About CJP Cotswold Tours
Having lived in the area for over 50 years, we have become very familiar with those ‘off-the-beaten-track’ and easily missed locations. Our tour guides live in the Cotswolds and are knowledgeable about the region and familiar with the best locations to shop, eat, drink and stay. We know the Cotswolds intimately and work with you to ensure you get what you want from your tour, so we encourage you to share your interests with us.
About CJP Cotswold Tours
Having lived in the area for over 50 years, we have become very familiar with those ‘off-the-beaten-track’ and easily missed locations. Our tour guides live in the Cotswolds and are knowledgeable about the region and familiar with the best locations to shop, eat, drink and stay. We know the Cotswolds intimately and work with you to ensure you get what you want from your tour, so we encourage you to share your interests with us.
Who We Are
CJP Cotswold Tours is a family-owned and operated Cotswold-based tour business based in the north Cotswolds. We aim to ensure that our visitors to the Cotswolds experience the best of the region during an enjoyable day out from the comfort of our executive private tour vehicles, and with the reassurance of our experienced tour guides. Leaving the driving to us gives you more time to take in your surroundings and explore.
Owned and operated by Chris and Ruth who are married with two daughters, Charli and Hannah, and three grandchildren. They run their Cotswold touring business from just outside the woollen-market town of Chipping Campden, situated in the northern Cotswolds.
CJP Cotswold Tours was first established in 2002 and has now become well recognised as being safe, professional, friendly and reliable.
Take a look at some of our TripAdvisor reviews to find out what others are saying about our tours HERE.
Why Choose CJP?
1. COTSWOLDS-BASED
We’ve lived in the Cotswolds for 50+ years and know the region inside-out.
2. HIGHLY RATED
Internationally recognised, and highly rated by our previous clients – we’ve won the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence award annually since 2011, and are winners of the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice & Hall of Fame awards.
3. FAMILY COMPANY
CJP Cotswold Tours is built on honest family-values with integrity.
4. DEDICATED PRIVATE TOUR GUIDES
With in-depth local and specialist regional knowledge.
5. TAILORED TO YOU
All of our tours can be tailored to your interests and can accommodate for most requests you may have.
6. TRUSTED
We’re a reliable and faithful business, with over 20 years experience [established in 2002].
7. FRIENDLY & PERSONAL
We’ve been told our private guided tours are like taking a holiday or day-trip with old friends, which we think sounds rather lovely and couldn’t put it better ourselves.
8. EXECUTIVE VEHICLES
Seating up to 7 passengers for travelling in style, comfort and safety.
9. RELAXED ITINERARIES
Our tours are leisurely paced, with flexibility on the day should you change your mind.
10. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
We offer a range of payment options and have security measures in place for safe transactions through our online payment system.
11. FULLY LICENSED
Our vehicles and tour guides are fully licensed for private hire, issued by Cotswold District Council. Our guides have also been fully DBS (formerly CRB) checked, for your peace of mind.
12. LOCAL CONNECTIONS
We work with prestigious local businesses to bring you the best the region has to offer, all whilst supporting our local economy.
The Team
All of CJP Cotswold Tours’ Driver-Guides are experienced, professional and love to travel. We have carefully selected our team for their affable personality, being natural born story-tellers as well as great drivers, too.
To make sure that you get the most from your visit, our tours are provided by local guides who present engaging and entertaining commentaries throughout the day, sharing comprehensive and interesting local facts and knowledge, whilst ensuring that there’s plenty of time to travel between locations and see a variety of sights.
On days off, our guides can often be found out-and-about in the village locations they frequently take their passengers to, continually developing their knowledge and talking to anyone who will listen about the wonder of the Cotswolds.
Each of our guides also has their own special interests and favourite locations throughout the UK, which they’ve travelled extensively. For tours of other regions of the UK, where possible, we will always assign the most appropriate guide based on their experience.
Our Tour Guides
Chris Peake
Owner & Tour Driver/Guide
During his time off he enjoys walking Boris, his Golden Retriever, motorcycle touring throughout the countryside, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
Chris’s claim to fame (other than having presented on BBC’s Escape to the Country!) is that he once won the title ‘Champion of the Hill’ in the Robert Dover’s Olympick Games – an annual event held at the original site of the English Olympic Games.
