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England for Three Generations: Oxford, the Cotswolds, Bath, the Lakes and York

10 days from London for grandparents, parents and children 6 and up: two nights in Oxford with punts and a farm park, Stonehenge and two nights in Bath, Chester Zoo, three nights in the Lake District with Beatrix Potter's Hill Top, and two in York.

10 days · Round trip from London · up to 12 guests

The facts

At a glance

Length
10 days, 9 nights
Start and end
Round trip from London
Group size
7 to 12 guests
Activity level

Easy

About 1.5 to 2.5 hours on foot a day, broken by meals and the minibus, on pavements, cobbles, farm and woodland paths and level lakeshore tracks. The hardest parts are the optional climb of Catbells on day 7 (about 5 km and 360 m of ascent with a short scramble) and the stairs at Hill Top and on York's walls. Each has a seated or level alternative, and anyone can sit any walk out with a coffee.

Meals included
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Room of your own
+ CAD 1,105 (estimated price)
Season
April to October

Highlights

Why this trip

  • Christ Church's Great Hall, dinosaurs and the dodo in Oxford, then a chauffeured punt on the Cherwell
  • Bourton-on-the-Water's Model Village before the coaches, and lambs at the Cotswold Farm Park
  • Touching the Avebury stones, then Stonehenge and its Neolithic houses on a timed entry
  • The Roman Baths at opening, then a free afternoon by the pool or the park
  • Elephants and jaguars at Chester Zoo on the way north
  • Hill Top, a cable ferry across Windermere and a cruise back to Ambleside
  • Catbells or Friars' Crag on Derwentwater, and a Viking ride under York

What makes this trip different

  • Free time is part of the plan

    Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.

  • Solo without the penalty

    A room of your own is + CAD 1,105 (estimated price).

Day by day

Itinerary

THE COTSWOLDSLAKE DISTRICTYORKSHIRE DALESWALESIrish SeaBristol ChannelNorth Sea1234LondonDays 1 and 10OxfordDays 1 to 3Bourton-on-the-WaterDay 2Stow-on-the-WoldDay 2Cotswold Farm ParkDay 2Rollright StonesDay 2AveburyDay 3StonehengeDay 3BathDays 3 to 5Chester ZooDay 5AmblesideDays 5 to 8Hill TopDay 6BownessDay 6GrasmereDay 7KeswickDay 7HawesDay 8Aysgarth FallsDay 8YorkDays 8 to 10

Tap any stop on the map to open that day

London to Oxford

London Paddington by train to Oxford

  • Welcome dinner in Oxford at about 6 pm
  • Stay in Oxford
  • By train

Morning

We meet your See Sight Tours guide at London Paddington between about 10 and 11 am (the exact time and meeting point come with your final itinerary), late enough for families who arrived the day before to have a slow breakfast. A direct train takes about an hour to Oxford, where our minibus meets us and carries the bags to the hotel.

Afternoon

After lunch on your own, the guide leads a short walk to Christ Church, where children recognise the staircase and the Great Hall that inspired the dining hall in the Harry Potter films. Then the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, free to enter, with dinosaur skeletons and the dodo that Lewis Carroll put into Alice in Wonderland. From April to September we end the afternoon in chauffeured punts on the Cherwell, so nobody has to steer; in other months we walk Christ Church Meadow.

Evening

The welcome dinner is at about 6 pm, so the youngest are in bed on time.

Included

  • Standard-class train from London Paddington to Oxford with your guide
  • Bags taken from Oxford station to the hotel by minibus
  • Christ Church: Tom Quad, the cathedral and the Great Hall
  • Oxford University Museum of Natural History with your guide
  • Chauffeured punt on the Cherwell, with a punter at the pole (April to September)
  • Early welcome dinner in Oxford

Optional experiences

  • The Pitt Rivers Museum, through the back of the Natural History Museum (free entry)

Easier option: Take a taxi with your guide between the station, Christ Church and the museum.

More active option: Climb the tower of the University Church of St Mary for the view over Radcliffe Square (small fee, many steps).

