Although visiting the Cotswolds without a car involves a bit more planning, it often means you save money on petrol and parking as well as helping lower your environmental impact. And as a bonus, you can also get car-free Cotswolds discounts on attraction tickets and extra perks like free drinks at several local venues. This post rounds up what’s available – as well as how to get there by public transport. And we’ll keep it up to date as hopefully more places add car-free offers.
Blenheim Palace
UNESCO World Heritage site, birthplace of Winston Churchill and one of the largest and grandest stately homes in England – Blenheim Palace is a Cotswolds must-see. You can tour the lavish state rooms decorated with art, antiques and tapestries as well as exploring acres of formal gardens and parkland. There’s also a popular kids adventure playground and regular events.
How to get there without a car: Blenheim Palace is located on the edge of Woodstock. You can take a train to Hanborough then catch the Stagecoach S7 bus (daily) to Woodstock. Or take the train to Oxford then a Stagecoach S3 or S7 bus (both daily) to Woodstock. Both buses stop outside the palace gates, then it’s a 10-minute walk across the park to reach the entrance.
Car-free perks: Get 20% off Palace, Park and Garden tickets (normally £41 for adults) if you arrive by bus, train or bike. Use the code GREEN20 during online checkout and take proof of travel to show on arrival. Tickets are valid for a year so you can come back multiple times too.
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
Just down the road from Blenheim Palace in Woodstock you’ll find the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. The museum is Oxfordshire’s only dedicated military history museum and tells the stories of local people involved in conflicts, both at home and abroad, through over 3500 objects.
How to get there without a car: The museum is in Woodstock – like Blenheim Palace you can get there on the Stagecoach S7 bus from Hanborough or Stagecoach S3 or S7 buses from Oxford.
Car-free perks: Get 2 for 1 entry if you arrive by train (normally £7). You need to a show a valid train ticket and printed voucher, which can be downloaded from the National Rail website.
Westonbirt Arboretum
The National Arboretum at Westonbirt has one of the world’s most important plant collections, with over 2500 different species of trees and shrubs from across the globe. Although it’s most famous for its spectacular autumn colours, there’s plenty to see year-round. You can follow seasonal trails, climb up to the Treetop Walkway or look out for the Gruffalo – and it’s dog-friendly too.
How to get there without a car: Westonbirt Arboretum is four miles south of Tetbury. The Stagecoach 620 bus (Monday–Saturday) stops at the entrance to the arboretum and connects to Stroud in one direction and Yate and Bath in the other, all of which have train stations.
Car-free perks: Visitors get discounted entry for arriving by bus, train or bike. Entry costs £8.50 on weekdays and £11.50 on weekends and bank holidays for most of the year (versus the full price of £13/£17). Or during the peak autumn colour season you pay £11.50/£14 instead of £17/£21.
Lacock
The National Trust village of Lacock is known for its historic charms, and has been a filming location for the Harry Potter and Downton Abbey films. You can visit former medieval nunnery turned country house Lacock Abbey and learn about the history of photography at the Fox Talbot Museum. There are also pubs, cafés and some cute honesty shop stalls in the village to explore.
How to get there without a car: Lacock is four miles south of Chippenham, where you’ll find the closest train station. The Faresaver X34 bus (daily) runs regularly from Chippenham to Lacock.
Car-free perks: Show a valid bus ticket at the National Trust Stables café or Courtyard Tea Rooms to get a free regular hot drink (only redeemable on the day of travel).
Woodchester Park
Woodchester Park is another Cotswold National Trust site with special offers for car-free visitors. This peaceful, secluded wooded valley includes lakes, a disused quarry and 19th-century boat house. There are three walking routes to follow – and you can add on a visit to the unfinished Victorian Gothic-style Woodchester Mansion (not run by the National Trust but tours are available).
How to get there without a car: Woodchester Park is seven miles southwest of Stroud. The Stagecoach 65 bus (daily) from Stroud stops at The Cross in Nympsfield, a 10-minute walk to the park’s Tinkley Gate. It also connects to Cam and Dursley, Stonehouse and Gloucester.
Car-free perks: Get a free regular hot drink if you travel by bus, train or bike.
Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
Bath might be best known for its literary links with Jane Austen, but Frankenstein author Mary Shelley also lived in the city while she wrote her famous science fiction novel in 1816. Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein tells the – often tragic – story of her life, and shows how her Monster was brought to life in films and TV series. You can also add on an escape room experience.
How to get there without a car: The House of Frankenstein is a 10-minute walk from Bath Spa train station, which has direct services to Bristol Temple Meads and London. There are also buses to Bristol (First Bus X39) and Chippenham (Faresaver X31), plus National Express coaches.
Car-free perks: Get 2 for 1 entry if you arrive by train (normally £16.75). You need to a show a valid train ticket and printed voucher, which can be downloaded from the National Rail website.
Bridgerton Tour of Bath
Fans of Netflix series Bridgerton can follow in the footsteps of their favourite characters on this walking tour around the cobbled streets of Bath. The 90-minute tour includes filming locations like Lady Danbury’s mansion, the Featheringtons’ house and the Modiste’s shop. There’s trivia and anecdotes about making the show along the way, along with music and sound effects.
How to get there without a car: The tour starts from the Bath World Heritage Centre on York Street, a five-minute walk from Bath train station.
Car-free perks: Save 20% on the tour (normally £19.50) when you show a valid train ticket and printed voucher, which can be downloaded from the National Rail website.
Bath American Museum & Gardens
Bath’s American Museum & Gardens is home to one of the biggest collections of American artefacts outside the US. As well as galleries telling the story of America through its furniture, quilts and folk art, there are 125 acres of gardens and an American Garden Deli selling tasty US treats.
How to get there without a car: The museum is on the outskirts of Bath, close to the university. The First Bus U1 or U2 services run from Dorchester Street near the train station to The Avenue. Then it’s a 15-minute downhill walk to the museum. Or there are walking and cycle routes.
Car-free perks: You can get a voucher for a free hot drink and cookie if you arrive by bike.
Just beyond the Cotswolds
There are also several places just outside the Cotswolds where you can get discounts if you’re visiting without a car. These are all part of the National Rail Days Out Guide scheme, so you need to show a valid train ticket and download and print out a voucher in advance to get the discount.
In Stratford-upon-Avon, you can get 2 for 1 entry to Shakespeare’s Birthplace – or a Shakespeare Story ticket which includes entry to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s New Place as well as the birthplace. And get 2 for 1 tickets for the MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum.
In Oxford, you can get 2 for 1 entry at Oxford Castle and Prison, the River and Rowing Museum and The Story Museum. You can also save 15% on several different guided walking tours – either a University and City Tour, an Oxford On Screen Tour or a CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien Tour.
You can also save a third on the cost of tickets to Warwick Castle.
Do you have questions about exploring the Cotswolds without a car? Join our Facebook group for Cotswold public transport news, tips and advice.
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