Chris’s Testimonial
“This is my 3rd trip with Chris but this time, I brought my 23 year old daughter and her friend, which is their first time to England and the Cotswolds. Chris has so much knowledge about this region as he lives here as well. He is so much fun to travel with and has the greatest stories. You could spend several days and never get bored. There’s so much to do and breathtaking views to see and he gives you a good amount of time to linger over the beauty. If there is something specific you want to see, he’s more than happy to accommodate. But, we always just let him pick the agenda and go along for the ride. Its great to sit back and enjoy your time in this beautiful countryside. His knowledge allows you to visit great pubs, shopping and historical areas. He’s just so fun to be with that I very highly recommend him for a lovely Cotswold tour. We all truly love Chris!!!”
Melissa T, Mississipi, USA
Tony Smith
Tour Driver/Guide
His favourite place in the Cotswolds is the Coln Valley which he loves for its quiet and peaceful atmosphere, unspoilt by tourism. In his opinion, it’s the Cotswold’s best-kept secret!
As well his excellent knowledge of the Cotswolds, Tony also has in-depth knowledge of Cornwall, Wales, the Lake District and Northumberland. When possible he enjoys taking time out to do a range of activities including motorcycling, mountain biking, road cycling, diving and mountaineering.
Tony’s Testimonial
“Look no further — Tony is the Bomb!!!
What an absolutely super vacation! From the start, Chris and Ruth were wonderful and patient with my many emails, listing the various things that I wanted to do and see once I arrived.
And then there was Tony. There he was when we landed (even though we had been hours delayed by our flight), a twinkle in his eye and welcoming smile. He made even getting stuck in traffic a supreme pleasure — discussing the local areas – history and such. Immediately upbeat and cordial. He showed us the best of the Cotswolds during our 3 day tour and was really entertaining about the deviations we had wanted to see. I cant tell you how wonderful he was, pointing out the breathtaking sights and adding marvelous anecdotes as our days moved along.
We were blown away with his style, humor and caring attitude. I assure you I will come back one day to the Cotswolds for another visit and CJP Tours will be the first thing I book. Wonderful company, terrific service and worth every penny!!”
Mariann DeMarco DFW, Texas, USA
Ian Lambkin
Tour Driver/Guide
Upon retirement, the decision to remain here in this beautiful part of the world was a very simple one. Ian feels privileged to live in such an attractive area and loves the opportunity to show visitors some of the wonderful attractions of this region.
When not driving for CJP Tours, Ian house sits all over the country with his wife Sue, allowing owners to leave their dogs, cats and other adored pets in their home environment. A unique way to explore other areas of the United Kingdom.
Ian is a regular cyclist, taking on the local hills and views with pleasure. He also spends quite a lot of time hunting golf balls in the local courses, with differing levels of success!
Ian’s Testimonial
We mentioned a place that we thought we would like to see, but Ian said that we might disappointed by the number of tourists. He suggested driving there after we visited several of the other towns and villages in the Cotswolds. He drove down many beautiful, quiet lanes as we wove our way through the area. The villages were just as we had imagined them, picturesque and serene, with hardly a tourist in sight.
For lunch Ian took us to a pub in a small village, where we enjoyed soup and ate delicious bread baked by the 96 year old lady who lived across the street. What a treat!
Sue & Jim, USA
Trevor Moss
Tour Driver/Guide
Following his retirement from the police service, Trevor has embarked on a new role with CJP Tours, and enjoys sharing his love of the Cotswolds with all those he meets.
Away from work, Trevor is a musician, and plays in orchestras and bands with his wife Tracey, and has performed in many of the UK’s major venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and even 10 Downing Street – the home of the British Prime Minister!
He also enjoys motorcycling – and is regularly riding the glorious roads of the Cotswolds on his Harley Davidson (and also has a classic BSA motorcycle in the Cotswold Motor Museum).
Trevor is understandably proud of his 2 sons serving in the military, and along with 2 grandsons to entertain, rarely has a quiet moment.
Trevor’s Testimonial
Imdean, San Jose, California, USA
Susie Upfield
Tour Driver/Guide
Having qualified as a member of the Institute of Tour Guides for the Heart of England in 2010, Susie worked as a tour guide in her home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. She combines her excellent knowledge of the local area, culture and history with her passion, creativity and fun sense of humour to deliver exceptional and memorable customer experiences. Alongside offering tours with CJP Tours, Susie works part-time, providing tours, tastings and masterclasses at the Cotswolds Distillery. Free time, when not travelling, is spent with family and friends and often includes theatre and gallery trips, concerts and cycling through the beautiful Cotswold countryside.
