Christmas in Oxford

Make your own way to the Oxford hotel, situated in the city’s leafy suburbs, and settle in for the evening.  

Meet your fellow travellers and friendly tour manager before dinner is served at the hotel’s restaurant.  

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel and board the coach for today’s excursion. Leaving the bustle of Oxford behind, you’ll be immersed in the Cotswolds’ untouched natural beauty as you’re driven through its rolling green hills.  

Your first stop, Bourton-on-the-Water, offers plenty of celebratory cheer along its frosted riverbanks; be sure to keep an eye out for the village’s signature Christmas tree, which rises up from the river Windrush each year. Often called the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ thanks to the five low-arching bridges crossing its river, Bourton-on-the-Water will come alive with lights as you pass its waterfront. No festive visit to this market town would be complete without paying a visit to its dedicated Victorian Christmas shop, featuring an array of trinkets and keepsakes.  

Your next village will be Bibury, home to the famous Arlington Row of weavers’ cottages. This 600-year-old string of homes was originally built as a wool store and later converted in the late 17th century. Today, it’s a Grade I-listed building, owned by the national trust, an architectural conversation area, and probably one of the probably one of the most photographed Cotswold scenes.  

Once you’ve had your fill of the village’s medieval architecture, be sure to immerse yourself in its striking natural beauty. Keep a close eye on the Rack Island water meadows for a glimpse of its some of its resident waterfowl or wander through the village to Bibury’s trout farm, which offers a café, giftshop and market.  

On your way back towards Oxford, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the medieval town of Burford. Once a hub of the wool trade, the town’s industrial past is illustrated at its old market hall turned museum, the Tolsey. Tradition is close to Burford’s identity and that’s certainly the case with the town’s high street. You’ll be free to supplement your Christmas shopping with its array of independent stores. Finally, after the day’s travel, you can recharge your batteries over a cup of tea at one of the town’s quaint cafés.  

Having returned Oxford, you can settle into your hotel for dinner. 

To mark Christmas Eve in style, you’ll travel to one of England’s largest country houses, Blenheim Palace. Have breakfast at your hotel and be sure to wrap up warm before boarding your coach to this UNESCO-listed treasure. The building, in all its baroque majesty, is the only independently owned country house in England to hold the title of ‘palace’. From its regal hallways and bedchambers to the modest servants’ quarters below, this stately home and magnificent palace gardens can be surveyed during a guided tour.  

Wander the walled gardens and trace your steps through the impressive Marlborough Maze, which comprises of almost two miles of intricately patterned hedgerow. Elsewhere, you’ll have the opportunity to glimpse further into Blenheim’s history with a tour of the palace’s Formal Gardens. Walk in the footsteps of Britain’s war-time Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill (this palace was his birthplace and ancestral home) or enjoy the secluded charm of the Secret Garden.  

As the sun sets over Blenheim, you can revel in the festive atmosphere with the grounds adorned in decorations and lights. The palace’s famous light trail, considered one of the best in the country, is yours to embrace as you wish. While you soak up the smells and sounds of Christmas throughout this festive wonderland, sample some of the seasonal street food on offer. Be sure to check back in at the palace itself too as its interior gets a sprinkling of fairy dust as JM Barrie’s Neverland is brought to life with themed decorations.  

Later this evening, travel by coach back to your hotel for dinner. 

It’s Christmas Day and you’ll have a day at leisure to fill however you see fit! For those keen to explore Oxfordshire’s idyllic rural spaces, ahead of your tour of the city centre tomorrow, a stroll along the river Cherwell makes for a relaxing festive treat as you pass through the city’s vibrant greenspaces.  

Whether you make your way around some of Oxford’s lesser-known gems or enjoy your day from the comfort of the hotel, reconvene with your fellow guests for a special Christmas lunch this afternoon and a lighter dinner later in the evening. 

After breakfast this morning, take to Oxford’s city centre and discover the city’s importance to the UK, both in the past and present day. With some of the finest architecture in the country, you’ll be immersed in the most iconic sights of the ‘City of Spires’. Witness the gothic splendour of University Hall and Bodleian Library, counted among the oldest academic institutions in the world, and view the Bridge of Sighs and the University Church of St. Mary.  

If you get the chance, it’s certainly worth climbing the church’s spiral staircases for the panoramic views of the city from the top of its tower. Also on the agenda today will be the Oxford Canal, which acted as one of the main routes for trade between London and the Midlands, and the impressive Christ Church Cathedral. You’ll now have the afternoon to spend at leisure, exploring Oxford’s winding streets at your own pace.  

After a busy day, return to the hotel for your last night. With a host of new friends, enjoy dinner together this evening. 

Draw your Cotswolds escape to a close with a final breakfast at the hotel before making your way home along the country roads.