A Norman Cotswolds Tour
— Bayeaux Tapestry at Tewkesbury Abbey,
plus Gloucester Cathedral, Berkeley Castle & hidden Norman churches.
Tour Overview
Full Day (8-hours) or Two Days
Nearly a thousand years after the Conquest, much of what the Normans built in the Cotswolds still stands: village churches with carved doorways and Norman fonts, great abbey naves, and a castle still lived in by the family who have held it since 1153. This private, driver-guided tour follows that story through the countryside, with each day shaped around your interests and our local guides’ own favourite sites — several of them rarely found in guidebooks.
2027 marks 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror, celebrated across Europe as the European Year of the Normans. From 22 October 2026 to 11 July 2027, Tewkesbury Abbey is also displaying a full-scale reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry in its Norman nave, as part of the British Museum’s Bayeux Around Britain programme.
Explore the northern or southern Cotswolds as a full day, or combine both over two days.
The Northern Cotswolds — Norman Churches & Abbeys
After collection from your accommodation, your guide will take you to locations such as St Nicholas Church in Lower Oddington, our guide Mark’s pick, set in quiet woodland with a vast medieval doom painting on its north wall, and two of Steve’s favourites: the carved Norman doorway at Guiting Power, and Hailes, a small church of around 1130 with medieval wall paintings, older than the ruined abbey beside it.
You’ll also have the opportunity to visit Tewkesbury Abbey, home to the largest Romanesque tower in Europe and, until July 2027, a full-scale reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry. Nearby Gloucester Cathedral, Trevor’s choice, offers a magnificent Norman nave and the effigy of Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror’s eldest son.
The Southern Cotswolds — Abbeys & Castles
In the south, your day could include locations such as St James the Great in Coln St Dennis, chosen by our guide Chris: a 12th-century church with a rare central tower and a Norman font. Other highlights include Malmesbury Abbey, famous for the carved Norman sculpture of its south porch, and Susie’s favourite, Berkeley Castle, founded within a year of the Conquest and home to the same family for nearly 900 years.
Two-Day Norman Cotswolds Tour
Combine the northern and southern Cotswolds for a fuller, more relaxed look at the Norman Cotswolds, with time to linger and explore the villages in between. Your guide can also weave in other Cotswold highlights to suit your interests.
Area Covered
Northern & Southern Cotswolds
Itinerary
Locations such as:
• Lower Oddington
• Guiting Power
• Hailes Church
• Tewkesbury Abbey
• Gloucester Cathedral
• Coln St Dennis
• Malmesbury Abbey
• Berkeley Castle
Tour Info
The Norman Cotswolds – Themed Tour
Duration – 8 hours (per day)
Operating year-round. Berkeley Castle is open to visitors Sunday to Wednesday, from late March to early November. The Bayeux Tapestry reproduction at Tewkesbury Abbey is on display from 22 October 2026 to 11 July 2027.
What’s Included?
- Dedicated local tour driver/guide
- Executive vehicle (up to 7 passengers)
- Bottle of mineral water for each passenger
What’s Not Included?
- Gratuities (Gratuities for your driver guide are at your discretion)
Optional Extras (subject to availability/additional fees)
- Guided tour of Berkley Castle
- Abbey Highlights tour at Tewkesbury Abbey
- Tower Tour at Gloucester Cathedral
How to Book your Tour of the Northern Cotswolds
Step 1:
Send us an enquiry for the dates you’d like your tour, with any additional information you can provide, such as any special requirements. Visit our ‘Contact Us’ page to fill out our tour enquiry form.
Step 2:
We’ll let you know our availability and get a quote to you. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours.
Step 3:
If you’d like to go ahead, we’ll send a booking form for you to complete along with a secure payment link for you to reserve your tour with a deposit
Step 4:
We’ll then work to finalise your chosen tour, ensuring we have any special requirements catered for.
Step 5:
Wait with excitement… we look forward to meeting you!
For full booking Terms & Conditions please see HERE.
Which Norman sites can I visit in the Cotswolds?
Your tour can include some of the best-preserved Norman buildings in and around the Cotswolds, such as Gloucester Cathedral, Malmesbury Abbey and Berkeley Castle, along with 12th-century village churches at Lower Oddington, Guiting Power, Hailes and Coln St Dennis. Locations included will be tailored around your start and end tour points.
Why is 2027 a special year to explore the Norman Cotswolds?
2027 marks 1,000 years since the birth of William the Conqueror in Falaise, Normandy. The anniversary is being celebrated across Europe as the European Year of the Normans, making it a fitting time to visit the churches, abbeys and castles built in England after the Conquest.
Can I see the Bayeux Tapestry on this tour?
From 22 October 2026 to 11 July 2027, Tewkesbury Abbey is displaying a full-scale reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry as part of the British Museum’s Bayeux Around Britain programme. Tewkesbury Abbey was founded in 1087 and consecrated in 1121. Entry to the exhibition is free, and it can be included in your tour. The original tapestry is on loan to the British Museum in London over the same period.
What is the history of Gloucester Cathedral and Berkeley Castle?
Gloucester Cathedral was founded as the Abbey of St Peter and has one of the finest Norman naves in England. It was the setting for the coronation of the nine-year-old Henry III in 1216, and holds the tomb of Edward II and the effigy of Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror’s eldest son, who spent nearly three decades imprisoned by his brother, Henry I. Berkeley Castle was founded within a year of the Conquest and has been home to the Berkeley family since 1153. Its round shell keep and curtain walls remain substantially Norman, and it was here that Edward II was held, and reputedly killed, in 1327.
Can I visit Berkeley Castle at any time of year?
Berkeley Castle is open to visitors on Sundays to Wednesdays from late March to early November. Outside these dates, or on other days of the week, your guide will suggest alternative Norman sites so the tour can run year-round.
Can I choose which sites to visit?
Yes. As with all our tours, the itinerary is fully bespoke. The locations on this page are examples, and your guide will shape the day around the places that interest you most.
Can the tour start from London or Oxford?
Yes. We offer door-to-door collection from your accommodation in the Cotswolds, Oxford or London, as well as from local train stations.
Are the churches always open to visitors?
Most of the churches are open during the day, but as working places of worship they may occasionally be closed for services or events. Your guide will plan the route around this.
What level of fitness will be required?
Basic mobility is required to leave the vehicle and enter places visited, including walking up/down stairs. Access statements for venues available on request. Some locations have uneven walking surfaces, though there is no requirement to exit the vehicle when stopping off in various towns/villages.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing and sensible footwear is advised due to uneven footpaths and surfaces. Appropriate clothing/protection is advised to suit the weather/time of year.
What level of English language ability do I need?
You will need a basic knowledge of English to fully appreciate the experience.
For more frequently asked questions about our tours, please see our FAQ page HERE.
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