The Heart Of England

The Heart of England

Exploring the Heart of England

Explore Oxford Tours has a network of guides who can offer tours of the ‘Heart of England’ from Birmingham.

The Heart of England includes the counties of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Each of these counties is steeped in history with historical markets towns, quaint villages, iconic churches, cathedrals, majestic castles and country estates.

As well as seeing the best of the English countryside, you can explore those areas which played a key role in both the Roman Occupation and the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Day Tours from Birmingham

Our tours can be done using your own coach and one of our knowledgeable guides or we can supply a coach and a guide.

Ironbridge Gorge and Shrewsbury

A delightful drive from Birmingham through charming villages with half-timbered houses to the quaint town of Ironbridge. Said to be the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge is a Unesco World Heritage site and has much to offer the visitor. Walk across the River Severn over the world’s first iron bridge built in 1779, browse among the little shops and cafes or visit one of the award-winning museums, which trace Ironbridge’s development during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th century.

After leaving Ironbridge Gorge, another scenic drive takes you to the Tudor town of Shrewsbury with its fine black and white half-timbered houses. On the return journey to Birmingham you pass through the idyllic town of Much Wenlock, said to be the birthplace of the modern Olympics. You will then stop in Bridgnorth, divided by the River Severn into High Town and Low Town, the two being linked by a Victorian funicular railway. Enjoy the atmosphere of this bustling town or perhaps watch a steam train on the famous Severn Valley Railway, puffing into the railway terminus.

Full-day tour (price on application)

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and the Cotswolds

Spend a day basking in Britain’s Medieval history by taking a tour to Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. A short drive from Birmingham will lead us to the charming town of Warwick. You will have time to walk around the town, with its charming timber-framed houses and visit Warwick Castle if you wish. This is one of the most fascinating historic castles in Britain and was the home of the Earls of Warwick for many centuries.

We leave Warwick and head to Stratford, passing by the beautiful Charlecote Park country estate. In Stratford you will be taken on a guided walk through Shakespeare’s home town, visiting the Shakespeare Houses, the Holy Trinity Church, where the ‘bard’ is buried and the Shakespeare Theatres on the banks of the picturesque River Avon.

Your ‘Shakespeare Experience’ finishes with a drive through the charming village of Shottery to see Anne Hathaway’s cottage. From Stratford we drive into the Cotswolds. This is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, peppered with idyllic small villages with quaint cottages and thatched roofs. You will visit some enchanting stone villages, as well as the beautiful towns of Chipping Campden and Broadway, before returning to Birmingham.

Full-day tour (price on application)

The Cotswolds and Oxford

A visit to the Medieval university city of Oxford is a must for any visitor to Britain. Often called the “City of dreaming spires” Oxford has over 1000 years of history. Here, the oldest university in Britain has educated some of the world’s greatest leaders, scientists, philosophers, writers and actors. Your drive to Oxford takes you through some charming Warwickshire villages and the Vale of Evesham to the enchanting town of Broadway, which inspired so many artists and writers.

You then continue via the delightful village of Snowshill, with its stone cottages and lavender fields to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. From Stow we head to Bourton-on-the-Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds, with its pretty River Windrush and 17th century stone bridges. Our journey then takes us to the quaint town of Burford, before heading to Oxford.

In Oxford, you will be taken on a guided walking tour of the University and its colleges and have time for shopping, before returning to Birmingham, via the bustling market town of Banbury.

Full-day tour (price on application)

The Black Country

“Black by day and red by night” is how the Black Country was described by Elihu Burritt, the American Consul to Birmingham in 1868. Discover the rich history of the Industrial Revolution in the West Midlands. A short drive from Birmingham will take you to the Black Country, a landscape once rich in resources such as coal and ironstone and where considerable productivity took place in the 19th century. Goods such as nails, chain and anchors, anvils, crystal glass, tubes and pots and pans were made here and exported all over the world. It is also where Matthew Boulton and James Watt started making steam engines at their Soho Foundry in Smethwick.

Your tour includes a visit to the fascinating Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, where you can see industrial and public buildings, shops, houses, outbuildings and workshops. The buildings are arranged to create an authentic Black Country landscape.

