Day 1: Following your home taxi collection, you will join our luxury tour coach as we head south west to Gloucestershire and our hotel for the next four nights, the Delta by Marriott Cheltenham Chase Hotel on a dinner bed and breakfast basis
Day 2: This morning we head to the Cotswolds second largest town Tetbury. Set in an area of outstanding beauty, it is where the private home of King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort of the United Kingdom is located. Tetbury was an important market for Cotswold wool and yarn during the Middle Ages. Today, it is better associated with boutique shops, great food, and of course its Royal Connections. This afternoon we visit Westonbirt Arboretum which has over 18,000 trees from all over the world. In autumn, the grounds are ablaze with a kaleidoscope of fiery colours. The highlight however, especially in the autumn, is the Japanese maple collection. Here, a figure-of-8 path loops through an open park showcasing the maples’ breathtakingly beautiful autumn tones.
Day 3: After breakfast we travel to Broadway. A famous Cotswold beauty spot, Broadway is nestled at the foot of the rolling Cotswold hills. As its name suggests, Broadway is dominated by a wide tree-lined street packed with independent shops, restaurants, hotels and a couple of excellent museums. Don’t miss the Gordon Russell Design Museum, which celebrates the work of the renowned 20th century furniture designer, or the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery where you can gain an insight into the history of the village and its cultural heritage. (attractions in Broadway subject to individual choice and payment).
We then head to Cheltenham for an afternoon at leisure. Cheltenham is home to a plethora of traditional Regency-style buildings, which are easily spotted around the town. It’s famous Promenade dates back to 1818, when the avenue of elms and horse chestnut trees were first planted. Now it has a reputation as one of the best preserved and most beautiful thoroughfares, and is a nostalgic modern hub with smart cafes, shops and bars blending in with a historic facade.
Day 4: This morning we make our way to Adam Henson Farm Park. Sitting in the heart of the Cotswolds, visitors can interact closely with the animals and learn about farming, past and present. As the home of rare breed conservation, you can meet over 50 flocks and herds of farm animals, including Gloucestershire Old Spot Pigs and Highland cattle. We continue our day to Stow-on-the-Wold, a quintessential English town with mellow Cotswold stone buildings, a fine selection of shops, chic bistros, Cotswold inns and cosy tea shops.
Day 5: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel as we head for Oxford where you have free time to explore. We are used to seeing Oxford on our screens with Morse, Lewis and many other TV shows and films, and more recently Harry Potter. However, like many historic cities, full of little gems and hidden passages, the best way to the heart of Oxford is by foot. Known as the ‘City of Spires,’ this iconic city was founded in Saxon times and has been home to scholars for the last 800 years. Some even dub Oxford the “Brains of a nation” – though Cambridge academics may disagree! As you wander the streets, you will see some of the oldest colleges, wander beneath the Bridge of Sighs, discover its green spaces, and soak in the atmosphere. You could climb Carfax Tower, visit the Ashmolean Museum or walk in the footsteps of Tolkien, Lewis Carrol and 38 former Prime Ministers. You’re simply strolling amongst history at every turn, and so, even enjoying a drink in an historic inn, or exploring the covered market, dating back to 1774, feels like you’re stepping back in time.
After our visit we continue for Norfolk, where our door to door service will be waiting to return you home.
Holiday Information:
4 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Evening meal will be table service)
Price: £622pp
Single Supplement: £nil (Limited Availability)
Additional Singles Beyond Allocation From: £160 (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy, depending on availability)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE5094
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure