A Big English Heritage Journey – 9 night UK Group Tour

Welcome to London

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport where you driver will meet you and take you to your centrally located hotel.  Your guide will meet you in the hotel in the afternoon and take you on a short orientation tour of the capital; taking in the famous and iconic sights of London.  Enjoy  a three course welcome dinner at the hotel before spending the rest of the evening at your leisure.

In the footsteps of royalty

After enjoying breakfast your driver will pick you up from your hotel and  take you to Windsor Castle. It is  the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and home to Kings and Queens for over a thousand years.  In the afternoon your driver will then take you to Thornbury Castle;  an incredible Tudor Castle one owned by Henry VIII. Thornbury is where he and Anne Boleyn spent their honeymoon and your home for the next two nights.  Enjoy dinner this evening in one of the hotels spectacular dining rooms and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure in this 16th century castle.

Highclere Castle and Tutankhamum

After a traditional breakfast at the hotel your driver will take you to Highclere Castle for your private mansion visit – after your private tour you will be welcome to spend the rest of the day exploring the glorious gardens, grounds and Egyptian Exhibition. The castle is the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon – the 5th Earl  famously discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian Boy King Tutankhamun alongside his friend and colleague Howard Carter in 1922. The basement of the castle now houses a spectacular exhibition detailing the renowned discovery. After returning to your hotel the rest of the evening is at your leisure to explore the local area.

Bath, Romans and Stonehenge

After breakfast, check our of your hotel – your driver will take you to the wonderful city of Bath; steeped in over a thousand years of history it has been a top destination for relaxation and pleasure since the Roman times. Whilst in Bath you will visit the Roman Baths; hot springs that were once believed to be the work of the Gods and attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire.  Come face to face with costumed characters who will tell their stories and bring history to life.

You will then rejoin your coach and travel to the remarkable landscape of Stonehenge where you can follow in the footsteps of our Neolithic Ancestors.  The first Stonehenge monument was built over 5000 years ago and it is unlikely anyone will ever know it’s true purpose (an astronomical observatory, religious site, place of healing or a domain of the dead?) or even how the huge ancient stone structures were constructed using only primitive tools. You will have free time to explore the monument and museum before being transporting to your Oxford Hotel for dinner at the on site restaurant.

Christ Church, Churchill and Cotswolds

After a hearty English breakfast at your hotel – check out of your hotel. Your driver will then take you to the heart of Oxford; home of  Oxford University and Christchurch College  (founded by Henry VIII in the 16th century)  which houses Christopher Wren’s Tom Tower, the colleges most famous feature and an Oxford landmark. You may recognise the colleges grand staircase, cloisters and Oxford Bodleian Library as locations throughout Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.

After spending some free time exploring the magical Oxford you will rejoin the coach and travel to Blenheim Palace for a private tour. The palace is the birthplace of the “greatest Briton of all time” Winston Churchill. Classified as a world heritage site in 1987, the 2,100 acres of beautiful parkland were landscaped by ‘Capability Brown’ who ensured the exquisite palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns, formal gardens and a magnificent lake.

After your visit to the palace your driver will take you on a scenic drive through the beautiful Cotswolds countryside on your journey to your hotel in Stratford upon Avon for your one night stay.  Dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel on site restaurant or in the local area.

Shakespeare and Stratford

After breakfast you will check out of your hotel and meet your driver who will take you to the centre of Stratford upon Avon,  Shakespeare country,  where you will explore the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and raised. Captivating costumed guides will show you around the house he spent his childhood years and tell you tales of its colourful history.

While In Stratford upon Avon you will have  free time to visit some of the other attractions directly related to Shakespeare including the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is said to be buried or the Guild Chapel and School Room where Shakespeare went to school.  There are also museums, libraries and archives in reference to the inspirational playwright and poet in this quaint, beautiful  and historic town.

In the afternoon your driver will collect you and you will travel across the magnificent scenery of East Anglia to Norwich for your one night stay.  The rest of the evening is free to relax and dine in the local area.

Sandringham and Essex

After breakfast and checking out of your hotel your driver will take you to Sandringham House for your morning visit and tour.  Set within an 8,000 hectare estate, Sandringham  has been a private home of the British Royal Family for four generations and is a much loved country retreat for Queen Elizabeth II and her family.

After some time to explore the estate you will leave Sandringham early afternoon and travel south to Essex to visit Audley End House and Gardens where you will get the chance to wander through the impressive Great Hall, magnificent state apartments, intimate dressing rooms, libraries and 18th century gothic-style chapel.

Your driver will then take you into London to your central hotel where you will spend the remaining three nights of the tour.  The rest of the evening is free for you to explore the local area and relax in the hotel.

Kensington and Buckingham Palace

After breakfast your driver will take you to Kensington Palace for your morning visit.  Originally a small suburban villa known as Nottingham House, since 1689 it has been transformed by royalty into a fashionable and fabulous palace for Britain’s young royal families, It is the birthplace of Queen Victoria, where she found out she was now Queen, where she held her first privy council meeting and is currently the official resident of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.   You will get the chance to walk in the footsteps of royalty in Victoria’s re imagined childhood rooms, the magnificent King’s State Apartments and the famous Sunken Gardens.

After spending time exploring the majestic palace your driver will collect your group and take you to Buckingham Palace.  Serving as both the office and London residence of her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household, Buckingham Palace is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. Your driver will then take you back to Paddington where the rest of the evening is yours to spend at your leisure.

Tower of London

After breakfast head to the Tower of London to explore the fascinating history of the 950 year old fortress.  Steeped in gruesome history the Tower has an infamous reputation for torture and turmoil, discover not only its gruesome past but also hear tales of luxury, banquets, daring escapes, jewels and it’s past as a Royal Mint and menagerie of royal beasts. Be sure to take a look at the Crown Jewels, which include some of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world and the Yeoman Wardens – who have resided in the Tower since being given the order from Henry VIII in the 16th century and offer free tours every 30 minutes.  You’ll also see the famous ravens (if who, according to legend, ever leave the tower both the Tower and England will fall.)

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore, take in some sights and perhaps some last minute shopping before a farewell dinner at the hotel.

Return Home

After one last hearty breakfast at the hotel your driver will take you to the airport for your journey home.