Reviews

My wife and I had a fantastic two days touring the Cotswolds with Johnnie in mid October. . He picked us up in Oxford and at the end of the first day he dropped us off at our hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold. 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.

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Viator Reviews: Nov 23, 2025

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, Johnnie 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, Johnnie 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.

Johnnie 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, Johnnie 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 Johnnie. His knowledge, warmth, and storytelling made this an unforgettable highlight of our trip.

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Google Reviews: Oct 14, 2025

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!!!

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​Tripadvisor review: Sep 21, 2025

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.

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​Tripadvisor review: Oct 29, 2025

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!!

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Viator Reviews: Sep 11, 2025

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.

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Viator Reviews: Sep 11, 2025

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!

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Viator Reviews: Jul 18, 2025

This tour surpassed any expectation I may have had! Jonnie picked us up from the train station at Moreton in Marsh and swept us into the fairytale that is the Cotswolds! We were immediately immersed in the beauty and culture of this amazing and special place. Jonnie is local to the area and filled us with history, as well as funny and interesting facts. He helped us to steer clear of the biggest tourist ares, thereby maximizing the limited time we had to explore this vast and sweeping landscape! He brought us to out of the way places that only a local could and only brought us briefly past one of the mobbed tourist spots to show us what we luckily escaped! We ate ice cream from the “ vending machine” of a small local farm and had the opportunity to sample beer from a small brewery not advertised and on the honor system (take a beer, leave your money in the box). This tour is not to be missed if you want to experience the true local beauty that is the Cotswolds! Bonus points if you can’t get enough of Downton Abby… you will think you died and went to heaven!

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Viator Reviews: Jul 18, 2025

This tour surpassed any expectation I may have had! Jonnie picked us up from the train station at Moreton in Marsh and swept us into the fairytale that is the Cotswolds! We were immediately immersed in the beauty and culture of this amazing and special place. Jonnie is local to the area and filled us with history, as well as funny and interesting facts. He helped us to steer clear of the biggest tourist ares, thereby maximizing the limited time we had to explore this vast and sweeping landscape! He brought us to out of the way places that only a local could and only brought us briefly past one of the mobbed tourist spots to show us what we luckily escaped! We ate ice cream from the “ vending machine” of a small local farm and had the opportunity to sample beer from a small brewery not advertised and on the honor system (take a beer, leave your money in the box). This tour is not to be missed if you want to experience the true local beauty that is the Cotswolds! Bonus points if you can’t get enough of Downton Abby… you will think you died and went to heaven!

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Viator Reviews: Jul 18, 2025

If you have ever dreamed of seeing the Cotswolds up close and personal, this is the tour for you! This tour is an easy day trip from London by train, tailored to your desire. Your host, Johnnie, has the knowledge and a deep love for this amazing neighborhood he calls home. Leaving no stone unturned, he will show you some of the most breath-taking scenery and architecture, and he will uncover some of the most satisfying history you will ever hear told. For me, it was a lifelong dream to see the Cotswolds, and I feel quite fortunate that I picked my trip with Johnnie when I took the train from London to Moreton-in-Marsh. A dream come true? Absolutely!! I will pat myself on the back and say I made a good choice. To Mr. Johnnie I will say, "Thank you, sir. Job well done!" I will never forget this incredible trip for the rest of my life. Thank you again and again.

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Viator Reviews: May 20, 2025

I cannot recommend this tour enough! Our guide Johnnie picked us up at our Inn and drove us about this gorgeous country all day with knowledgeable background and anecdotes on each little place. Friendly, accommodating, fun and a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for a fabulous day. Would definitely recommend and hire him again!

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Viator Reviews: Apr 22, 2025

Johnnie was the perfect tour guide. He took us to beautiful places that weren’t in our guide books and which appealed to our specific interests. We never felt rushed. It was the best
tour I’ve ever taken. Highly recommend!

