the lawns, quads and spires of Oxford University and famous colleges such as Magdalene and Christchurch or the Bodleian Library and New College Hall.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Oxford

    Cotswolds Excursion

    Today is dedicated to exploring the quintessential English landscapes and villages of the Cotswolds via a short rail ride from Oxford to Moreton-on-Marsh, visiting villages such as Upper Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway.

  5. Day 5overnight: Stratford-upon-Avon

    Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon

    Take the rails north into the heart of England to Stratford-upon-Avon, exploring open greens, the River Avon and Tudor timberwork buildings. Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage or Mary Arden's Farm.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Stratford-upon-Avon

    Warwick and Warwick Castle

    Continue to explore Stratford-upon-Avon's heritage sites or make a short rail journey to Warwick, visiting St Mary's Church, Lord Leycester Hospital or St John's House, with the highlight of Warwick Castle.

  7. Day 7railovernight: London

    Icons of London

    Whisked south to London by rail, begin exploring the stunning English Capital, discovering world renowned sights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. By evening take a flight on the London Eye.

  8. Day 8rail

    Return Home

    Today bid farewell to the UK as you board the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links to take you back to your departure airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A small-group day tour from Bath visits Stonehenge, Avebury village, Silbury Hill and Castle Combe.
  • Day 4A short rail ride from Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh reaches Cotswolds villages including Upper Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway.
  • Day 5The tour visits Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Mary Arden's Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon.
  • Day 6A short rail journey reaches Warwick Castle.

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation (suggested accommodations listed below)
  • Full cooked English breakfast each morning
  • BritRail England Consecutive Passes (8 day) – 8 consecutive days of travel on the British National Rail Network from day of validation, fully flexible and unlimited for the period of validity, covering all outlined rail journeys including transit on the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Stonehenge and Cotswolds Villages Tour from Bath (excludes admission to Stonehenge – pay locally)
  • Hand-picked small-group day-tour: Famous Cotswolds or Cotswold Highlights tour from Moreton-in-Marsh
  • Admission to Roman Baths in Bath
  • Shakespeare's Houses Pass
  • Warwick Castle (excludes castle dungeon)
  • Adeo travel documents pack and suggested rail schedule information for each point-to-point journey including journey durations, departure stations and travel departure times
  • Toll-free calls (from USA and Canada) to your Britain vacation specialist whilst planning your trip
  • Expert assistance during the planning of your trip and local out-of-hours number for use during travel

Not included

  • Travel on the London Underground rail network (separate to the national rail network; BritRail Passes not valid)
  • Taxis / transfers from train stations to your hotels
  • Trip Insurance
  • Flights
  • Meals and/or sightseeing other than that outlined above

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, an 8-day BritRail England Consecutive Pass covers standard-class rail travel on all outlined journeys, including the Heathrow or Gatwick Express links.
Is it guided or independent?
Self-guided; local guides or drivers join the two included small-group day tours, to Stonehenge and the Cotswolds from Bath, and the Cotswolds from Moreton-in-Marsh.
What hotels are used?
The Bird Hotel in Bath, The Randolph in Oxford, The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon and The Kensington in London, all "or similar".
What is not included?
Stonehenge admission, London Underground travel, taxis from stations to hotels, trip insurance, flights, and meals or sightseeing beyond what's listed.
What sites are included?
The Roman Baths in Bath, a Shakespeare's Houses Pass in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle, excluding the castle dungeon.
What is the price?
The tour starts at 1,745 GBP (2,330 USD), about 291 USD per day.

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