Free time: Lunch on your own in central Oxford

Activity: About 2 hours on foot on level pavements and college flagstones, with stairs at Christ Church. Christ Church closes parts of the college for university events; we confirm the visit with your final itinerary.

  1. Londonstart
  2. Oxford2 nights
  3. Bath2 nights
  4. Ambleside3 nights
  5. York2 nights
  6. Londonend
  • Overnight stop
  • Day trip
  • By boat or train
Print itinerary

Wildlife and weather: April and May bring lambs to the Cotswold and Lakeland fields and lambing season at the Farm Park; June to August are the warmest and busiest months and match school holidays; September and October are quieter, with autumn colour in the Lakes and the Dales. Rain is likely at some point in any month, so each day has an indoor alternative, and the guide can swap the two Lakes days to catch the drier one for Catbells and the lake boats.

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Before you book

Right for you?

Good for you if you want

  • Grandparents, parents and children aged 6 and up who want one trip that works for all of them
  • Families on a first visit to England who would rather not drive on the left down Cotswold lanes
  • Children who like doing things: punts, lambs, stone circles, a zoo, a ferry, a first fell and a Viking ride
  • Older travellers who want shorter drives, early dinners and a seat at every stop

Not for you if you want

  • Children under 6: the trip is designed for ages 6 and up; ask about the private version
  • Pushchairs and wheelchairs: Hill Top, the walls and several paths have stairs or rough ground
  • Families who want London sightseeing: the trip starts and ends there, but the days are spent outside it
  • Families who want Scotland or Wales on the same trip (see our Scotland trip for three generations)
  • Sun seekers: rain is likely on some days in any month

Minimum age: 6

Most guests are Three generations: children 6 to 14, parents, grandparents up to about 80

Book flights after we confirm your seat.

9 nights

Where you'll stay

Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.

  • Oxford2 nights
  • Bath2 nights
  • Ambleside3 nights
  • York2 nights

One price

What's in the price

Included

Accommodation

  • 9 nights: 2 in Oxford, 2 in Bath, 3 in Ambleside in the Lake District and 2 in York
  • Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms, walkable to each town centre; family rooms or connecting rooms where the hotel has them, confirmed before you pay
  • We name each hotel when we confirm your dates

Transport

  • Standard-class train from London Paddington to Oxford on day 1
  • A private minibus and professional driver from Oxford station on day 1 to York station on day 10, sized for 7 to 12 guests, so your bags travel by road
  • The Windermere ferry from Far Sawrey to Bowness
  • Windermere cruise from Bowness to Ambleside
  • Derwentwater launch from Keswick
  • Standard-class train from York to London King's Cross on day 10, with seats together for each family
  • All parking fees for included stops

Your guide

  • A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, from London Paddington to the York train, leading every walk and visit
  • Site guides and staff where a visit has them, such as the Jorvik ride and the Roman Baths

Activities

  • Oxford: Christ Church, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and a chauffeured punt on the Cherwell (April to September)
  • The Cotswolds: Bourton-on-the-Water and its Model Village, Stow-on-the-Wold, the Cotswold Farm Park and the Rollright Stones
  • Avebury stone circle
  • Stonehenge with a timed entry, the exhibition and the Neolithic houses
  • Bath: the Roman Baths and a guided walk of the Georgian city
  • Chester Zoo
  • The Lake District: Hill Top, the World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness, Grasmere and a guided Catbells climb for those who want it
  • The Yorkshire Dales: the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes and Aysgarth Falls
  • York: the Shambles, a guided walk on the city walls and Jorvik Viking Centre

Meals

  • 9 breakfasts
  • 5 lunches: Stow-on-the-Wold (day 2), Avebury (day 3), Chester Zoo (day 5), Hawkshead (day 6) and Hawes (day 8)
  • 3 early dinners: a welcome dinner in Oxford, a Lakeland inn dinner (day 7) and a farewell dinner in York

Not included

  • International flights to and from London
  • The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or any visa, for each traveller who needs one
  • Travel insurance
  • Hotel nights in London before and after the trip
  • Meals not listed, including lunches on days 1, 4, 7 and 9
  • Drinks
  • Tips
  • Optional activities such as Birdland, Bath Boating Station, Thermae Bath Spa, the Beatrix Potter Gallery, Dove Cottage, rowing boats and York Minster
  • Personal expenses

Extras

Room of your own
CAD 1,105 (estimated price)

When you can go

Dates and prices

Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.

Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.

Before you book

Booking terms

Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.

Business addresses

See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584

Guest reviews

What guests say

Reviews from guests on our day tours.

Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
google

5/5

Parminder did a great job guiding us around, giving us tips & teaching us the history of the falls. A great experience!

Jane
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

Good views of the surrounding area of Halifax in a comfortable minivan

Susan
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

June was brilliant- made good contact beforehand and really attentive and knowledgeable. Made me feel like I was special- something only experience can do. Thank you June.

Tom L
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Our host was very knowledgeable, friendly and even provided some humor.

MandL83
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Peter was a very good guide, giving us insight into the various parts of the Park, including parking lot congestion details, trail and viewing location suggestions.

Darren O
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Excellent morning spent with my guide Nancy. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed my trip

4.7/5 from 38,601 guest reviews

Good to know

Questions

What does the England family trip price include?

Nine nights in central hotels, 9 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 early dinners, both trains, our own minibus and driver between Oxford and York, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every entry in the day plan: Christ Church, the punts, the Farm Park, Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Chester Zoo, Hill Top, the Windermere ferry and cruise, the Derwentwater launch and Jorvik. Drinks and tips are extra.

What ages is this trip for?

Children aged 6 and up, with their parents and grandparents. Every day was planned to suit a 9-year-old and a 70-year-old at once, with an easy option and a longer one on walking days. Children stay with an adult throughout. For children under 6, ask about the private version, where the pace can follow nap times.

Is the trip too much for grandparents?

It is built not to be. Most days have under 3.5 hours in the minibus in legs of under two hours, the one long day is split by four hours at a zoo with mobility scooters for hire, and dinners we book start at about 6 pm. Guests should manage 1.5 to 2.5 hours on foot a day, broken by stops.

How big is the group?

The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in a minibus, never a full-size coach, and a group can be two or three families travelling together. That size fits Cotswold village car parks, the Windermere ferry and one table at lunch.

Who leads the trip?

A See Sight Tours guide is with the group for the whole trip, from London Paddington to the York train, and a professional driver is at the wheel so the guide can look after the family. Site staff lead their own rides and talks, such as the Jorvik ride and the Roman Baths' costumed guides.

Can we have family rooms or connecting rooms?

Yes, we ask for them. Tell us how your family wants to sleep when you request to book, and we confirm family, triple or connecting rooms with each hotel before you pay. For older travellers we ask for a lift or a ground-floor room. Child rates for a third or fourth person in a room are quoted at booking.

I'm a grandparent travelling without a partner. Do I pay a single supplement?

Only if you want a room of your own, which is from CAD 1,105 more and shown before you book. If you share a room with a grandchild or another family member, you pay the base price per person with no supplement.

Will there be time to swim or play?

Yes. Free afternoons in Bath and Ambleside, and the late afternoons in Oxford and York, are for the hotel pool where ours has one, Royal Victoria Park's playground in Bath, rowing boats on the Avon or Windermere, or a rest. We aim for hotels with pools in Bath and the Lakes but cannot promise one in every town.

When is the best time for a family trip to England?

The trip runs April to October. July and August match school holidays and are the busiest and dearest months; late May half-term is also busy. Late June and early September give long days, open sights and fewer crowds. Punting runs April to September, and rain is possible in any month, so pack waterproofs.

How does booking work?

Choose a date and send a request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. Prices are per person sharing a room, taxes included: the small group starts from CAD 6,510, and private from CAD 11,720.

Can our family travel privately or on our own dates?

Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your family only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, trains and entries.

Do our children need an ETA to visit England?

Yes. Canadian and US passport holders need no visa for a tourist visit to the UK, but every traveller, children and babies included, needs a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online before you fly for a small fee. Bring passports valid for the whole stay; other nationalities should check the UK rules.

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