SAMPLE - Luxury England Holiday

Day 1 - Welcome to London

On arrival at Heathrow, meet the VIP team and be whisked seamlessly through arrivals to the awaiting transfer. From here, head into the city and check into your hotel, ready to meet up with friends and spend a relaxing couple of days in the city.

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Free Day London

Spend time with your friends in London today before setting off on your Cotswold adventure tomorrow. You may like to visit one of the city’s excellent museums, thread your way through a vintage market, or take a stroll through the deep green woodlands of Hampstead Heath. With many delicious cafes and restaurants around every corner, there are plenty of places to pause amidst the hustle and bustle for a cool drink and a bite to eat.

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Avebury Standing Stones & Bath

A private transfer will collect you from your hotel this morning so you may begin your adventure into the outstanding natural beauty of the Cotswolds. Visit the fascinating site of Avebury – a collection of ancient stone circles and neolithic burial sites. Here, meet your host and guide and set off to explore this incredible landscape. Afterwards, transfer to the architecturally stunning city of Bath and settle into your elegant hotel.

Overnight: Bath | The Royal Crescent
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Cruising the Canal & Tour of the Royal Crescent

The ancient city of Bath is well known for its Roman Baths and beautiful Georgian architecture. Today, enjoy exploring the city by canal boat, cruising down the city’s historic waterways and steering through locks and around gentle bends as the canal twists and turns through the ever-changing countryside. Stop for a pub lunch or enjoy a delicious picnic on board. In the late afternoon, meet your guide and enjoy a private out-of-hours tour of No 1 Royal Crescent, discovering what life was like for the fashionable Bathonians of the 18th century.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Bath | The Royal Crescent
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Exploring Bath

Accompanied by your knowledgeable guide, enjoy another day of exploring Bath. Enjoy a private tour of the Abbey Clock Tower, climbing the 212 steps to the top and enjoying a glass of something cold and bubbly as you admire the fantastic views. Visit the Roman Baths and enjoy an afternoon of exploring the secret nooks and crannies of the city only known by locals. Pop into some of the wonderful book and antique shops before relaxing back at your hotel this evening.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Bath | The Royal Crescent
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Morning Walk & Arrive in Bristol

This morning, set out to the southern Cotswolds for a lovely hike. Enjoy the crunch of the earth beneath your boots and the bright, melodic sound of birdsong as you ribbon your way through the peaceful countryside. Afterwards,  transfer to Bristol and enjoy lunch with views of the impressive Clifton Suspension Bridge. Explore some of the city’s quirky shops before sitting down to dinner at a delicious restaurant and then returning to Bath.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Drive time from Bath to Bristol is approximately 45 minutes. 

Overnight: Bath | The Royal Crescent
Room Type: x2 Deluxe Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Tetbury, Chedworth Roman Villa & Broadway

Depart Bath behind this morning and enjoy a scenic drive through the heart of the Cotswolds. En route to your accommodation in the pretty town of Broadway, stop in the charming village of Tetbury and explore its myriad of amazing antique shops. Afterwards, head to the ruins of Chedworth Roman Villa, rediscovered by the Victorians over 150 years ago. Bring your day to a close by exploring Sudeley Castle and meeting an expert guide for a tour of the family apartments, castle and gardens. Settle into your lovely hotel this evening, which will be your base for the next four nights.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Drive time from Bath to Broadway is approximately 1hr 45 minutes. 

Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Hiking in the Ancient Malvern Hills

Head out for a walk up Malvern Hills today, which are formed by some of the most ancient rocks in all of England. These hills are well known for their pure spring water (which was the only water her late Majesty the Queen used to drink) as well as the breathtaking views from the ridgeline. After your hike, enjoy lunch in Great Malvern before visiting the unconventional home of Charles Wade – the architect famous for building a model Cornish fishing village that attracted visits from both Queen Mary and Virginia Woolf.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Exploring Stratford-upon-Avon

Spend the day exploring the home of William Shakespeare as you head north to the pretty town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy a private tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre with an expert guide. This pretty village is also home to many small, independent shops, which are perfect for seeking out hidden treasures. Later this afternoon, enjoy a decadent afternoon tea before heading onto the water to enjoy a riverboat cruise.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Drive time from Broadway to Stratford is approximately 30 minutes. 

Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Broadway Tower and Cricket

Enjoy a hike up to Broadway Tower this morning for its famous view of all five counties of the Cotswolds. After your walk, head to the hallowed grounds of Edgbaston to experience a true English spectacle – a cricket match. This is sure to be a fantastic day out as we listen for the thud of leather against willow and the roar of the Barmy Army as England storms to victory (we hope!).

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Drive time from Broadway to Edgbaston is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes

Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: x2 Courtyard Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Blenheim Palace & Return to London

Depart the tranquillity of the Cotswolds today and return to London. Before arriving back in the buzzing metropolis, stop to visit Blenheim Palace. Built between 1705 and 1722, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is notable as the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. With ornate interiors – where every portrait, tapestry and furnishing has a story – enjoy a private tour before a stroll around the meticulously curated and expansive grounds. Your guide will drop you at your London hotel in the late afternoon, giving you some time to relax before dinner.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.
Drive time from Broadway to Blenheim Palace is approximately 45 minutes. 

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Walking Tour of the Capital

Meet your Blue Badge Guide in the foyer of your hotel today and head out for a fantastic walking tour of London. Where every corner, cobblestone and cloister is imbued with history, discover the world-famous and the unexpected. Explore Eltham Palace and the Greenwich Royal Observatory, learning more about the stories of the city. Enjoy getting off the beaten track without having to worry about directions – discovering hidden gems and secret spots.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 13 - Soho Markets

Today, head to Walthamstow, northeast London, where very few tourists visit. The name comes from ‘Wilcumstow’, which means the place where people are welcome. A vibrant and multicultural neighbourhood, here you can find an incredible market and food from around the world. Joined by your guide, who has lived here for 25 years, enjoy a real insider tour. Walthamstow’s urban landscape is punctuated with great street art and inspirational community gardening which has won many gold medals in Royal Horticultural Society competitions. Head back into central London this afternoon and relax.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 14 - The East End and Kings Cross

After breakfast, head east into London’s financial centre (The Wall Street of London). Here, the ruins of the historic Roman London are now surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers. The contrast between the old and the new is fascinating, with the street-scapes changing every time you turn a corner. After exploring, visit the East End, a dramatic change from the glamour of the corporate centre. Your guide will point out the homes and studios of well-known artists and actors as you meander down the old streets of Spitalfields. Bring your day out to a close by visiting Kings Cross Station and learning about its impressive transformation. This evening, enjoy a delicious dinner.

Your guide will arrange a meeting time with you the night before.

Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: x2 Superior Rooms
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 15 - Depart London

A private transfer will collect you from your hotel and take you back to Heathrow in time for your flight home, taking with you happy memories of a wonderful vacation in the heart of England.

Meals Included: Breakfast