MILE5 private day tours from London put you in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes with your own driver for the day, so you see Windsor, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge or the Cotswolds at your own pace rather than a coach company’s. You choose the stops and how long to spend at each; the chauffeur handles the motorway, the parking and the timings. A day out is quoted as a whole through the contact form.
Request a quote for a day outJust need a one-way ride to Windsor? Fixed price here
Private driver or coach tour? What the difference actually is
The coach tours from Victoria are good value and they are also the reason so many visitors come home from Stonehenge having spent 45 minutes there. A coach itinerary is built around the coach: fixed departure, fixed stops, a set lunch, and a timetable that cannot bend for a queue, a downpour or a child who has fallen asleep. The travel forums are full of the same advice, that three of Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge in one day is “too much” and you will be “rushed” whichever operator you choose.
A private chauffeur changes the arithmetic. You leave when you are ready, not at 8am from a coach park. You can do two places properly rather than three badly. If Bath is lovely you stay an extra hour; if it rains at Stonehenge you go, and the chauffeur is at the visitor centre door when you come out. Nobody has to drive on the left, work out the Cotswolds lanes, find parking in Oxford or worry about the London congestion charge on the way back in. Our guide to the day trips from London that work best by car explains where a car changes the day most. For a family of four or a group of friends, one car carries everyone and the day is entirely yours.
Day trips from London we drive most often
Windsor and Eton
Windsor Castle, the Long Walk, lunch in Eton. Pairs well with Hampton Court or a Thames-side pub on the way back. The easiest half day from London, and a natural stop between Heathrow and Windsor for visitors just landed.
Oxford
Colleges, the Bodleian, Christ Church, the covered market. The chauffeur drops you in the centre where coaches cannot go, and can add Bicester Village or Blenheim Palace to the same day.
Stonehenge and Salisbury
All-day tickets at Stonehenge, then Salisbury Cathedral and the Magna Carta, or on to Bath. Leaving London by 8am gives a full day with no rush.
Bath
The Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, the Abbey and a long lunch. A long day from London; many guests combine it with Stonehenge on the way out. See Heathrow to Bath for the one-way fixed price.
The Cotswolds
Burford, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow. This is where a private car earns its keep: narrow lanes, scattered villages, and no useful public transport between them. See the Cotswolds route page.
Cambridge
King’s College Chapel, punting on the Backs, the Fitzwilliam. A comfortable full day, and an easy add-on for guests staying in north or east London. See Heathrow to Cambridge.
We also run days to Brighton and the Seven Sisters, Canterbury and the Kent coast, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle, Highclere Castle when it is open, and Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, and multi-day itineraries with overnight stops for guests who want to see more than the South East. If somewhere is not listed, ask.
How a MILE5 day tour works
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Planning | Tell us the date, where you are staying, where you want to go and how many of you there are. We suggest a realistic order and timings and quote the day as a whole, waiting included. |
| Tickets | Attractions such as Stonehenge and Windsor Castle sell dated tickets. You book those yourself and we plan the driving around your visit, so you are never rushing to fit the day together. |
| On the day | The chauffeur collects you from your hotel or home in the Mercedes you booked. At each stop you are dropped as close to the entrance as the rules allow, and the chauffeur waits nearby. |
| Home | Back to your door at the end, or to a restaurant if you would rather finish the day out. Bags, coats and purchases stay in the car throughout. |
Day tours are booked as as directed hire, so the plan can change during the day without anything being re-booked. A day out can also start at the airport: a common request from visitors is to be met inside arrivals at Heathrow, spend the afternoon in Windsor while the hotel room is made ready, then be dropped in central London.
Which car for a day trip
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Couples and groups of up to three. Comfortable on the motorway, easy in Cotswolds lanes.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
For guests who want the most comfortable seat in the house on a long day to Bath or Stonehenge.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class
Up to seven passengers with room for pushchairs and picnic bags. Families and groups of friends usually pick this one; the raised seats give a better view of the countryside.
All MILE5 cars are Mercedes replaced on a three-year cycle and cleaned between jobs. Chauffeurs are DBS-checked and TfL-licensed, MILE5 holds TfL operator licence 009161, and child seats and boosters can be fitted on request at an extra charge. Our chauffeurs are drivers rather than qualified tour guides; they know the routes and the practicalities and will happily point things out, but if you want a Blue Badge guide walking round Windsor Castle with you, we can drive the two of you there together.
Plan a day out from London
Send the date, your hotel and a wish list of places and we will suggest a realistic day and quote it in full. Hotels and concierges can book on behalf of guests.
Private day tours: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a driver for a day trip from London?
MILE5 quotes each day individually, based on the destinations, the hours and the vehicle, because a half day to Windsor and a twelve-hour day to Bath and Stonehenge are different bookings. Send your wish list through the contact form for a quote for the whole day, waiting included.
Can I do Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath in one day with a private driver?
You can, but we will tell you honestly that it is a long day with short stops. Two of the three done properly makes a better day; Stonehenge and Bath together is the most popular combination, with Windsor as a separate half day.
Is the chauffeur a tour guide?
No. MILE5 chauffeurs are professional drivers who know the routes, the parking and the timings, and will point things out along the way. If you want a qualified guide, book one for the sites you visit and we will drive you both.
Do you buy the attraction tickets?
No. Tickets for places such as Stonehenge and Windsor Castle are best booked by you in your own name, and we plan the day’s driving around your visit.
Can the day start at the airport?
Yes. The chauffeur meets you inside arrivals with a name board, with your flight tracked and 60 minutes of free waiting from landing, and the day continues from there.
Can you do multi-day trips?
Yes. Itineraries with overnight stops, for example London to the Cotswolds, Bath and back over two or three days, are quoted individually. Tell us the shape of the trip and we will plan the driving.
MILE5 is a TfL-licensed chauffeur company operating from Heathrow since 2011. See our other chauffeur services in London, including shopping days and business travel, or get in touch.
