The Cotswold Tour

Johnnie was a terrific guide! He shared a wonderful mix of Cotswolds history, TV and movie filming locations, and fun pop culture tidbits along the way. We loved taking in the idyllic countryside views and charming villages, and enjoyed a fantastic lunch at The Hollow Bottom. A great day exploring the Cotswolds — highly recommend!

Johnnie was a pleasure for our 3 generation family. He hit it off with my 80+ mom and my 26 yo son and girlfriend and me too! It was a great way to cover a lot of ground, learn about the architecture and history, and we appreciated being able to get out and walk around, and had some great treats. Johnnie was responsive to our areas of interest and easy and fun to spend the day with. Highly, highly recommend!

Could not recommend this tour more… Johnnie was an excellent guide who melded our interests with his knowledge of the area. A truly fantastic experience. You will NOT be disappointed.

Johnnie was a great guide for us - very knowledgeable about the area and took us to some magical spots. We had a great time.

Having our own private tour of the Cotswolds was the highlight of our UK trip. Johnny had son much knowledge of the area and history- we were blown away by the details! We learned about the importance of hedges and its impact on ecology, history of rock walls, the architecture, the way of life in that area, the people who live there and had a wonderful lunch spot chosen for us. We were picked up at our hotel and dropped off at the train station. We were grateful for the convenience, attention to detail and the personal service. Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences!! And for also taking wonderful photos off us along the way!!

Our ladies group of four booked a tour of the Cotswolds with Johnnie. From the moment we met, we knew we were in for a wonderful day. His knowledge of the history, architecture, land, buildings, and sites from shows and movies was impressive. We saw more than we could have ever done on our own. We will talk about this day for years to come. We had the best time!! If you are considering a tour of the Cotswolds, Johnnie is who you want as your guide. You will be in for a great day.

Johnnie is wonderful! We had a fabulous day full of little surprises. Johnnie is so knowledgeable and - a really nice guy. We all discussed that we couldn’t possibly have understood the Cotswolds as well on our own. Highly recommend!

Wonderful Cotswolds Tour with Johnnie! We had a fantastic day exploring the Cotswolds with Johnnie! He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and informative, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. He shared interesting stories and history along the way and took us to some beautiful spots that made the day truly special. One of the highlights was stopping at a lovely local pub for lunch—it was the perfect way to experience the charm of the Cotswolds and enjoy some delicious food. Johnnie was a wonderful guide and went above and beyond to make sure we had a memorable day. We highly recommend him to anyone looking to explore the Cotswolds!

Johnnie is an incredible tour guide. We saw all kinds of sites, many off the beaten path which is what we enjoy most! I can’t recommend his tour enough!!

Our private tour with Johnnie was, without a doubt, the best tour experience of our entire trip to England. As a local resident of the Cotswolds, Johnnie brought an incredible depth of knowledge about the area's history, culture, and the unique character of each village we visited. His passion for the region was evident throughout the day, and he shared fascinating stories and details that we never would have discovered on our own. Communication before the tour was excellent. Johnnie was responsive, informative, and made the planning process seamless. Throughout the day, he was friendly, engaging, and attentive, creating a relaxed and enjoyable experience from start to finish. The Cotswolds are beautiful on their own, but having a guide who truly knows and loves the area made all the difference. Every village came to life through his insights and local perspective. We cannot recommend this tour highly enough. If you're considering visiting the Cotswolds, booking a tour with Johnnie is an absolute must. It was a highlight of our trip and an experience we will remember for years to come

Johnnie thank you so much for a wonderful and informative tour of the Cotswolds. I’m still smiling and looking at all the pictures from our trip there, dreaming up when we can visit again. It honestly was a great experience, a 10/10. We truly are so grateful that we chose your company, you’re doing a great job!! We have so many great memories that we will talk about for years to come!

I just returned from a wonderful vacation in the Cotswolds with my daughter, and our day with Johnnie from The Cotswolds Tour Co. was truly the highlight of our trip. From the very beginning, communication was excellent. Johnnie was always responsive, easy to work with, and took the time to understand exactly what we wanted to experience. We shared a few ideas about the villages we hoped to see and how much we wanted to fit into the day, and he created the perfect itinerary. Johnnie is incredibly knowledgeable about the Cotswolds—its history, culture, hidden gems, and fascinating stories. He brought every stop to life with interesting facts and local insights, making the entire experience both educational and enjoyable. We never felt rushed, yet we were able to see so much. What really set Johnnie apart was his genuine passion for the area and his thoughtful, personable approach. He made our first visit to the Cotswolds feel truly magical and unforgettable. I honestly can’t say enough good things about our experience. If you’re considering a private tour of the Cotswolds, I wholeheartedly recommend Johnnie and The Cotswolds Tour Co. Without a doubt, it was the best part of our vacation, and we will treasure the memories for years to come.

We were a group of friends from Mallorca who have been over to visit the Cotswolds for a week. We contracted, being a group, the “Cotswolds Tour &Travel Company” for a minibus. The experience has been excelent from the start to the finish. The drivers were brlliant, Craig has been with us Nearly all the time, but thanks also to Colin and Mike. If I don’t mention the guides, Rob , Keith and last but not least David P. it would be disgraceful. There very profesional, friendly and always willing to help, looking for the best routes places to stop, etc. very human and made our whole trip 5 ***** As dar as the Cotswolds Travel Company, I hope they realice the great asset that they have with these employees. We will mention this trip to all our friends.

The first private tour we have done and it was so worth it. Johnnie has lived in the area for many years so we left the itinerary up to him. He took us to many of the less touristy places and passionately shared his knowledge of the areas with us. We saw so much but found the day very relaxing. We highly recommend Johnnie and if another opportunity arises to return to The Cotswolds will definitely do another tour with him.

Johnnie was so knowledgeable and pivoted between subjects easily based on our interests. Amazing day!

We had an absolutely wonderful day in the Cotswolds thanks to our guide Johnnie, and I genuinely can’t recommend him highly enough. Johnnie struck the perfect balance between fun and informative and he kept us entertained throughout the day while sharing a level of knowledge about the area that you simply can’t get from a guidebook or a self-guided wander. His passion for the Cotswolds was obvious, and that enthusiasm was completely infectious. The honest truth is that the day we had wouldn’t have been possible on our own. Johnnie took us to places we never would have found, shared stories that brought the area to life, and made the whole experience feel personal rather than like a standard tour. If you’re visiting the Cotswolds and on the fence about booking a guide don’t hesitate. Book Johnnie. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Johnnie was a wonderful tour guide for our day in the Cotswolds. He had a tough customer with our jet-lagged 10-year-old daughter and managed beautifully with humor and kindness. Our family of four took the train from London and met Johnnie at the station to start our drive. We enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and the well-planned stops for short walks and photo ops. Johnnie kept us all engaged with the history of the area combined with juicy stories of local characters and film and TV locations. A super nice guy, spotless car, and a wealth of local info. This was one of the highlights of our trip for me. He also booked our lunch at a very nice pub and dropped us off and waited to take us back to the train. And sent us a follow-up email list of places we visited and shows to watch for places that were film locations.

What a fabulous day we had! Johnnie is a wonderful guide and taught us so much about the Cotswolds. He met us at the train station right as we arrived and spent the whole day taking us from town to town. We never felt rushed or like we ran out of things to talk about. Johnnie arranged lunch for us at the Fox in Oddington and built in time for us to get out and explore a bit in some of the towns. I cannot recommend this tour enough! If you are planning to be in the Cotswolds, I highly recommend The Cotswold Tour Co.

We had an AMAZING time touring with Johnnie! From pickup to drop-off, he was warm, gracious, and incredibly knowledgeable, bringing each stop to life with insights on history, geography, and pop culture. What made it special was how personalized it felt—once Johnnie learned our interests, he tailored the tour to match, making the whole day unforgettable. Our experience was the highlight of a truly fabulous week in England! To top it off, he even emailed us a list of all the places we visited. If you’re considering a tour, don’t hesitate—Johnnie and The Cotswold Tour Co. are THE BEST!

I booked a tour for clients to tour the Cotswolds with Johnnie. He was absolutely fantastic and responsive ahead of the trip, and delivered an amazing tour for my clients. He was able to modify the tour to meet their needs with luggage and late check in times, and truly helped me immensely. You’re missing out if you go to the Cotswolds and don’t tour with Johnnie and his wife Lizzie!!

This was the BEST tour of the Cotswold! The experience was simply remarkable and Johnnie was an incredible tour guide. His knowledge of the area is second-to-none and he truly cares on your personal experience during the tour. I cannot wait to go again and see more areas of the Cotswold. Highly recommend this tour!

As a Travel Advisor, I have access to some of the very best private guides and insider recommendations — and Johnnie and The Cotswold Tour Company absolutely live up to that standard. He came highly recommended by a fellow advisor, and from our first conversation through our day together in the Cotswolds, everything was effortless and seamless. Meeting Johnnie in person confirmed I had made exactly the right choice. His knowledge of the Cotswolds is exceptional, and he has a wonderful ability to tailor the day around your interests, whether that’s storybook villages, scenic countryside, or hidden local gems. He’s engaging, warm, and genuinely fun to spend the day with — the kind of guide who elevates the entire experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Johnnie again and will happily recommend him to my clients seeking an unforgettable Cotswolds experience.

I booked this tour for my clients visiting England and couldn't be happier I did. John, the tour guide, reached out before the tour to ensure my clients knew what train to take from London and where to meet him. He also offered to make lunch reservations for my clients on the day since it was just after Christmas and he knew places would be booked up. Then after the tour he sent my clients a detailed list of all the places they visited as well as links to articles about things they spoke about. He went above and beyond! I would highly recommend!

What an incredible tour! Johnnie was a fantastic guide who customized our day in the Cotswolds perfectly—giving us everything we hoped to see and even more. His deep knowledge of the area and the fascinating stories he shared brought the region to life as we explored. If you’re considering a visit, a private guide is truly the best way to experience the Cotswolds compared to a tour bus. I’ve taken many private tours throughout Europe, and Johnnie easily ranks as one of the best. He booked a charming pub for lunch, allowed for relaxed coffee breaks along the way, and made sure our group of four had exactly what we needed for a memorable day. From our initial inquiry to finalizing the day’s plans, Johnnie was incredibly responsive and easy to communicate with. The extra stops he thoughtfully added made the experience feel truly magical. I highly recommend The Cotswold Tour Co.—you won’t be disappointed!

Johnnie is the ultimate tour guide. He was flexible with our plans and is very knowledgeable of the Cotswolds. We enjoyed our day exploring the many villages and learning the history and significance of the Cotswolds. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Johnnie as a tour guide. He is the best!

Amazing experience! I booked this tour to do with my daughter and sister on a girls trip and it was the perfect activity for us! Johnnie was an amazing tour guide and personalized the experience for things we wanted to see. It was the favorite activity we have done on our trip!

My wife and I had a fantastic two days touring the Cotswolds with Johnnie in mid October. . He picked us up in Oxford and we spend 4-5 hours with him each day. At the end of the first day he dropped us off at our hotel in Stow-on-the-Wald. He planned the itinerary based on our preferences , and we were very happy with it. He included out of the way less touristy places, but we also covered all the major towns and villages. He is quite knowledgeable about the area and history. We throughly enjoyed our time with Johnnie and would highly recommend a tour with his company.

We had a fantastic day with Johnnie. He was a fantastic guide providing us with history, fun facts, and pop culture references! He made our tour feel tailor made to our foursome. Highly recommend.

We had such an incredible day exploring the Cotswolds with Johnnie! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and so easy to spend the day with. From the very start, he listened to what we were most interested in and tailored the tour perfectly to match our pace and preferences. Johnnie’s deep knowledge of the region, paired with his personal anecdotes and stories, brought every village and landscape to life. He shared fascinating insights about the history, culture, and local life in such an engaging way that we felt like we were traveling with an old friend rather than a guide. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a memorable experience — even adding a few spontaneous stops that ended up being our favorite moments of the day. If you’re visiting the Cotswolds, we couldn’t recommend Johnnie more highly. A truly special and memorable experience from start to finish!

Johnnie was a fantastic guide. He provided historical and relevant stories and showed us many spots used in tv and movie magic. Transportation was comfortable and prompt. A lovely time.

We had an absolutely exceptional day touring the Cotswolds with John Loader — truly one of the best guides we’ve ever experienced. From the very start, John made the experience deeply personal and engaging. We had mentioned our interest in visiting some of the Father Brown filming locations, and he went above and beyond to make that happen. He shared fascinating local stories about the filming process, the actors, and even showed us personal photos from his time around the sets. It was such a thoughtful touch that brought everything to life and made us feel genuinely connected to the area. Beyond the film sites, John gave us a real insight into local life — from the realities of private estate ownership to the history behind the landscape itself. He explained everything from how hedges and hurdles are built to the origins of the unique place names throughout the region. His knowledge of local history runs deep, and it’s clear he has a genuine love for the Cotswolds, having lived there for decades. We really appreciated that he not only took us to every location on our (rather ambitious!) list, but also added a number of hidden gems that he thought we’d enjoy. Many of these were peaceful, scenic spots away from the crowds, allowing us to experience a more relaxed and authentic side of the Cotswolds. John was personable, funny, and incredibly easy to spend the day with. He shared wonderful anecdotes — both historical and personal — and also took the time to get to know us, which made the experience feel all the more special. Despite having only one day, John somehow managed to fit in everything we wanted to see (and more), without ever making the day feel rushed. He even spent extra time with us to make sure we didn’t miss anything, which we truly appreciated. If you’re considering a Cotswolds tour, look no further than John Loader. His knowledge, warmth, and storytelling made this an unforgettable highlight of our trip.

Fantastic tour. Johnnie is quickly responsive to email inquiries and set up a custom 8 hour tour for us. I can't count how many Cotswold villages he took us to! He has a huge knowledge base and passionately shared history with us. He even has a couple surprises on the tour which made it that much more fun. So personable. We didn't want to leave!

Booking a tour with Johnnie is the absolute best, easiest, and most enjoyable way to see and learn everything you want about the Cotswolds - and more! Johnnie was very responsive and flexible when I was scheduling our tour. We took an early morning train from London, and he was waiting for us outside the Moreton-in-Marsh station when we arrived. Into his comfortable car we went for our adventure through the idyllic Costwolds. Although "tour guide" is a second career for Johnnie, you would think he has done this all his life. He is so knowledgable about history, culture, tradition, nature, topography, current events, and all-things-British, plus he has lived in the Cotswolds for decades, so he can speak to any perspective about them and answer all questions. As he drove us through tiny villages and larger areas, he shared such fun and insightful stories and information (including modern day personalities and events), well beyond what we would have learned on our own or in a larger tour where we couldn't have asked so many of our own questions. He customized our tour at our request so that we spent more time seeing the unique, lesser-known spots and less time in the more crowded touristy villages. He brought us to a fabulous gourmet pub for lunch with a view of sheep grazing in a field across the street. No doubt we were in the Cotswolds! At the suggestion of another reviewer, we stopped at the gorgeous Donnington Brewery (a 700 yr old converted mill with an honor box to try their beer) and bought delicious ice cream from the roadside vending machine at an organic regenerative farm. After our return, Johnnie emailed us a list of all the villages and sights we visited (26!!) with a short commentary on what was memorable/important about each. Thank you Johnnie for the precious memories of our day touring the Costwolds. We couldn't have asked for anything better!

One of the best experiences we had on our trip to England. John is a smart funny knowledgeable guy that gives you the cool interesting bits along with the crowd-pleasing photo ops. I cannot recommend him highly enough - 5 stars aren’t even enough!!!

Johnnie made our trip to the Cotswolds absolutely fabulous! We had one day to tour the area and after reading reviews we decided to go with Johnnie and we are so happy we did. He is professional, knowledgeable, friendly and engaging and his car was clean and comfortable. Through conversation he got to know us and tailored the tour to our interests with some surprises along the way - it did not feel like a "cookie cutter" tour. He showed us areas we would not have seen on our own and he is well versed in the history of the area. I highly recommend Johnnie. I would give him a 10 if I could.

Our tour was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Johnny, was extremely knowledgeable and tailored the trip based on our interests. He took us on a fairly comprehensive tour of the northern Cotswolds showing us the requested highlights. Major locations are fairly busy with tourists but Johnny showed us so many hidden gems, most where we the only people in site. I can thoroughly recommend this tour and guide to anyone. It was the perfect day.

I had wanted to see the Cotswolds for decades. I finally took action and booked a trip! I guess it was 6 or 7 months ago, I seriously researched where to stay in the Cotswolds and how to really SEE the Cotswolds. I stumbled upon these reviews of the famed Johnnie tours! I am so happy I did. I booked a day long private tour! Johnnie is from the Cotswolds and knows it inside and out. Every nook and cranny of the Cotswolds is enchanting and utterly charming!! I do not remember all the places we visited right at this moment, but we went to many places and Johnnie gave amazing and beautiful history of the many areas. Johnnie was kind enough to send me an email with a nice detailed itinerary of the main places we visited! Thank you! I learned so much about the villages, great houses, the sheep farm dividing stone fences that are thousands of years old as well as the famed hedges that also divide the farms and villages! I have already booked my stay for next year and hope to bring my brother - an avid Lord of the Rings fan! I am still organizing my pictures so I am not able to upload just yet, but hopefully I can very soon! And I also had a Lardy Cake for the first time!!! Johnnie, thank you for a fabulous experience and this tour was the highlight of my stay in the Cotsowolds!! Blessings!!

This is my second review of my life. Its takes something special for me to take the time to do this... but that is exactly what my experience was with Johnnie. I have high expectations and he clearly exceeded them. His enthusiasm is contagious, he is obviously local because his knowledge of the region is do deep and he knew so many off the beaten path gems and how to avoid the crowds too. He is easy going and I am sure you will see MORE, have a richer experience when you tour with him, and feel satisfied you made the most of your time in the Cotswolds.

We spent one amazing day with Johnny! He showed us so many places in the beautiful Cotswolds , told us so many stories!! Johnny is the reason we will come back! Booking with him will give you the opportunity to actually see Cotswolds in its beauty without the crowds!

Johnnie was our guide, and he did an excellent job of showing us the Cotswolds. He provided a great description of the rich history of the area, and took us to some off the beaten path areas of this beautiful region. Would highly recommend!

Our Cotswold tour with Johnnie was wonderful! He was informative, inviting, gracious with his time and helped make our experience memorable!

Excellent guide named Johnnie. Very down to earth and knowledgeable. My wife and I felt we saw quite a bit and did not feel at anytime rushed. highly recommend.

Amazing time with Johnnie. He went above and beyond our expectations with his knowledge and stories about the Cotswolds. My friend told me that "we had to use Johnnie" if we wanted the best experience, and boy was she right. If we ever get back we will definitely use him again.

We had a wonderful private tour of the Cotswolds. Our tour guide, Johnnie, was incredibly knowledgeable and personalized the tour to our interests. He was a great guide, showing us hidden gems and providing a wealth of information about the history and the people of the region. Highly recommended.

If you want to experience the Cotswolds, learn its incredible history and come away amazed and delighted, book this day long tour with the remarkable John Loader: part tour guide, part history-keeper. There just aren’t enough words to describe all we saw, did and explored. John is such a passionate historian - and a local - and just a great person to spend the day with. Our vacation was all the more special because we met John!

We had an absolutely amazing two-day tour of the Cotswolds with Johnnie! From start to finish, Johnnie was the perfect guide—knowledgeable, flexible, and incredibly easy to work with. We made several last-minute changes to our itinerary, and he adapted seamlessly, incorporating our requests so naturally it felt like they had always been part of the plan. Johnnie’s knowledge of the Cotswolds was truly exceptional. He shared fascinating historical details, local legends, and cultural insights that brought each village to life. One of the highlights was how he connected filming locations to popular TV shows—we loved learning where scenes from shows like Downton Abbey and Father Brown were shot. It added a whole new layer of interest to our visit! He also expertly steered us away from the typical tourist routes and showed us hidden gems and charming villages we never would have discovered on our own. He struck the perfect balance between guiding and giving us space, letting us explore at our own pace—and somehow always knowing just the right moment to pick us up and move on. Lunch was at a fantastic local spot, perfectly timed and thoughtfully chosen. On our second day, we had a very specific itinerary in mind, and Johnnie executed it flawlessly, making sure everything went smoothly. If you're looking for an expert, personable, and highly professional Cotswolds guide, I can’t recommend Johnnie enough. He made our trip truly unforgettable!

Our day with The Cotswold Tour Co. with Johnnie, was one of the best parts of our two-week trip to London and Paris! He knew so much about the history and local stories of the Cotswolds, and he shared everything in a way that was easy to follow and really enjoyable. We visited small villages, interesting sites, and places that tourists don’t go with the major companies. I shared with him my desire to own an old Defender and a few stops later we visited a local independent Land Rover dealer to see a rare Pink Panther! The whole day was relaxed and well planned. We got to see so much without feeling rushed. Didn’t really feel like a tour but more of a ride along with someone who has a passion for sharing all the wonderful things about the Cotswolds. If you’re thinking about visiting the Cotswolds, definitely book with The Cotswold Tour Co. Johnnie will creat a day you will never forget!

We took the 8 hours tour with The Cotswold Co – what an extraordinary day! Our guide, Jonnie, was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge. Thanks to him, we discovered breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and learned so much more than we ever would on a standard tour. Every stop felt thoughtfully chosen, and the experience was both relaxing and enriching. Jonnie’s passion and professionalism made this tour truly stand out. An absolute must-do for anyone visiting the Cotswolds and wanting to see it in a deeper, more meaningful way. Thank you for a truly memorable experience!

I had heard of the Cotswolds but was not sure what they (it, them) are. Only that they are wonderful and beautiful. It is all that but it it is too hard to see it on your own. Kick back and allow Johnny to give you the guided tour of the lifetime. Whatever your style is, he will accommodate you. My advise is to let him develop the tour for you. We got the perfect taste of the area. We got lots of behind the scenes stories. I am looking forward to my next tour.