Susie’s Testimonial
Beverley Rounds, USA
Andy Crowson
Tour Driver/Guide
During his early career, he worked in the Leisure and Tourism industry for 7 years, where he travelled and worked as a tour guide around the UK and some Spanish and Greek islands. For the past 25 years, he has been working in the cash handling industry for a USA manufacturer, running their UK operation. He has been a part of several notable working groups for The Royal Mint and was even invited to Downing Street in 2017.
As well as the Cotswolds, Andy is also very familiar with the South coast of England, having lived in Hampshire for 17 years before moving to his current home.
In his leisure time, Andy enjoys expanding his knowledge about the history of the Cotswolds and embarking on trips in his camper van with his wife, Mel, and their greyhound, Comet. Additionally, he is an avid movie buff and enjoys visiting the cinema whenever the opportunity arises.
Andy’s Testimonial
Jimmy and Roxann, USA
Fred Hartley
Walking Tour Guide
Fred’s favourite time of year is Winter, specifically when it snows… he’s the first out of the door and is often seen running through Broadway High Street, barefoot, t-shirt and shorts, much to the amusement of visitors and locals alike.
In the Office
Ruth Peake
Office Manager & Accounts
In her spare time, Ruth enjoys working on the interior design of their house renovation, spending time with friends, reading, gardening and indulging in a spot of shopping in Cheltenham – having always thought that one day, she’d love to make the regency spa town her home.
Charli Hartley
Business Development & Marketing Manager
When not working for CJP, Charli also has her own Design and Marketing consultancy working for a range of other clients. She also has 2 young daughters – Aurora and Arwen – and her hobbies and passions include discovering new places to eat and drink, walking across the Cotswold countryside with her Siberian Husky whilst foraging for wild food and herbal medicine, as well as growing organic fruit and vegetables on her double-sized allotment!
Sarah Evers
Office Assistant
Our Private Tour Vehicles
We currently have 5 private touring vehicles, fully-licensed by Cotswold District Council for Private Hire, which can accommodate from 4 to 7 passengers to travel in both safety and comfort.
We also hold a restricted operator’s license which allows us to hire larger vehicles (up to 16 passengers) if required.
Here are the vehicles we offer;
2 x Mercedes V Class AMG 250 (Extra Long) (up to 7 passengers)
1 x Range Rover Black Edition 4×4 (up to 4 passengers)
2 x VW Touareg R Line (up to 4 passengers)
How We Work
As every tour is tailored to your personal interests and is not an ‘off-the-shelf’ service, it is not possible to book one of our tours online. Please contact us for a quote and to discuss a possible itinerary which works for you.
Here’s how our enquiry and booking process works:
Step 1:
Send us an enquiry for the dates you’d like your tour, with any additional information you can provide, such as your interests or any extras you’d like included. 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 with you on your chosen tour to determine some of the finer details. This includes us creating a personalised itinerary for the day tailored to your interests (we’ll also discuss whether you’d like to book any experiences or tickets for entry to any of the many Cotswold attractions)
Step 5:
Wait with excitement… we look forward to meeting you!
For full booking Terms & Conditions please see HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
We regularly work with local hotels, inns and b&b’s to book our clients into their rooms. Please take a look at our Recommended Accommodation page for information and links to hotel, B&B and self-catering accommodation options.
This varies from tour-to-tour. Please view individual tour pages to find out more and request a quote. The fee quoted for our private-guided tours is per vehicle and your guide. We do not charge per-seat.
Our tour start points are flexible and can work with your travel plans. We can collect and return you at a location convenient for you. This could be a local hotel, or other accommodation in the Cotswolds, one of the local train stations such as Honeybourne or Moreton-in-Marsh (we are happy to help advise on train times), or a UK airport, seaport, or other UK city or accommodation location.
A typical full-day tour of the northern Cotswold region is 7-8 hours. Our tours are tailored to you; relaxed and at your pace, with plenty of time to stop for a stroll. During the Winter months (November-February), we are able to offer ½-day tours, which typically last between 4-6 hours. Just let us know if you would like to spend more time in a particular location and we will do our best to oblige.
Yes, we are fully private-hire licensed and offer transfers from any UK location including central London and all UK airports.
Yes, as we are private hire licensed, we can collect from any UK airport or inbound location. Just ask us for a quote or let us know when booking your tour.
Yes, our private-guided tour vehicles can accommodate for a generous amount of luggage. Please let us know how many pieces of luggage you anticipate bringing with you when booking your tour. If necessary, we can install one of our secure-locking roof boxes to create more storage space.
Yes, please let us know if your child needs a baby car seat or booster seat, which we would be happy to provide and ensure it is fitted correctly into the vehicle before starting your tour.