Half-day tour (price on application)

Walking Tour of Birmingham

Take a fascinating walk through the centre of Birmingham with one of our specialist guides and learn about Birmingham’s development from a bustling market town to a major industrial centre, famous for its metalworking industry.

Your tour begins by the famous statue of Lord Nelson in the newly regenerated Bull Ring area, with its impressive new shopping complexes. You then visit St Philip’s Place, with the 18th century St Philip’s Cathedral, the sophisticated Regency area of Colmore Row, Victoria Square with its splendid Victorian buildings, Chamberlain Square and ‘Big Brum’ and the regenerated canal area, with its fashionable restaurants and exhibitions centres.

Your tour ends in Centenary Square, where you will see the iconic new library building and Repertory Theatre.

Price:

1-19 people. Half-day from £196 (foreign language tours from £228)

Full-day from £320 (foreign language tours from £360)

Birmingham and Bournville

A tour for those with a sweet tooth!

This six-hour tour takes you on a panoramic tour of Birmingham, including the fashionable Regency area of Colmore Row and St Philip’s Place, Victoria Square with its impressive Victorian Council House and Town Hall, the newly regenerated Centenary Square with its statue of the ‘Lunar Men’ and the iconic new library building and International Convention Centre.

We then head out of the city centre to the charming suburb of Edgbaston, home of the famous Warwickshire Country Cricket Club and host to many major international cricket tournaments. We will also pass the University of Birmingham campus before arriving in Bournville.

The village of Bournville was created by the philanthropic Cadbury family to provide their workers with homes. On Bournville village green you can see two of Birmingham’s oldest buildings, Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves, dating back over 700 years. Top off your day with a visit to Cadbury World, where you can hear about the story of Cadbury’s chocolate and how it developed. You can see the chocolate being made and even have a taste. A real ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ experience.

Duration of Tour: 6 hours
Price on application

Tours also available to:

Coventry and Kenilworth
Worcester, the Malverns and Hereford
Lichfield and the Staffordshire Potteries

If you don’t see a combination you like here, we can design a tailor-made tour for you.

Speciality Tours

We are able to offer a wide range of bespoke tours, drawing together the many and varied literary, cultural, commercial and architectural interests which the ancient city of Oxford can inspire. These include:

Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland
CS Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia
J R R Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter film locations
Women in Oxford
Gardens of Oxford
The English Civil War
Pubs of Oxford
Ghost Tours
Shopping Tours

What Our Guests Say

Highly recommended!

 5/5

"It was such a lovely day out! Thank you Isobel for your wonderful and informative guide, and thank you David for the safe and comfortable ride. The Cotswolds is really difficult to travel with public transport, so joining the tour was the best way to enjoy the quaint villages and hidden gems in the area. Also, it is rather impossible to get a ticket for the immensely popular Highclere Castle on your own; I am so glad to have found a perfect tour that saved my day."

Arisa N.

Best tour and great people

 5/5

"We had an excellent tour with the most knowledgeable and friendly driver and guide. I would seek them out again if we are ever back in the area! Thank you so much for being accommodating. You went beyond expectations! All seven of us commented on how much we enjoyed our day."

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Joyce Zhang

14:07 11 Nov 22

What a lovely day we had in the Cotswolds! We went in early November and were very lucky to be the only ones, so we had an unexpected private tour. The weather was lovely, and the bus was exceptionally comfortable.Our guide, Isobel, had a... considerable amount of information about each town/village, and we appreciated her information during the drive while giving us time in each location to explore freely. We were also able to drive through some lovely villages that were more off the beaten track and probably would not have visited otehrwise. Looking back, I am really glad we chose this tour rather than self-driving.For those considering a trip to the Cotswolds, I cannot recommend this tour more!read more

Chris Prince

18:47 20 Oct 22

It was a long day, but never boring or tedious. Isabelle and David were spectacular hosts. They exhibit tremendous knowledge of their immediate surroundings, and English history/tradition/custom on the whole. In addition to more "regular" stops,... they put great effort - and empathy - into providing off-the-path diversions as well. We made frequent stops at legitimate sights, never having to sit too long. The group size was less than a dozen. Isabelle and David were also personally engaging, taking time to talk with all their guests to insure everyone was having a good time. We heard lots, saw more, had a great lunch, and enjoyed ourselves royally. If an 8 hour day is too much for you, they have other options that fit your interest and schedule. Do not book anyone else's tour, this is the one you want.read more

