Hidden Gems: Best Day Trips In The Chilterns And Cotswolds

It’s peak season for travel and tourism, and the ‘staycation’ remains a popular choice for those who want a budget-friendly holiday, or simply want to see more of the wonderful sites the UK has to offer. 

If you are looking for day trips that are within easy reach of London or the Home Counties, it’s worth looking beyond the obvious choices such as Oxford or Windsor Castle. For a quieter kind of beauty that is still steeped in history and charm, the Chiltern Hills and the Cotswolds are excellent places to visit. 

Whether you’re planning a private group outing, a sightseeing trip for tourists, or just a relaxing escape from city life, here are some hidden gems to explore with the convenience and comfort of coach hire. 

Hambleden Village, Buckinghamshire

Tucked away in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hambleden is a postcard-perfect village of red brick cottages and rolling hills. It’s been the backdrop for films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Avengers (the 1998 film, not the Marvel one!).

Stroll through the village and nearby woodlands, and explore the 14th century church with an intricately decorated ceiling and a tower with eight bells. There’s also a Jacobean style stone manor house that dates from 1603, and was once used as a bolthole for Charles I as he fled from Oxford. 

Hambleden has two famous sons: WH Smith of the newsagents fame, and Lord Cardigan, rather more infamous for his role in leading the fated Charge of the Light Brigade. A walk of a mile or so to the south will take you to Mill End, a historic watermill. Henley-on-Thames is a short drive away, with excellent choices for riverside dining or boating.

Turville and the Windmill Walk

Also in Buckinghamshire, Turville is best known for its role in The Vicar of Dibley. A short walk up the hill brings you to Cobstone Windmill, famously featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It’s perfect for youth groups, walking clubs, or photography lovers looking for quiet countryside charm.

Less than a mile away are the Hell Fire Caves, which are tunnels dug into a chalk hillside in 1750 by Sir Francis Dashwood, and served as a meeting place for the notorious Hellfire Club. They lead past chambers of the Great Hall, where you will find life-sized historic recreations and commentary. 

Bibury and the Arlington Row, Cotswolds

Described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England,” Bibury is a timeless Cotswold village with ancient cottages, a babbling brook, and a peaceful rural setting. However, it can get busy with tourists during peak season, so it’s best to plan your visit for the start of the day if you can. 

The famous and much-photographed cottages of Arlington Row were originally built in 1380 as a monastic wool store, before being converted to a row of weavers’ cottages in the 17th century. They are all still used as private dwellings, with one cottage available for a holiday let.  

Goring & Streatley on the Thames (Oxfordshire/Berkshire border)

Nestled where the Thames Valley meets the Chilterns, these twin villages linked by a bridge over the Thames offer riverside beauty, good food, and accessible countryside. The Goring Gap is a geological wonder formed by glacial activity thousands of years ago, and makes for a relaxing walk or a picnic spot by the water.

Explore the Ridgeway National Trail and the Thames Path, which intersect at the villages. They also feature on the Midsomer Murders Southern Trail, which takes you through some of the scenic locations for the popular TV detective series. 

Minster Lovell Hall and Dovecote (Oxfordshire)

The quiet village of Dovecote near Witney is home to the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Minster Lovell Hall beside the River Windrush. The grand hall dates back to the 14th century, and was once the home of a prominent aristocratic family. During the 18th century, it passed into the hands of a lawyer, but sadly the hall was abandoned in about 1747.