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Viator Reviews: May 12, 2025

Through The Cotswold Tour Company, we were connected with Johnnie to take us on an 8 hour drive around the Northern Cotswolds. Johnnie arrived at our hotel early and in a clean, comfortable car. Johnnie provided us with a thorough history of the Cotwolds, the economy of the local sheep and race horse industries, pop culture reference points, and restaurant/shopping recommendations. Johnnie was quick to pull over to the side of the road to provide us the chance to take pictures or to give in-depth information on a sight. Johnnie showed us multiple hidden gems, including a local brewery, an ancient yew tree, David Beckham’s favorite sausage roll shop, and a few TV and movie shooting locales. He provided us some alone time in a few villages. Johnnie was quick to understand what we wanted from our tour and fed us so much interesting insight to the area. Johnnie exceeded our expectations by continuing the tour well past the arranged end time, he gave us an excellent dinner recommendation, returned after dinner to deliver us back to our hotel, and connected us with our driver for the next day! Johnnie’s delightful nature, deep knowledge of the Cotwolds, and charm made our one full day in the Cotwolds full without being rushed. If we could rate Johnnie with 6 stars, we would!

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Viator Reviews: Apr 21, 2025

Johnnie made our Cotswolds day tour absolutely brilliant! His wealth of knowledge brought places like Donnington Brewery, with its charming honesty box, waterwheel, and peacocks, to life. He customized the trip to our interests, happily adding stops at the upscale Daylesford farm shop and tranquil Blockley Brook, a Father Brown location. Johnnie was a breeze to chat with, answering every question about treasures like Snowshill, Adlestrop’s Jane Austen link, and Broadwell’s ancient yew tree. His enthusiasm for the Cotswolds made the day unforgettable. Highly recommend this fantastic tour!

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Viator Reviews: Jun 16, 2025

We had the most AMAZING tour with Johnnie and I cannot recommend him and his tour enough! My daughter and I had never done a tour like this and I was nervous about what we were going to talk about with a stranger for 8+ hours. But Johnnie was so easy to talk to and deeply knowledgeable about a tremendous range of topics that the time just flew by. (Hedges! Who knew there was so much to know about hedges?!?) Any and all questions we had, Johnnie was able to expound on with both humor and intelligence. It was an absolute joy to talk about so many things with someone whose years of experience living in the Cotswolds gives him deep knowledge and expertise on the area (and also about England, which was so fun for me as an American Anglophile!).

We also lost count of all the adorable and beautiful storybook cottages Johnnie took us to, many of which would have never been accessible via a big bus or van tour. The views and scenery was the stuff of dreams! Thank you, Johnnie, for making our dreams come true and exceeding all our expectations!

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Viator Reviews: Apr 18, 2025

We had a terrific day with Johnie - he was absolutely the best. My wife and I wanted to see Stonehenge and the Cotswolds, and Johnie was the perfect guide. We were picked up promptly at our hotel in Oxford, then kept us entertained throughout the trip, and showed us some highlights of his Cotswolds. We had a great day, and I would highly recommend Johnie.

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Viator Reviews: Jun 16, 2025

De notre hôtel à Bath à travers une variété de villages et hameaux plus charmants les uns que les autres, à travers une campagne riante et vallonnée. 
Johnnie nous a organisé une journée mémorable en fonction de nos souhaits et besoin. Une mine d’informations et une personnalité attachante, nous lui devons notre reconnaissance.

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Viator Reviews: Mar 27, 2025

We couldn’t have been more pleased with our tour of the Cotswolds with Johnnie! The day was packed full of history, tales of the little villages, and beautiful landscapes - we learned so much (especially about hedges and thatched roofs!). Johnnie was so kind, had a great scene of humor, and easily engaged our two teenagers with tales of the colorful Cotswold characters. Ask him to book lunch at the Fleece Inn, delicious and quaint, and top it off with a stop at the ice cream stand. If you’re contemplating the length of the tour, go with the full 8 hour day - we enjoyed every minute of the trip through the Cotswolds with Johnnie

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Viator Reviews: Mar 18, 2025

My parents were visiting from California for Christmas and had been wanting to visit the Cotswolds. We took a 6 hour tour with John and enjoyed the day so much! We gave him a rough outline of the highlights we wanted to see and let him curate the day. We managed to fit in a surprising amount considering it was the shortest day of the year we had limited daylight, but never felt rushed. We visited quiet tucked away spots outside of the touristy areas. John shared so much local knowledge and answered all our questions. I enjoyed the architectural anecdotes and my parents especially loved the Father Brown trivia. It was a great way to start their UK Christmas and we'd love to tour again in when the gardens are in bloom.