Yes, although this can be dependent on your group size and our vehicle availability. We have found on many occasions that those with limited mobility have no problems entering and exiting our vehicles and there is plenty of space in the rear compartments to store mobility equipment. Our guides are always happy to provide assistance, too. We ask that we be informed of any large items you wish to bring on-board before your tour date to ensure that we can accommodate for extra baggage if necessary.
All of our vehicles are comfortable and spacious, however the Mercedes V Class is the largest and can accommodate one folding/collapsable wheelchair in the boot, depending on space taken by other luggage. Please check space available at time of booking.
We do not provide ramps however your driver/guide would be happy to provide some assistance for you in entering and exiting the vehicle. Please note however that our staff do not receive disability awareness/equality training.
We make it our priority to meet customers’ individual needs through personal attention. We aim to provide the same high quality levels of service for everybody.
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.
Basic mobility is required to leave the vehicle and enter places visited, including walking up/down stairs in some places (although this is not a requirement). 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.
CJP COTSWOLD TOURS BOOKING CONDITIONS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CJP Cotswold Tours (also referred to in these booking conditions as “we”, “us” and “our”) accepts you (also referred to in these booking conditions as “the Client”) booking under the following terms and conditions.
BOOKING
When confirming a tour with CJP Cotswold Tours you (and any other person(s) including children accompanying them on the tour) agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions. No agent, servant, representative or client of CJP Cotswold Tours has the right to make any oral promises, claims or offers or to alter or vary or waive any of these terms and conditions.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
We spend many hours planning and finalising itineraries, therefore deposit payments not only secure your chosen tour dates but also cover our administration costs. A payment of 25% (or £150.00 per day – whichever is greater) – unless stated otherwise – of the agreed total fee is required to be paid to CJP Cotswold Tours in order to secure your booking. We will provide payment instructions for you to make a secure payment. The balance of the total fee is payable in full, at least two-weeks before your tour start date if payment is by card. Cash may also be chosen as an alternative method of payment for the remaining balance, where by the monies owed will be payable to your driver guide, at the start of the tour prior to departure from your tour start location. Once full payment is received, a confirmation will be issued to the Client. If a booking is made 28 days or less before the departure date, then the full fee shall be immediately payable.
If the full balance of the total fee is not paid by the due date, CJP Cotswold Tours reserves the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit.
REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS
You have the right to a refund of any monies paid to CJP Cotswold Tours, minus any deposit received and additional costs and fees incurred by CJP Cotswold Tours from third-party bookings (please see below; ‘Bookings and Itinerary Changes’), subject to us receiving notification within seven days of receipt of your deposit payment.
All notifications of cancellation must be advised in writing to chrispeake@cotswold-tours.com by the lead contact or their travel agent. Cancellations are effective on the day they are received by CJP Cotswold Tours. Receipt of cancellation will be confirmed in writing. If you do not receive a response, please contact our office on +44 (0) 1386 833 365 immediately in order to prevent an increase in charges.
We try to be as fair as possible should a cancellation need to be made. Since we incur costs in cancelling your booking and travel arrangements, the following scale of charges will be payable, dependent upon the number of days prior to departure left when we receive your notice of cancellation.
- Up to 3 months before tour start date – Loss of deposit. No further charges.
- Up to 2 months before tour start date – 25% of the total will be charged
- Up to 1 month before tour start date – 50% of the total will be charged
- Up to 1 week before the tour start date – 75% of the total will be charged
In the event of a tour being cancelled by CJP Cotswold Tours for any reason and where an alternative date can not be offered, the client may choose a full refund of all monies paid including the deposit, or alternatively choose to be booked on any other tour that CJP Cotswold Tours may offer. No further liability by CJP Cotswold Tours to the client with regard to the cancellation will arise. In the event of a passenger selecting an alternative tour offered by CJP Cotswold Tours which is lower in price than the original tour, then the client will be entitled to the difference or alternatively, if the tour is more expensive, then the client will be liable for the additional cost.
In the event of us having to cancel a tour we will use the lead contact details taken at the point of booking, or from our existing email communications with you, and take no responsibility if these are inaccurate.
SUSTENANCE, ENTRY FEES AND OTHER INCURRED COSTS
Entry fees to any attractions you may wish to visit during your tour, lunch and refreshments are not included in your tour booking. CJP Cotswold Tours are happy to help with external bookings such as hotel recommendations, dinner reservations, tour activities and other enhancements on behalf of the Client on request. Payments for any fee due as a result of CJP Cotswold Tours acting on behalf of the Client will be agreed prior to placing any such booking.
