Day 1: Following your home taxi collection we travel south-east, arriving at our hotel mid-afternoon for our 4-night stay on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning after a leisurely breakfast we head to Herstmonceux Castle Gardens. Set within the picturesque East Sussex countryside, the stunning 15th century moated castle is the centrepiece of a 300-acre estate that features beautiful themed and formal gardens, including the Elizabethan, Rose, Shakespeare, and Apothecary. Beyond these are woodland trails, lakes, and meadows as well as hidden delights such as The Folly, built in the 1930s in the style of a Georgian house complete with its own walled, cottage-style garden. Sympathetic management of the gardens and grounds has led to a rich abundance of flora and fauna throughout the estate.
In the afternoon we will take a relaxed steam railway journey from Sheffield Park Station to East Grinstead. Here you will enjoy the Sussex countryside through the window of the Bluebell Railway vintage steam train. The Bluebell Railway was one of the first preserved heritage lines in the country, resulting in one of the finest collections of vintage steam locomotives and carriages – many of which were preserved straight out of service from British Railways. During your visit, learn about the history and science of the industrial age, experience the thrill of getting up close to a working steam locomotive and luxuriate in the comfort and style of a bygone era.
Day 3: Today we travel along the coast to the fortified hilltop town of Rye. Rye's ancient medieval streets are clustered around a sandstone hillside, overlooking the meandering River Rother and Romney Marsh. This relaxed, historic and picturesque little East Sussex town is a wonderful place to explore. Hundreds of years ago, Rye was surrounded on all sides by water. It formed part of the medieval Cinque Ports with the town's hilltop vantage point useful for detecting and repelling marauding invaders. Today, you can explore cobbled alleys lined with untouched historic buildings – from medieval relics to beautiful Georgian houses. Ypres Tower, built in 1249 to defend the town, is still open for viewing. Rye has managed to retain most of its charm and heritage – as well as a sense of the strange! Walk along Mermaid Street and you'll come across houses with names like “The House Opposite”, or the “House with Two Front Doors”. You can also see the remnants of Rye's smuggling past throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, with networks of tunnels, secret passages and hidden caves. A long-time favourite with poets, artists and craftspeople, Rye is a unique, stunning and inspirational place.
This afternoon we travel the short distance to Hastings. Two points of interest dominate the character of this bustling East Sussex town – the sea and 1066. Once a medieval Cinque Ports, Hastings has long had a close relationship with the ocean, and although its fishing industry has declined, it still has Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet. As for the Norman Conquests, Hastings is not the actual location of the famous battle in 1066. That exact spot is just a few miles down the road at Battle Abbey. However, its legacy still colours the entire town. The remains of William the Conqueror's first English castle still stand today, though centuries of warfare and erosion have taken their toll. Today the town offers a range of attractions, from Britain's steepest funicular, to the meandering alleyways of the Old Town, it's a great place to explore for a few hours. (attractions today are subject to individual choice and payment)
Day 4: A day at leisure to explore. Eastbourne has a leisurely atmosphere with its elegant seafront terraces, level promenades and immaculate gardens. Enjoy a seafront stroll, make your way into the town to explore or just sit and relax and watch the world go by.
Day 5: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel and make our way back to Norfolk making suitable stops en-route. We re- join our door to door taxi service who will return you to your homes.
Holiday Information:
4 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £561pp
Single Supplement: £nil (Limited Availability)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE4739
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure