Highlights of Southern England Tour 2019

An engaging and personalized tour of the major highlights of this truly majestic country. Visit magnificent Windsor Castle, one of the great royal palaces in Europe. Meander through the mysterious ruins of Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric burial grounds in the world. Gaze upon the amazing Roman and Georgian architecture in beautiful Bath, the oldest spa town in the United Kingdom. Walk the gardens and grounds of some of the most spectacular estates in England, like the Arts and Crafts Garden at Hidcote Manor and the ancestral home of the Churchills at Blenheim Palace. Visit the historic sites of Oxford and tour the oldest university in the English-speaking world, plus so much more.

ITINERARY

(Day 1): London – Landing in the Capital
(Day 2): London – A Private Tour of Luxurious London
(Day 3): South England – The Seat of Kings and Enigmatic Stonehenge
(Day 4): Bath – A Day in Breathtaking Bath
(Day 5): South England – The Manors and Castles of the English Countryside
(Day 6): Oxford – The Kingdom’s Oldest University Town
(Day 7): London – Bidding Goodbye to England

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: London – Landing in the Capital

Upon your arrival, you'll be picked up from the airport by your guide and transferred to a five-star hotel in Central London. Throughout the tour, all transfers are by private chauffeur with your accredited driver guide, with most of the day's timing decided by you. Take time to freshen up and eat lunch before the afternoon tour of sights such as Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Nelson’s Column, Piccadilly Circus, shopping at Saville Row, or the world’s most famous department store, Harrods in Knightsbridge. The evening can be spent at one of London’s best restaurants before grabbing a nightcap at the famous bar in The Savoy Hotel.

Day 2: London – A Private Tour of Luxurious London

After a delicious British breakfast at your hotel, your driver will show you more of the best sites that London has to offer. Begin by making your way to the borough of Westminster, where you’ll find the iconic houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, some the most important buildings in the country and home to the remains of some of Britain’s most famous citizens, from kings and queens to scientists and poets.

Further down the Thames, you’ll find two more of London’s most impressive structures that dominate the cityscape, the mighty dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the famous Tower of London. Here, the famous Beefeaters will lead you on a tour of this incredible structure, showcasing all the highlights such as famous ravens and England’s iconic Crown Jewels.

Day 3: South England – The Seat of Kings and Enigmatic Stonehenge

You’ll set out this morning for the English countryside, passing some of the most famous sites in the entire country as you travel Southwest. Start your day at mesmerizing Windsor Castle, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and the home to every monarch since Henry I, making it the longest-occupied palace in Europe. Stroll the Long Walk, marvel at the impeccable furnishings of the State Apartments, and admire the gorgeous St. George’s Cathedral, where King Henry VIII is buried.

Following Windsor Castle, you’ll journey across the Salisbury Plains to the country’s most famous, yet mysterious, prehistoric monument, Stonehenge. The site predates the pyramids of Egypt by nearly 500 years and is believed to have been built as a burial ground perhaps as early as the third century BC. After an informative tour of Stonehenge, you continue your trip until you reach the astounding architecture of Bath–one of the oldest cities in the country–where you’ll be delivered to the door of your comfortable and elegant hotel just in time for a delicious dinner and a jovial evening.

Day 4: Bath – A Day in Breathtaking Bath

Today starts at the famous Roman Baths, where you’ll learn about this remarkable city’s imperial roots, before visiting nearby Bath Abbey and then Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world that has shops running the full distance on both sides. Next is the impressive museum at No. 1 Royal Crescent, where you’ll get to glimpse what Bath looked like in the height of the Georgian era.

In afternoon you can simply stroll through the number of beautiful parks in the city, such as Sydney Gardens and the Royal Victoria Park, which abuts the Royal Crescent. Jane Austen fans can also visit the dedicated museum and Regency Tea Center, where staff wear full period dress, serving afternoon tea.

Day 5: South England – The Manors and Castles of the English Countryside

You leave Bath after a leisurely morning and return east, making your way past some of the most elegant estates in the country to the gardens of nearby Hidcote Manor. Marvel at one of the most famous gardens in the UK and some of the best-known examples of the Arts and Crafts movement in the country. Not only are its gardens lavish and unforgettable, but they also offer inspiring views over the surrounding countryside.

After this memorable excursion, you’ll visit magnificent Blenheim Palace. Walk the grounds and stroll the halls of the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. You’ll be wowed by the opulent interior of the palace and the lush essence of the expansive English landscape garden. Your day concludes as you journey into Oxford, where you can enjoy a night in the host city of the country’s most famous university.

