How to reach the northern Cotswold Way trailhead at Chipping Campden - trains, buses, taxis, driving, and parking near the Market Hall start on the High Street.
Chipping Campden is the northern terminus of the Cotswold Way. The official start is marked by a stone disc set in the pavement near the Market Hall on the High Street (GL55 6AJ). Most walkers spend the night before in town, set off after breakfast, and climb toward Dover's Hill on Stage 1.
Chipping Campden does not have its own railway station. The nearest mainline stop is Moreton-in-Marsh, about 4 miles (6 km) away on the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester. Services also call at Honeybourne, Charlbury, and Kingham if those suit your journey better. From Moreton-in-Marsh, book a local taxi or check current bus timetables - routes and operators change, so confirm on Traveline before you travel.
London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh typically takes around two hours with a change at Oxford or a direct service depending on the timetable. Stratford-upon-Avon, about 12 miles north-east, has broader connections if you are coming from Birmingham or the Midlands - again, plan the last leg by taxi or bus.
National Express and other coach operators serve towns in the wider area, including Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham. Local bus services link surrounding villages and market towns to Chipping Campden, but timetables are limited on evenings and Sundays. If you rely on public transport for the final hop, build in contingency time and have a taxi number ready.
Chipping Campden sits on the B4081, north-west of Stow-on-the-Wold. The High Street is narrow; long-stay parking for walkers is often directed to the Back Ends area at the north end of town rather than beside the Market Hall itself. If you are finishing a south-to-north walk and collecting a car, allow time to walk from the trailhead to where you left your vehicle.
Birmingham, Bristol, and London Heathrow are the usual entry points for overseas visitors. Each involves a train or coach connection to the Cotswolds - typically via Birmingham, Oxford, or London Paddington - then a taxi or local bus for the last few miles. Luggage transfer companies can sometimes meet you at a station if you pre-arrange it.
Walking the route in the opposite direction? See Getting to Bath for the southern terminus.
