Private tour in London Graham U
5.0
(8) reviews
9 hours
1
9 hours
1
Graham U.
5.0
Guide rating
37
Reviews
Tours delivered
7 hrs
Avg. response time
From a very young age my parents instilled into me the importance of travel. They would always say 'travel broadens the mind. ' Decades later I found that to be a massive understatement. I started off travelling most of Europe and parts of the US up until the age of around 21. Then I took a leap into the dark and moved to Hong Kong for five years to work. This gave me the chance to see and experience how different cultures live, work and have fun. From here I spent months travelling around the Far East of Asia and Australia, as well as parts of Northern Africa, Europe and the US. During this time I saw many incredible things and met such wonderful people that travel became even more important to me. A few years later I became the Head of Activities for Oxford's top language school. This allowed me to spend time with younger people and help open their minds to all the amazing places and people that we can see and learn from. During my time at the school I became aware of just how lucky I am to live in an area like Oxfordshire with the Cotswolds on my doorstep. I saw how much people loved visiting this area, and so I decided to become a Cotswolds tour guide. I now run my own Cotswolds touring company so balance my time between that and spending time with my family. The Cotswolds is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing weekend. Whether it is natural beauty, wonderful English gardens, exploring history spanning 5000 years or retracing your ancestry this place has it all. My favourite Cotswolds destination: Swinbrook I am very lucky to get to visit some truly stunning locations but Swinbrook has to be my favorite. On a beautiful sunny day this small area is full of secret gardens and streams and hillsides. It reminds me of 'the shire' in the Lord of the Rings movies. It never ceases to amaze me how such a place still exists. My Most Memorable Cotswolds Experience: For me it has to be enjoying a nice BBQ at the ruins of Minster Lovell. Just sitting next to the bubbling brook in the sun. Daylight in UK summertime continues until 10:30pm often with the temperature a perfect 23C. Reminds me of what a fantastic country we live in :) Award winner of Lux Life Magazine's - Best Private Tours Provider 2019 - Southern England Award winner of Oxfordshire Prestige Awards - Oxfordshire Tour Company of the Year 2019 Registered private hire driver guide
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Graham U.
The beauty of a private driving tour is the freedom and flexibility that it gives you on the day. This tour has a set itinerary where I have a recommended route. Here I have combined idyllic villages with the more famous Cotswold towns. This gives you a wonderful overview and experience of what the Cotswolds is all about. As it is a private tour we are totally flexible as to how long you would like in each place. We are also very flexible and are more than happy to modify the itinerary on the day if you would like. The starting time for the tour is 9am and I can collect you from anywhere in central or west London. What places will we get to see? Great Tew Stow on the Wold The Slaughters Bourton on the Water Burford Swinbrook Minster Lovell
Graham was warm , friendly , and extremely knowledgeable of the Cotswolds having grown up nearby of the area. Going to villages where few tourists go gave our trip a more intimate look of the lifestyle that is experienced by the residents . If u want a unique experience by a guide who wants to satisfy all your expectations Graham is the young man we highly recommend !
Graham is what made our trip memorable!!! He is the best tour guide ever! So knowledgeable and interesting! He and my husband talked nonstop on the 2 hour drive to London. He took us to many interesting places, and we learned so much about the history of the Cotswolds. We will do this tour again as time limited us to only three villages and there is so much more to see! He was also very accommodating and flexible with our schedule. Best of all his enunciation was excellent; my husband uses a hearing aide and accents can make it difficult for him to understand the conversation; Graham had good volume and was easy to understand without even making a request. We look forward to using Graham again the next time we are in England! Highly recommend!!!
Graham was great. He was on time. He personalized our tour based on our feedback. We was very personable, which is great when you are together all day. Graham made the experience
We had a WONDERFUL day with Graham touring The Cotswolds! Along with showing us the beautiful countryside he provided a lot of interesting history of the area. The stop at St. Kenelms church and the surrounding ruins was amazing and a highlight of the day. We saw so much more than we would have on a big bus tour. It was an absolutely lovely day!
We arranged for Graham to pick us up in London, take us to 'Stratford on Avon and The Cotswolds then leave us in Oxford. This arrangement worked perfectly. Graham suggested we purchase tickets to the Shakespeare locations ahead of our visit which we did. After we toured the locations we traveled to the Cotswolds. After Graham asked type of towns we were interested it and whether we wanted to drive through or walk we visited two towns we enjoyed. He also drove us through the lavender growing region with a stop at the Broadway Tower to view the landscape. Great day!
Graham was an outstanding guide. His pre tour communication was excellent. His plan for the tour included options all day long! We were a group of 7 childhood friends who traveled to London for a long overdue reunion. Graham filled us with historic information as well as interesting stories of each area visited. Beautiful sites, great stories and a very accommodating guide. We probably didn’t get to see as much as some groups, but that was due to us! Graham moved us along but never rushed took time for photos, food and lively conversation! A memorable experience! Personally , I have used Tours by locals for many years and have never been disappointed. Thank you Tours by locals and Graham!
We'll start the day by visiting the hidden village of Great Tew. A fairy-tale village of thatched cottages and beautiful landscapes, far from the tourists. Then on to Stow-on-the-Wold. Steeped in history and built by the Normans. Here we'll have time to browse among narrow streets, interesting shops and tiny tea rooms. Known for its antiques. To the picturesque village of Lower Slaughter, voted England's most romantic village. With a charming river flowing through a 1000-year-old flour mill. Still in operation today! Then to the most famous Cotswolds town, Bourton-on-the-Water. Known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'. Here we can enjoy lunch at an award-winning Cotswolds pub. Driving on to Burford, often called the 'Gateway to the Cotswolds'. With an unbroken line of ancient houses and an impressive 900-year-old church. On through the stunning Windrush Valley visiting secluded villages including Swinbrook, Asthall and the highlight of tour, the beautiful ancient ruins of Minster Lovell.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
A modern air conditioned vehicle capable of carrying up to 8 passengers. Wonderful large windows and excellent luggage capacity. Ideal for touring and transfers.
London, England, United Kingdom
I can collect you from anywhere in Central or West London. If coming from anywhere else then please message me. Another suggestion is to book my 'From Oxford' Cotswolds tour if you are happy to take a train from London to Oxford. This is a 1 hour direct train and would save you money and tour time as we would be next to the Cotswolds without commuting to and from London (2-3 hours in traffic). London Marylebone to Oxford Parkway is best. London Paddington to Oxford station also works.
EnglishWho is this private tour in London best suited for?
Can this private tour in London be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?
What languages is this tour offered in?
What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?
Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
9 hours
1
9 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
How it works