Heart of England 2023

Arrive in London this morning and make your way in to the heart of the English Capital. After checking in to your hotel, your afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure either relaxing after your arrival journey or perhaps getting out to explore the city. London is magnificent metropolis which combines a vibrant modern culture with a rich history and heritage. You may choose to visit a wealth of world renowned sights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and the London Eye on the banks of the River Thames. By evening, return to the tour hotel where we'll gather as a group with your tour leader and get to know one another over a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Wellington by Blue Orchid (or similar), London

Meals: Dinner included.

Departing London, relax as we travel through the beautiful English countryside to the most famous University City in the world, Oxford. Picture the poets, professors, politicians, scientists and sporting heroes that have strolled Oxford’s streets as we begin our walking tour strolling among the college quads, golden-stone buildings and “dreaming spires” of this lazy university town. We then swap the city for the quintessential English countryside as we traverse the gentle, patchwork hills of the Cotswolds; we’ll pass through landscapes peppered with centuries-old villages, thatch cottages and rambling manors. We end our day in Shakespeare's town - Stratford-upon-Avon, our base for the next two nights where delicious dinner awaits.

Overnight: Swan’s Nest Hotel (or similar), Stratford-upon-Avon

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today's itinerary provides a feast for literary enthusiasts and history buffs as we visit Shakespeare country and the Cotswolds region. Our first stop is Stratford-upon Avon a charming medieval market town straddling the banks of the river Avon. We’ll visit Shakespeare’s childhood home and spot buildings associated with his life, many Tudor timberwork buildings typical of the historic town. Leaving Stratford, we’ll pass the charming thatched farmhouse and blooming gardens of the playwright’s bride Anne Hathaway before following lanes and patchwork hills as we make our way back in to the Cotswolds; we’ll have the opportunity to visit one or more of these charming and honey-coloured villages before we return to our base for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Swan’s Nest Hotel (or similar), Stratford-upon-Avon

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today we pass south to the picture-perfect village of Lacock, retaining its historic character the town has been used in countless period television and movie productions including "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Other Boleyn Girl". We step inside the glorious Lacock Abbey whose elegant and peaceful cloisters you may recognise as parts of Hogwarts in the "Harry Potter" movies. Then it’s time to indulge our taste buds with a traditional Afternoon High Tea in an atmospheric tea shop set in a Cotswold village amidst the Wiltshire Hills. We then continue to tonight’s accommodation in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, a vibrant regency township with a great choice of bars and restaurants. The evening is yours to enjoy the city as you wish.

Overnight: The Abbey Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast included.

Listed as a World Heritage Site, Bath is truly one of Europe’s most attractive cities, with the highest concentration of listed buildings anywhere in the British Isles. This morning we'll visit the stunningly restored Roman Baths and discover Georgian history at "No 1 Royal Crescent". The afternoon is yours to explore the city independently; perhaps visit the 15th century Abbey and elegant Pulteney Bridge whilst literary enthusiasts might choose to visit the Jane Austen Centre. Alternatively, you may simply choose to wander the myriad of small independent shops and stylish boutiques typical of the city. Tonight, we will enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Overnight: The Abbey Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

A fitting follow-up to regal Bath, today we drive to the beautiful Longleat Estate, a truly English stately home and gardens, currently the seat of the Marquess of Bath; we’ll discover its classic architecture and opulent interiors. Later, we continue to the village of Avebury to visit the UNESCO World Heritage standing stones at Avebury Stone Circle, an immense circle set within an ancient landscape. Whilst nearby Stonehenge attracts tourists from all around the world and security prevents you from getting anywhere near the stones, at Avebury visitors can walk freely amongst the stones in relative peace and quiet – a truly enchanting experience. Later today we take a leisurely drive back to the English capital arriving in London by approximately 5.30pm.

Meals: Breakfast included.