Day 6: Oxford – The Kingdom’s Oldest University Town

Experience a day at the distinguished city and university of Oxford, the world’s most prestigious institute of higher learning since its founding in the 11th century. See the iconic architecture of the Radcliffe Camera, the spire of Christ Church Cathedral, the Ashmolean Museum, the oldest university museum on the planet, or stroll amongst bespoke boutiques on High Street. There is also a wide range of nature walks throughout the city, including the C.S. Lewis Nature Reserve and the University Parks, as well as an impressive assortment of excellent museums, from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to the Modern Art Oxford.

Following your tour of Oxford, you turn back southwest to London, where the rest of the afternoon can be spent at your leisure. Enjoy dinner at one of the scores of restaurants in the city that have been awarded a Michelin star, from the imaginative Indian cuisine at Tamarind of Mayfair to the impeccable French offerings at Club Gason.

Day 7: London – Bidding Goodbye to Jolly England

After a delicious British breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a leisurely morning in the city before a private driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport, where you’ll board the flight that will take you home.

Hotels listed below are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used. 

London
5 Star Deluxe – The Langham London

When the Prince of Wales opened the Langham on Regent Street in 1865, it was London’s first grand hotel. Through its doors have passed such literary greats as Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde. The hotel has preserved its distinguished reputation, aided by a renovation in 2010 that included the addition of the new Regent Suite with expansive views of Regent’s Park, and a luxury health and wellness center, the Chuan Spa. The traditional meal served in the Palm Court, on the ground floor, consists of delicate finger sandwiches, miniature pastries and thirty blends of tea. The glamorous cocktail bar, Artesian offers martinis made by a mixologist.

 

4 Star Luxury - The Montague on The Gardens

This beautiful Georgian townhouse hotel in the heart of literary Bloomsbury, is steps from The British Museum and minutes from London's theatreland. Enjoy the ambience of a fine country hotel located on a London side street. Proud of its AA Four-Star Deluxe status, the Montague Hotel London offers an unbeatable combination of superb value, excellent Central London location, and the fabled Red Carnation attention to the all-important details that transform a good hotel into a great one.

 

Bath
5 Star Deluxe – Royal Crescent Hotel

The world's finest crescent is one of the great set piece masterpieces of European architecture, the most breathtaking feature in one of the world's most elegant and enchanting cities. It's hard to imagine a more splendid setting for an elegant hotel that harks back to a time of extravagant luxury and exemplary refinement. The Royal Crescent Hotel occupies the two central buildings in the entire crescent. Both are Grade I listed, and were built by John Wood the Younger himself. The stunning setting and magnificent architecture have remained unchanged since the 18th century. The Hotel is far more than a remarkable collection of buildings. It gives you an opportunity to experience a style of gracious living from the age when Bath was the very centre of the civilised world.

 

4 Star Luxury – The Abbey Hotel

Named as one of Bath's best loved boutique hotels, Abbey Hotel is formed of three Georgian townhouses on the west end of John Wood's North Parade - a wide promenade in Bath's older quarters which overlooks Parade Gardens and is a stone's throw from the spectacular Pulteney Bridge.The hotel is the ideal choice for visitors and residents alike with many of Bath's top attractions right on the doorstep.

 

Stratford-Upon-Avon
5-Star Deluxe – Arden Hotel

Located in the heart of historic Stratford-upon-Avon, directly opposite the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatres, The Arden Hotel is an elegant and sophisticated 45 bedroom boutique hotel in the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

The star of Stratford-upon-Avon’s hotel scene, The Arden's sophisticated and contemporary take on a boutique hotel has won her admirers from across the globe

 

4-Star Luxury – Hotel du Vin

Located in the historic Shakespearean town of Stratford-upon-Avon, this stylish boutique hotel comes with 46 bedrooms, a bar and bistro with al fresco dining space available in the private courtyard, two private dining rooms and event space, that can accommodate up to 70 people.

Built in 1798 the listed building located on Rother Street is perfectly located in the centre of town, and has been sensitively transformed. It has been used in many ways over the years, from a doctor’s surgery during and after WW2, a gentleman’s club, and more recently registry office. Now the perfect place for after work drinks, a spot of afternoon tea or relaxed bistro dining, served along wines perfectly matched by our years of experience.

 

Oxford
5 Star Deluxe - Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Created by celebrated chef Raymond Blanc OBE, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons is one of the country's most cherished manor house hotels. Tucked away in the picturesque countryside, this 15th-century manor critics also proclaim that sets the standard for haute cuisine. The establishment received two Michelin stars in 1984, within the first year of opening, and, remarkably, have held them ever since.

 

4 Star Luxury – MacDonald Randolph Hotel

Situated in the heart of Oxford, and just a short walk from the Oxford Sation, the Macdonald Randolph Hotel provides guests with the perfect space from which to explore the attractions, shops, and entertainment in the area. The hotel offers plush rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. The on-site restaurant features traditional meals, while the dining room serves afternoon tea. The hotel also has a spa with a sauna, hot tub, and steam room.