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$3267
Activity
Level: Tour Includes: - WTT Tour Leadership and local guides - Group Airport Transfers - Entrance to Castles and Gardens as listed in the itinerary - Visits to the Cotswold's, London, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and more - Additional tours and activities as listed in the itinerary - Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 5 dinners - Lodging: Banbury House Hotel; The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows: Airport: London Gatwick (LGW) Arrive: Thursday, 29 April no later than 10:00am. We will depart from the airport as a group. (you will depart the US on 28 April.) Depart: Saturday, 8 May no earlier than 9:00am. There will be one group transfer to the airport.
Early
Arrival Cost:
Special Notes Regarding this Trip:
You will need a valid passport for this trip.
This tour requires a considerable amount of walking, often on cobblestone or other uneven surfaces. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. Not Included in the Price of this Tour: · Air from your home and return to your home, · Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary, · Dinner and Lunch meals do not include any drinks, unless specifically stated in the itinerary. · Any personal expenses, and any guide/driver gratuities.
Travel and Cancellation Policies:
· A copy of the complete WTT travel policies can be found at:
Policies
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Thursday, 29 April: Arrive London Gatwick. Group Transfer to Hotel; Welcome Dinner On arrival at London Gatwick transfer to our waiting private motorcoach. From Gatwick we travel to Oxfordshire and to the historic market town of Banbury, where we'll stay for the next 4 nights. The town is famous for its Cross, and also the English nursery rhyme 'Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross' and is a vibrant mix of traditional and historic town against a backdrop of modern living. The narrow streets and hidden lanes of historic Banbury form part of a historic town trail. After checking in at the Banbury House hotel, your afternoon is free to settle in and have a look around the town before enjoying a welcome dinner with your new traveling companions. Overnight Banbury House Hotel (D)
Friday, 30 April: Warwick Castle; Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon This morning is spent in one of England's finest castles – Warwick. The castle has been witness to over a thousand years of historical events. As you walk through the castle, you pass the Ghost Tower where the ghost of Sir Fulke Greville is still said to roam, the gloomy torture chamber and dungeon and the 14th century Great Hall with more important relics. This afternoon is spent in Stratford-upon-Avon where we take a look around the actual house where Shakespeare was born and that of his wife Anne Hathaway. There is also time for you to wander around at leisure so perhaps you would like to shop for souvenirs or take a walk along the river. Return to Banbury for dinner at your hotel. Overnight Banbury (B,D)
Saturday, 1 May: A visit to the Cotswold's; Sudley Castle Today is spent exploring the charming Cotswold's with a local guide. You'll pass through quaint villages with old thatched cottages built in the local stone and where time seems to have stood still for several hundred years. Our first stop today is the National Trust property of Hidcote Manor Garden, one of England's greatest gardens, located deep in the Cotswold countryside. Hidcote is one of the most inventive and influential gardens of the 20th century with its structure of outdoor 'rooms', linked by vistas and furnished with all sorts of topiary. Our next stop is Sudley Castle to see the famous garden set among castle walls. Set in the midst of the Cotswold Hills, the house and gardens have grown for over 300 years around the picturesque ruins of the old castle and walls of an old Tithe barn. Return to Banbury for dinner at your hotel. Overnight Banbury (B,L,D)
Sunday, 2 May: Oxford Today we will have a leisurely departure from Banbury. Sleep late or stroll the town one last time before we pack up and change hotels today. Our destination today is the town of Oxford. Upon arrival in Oxford we will enjoy a short walking tour of the city. 'The City of Dreaming Spires' is famous the world over for its University and place in history. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars. For those Harry Potter fans among the group, our guide will point out locations used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. Lunch will be at your leisure in Oxford and there will be time to explore on your own before we depart mid-afternoon and travel on to the beautiful spa town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, the Garden of England. The Spa hotel will be our base for the next 5 nights as we explore the area and all of its wonderful offerings. Dinner this evening is at your hotel. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B,D) is a 4 star property housed in an elegant 18th Century Mansion dating back to 1766. It is set in 14 acres of picturesque grounds on the edge of Tunbridge Wells. The town center is just 20 minutes' walk.
Monday 3 May: Greater Dixter House and Gardens, the town of Rye, and Bodian Castle We have an exciting and full day today! Our first stop today is Great Dixter House and Gardens. The impressive gardens that surround the medieval manor house were created by the legendary late Christopher Lloyd. From here we travel to the ancient town of Rye – with its narrow cobbled streets and quaint shops. There will be time for lunch and time to explore the town before our final stop for the day - Bodiam Castle. One of the most famous and evocative moated castles in Britain, the appearance of Bodiam is exactly how most people imagine a medieval castle should look like. Inside there are spiral staircases and battlements to explore. Think what it must have been like to live here! Dinner this evening is at your leisure in Tunbridge Wells. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B)
Tuesday, 4 May: Morning walking tour of Tunbridge Wells; Afternoon free Today is spent exploring Tunbridge Wells. In Georgian times, this historic spa town gained a reputation as the place to see and be seen. The town's historic past is reflected very much in its architecture - from elegant Regency villas to large Victorian houses to pretty clapboard cottages, all surrounded by lots of green space, including the unique 200-acre Common located in the town centre. You'll learn about the colorful history of Royal Tunbridge Wells on a guided walking tour this morning and then the rest of the day and this evening is for you to spend as you please. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B)
Wednesday, 5 May: LONDON Today is spent in England's capital city – London. On arrival you enjoy an orientation tour with a local guide, the sites you'll see include Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square. The rest of today is yours to explore more of London. We will stay in London through the dinner hour so you can make the most of your day before returning to Tunbridge Wells. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B)
Thursday, 6 May: Scotney Castle and Gardens, Heaver Castle – family home of Ann Boleyn Today we begin exploring this wonderful part of England, which has numerous wonderful gardens and castles to offer. Visit Scotney Castle gardens this morning, which is considered one of England's most romantic gardens. The new Scotney Castle, built in the 1830s leads down to the ruins of a 14th century moated castle, where roses and clematis scramble over the ruins. Also today is a visit to Ashdown Forest. It was here that the rural landscape inspired Alan Alexander Milne for the setting of his Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The heart of Pooh Country is the village of Hartfield, where all the "Enchanted Places" can be found. Be sure to make a stop at the Pooh Corner Shop! Our last visit today is to Hever Castle – the family home of tragic Anne Boleyn who was beheaded by one of the most famous kings in English history, King Henry VIII. The gardens and lake at Hever Castle are a constant delight. Return to Tunbridge Wells for dinner at your leisure. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B)
Friday, 7 May: Sissinghurts Castle Gardens and Leeds Castle Our final full day in England begins with a visit to Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the world's most celebrated gardens. Intimate in size and romantic in atmosphere, the castle provides outstanding design and color throughout the seasons. This afternoon is spent exploring Leeds Castle. Described by Lord Conway as 'the loveliest castle in the world', the magnificent 12th Century Leeds Castle rises from two small islands in a lake. The interior is graced with splendid works of art including statues, carvings and tapestries. In the grounds are a secret grotto, maze and aviary. We will return to the hotel in plenty of time to relax and pack. This evening, to celebrate our time in England, a farewell dinner is enjoyed at the hotel. Overnight Tunbridge Wells (B, D)
Saturday, 8 May: Group Transfer to Gatwick airport; Return Home Sadly your tour has come to an end. One group transfer will be provided to London Gatwick airport, about 25 miles away. Make your return flight no earlier than 9:00am. (Note: If you wish to depart earlier, you will be responsible for your own transfer.) (B) |
All previous information has been superseded.
