7-Day UK Trip: London, Bath & Cotswolds Itinerary

I just got back from a week split between London, Bath, and the Cotswolds, and this felt like the right pace — not too rushed, not too slow. Here’s exactly how I’d do it again, with real names and honest notes on what delivered.

How do you get from London to Bath and the Cotswolds?

The train is your best bet. We took Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Bath Spa — it’s about 80 minutes direct, and the station drops you right at the edge of town. For the Cotswolds, you don’t want a car unless you enjoy narrow lanes and parking stress. Instead, take the train from Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh (about 90 minutes), then use local buses or taxis to hop between villages. We rented a car in Bath for two days and it worked fine, but only because we booked a tiny automatic from Enterprise on the outskirts.

Train route: London Paddington → Bath Spa (direct, ~£40-60 off-peak)
Cotswolds entry point: Moreton-in-Marsh station (direct from Paddington)
Car rental: Enterprise on Lower Bristol Road in Bath — book a compact automatic early
Bus option: Pullman 801 from Cheltenham connects most Cotswold villages

What should you do with 3 days in London?

Three days is enough for the highlights without burnout. Skip the London Eye (overpriced queue) and the Madame Tussauds (tourist trap). Instead, focus on neighborhoods that feel alive. We stayed near South Kensington at the Ampersand Hotel — quiet, central, and walking distance to the Natural History Museum and V&A. For food, hit Borough Market for lunch (the mushroom risotto at Wild Mushroom Risotto stand is legit), and grab dinner at Dishoom in Covent Garden (book a week ahead or queue at 5:30 PM). The British Museum is free but crowded by 10 AM — go at opening.

Day 1: Walk South Bank (Tate Modern to Tower Bridge), then Borough Market for lunch, Tower of London in afternoon
Day 2: British Museum (early), Covent Garden, Soho for dinner
Day 3: Hyde Park, Notting Hill (Portobello Road on Saturday is packed but fun), then Camden Market for street food
Hotel pick: The Ampersand Hotel, South Kensington — quiet, good breakfast, tube steps away
Avoid: The London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and any “hop-on hop-off” bus

Is Bath worth the hype? What should you prioritize?

Yes, Bath is worth it — but you need to manage expectations. The Roman Baths are genuinely impressive, but the queue at 11 AM is brutal. Book a timed ticket online for the first slot (9 AM) and you’ll have the place nearly empty. The Thermae Bath Spa rooftop pool is overrated in my opinion — cloudy water, loud tourists. Skip it and walk the Royal Crescent instead, then grab a coffee at Colonna & Small’s on Chapel Row (best flat white I had in the UK). For dinner, The Scallop Shell does fish and chips right — crispy batter, fresh cod, no gimmicks. We stayed at The Royal Hotel on Manvers Street — basic rooms but unbeatable location two minutes from the station.

Roman Baths: Book 9 AM slot online, allow 90 minutes
Walk: Royal Crescent, The Circus, then down to Pulteney Bridge
Coffee: Colonna & Small’s, Chapel Row
Dinner: The Scallop Shell (book or go early, 5:30 PM)
Hotel: The Royal Hotel — good value, no frills, perfect for one night

How do you navigate the Cotswolds villages in 2 days?

Two days in the Cotswolds is tight but doable if you base yourself in one spot. We stayed at The Kings Arms in Stow-on-the-Wold — a proper pub with rooms above it, solid Sunday roast, and free parking. From Stow, you can drive to Bourton-on-the-Water (10 minutes) and Chipping Campden (15 minutes). Bourton is touristy — think “Venice of the Cotswolds” with crowds — but the Birdland Park and the model village are fun for an hour. Chipping Campden felt more authentic: quiet high street, a great deli called The Bakery, and a short walk to Dover’s Hill for views over the Vale of Evesham. Castle Combe is another 30 minutes south — worth the detour if you have time, but skip the main car park (overpriced) and park on the roadside near the church.

Base village: Stow-on-the-Wold — central, parking, good pub food
Must-visit: Chipping Campden (quiet, scenic walk to Dover’s Hill)
Tourist warning: Bourton-on-the-Water on weekends is packed — go early (before 10 AM)
Hidden gem: Castle Combe, but only if you have a car and 2 extra hours
Dinner: The Kings Arms, Stow-on-the-Wold — book for the Sunday roast

What’s the best way to get around without a car?

If you skip the car, the train-and-bus combo works but kills flexibility. From London, take the train to Moreton-in-Marsh, then the 801 bus to Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. The bus runs hourly but stops by 6 PM — plan accordingly. For Bath to the Cotswolds, there’s no direct train. We took a taxi from Bath to Castle Combe (£35 one way, 25 minutes), then another taxi to Stow (£50, 40 minutes). It’s pricey but saves a full day of transfers. Book taxis through V Cars Bath (reliable, fixed quotes) or Cotswold Taxis from Moreton station.

Train: London to Moreton-in-Marsh (direct, 90 minutes)
Bus: 801 from Moreton to Stow and Bourton (hourly, £2-4)
Taxi: V Cars Bath (bathcars.com) for Bath to Castle Combe
Taxi: Cotswold Taxis (Moreton station) for village hops
Warning: No buses after 6 PM — don’t get stranded

FAQ

Is it better to stay in Bath or the Cotswolds for the countryside part? Stay in Bath if you want restaurants and nightlife; stay in the Cotswolds (Stow-on-the-Wold or Moreton-in-Marsh) if you want quiet and walks. We did one night in Bath, two nights in Stow — that split felt right.

Can you do the Cotswolds as a day trip from London? Technically yes, but it’s a long day. Train to Moreton-in-Marsh (90 minutes), bus to Bourton, walk around, bus back. You’ll see one or two villages max. Better to stay overnight if you can.

What’s the best time of year for this itinerary? May-June or September. July-August is crowded and expensive; November-February is gray and muddy. We went in early June — long daylight, fields green, and the Roman Baths weren’t packed at 9 AM.

Conclusion

London: 3 days is enough. Focus on neighborhoods (South Bank, Covent Garden, Notting Hill) over big-ticket tourist traps.
Bath: Book the Roman Baths for 9 AM. Skip the rooftop spa. Eat at The Scallop Shell.
Cotswolds: Base yourself in Stow-on-the-Wold. Visit Chipping Campden early. Skip Bourton-on-the-Water on weekends.
Transport: Train from London to Bath, then either rent a car or use taxis between Cotswold villages.
Pacing: 7 days is tight but doable — don’t try to add Oxford or Stonehenge unless you cut a day from London.