VEHICLE HIRE
For parties of 8 – 16 passengers, we are are able to offer a minibus to accommodate for your group, as we also hold an operators license. Additional fees will apply for the use of a larger vehicle.
BOOKING AND ITINERARY CHANGES
In case of any change instructed or requested by the Client, to any previously agreed and approved tour program or itinerary, before or during the service being provided, the client will be liable to pay any charges incurred for cancellations both internally and through third parties such as but by no means restricted to; entry ticket charges, travel costs such as toll roads or congestion charges, or additional mileage incurred through change of route. CJP Cotswold Tours has the right to refuse any changes that would affect the tour program substantially or to its detriment.
PASSENGER RESPONSIBILITY
It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that they are in possession of valid travel documents, including passports, visas, health certificates etc. CJP Cotswold Tours cannot accept any liability for incorrect documentation. In the event of any client being unable to embark upon, or complete a tour for default of any of these pre-requisites, CJP Cotswold Tours will bear no liability for the client, or for his return to the embarkation or disembarkation point or for any other costs or expenses.
Clients are advised to obtain personal travel insurance, and are urged to ensure that it is adequate for the full duration of the arrangements, particularly in respect to flight, accommodation and activity cancellations, accident, medical and repatriation expenses. If the client has dependents, insurance to cover these responsibilities is also recommended.
Neither CJP Cotswold Tours, nor its agents can be held liable for any injury, damage to property or loss of life caused. You agree to indemnify CJP Cotswold Tours in respect of any accident, personal injury, loss of life, or damage to property caused by the client during the course of the trip.
The Client agrees to comply with the laws and regulations of the country visited on the trip and comply with all reasonable instruction, issued by CJP Cotswold Tours and/or their assigned driver guide, relating to safety and organisation of the trip.
Passengers must allow plenty of time to return in time to connect with any other form of transport. We do not accept responsibility for any delays caused by circumstances beyond our control and will not be liable for onward transport costs due to late return.
Passengers must also look after their personal belongings at all times whilst at the pick up point, at the stops and in the vehicle.
Stops are made throughout the tour for sightseeing and refreshments. We ask that you return to the vehicle promptly within the time allowed for those stops. If your return is overdue, we can not guarantee that there will be time to visit each location detailed in your itinerary, or reach any pre-booked entry to venues or tourist attractions otherwise, or by any allocated time. If your driver guide is still waiting 90 minutes after the time requested that you and any additional party members return to the vehicle, and no contact to either your driver guide or the CJP Cotswold Tours office is made to notify us as to your whereabouts, your vehicle may have to leave without you and neither we nor your assigned driver guide shall be liable for the consequence.
LUGGAGE
Passengers wishing to bring luggage on board during your tour should notify us in advance. We will endeavor to accommodate as much luggage as possible without detriment to your travel experience or risk to health and safety for all passengers and their driver guide, including restriction of vision and access to entrances, exits and escape routes. We may be able to fit a roof box to your allocated vehicle on request, subject to availability and additional charges, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all luggage you bring with you. Any items and personal belongings you choose to bring with you during your tour are carried at the passenger’s own risk.
PHOTOGRAPH AND VIDEO USAGE
CJP Cotswold Tours reserve the right to publish any photographs or videos taken by our employees of any passenger on tour with us, or any media sent to us by any tour attendee pre, during or post-tour for publication, exhibition, or other promotional purposes. Should any passenger wish for media where they are present not to be used for such purposes, notice must either be provided beforehand or at the time of the photograph being taken. We ask that if you do not wish to be in photographs published, please avoid standing in view of the camera so that the image can be usable for the aforementioned purposes. The Client indemnifies CJP Cotswold Tours for any consequence which may arise from any media we choose to publish, and are happy to remove any online media or comments published, where possible and within reason, if requested in writing via email to charli@cotswold-tours.com.
COMPLAINTS
Should you have a complaint during your tour, we ask that you raise the issue with your driver guide and they will do their best to rectify your problem. If they cannot resolve your complaint at the time, please send your complaint in writing either by email to chrispeake@cotswold-tours.com or to CJP Cotswold Tours, 49 Meon Road, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6TB. Recorded delivery for postal methods of communication is strongly recommended.
FORCE MAJEURE
CJP Cotswold Tours does not accept any liability for any loss, inconvenience or damage caused by war, threat of war, riot or civil commotion, terrorist or criminal activity, industrial disputes, natural disasters, fires, sickness, weather conditions, road or traffic conditions, temporary technical, mechanical or electrical breakdown within booked accommodation, explosion of, or radioactive contamination from, any nuclear facility or other events beyond the control of CJP Cotswold Tours.
