There’s something about the Cotswolds. This part of the English countryside is straight out of a fairy tale. With thatched-roof cottages and sheep-studded hills, it’s the stuff of British dreams. Given how much I love traveling here, today I’m off on a day trip to Moreton-in-Marsh. This historic market town is a great place to get into the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), not to mention an easy train trip from London. Read on for my guide. I’ve included a map, too.
Day Trip to Moreton-in-Marsh
Nestled in the Evenlode Valley near the meeting point of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire, Moreton-in-Marsh is the perfect place to go if you want to visit the Cotswolds without a car.
There’s plenty to do and see here, from exploring the town to going for a country walk, visiting a stately home, and experiencing the food and drink scene.
I’ve traveled to Moreton-in-Marsh today to visit a friend who lives in town. I can’t wait to go around with a local and see the best of this beautiful part of the English countryside.
How to Get to Here
There are direct trains from London to Moreton-in-Marsh. They whisk passengers off to the heart of the Cotswolds in just 90 minutes. The journey is one of the most scenic train rides from London, so you’re in for a treat if you do it.
Services depart from Paddington station, and they stop at places like Charlbury and Kingham before reaching Moreton-in-Marsh. If you want to, you can combine two or more of them into one day trip (or a multi-day trip, a weekend getaway, or country break).
Once in Moreton-in-Marsh, you can easily get around on foot. The station is a few minutes’ walk from the high street, and the main part of town is small enough that it’s easy to walk around.
If you prefer a guided tour, there are plenty of options. From small-group trips to walking excursions, you’re spoiled for choice. You can see options and book one that appeals to you here.
Moreton-in-Marsh
When my train arrives in Gloucestershire, I meet my friend at the station. After catching up, we start our day with the short stroll into town.
As we go, we catch a glimpse of a new seasonal hop-on-hop-off bus in the Cotswolds. Heritage Bus Service 11 takes passengers from Moreton-in-Marsh train station to local villages and towns on weekends and bank holidays.
From Stow-on-the-Wold to Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water, it goes to some of the most popular places in the region during the warmer months.
Breakfast
After passing the bus, we find ourselves emerging from New Road onto the High Street. We’re right in the heart of town, and my heart gives a squeeze as I take in the classic Cotswold stone buildings.
As we walk down the road, my friend points out sites of interest, including The Redesdale Hall. It’s Moreton-in-Marsh’s Grade II-listed town hall, and it’s topped by an eye-catching clock tower that I can’t stop photographing.
From there we pass an award-winning 17th-century pub with rooms called the Redesdale Arms as we make our way to Rixy’s Cotswold Tearoom for breakfast.
This charming cafe is one of my friend’s favorite local spots, and we settle in at an outdoor table to enjoy our coffees and pastries under the sun.
It’s the perfect way to start our trip, and as we catch up my friend lays out his idea of how we can spend our day.
Walk
Fueled for the morning, we head out to take a walk in the countryside. This part of the Cotswolds is crisscrossed with paths and trails, and we can’t wait to get out on some of them.
Before departing, we stop at an artisan bakery called Otis & Belle to order sandwiches for our journey. It’s a sweet little shop with loaves of sourdough that tempt our taste buds as soon as we walk in.
Sandwiches packed, we head out into the English countryside. It’s a beautiful day for a walk in the Cotswolds, and as the town fades behind us we take in the fresh air and soak up the sun-drenched fields.
Our walk is a point-to-point route that takes us from the heart of Moreton-in-Marsh to a stately home in the Cotswolds. It takes us an hour and 45 minutes, and we enjoy classic scenery along the way. You can see the route in the map section below.
Chastleton House
At the end of the walk we find ourselves in front of the striking facade of Chastleton House. This historic Grade I-listed number is a National Trust property. It’s one of the finest and most complete examples of Jacobean homes in England.
Located in the Oxfordshire countryside, Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 by wool merchant Walter Jones. A statement of his wealth and power, it remained unchanged for nearly 400 years.
The National Trust took it over from his increasingly-impoverished family in 1991, and today visitors can step back in time as they walk through its halls and around its grounds.
My friend and I enjoy our sandwiches in the garden of the 12th-century church next door, then buy our entry tickets from the welcome center by the parking area up the hill (entry is free for National Trust members).
We spend an hour on a self-guided tour of the house, marveling at rooms like the Long Gallery. It’s home to the longest surviving 17th-century barrel-vaulted ceiling in England.
As we go, we learn that the house has been used as a filming location for TV shows like Wolf Hall and Father Brown.
Outside, the gardens are lush. From the Best Garden to the Kitchen Garden and Wilderness Walk, they range from meticulously manicured to delightfully wild.
We also see the Croquet Lawns, where the rules of the game were codified. It gives us goosebumps to see the spot where croquet was officially born.
Scavenger Hunt
After the visit my friend and I meet our pre-booked taxi from Cotswold Cabs & Carriages for the ride back to Moreton-in-Marsh. Less than 10 minutes later, we’re standing in front of The Redesdale Hall again.
My friend has a fun way for us to explore more of the town: a scavenger hunt. He’s helped develop the Moreton-in-Marsh History Hunt, and I’m excited to try it out.
For the next hour, we follow a series of 20 clues that leads us to sites of local and historical interest. It’s a great way to see the highlights and learn about Moreton-in-Marsh as we do.
At the end, we’re rewarded with a free hot drink voucher we can use at one of a few cafes in town.
Pub
But we’re in the mood for cold drinks right now. There’s no better place to enjoy them than in the big garden behind The Bell Inn. This 19th-century coaching inn is a historic pub with rooms in the heart of Moreton-in-Marsh.
We order drinks and food at the counter, then sit outside at a picnic table to enjoy our well-earned sustenance with my friend’s mother.
As we talk, my friend tells me that The Bell Inn is said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to create The Prancing Pony in Lord of the Rings. Whether it’s true or not, the pub is a great place to soak up the local scene in town.
Train
Food and drinks consumed, my day in the Cotswolds comes to an end. My friend walks me the short distance back to the train station so I can catch a service to London. Soon I’m taking in the stunning scenery from the window of a packed carriage.
As I go, I think about what a great day trip to the Cotswolds I’ve had. I’m glad I’ve gotten to see the town, do one of the many country walks in the area, visit a stately home, and enjoy a famous pub.
Moreton-in-Marsh Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the places I visited. You can find it here. It can help you plan your day trip to Moreton-in-Marsh and make the most of your time in the Cotswolds.
If you want to get a feel for the greater area, you can take a look at my map of the Cotswolds. It has all the highlights.
Additionally, if you want to walk from Moreton-in-Marsh to Chastleton House, you can follow this route.
Moreton-in-Marsh Day Trip
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide and that it’s inspired you to visit this part of Britain yourself someday. Moreton-in-Marsh is one of the most beautiful towns near London, and it’s worth a special trip.
You can read about more great rail journeys from the UK capital on my blog post about the best day trips from London by train. If you have more time, my guide to places to visit in the UK for a weekend can help inspire your next adventure.
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