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Viator Reviews: Feb 18, 2025

My family and I had a wonderful tour with Johnnie! He took us to many more places than we could have managed on our own. We also didn’t have to worry about driving through the very narrow roads covered in potholes or try to find parking. On top of the ease of seeing more Cotswold villages than we could have expected, Johnnie also provided very detailed, interesting, and thoughtful information on all of the places we drove through or stopped at. Having such a knowledgeable guide telling us some unique stories about the Cotswolds really made the tour worthwhile. We would absolutely recommend taking a Cotswolds tour with Johnnie!!

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Viator Reviews: Mar 20, 2025

Johnnie was the best tour guide we could’ve asked for. Extremely knowledgeable and interactive. He knew the area of Cotswolds and its history so well! He was able to show us the most beautiful parts of the landscape while also answering the million questions my parents and I had about the history, architecture, geography etc. of the place. The best decision ever was to take this tour and would 10000% recommend to anyone visiting Cotswolds

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Viator Reviews: Mar 20, 2025

Me and my family had a great time in the Cotswold thanks to Johnnie who was verry knowledgable obout the village and also flexible with how we wanted to spend the time with two young kids. Johnnie managed drive us through some beautiful villages and also help us take us some nice pictures though out the Journey. Thanks to his knowledge, we managed to see the beauty and also understand the history of the village whilst not being narrowed to standard touristy attractions.

We would be surely be back for another tour soon and would reccomend the tour of Cotswolds with Johnnie to everyone.

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Viator Reviews: Mar 10, 2025

We are writing this note to thank and commend Johnnie for his excellent tour of the Cotswolds. We found his reviews online and that is what prompted us to hire him. There aren’t enough stars to thank him for what a great ambassador he is for the region, his warm personality and incredible knowledge of all things local. It was much more rewarding for us to have a private tour in a car than to be in a giant bus with a mass of tourists.

The better we got to know Johnnie, he became more of a friend than just a guide. We learned there are many other tour routes that we could’ve done, and may do when we come back in the future. You don’t need to look any further. Johnnie is your man.

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Viator Reviews: Nov 7, 2024

Our experience with The Cotswold Tour Co. was exceptional. From the time of our booking, until being dropped back at the train, our experience couldn’t have been any better. 

What a pleasure it was to spend the day with Johnnie. From the get-go he made us feel so comfortable that soon we felt as if we were touring with an old friend. 

Johnnie is so personable and knowledgeable. We had read that Johnnie was great at sharing the history of the Cotswold region, and we found that to be true. I’ll add that he has a way of telling the story of the Cotswolds that is really interesting and engaging. Being on a tour with a local to the Cotswolds was definitely the way to go. 

As soon as Johnnie welcomed us at the train station he let us know that, for him, what was most important was that our tour would meet our needs and wants. He was ready to take us on the adventure we dreamed of. That was greatly appreciated! 

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the beauty of the countryside and exploring the charming villages through the windows of his comfortable car. We pulled over every time we wanted to take a picture of the amazing vistas or walk around a storybook village. 

Johnnie took us to places we would have never had a chance to see on a group tour, some that only a local would know about. We chose the 8 hour tour and truly enjoyed every moment. 

The Cotswolds didn’t disappoint, and we give great credit to Johnnie for that. 

Thank you Johnnie!

We highly recommend this tour, you won’t be disappointed! 

(I normally don’t write such wordy reviews, but it was such a great day I had a lot to say!)

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Viator Reviews: Nov 6, 2024

A day touring the Cotswolds with Johnnie is the best because Johnnie is the best. His tour took us all over and we saw everything we wanted to see, plus some. Johnnie took us to many of the off the beaten path places without tour buses and tourists. But that is what we requested. We saw Churches, Church yards, many, many quaint towns and we were very satisfied at the end of the day. He dropped us off for a pub lunch and the food was excellent without all the tourist buses and loads of people. I would very highly recommend a day with Johnnie as the best tour of the Cotswolds. His touring VW is spotless and comfortable for the whole day. And he emailed us at the end of the day with the itinerary of what we saw all day - Wow! Thank you Johnnie for a lovely day.