Travel Partners
We are proud to work with a range of travel partners and agents across the UK and overseas. On a number of occasions this has also included providing location visits and hotel inspection tours for company directors and CEOs looking to review the region for their holiday packages.
For travel agents and specialists looking to co-ordinate client holiday and tour packages please do not hesitate to contact us to see how we can help you in your endeavours and match your clients to their perfect tour guide.
If you would like to discuss working with us, please get in touch with Chris Peake – chris@cotswold-tours.com
Travel Trade
We’ve recently worked with Visit Cheltenham and Cotswolds Tourism Partnership to provide packages for their new campaigns for Cheltenham’s ‘The Festival Town’ re-brand as well as the new ‘Uncover The Cotswolds’ initiative. For more information, visit their websites:
https://www.cotswolds.com/trade/traveltrade
https://www.visitcheltenham.com/
Press, PR & Media
We’re proud to have worked closely with and provided our tour services for a range of publications, organisation and media outlets across the UK and internationally to promote the Cotswold region, including work with VisitBritain and the official Cotswolds Tourism.
If you would like to make an enquiry about a potential Press, PR or Media opportunity, please send an email to Charli Peake – charli@cotswold-tours.com.
Here’s a few examples:
BBC Escape to the Country
Chris presented on the popular TV programme sharing information about the region whilst providing an on-camera tour to prospective home buyers in a vintage Morgan sports car, providing an insight into Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills. The episode aired 14th May 2015 [link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vmsc4]
To Europe and Beyond
Press and blogger visits to the Cotswolds for VisitBritain in collaboration with Cotswolds Tourism – in April 2017, we provided a tour to Marie-Eve Vallieres of To Europe and Beyond. See a post she tagged us in on Facebook HERE.
Read about Marie-Eve’s trip to the Cotswolds in her blog post ’11 Beautiful Cotswold Villages You Need to See’ HERE.
Erie Nick
Erie Nick, a Texas-raised but London based blogger visited the Cotswolds in January 2018 for a mid-Winter break and a chance to explore the Cotswolds in the snow.
Read about Erie Nick’s trip to the Cotswolds in her blog post ‘The Northern Cotswolds Guide’ HERE.
LuxLife Travel & Tourism Awards 2020
We’re delighted to have been voted best Sightseeing Tour Operator for the Cotswolds in the 2020 LuxLife Travel and Tourism Awards. More information can be found on their website. Click HERE to see our winner’s page.
CJP COTSWOLD TOURS PRIVACY POLICY
Effective date: 25th May, 2018
Our Promise
When it comes to providing our tours and private hire services, our clients are at the heart of our business. Everything we do and the service we provide is based on you and your party, as individual human beings. That is, after all, how we would like to be treated. We’re a family-run business and as such, would never do anything we wouldn’t consider acceptable for ourselves, which includes keeping your data and any information you choose to share with us as safe as possible, handling it with respect and keeping you in control.
Summary
The following Privacy Policy explains what CJP Cotswold Tours collects about you and how it will be used.
CJP Cotswold Tours is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with their obligations under data protection legislation and ensure that any personal data shared with us or the personal data that we get from other organisations will be kept safe and will not be used for any purposes that you have not agreed to.
With effect from 25th May 2018, the main data protection law is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as supplemented by the Data Protection Act 2018 and related laws.
Where and How We Collect Your Information
Most of the data we hold would have been provided by yourself.
We collect your information in the following ways:
- Information you provide when you make an enquiry from our website, via email or when making a telephone call to us.
- When you engage with us through a social media channel or review site, such as Facebook, Instagram or TripAdvisor.
- When you make a booking direct through us via email or telephone, we will ask for you to send us your personal information in order to secure, process and service your bookings.
- When you make a booking through an agent, hotel or reseller, we will receive your personal information in order to secure, process and service your booking.
- Information obtained from during a service being provided, such as information we can use to enhance your experience or to improve our service.
- When you use our website, we use Google Analytics to collect information such as the browser and device you’re using, the pages you visit on our website and your location (more information available under ‘Data Analysis’).