Derek G

03:57 29 Aug 22

Highest recommendation! This is the tour operator to choose for experiencing the Cotswolds. We did the Cotswold Explorer tour on a lovely August day. The full-day outing was packed with stops and drive by sights, but it was not at all exhausting.... Isobel and David are amazing tour guides and they seem to love their work. Both are kind and pleasant; Isobel's commentary is delightful to listen to, while David is an excellent driver with a reassuring presence. Their van is clean, comfortable, and provides great views of the breathtaking countryside. Thank you, Cotswold Exploring, for an experience we will treasure always.read more

Pamela S

16:29 10 Jun 22

We took the Cotswold Explorer summer tour and it was a lovely day exploring the area.The tour took us through the variety of Cotswold area with lots of stories and information shared. At each stop, restaurant and coffee shop recommendations were... made that didn’t disappoint.Highly recommend booking a tour with Cotswold Exploring. A wonderful experience.read more

Stefane Desmond

07:32 31 May 22

This was a great trip, that picked up from an easy location to get to in Oxford. The guide, was wonderful and knowledgeable. It was 5.5 hours but it didn’t feel too long at all. The drive to and through the Cotswolds was adorable. They picked great... stops for us to walk around and shop at. They brought us to the best places to take pictures, as well for a memorable trip. The driver and guide went above and beyond when my mum asked where she could get a Sunday dinner back in Oxford. They called a bunch of restaurants to check. Would definitely recommend! It is such a charming area!read more

Morgan C

17:22 12 Apr 22

My husband and I did the Cotswold Explorer full day tour, and we had a blast! Isobel and David have lived in the area for years and are incredibly knowledgeable. We probably passed through 10 towns/villages, and stopped in 4 or 5. Isobel shared... history about each and every one of the places. David was an excellent driver and carefully navigated the narrow roads for a comfortable riding experience. This tour is well worth your time and money! We would love to return and do the Downton Abbey tour.read more

Arisa Nakagoe

22:08 11 Sep 21

I am so glad to have found this perfect tour! It was a lovely day out, exploring the beautiful castle and quaint villages. Thank you Isobel for the fun and informative guide and thank you David for the safe and comfortable ride!

Aswin shyam

17:52 14 Jul 21

Isobel was our guide and David was our Tour driver. Isobel was very knowledgeable and helped us get around the beautiful Cotswold villages. The tour was well planned and we had ample time at every village to explore with Isobel highlighting the... history and significance of each place. David and Isobel were both kind and even helped us to choose the best place to have our lunch and shopping. The tour even included stops at the eccentric lavender, poppy and wild flower fields. The tour along with Isobel and David made our day special.read more

Arun Michael Dsouza

14:11 08 Jun 21

The Cotswold Taster Tour was absolutely lovely. Both Isobel and David were extremely nice and knowledgeable, we had a wonderful experience with them. Isobel's commentary was excellent - full of interesting facts and David was very careful throughout... the trip, driving through some of the narrow lanes of the countryside while we were enjoying the scenic views. We got to visit some of the most beautiful little villages in the area and got the chance to wander around and explore. This is the best half-day tour of the Cotswolds in my opinion. I would definitely recommend it!read more

Mary Anne Dooley

10:54 23 Jul 19

Had a wonderful day with Isabel and David. Couldn’t rate the tour and them any higher! The commentary was delightful, very informative and timely. Amazing local knowledge. Isabel and David were able to answer any question and they were both very... flexible for the needs of the passengers. David’s driving was expertly handled, especially on the narrow roads. Because of the small bus, they are able to use the more interesting roads and visit towns and villages off the beaten track and often prettier and much less crowded than the the well known. If you want a day tour to the Cotswolds don’t go past this one.read more

Yulia A.

23:14 23 Jan 19

I've just had an incredible day with Isobel and David. Breathtaking beauty of rural countryside on a winter day combined with excellent commentary made this tour absolutely amazing. Seeing all these rural villages, rows of thatched cottages with... lovely gardens, rolling hills with farms, animals and rare birds gives such a therapeutic effect! And Isobel is so interesting to listen! Highly recommended!read more