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Viator Reviews: Nov 6, 2024

Ho scoperto l’esistenza delle Cotswolds leggendo un libro, e dalle descrizioni me ne sono innamorata. Alla prima occasione utile ho organizzato una giornata da Londra; tutti i tour sono in bus e piuttosto “spersonalizzati”. Trovata la pagina web di Johnnie ho scritto e si è dimostrato subito sollecito ed esaustivo. Mi ha consigliato come raggiungerlo, chiesto dei miei interessi e di cosa mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere. Ha strutturato un tour personalizzato, con delle tappe fotografiche eccezionali e si è reso subito disponibile per accontentarci (per esempio, avevamo desiderio di mangiare una vera pie tradizionale e ci ha portato in un bellissimo pub - pie stratosferica-).
Poi conversando sono emersi altri spunti e ha variato l’itinerario “in corso d’opera”. Abbiamo visitato veramente TANTISSIMI posti.
Una giornata bellissima, ricca di informazioni interessanti, in un panorama da fiaba…con una carissima persona come Johnnie. Super super consigliato.
Torneremo a trovarlo per altri tour.

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Viator Reviews: Aug 28, 2024

Really enjoyed Johnnie's tour of The Cotswolds. There was really so much to see and we had gorgeous wheather for it. The villages we visited are so pretty and Johnnie seemed to have a new fact or story for every street we went down. Great experience, with a great guide!

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​Tripadvisor review: May 20, 2024

Visited the Cotswolds as a birthday treat for my mum - always wanted to visit but were anxious about driving on the winding roads. Our tour guide Johnnie, was so friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Our highlight was afternoon tea in Broadway! Don’t hesitate to book!

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Google reviews: April 30, 2024

I visited the area with my wife and as we only had one day , we decided to take a tour to see as much as we could before heading home. Johnnie kindly picked us up from our accommodation in his very comfortable vehicle. We visited some beautiful Cotswold villages including Chipping Camden,Broadway and Snowshill which was really stunning. We also stopped to see some amazing vistas and there were plenty of photo opportunities and also time for a bite to eat and browsing in some lovely local shops. Johnnie is clearly very knowledgeable about the area, and was full of interesting and historical facts about the Cotswolds and also some funny anecdotes that had us laughing. He was very professional , but extremely friendly and attentive throughout and we really could not have wished for a better guide or nicer person to be with for the day. It helped that when booking , we were able to state there were a couple of places we were keen to see and so he was able to incorporate that into our tour, which was great. If we return to the area , we will book the garden tour as my wife is particularly keen on gardening. If you are visiting the Cotswolds and want a first class introduction to the area, I’d highly recommend Johnnie‘s tour company.

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​Google reviews: April 30, 2024

I’d never been to the Cotswolds before and could only make a short trip, so I wanted to pack a lot in and booked a half day tour with the Cotswold Tour Co. Such a good decision! The tour was based around the beautiful Snowshill area. What I especially liked was that we didn’t spend any more than 15 minutes in between each stop. And then there seemed plenty of time to wander around and take in each site. Johnnie is lovely and his wealth of interesting knowledge added to the experience. Highly recommended!

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Tripadvisor review: May 20, 2024

Wow! Johnnie does a fantastic job. He is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and focused on his guests’ experience. He catered the time of the tour to us while also giving many off the beaten path stops away from the crowded tourist spots. Do not miss this tour!!!!!

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​Viator review: May 28, 2024

Visited the Cotswolds as a birthday treat for my mum- always wanted to visit but were anxious about driving on the winding roads. Our tour guide Johnnie, was so friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Our highlight was afternoon tea in Broadway! Don’t hesitate to book!

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Google reviews: April 30, 2024

I visited the area with my wife and as we only had one day , we decided to take a tour to see as much as we could before heading home.

Johnnie kindly picked us up from our accommodation in his very comfortable vehicle. We visited some beautiful Cotswold villages including Chipping Camden,Broadway and Snowshill which was really stunning. We also stopped to see some amazing vistas and there were plenty of photo opportunities and also time for a bite to eat and browsing in some lovely local shops. 

Johnnie is clearly very knowledgeable about the area, and was full of interesting and historical facts about the Cotswolds and also some funny anecdotes that had us laughing. He was very professional , but extremely friendly and attentive throughout and we really could not have wished for a better guide or nicer person to be with for the day. It helped that when booking , we were able to state there were a couple of places we were keen to see and so he was able to incorporate that into our tour, which was great. If we return to the area , we will book the garden tour as my wife is particularly keen on gardening. 

If you are visiting the Cotswolds and want a first class introduction to the area, I’d highly recommend Johnnie ‘s tour company.

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Viator Reviews: May 17, 2024