This information may include but is not limited to:
- Your first and last name
- Your email address
- Your postal and/or billing address
- Your telephone number
- Your nationality
- Your health information
- Your dietary information/requirements
- Details of other passengers travelling with you
- Collection and drop-off location details
- Payment information
- Records of verbal or email conversations/meetings, including personal preferences and interests
- Details of previous/historic bookings
- Any other information you choose to share or as required
How We Use Your Information and Why
1. For the performance of our contract with you
We only use your data for the purpose of:
- Responding to enquiries and discussing potential bookings
- Completing your transaction
- Tailoring your itinerary/booking
- Servicing your booking
- To provide you with customer support
- Meeting you/your parties health, dietary or accessibility requirements, where specifically required and explicit consent is provided
2. For our legitimate business interests
- To manage our everyday business needs
- To send you customer service emails including booking confirmations and event reminders
- To conduct market research and analysis which helps improve and customise our products and services
- For marketing or PR purposes, provided you have given your consent, to promote CJP Cotswold Tours and inform followers/potential clients of what we’ve been up to and give them an idea of what they can expect to experience on a tour with us (for example, if you have provided a review or there is a photo which has been taken during a tour by our guide, or you have emailed us a photo taken by yourself, we may share this on Facebook or Instagram, providing information about the photo and using first names only)
- To process a job application
- In accordance with our legal obligations
Who We Share Your Data With
We will only ever share your information with third parties in the ways that are described in this privacy policy and provided that they do not make independent use of the information.
- Employees
- Sub-contracted driver/guides
- Third parties who provide goods and services purchased as a part of your booking (e.g. tickets to events, entrance to attractions, restaurant table reservations, hotel room reservations) so that they can process and fulfil your orders
- Other sub-contractors (including data analytics and payment service providers)
- For financial accounting and taxation purposes with our auditors, regulators or other government bodies such as HMRC
- To third parties, should there be the need to enforce or apply our contractual terms, to investigate potential breaches, to protect the rights and freedoms, property or safety of our business or those of our customers and other individuals
- Any successor to all or part of our business
Data Analysis
We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyse the use of our Service.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information about how the website is used. We use Google analytics cookies to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports which help us to improve our website
These cookies collect information in an anonymous form; we are not in any way able to identify individual users from these cookies. If you do not wish to allow this use of cookies, you can change the settings on your browser to disable them.
More information about cookies can be found at http://www.allaboutcookies.org/.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. We do not use it to collect any personal information. This provides us with information about how our website is used, such as which pages are visited the most, how long users spend on those pages, whether most of our website users are on a mobile device or a desktop computer, and where our website users are coming from in the World.
We only use this data to help us to make improvements to our website and your online experience.
For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Your Choices and Rights
You have the following rights over the way we process personal data relating to you:
- You can ask us not to use your personal data for direct marketing
- You can ask us not to process your personal data where it is processed on the basis of legitimate interests, if there are no compelling reasons for that processing
- You can request a copy from us of the personal information held about you
- You can ask us to correct, amend or update information you have given us
- You can ask that we stop any consent-based processing of your personal data after you withdraw that consent
- You can ask, in certain circumstances, to delete the personal data we hold about you (subject to our Statutory obligations).
- You can ask for the processing of information to be restricted
- You can ask for data to be made available to others for your own reasons
To make a request in relation to any of the aforementioned rights, please email us at info@cotswold-tours.com.
Image Rights
If you provide consent to having your photograph taken, as outlined in ‘How We Use Your Information and Why’, we may use the image for marketing or PR purposes. Alongside the image, we will hold your name and if applicable, age, on file for future use. We will always ask for consent to photograph or video children.
For more information, please view our ‘Photograph and Video Usage’ statement under our Booking Terms and Conditions here: http://www.cotswold-tours.com/about-us/#booking-terms-and-conditions
Children
The products and services offered by CJP Cotswold Tours are not directed at children under 18 years old. We do not knowingly use the website to solicit data from or market to children under the age of 18. The use of any of our services is only allowed with the valid consent of a parent or a guardian. If we receive information from a child under 18 years old, we reserve the right to delete it.
If a parent or guardian becomes aware that his or her child has provided us with information or may be receiving communications from us without consent of a parent or guardian, we ask that this be brought to our immediate attention. We will make it our priority to address this situation and delete information relating to a child as soon as practicable. In such an event, please contact us at info@cotswold-tours.com.
Other Website Links
Our website contains links to other websites which we have included in the hope you might find them useful. These websites operate fully independently from us, and we cannot accept any responsibility or liability for the privacy practices of such third parties nor the availability of these external sites or resources. Should you use any of these websites, such use is at your own risk and we would recommend that you review their respective privacy policies.
Content
Our CMS (content management system) is provided by WordPress. We also use the following services to help present the content on www.cotswold-tours.com:
– Instagram
– Facebook
Read WordPress’s privacy policy.
