Quintessential Cotswolds 2022

This morning, arrive in England and make your way to the Regency city of Bath using your complimentary rail tickets. The direct journey from London takes just 1hr 30mins approx. Upon arrival in Bath, you can check in to your hotel and the afternoon is free to explore the city at your own pace. Experience Bath’s magnificent Georgian architecture at the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent which featured in the Netflix hit ”Bridgerton”. Using your included tickets, visit the magnificent Roman Baths which date back to Roman times. By evening, meet with your tour leader and the rest of the group to dine together at a local restaurant.

Overnight – The Bird Hotel (or similar), Bath (DBB).

Today we enjoy an excursion from Bath to take in the Southern Cotswolds. First stop will be the honey-coloured village of Castle Combe, widely regarded as the prettiest village in England. Then we’ll head for Avebury to see the intriguing standing stones – lesser known than Stonehenge but equally enigmatic, here you get to walk freely amongst the stones themselves. Final stop will be the historic town of Lacock – seemingly frozen in time this charming village and Lacock Abbey have been used in TV and film productions such as ”Pride and Prejudice”, ”Downton Abbey” and ”Harry Potter”. Then it’s back to Bath to explore further at your leisure and to dine independently.

Overnight – The Bird Bath Hotel (or similar), Bath.

Leaving Bath behind, today we dedicate to exploring the heart of the Cotswolds. As we journey North we’ll pass through rolling patchwork fields and a wealth of quintessential Cotswold villages with eccentric names such as Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. Each village is unique but characterised by honey-coloured buildings, thatch cottages, cobbled market squares and historic parish churches; we’ll pause in various spots of particular beauty or interest to soak up the atmosphere. By afternoon we’ll make our way to our base for the next two nights in the heart of a Cotswold market town.

Overnight – Noel Arms Inn (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds (BB).

Our journey this morning takes us to the nearby bustling medieval town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of William Shakespeare. We’ll learn about the life and times of the great bard at Shakespeare’s Birthplace before taking time to stroll around this pretty town nestling on the banks of the River Avon. By afternoon we’ll immerse ourselves in rural life with a visit to a working Cotswold farm; here we’ll get to meet the farmer, see some of the animals and even see his sheepdogs at work; a truly unique experience. Later we return to our base in the heart of the Cotswolds where we’ll dine together.

Overnight – Noel Arms Inn (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds (DB).

On our final day we enjoy a relaxing start. After breakfast we’ll head East and visit the elegant country manor at Blenheim Palace, former childhood home of Winston Churchill where we’ll gain an insight in to his life and achievements. Our final stop will be in the beautiful medieval university city of Oxford where we’ll enjoy a brief orientation before free time to explore – perhaps take a “punt” on the river, climb Fairfax Tower for views of the town’s renowned “dreaming spires” or wander the historic college quads of one of the world’s most famous educational institutions. After a perfect end to our Cotswolds tour we’ll return to London where our journey ends.