Read Facebook’s privacy policy.
Read Instagram’s privacy policy.
Security
Website
Our website uses https, which means that anything sent between your device and our servers will be encrypted. Our SSL certificate tells you that pages you visit on our website are provided by us. Our website is hosted on secure servers operated by TSO Host.
Data Storage
In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure to your data, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect (such as your personal data and booking information) and physical assets (such as photographs taken of you and members of your party during a tour).
Payments
We use third-party services for secure payment processing (e.g. payment processors).
We will not store or collect your payment card details. That information is provided directly to our third-party payment processors whose use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy. These payment processors adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of payment information.
The online payment processer we work with is WorldPay.
The WorldPay Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://www.worldpay.com/uk/privacy-policy
Retention
We will only keep your personal data as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for. This period may be set by our need to satisfy any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Once the purpose for which information has been collected has been fulfilled, we will permanently delete your personal information.
Where we obtain your personal data in relation to the use or purchase of our services or products, including VAT or invoicing information, we are obligated by law to keep this for a minimum of 6 years.
Data Protection Authority
CJP Cotswold Tours is the data controller for www.cotswold-tours.com and is registered on the Information Commissioner’s Office’s Register of Data Controllers.
You may direct questions or complaints in respect of how we handle your Personal Data to the Information Commissioner’s Office; www.ico.org.uk
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Changes to this Privacy Policy
CJP Cotswold Tours reserves the right to amend this Privacy Policy from time to time without notice. Any such change will take effect once the revised policy is available on the Site.
Contact Us
We’ve done our best to make our explanations short and easy to understand. If however, you’d like further information, or have any questions, concerns or complaints about our Privacy Policy, our practices or our Services, you may contact our Data Protection Lead on dataprotection@cotswold-tours.com.
In the alternative, you may contact us by either of the following means:
- By Mail: CJP Cotswold Tours, 49 Meon Road, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, GL55 6TB
- By Phone: 01386 833 365
We will respond to all requests, enquiries or concerns within thirty (30) days.
Cotswold Tour Guide/Driver (Contracted/Part-time)
Job Summary:
We are looking for reliable, enthusiastic, confident, fun and friendly individuals who would like to work with a well established private tour operator based in the North Cotswolds.
We are seeking a tour driver/guide to work for us on a contracted/part-time basis. Successful applicants must be committed and available to service tour bookings throughout the whole of the Spring to Autumn season (March-October).
Job description:
The role would be to provide private guided tours of the Cotswold regions (and other areas of the UK when required), for groups/bookings of up to 7 people. You will be expected to provide an engaging commentary throughout the tour, with details such as the architecture and historical facts of the various locations visited, whilst encouraging conversation with your passengers. You will be dedicated to providing an outstanding and memorable experience for our clients, where no task is too much trouble.
Essential qualities:
• Previous experience with driving, providing tours or having worked in the travel/tourism industry
• Exemplary driving skills and road awareness
• Excellent knowledge of the Cotswold towns and villages, as well as its geographical location, the Cotswold landscape and various landmarks throughout the region
• A good memory for historical facts, figures, names and events
• Ability to use both knowledge and humour to present information in an engaging way
• Willing attitude and eager to continually develop your knowledge of the Cotswolds
• Confident and outgoing; a natural leader
• Excellent communication skills and a clear, well-spoken voice
• Outstanding customer service skills and professional and punctual at all times
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• High standards of personal presentation
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
Advantageous:
• Experience working as a professional chauffeur or a private driver/guide
• In-depth knowledge of other regions of England and Wales
• Keen interest in arts and crafts, English history and other related subjects, such as architecture and folklore
• Ability to identify flora and fauna
• Institute of Advanced Motorists certification
Job requirements:
• Good flexibility (occasional early-morning starts, airport transfers for tour customers and nights away may be requested in order to accommodate for bookings in and outside of the Cotswolds)
• Must live locally to Chipping Campden or within the North Cotswolds
• Must be available throughout March-October (availability during winter months may also be required)
• Clean and full UK driving license
PLEASE NOTE:
Successful applicants must obtain a Private Hire Driving License at their own expense, issued by The Cotswold District Council (further details about the application process and any associated costs can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/apply-or-renew-business-licences-and-permits/taxi-and-private-hire-licensing/driver-licences/)
If you feel that you are just the person we’re looking for and would like to be considered, then please forward your CV and a cover letter to charli@cotswold-tours.com stating why you believe you’re suited to the position.
Applications without a CV and cover letter will not be considered.
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