Later, we check into the Hartwell House Hotel, one ‘Step Back in Time’ of the ’s Historic House Hotels, where we stay for the next two nights. Waddesdon Manor Traditional Country Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Gardens LONDON Greys Court Ham House December 4: Oxford and the House Christmas What’s Included ™ Arrival/departure airport transfers from This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour in London Heathrow* in Oxford, known as the city of dreaming spires and ™ famed for its world-renowned university colleges, 3 nights at the Macdonald Windsor Hotel some of which we enter during our tour. We take in ™ 2 nights at the Hartwell House Hotel December 1 to 6, 2021 the city’s highlights before visiting the Ashmolean, ™ Welcome drink and canapés magnificent State Apartments are furnished with the world’s first public museum. Founded in ™ Full English breakfast each day from $3,750 per person some of the finest works of art for you to admire, 1683, the museum focuses on art and archelogy ™ 3-course table d’hôte dinner on 4 nights beautifully decorated at this time of year. We and the world-famous collections range from Christmas in England conjures up images at the hotels (with after dinner tea find out more of the castle’s history on our audio Egyptian mummies to contemporary paintings and and coffee) of Dickensian London and A Christmas Carol guided tour. sculptures. There is then time for a spot of retail ™ 1 dinner at a local restaurant or traditional country houses where families We continue to Ham House and Gardens, one of therapy before indulging in a festive afternoon tea ™ th Services of a tour director throughout gather around roaring fires. We celebrate Europe’s greatest 17 -century houses nestling on at a lovely hotel in the city. your stay the spirit of Christmas past and catch a the banks of the . This atmospheric Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner ™ Travel to and from all excursions mansion with fine interiors and historic gardens has glimpse of festivities of times gone by as we ™ All excursion costs travel from London to the pastoral Home remained virtually unchanged for 400 years. The th ™ Porterage Counties. We enjoy enchanting visits to atmosphere of a 17 -century Christmas is recreated during the festive season with *supplement applies for transfers from all magnificent properties which are specially decorations adorning the house and gardens. other airports decorated for the season, from the royal Later, a festive treat awaits us at the world-famous residence of Windsor Castle to Blenheim , where the iconic architecture Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. and tree canopies are brought to life, drenched Your Hotels To complete our festive getaway we in Christmas color and sparkling with seasonal Nights One, Two and Five – © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019 Elizabeth Queen Majesty © Her Christmas at Kew Windsor Castle experience the magic of decorations. Discover an enchanting festive trail Macdonald and also visit the lovely city of Oxford, where of lights that winds its way through the botanic Windsor Hotel, Windsor we indulge in the quintessentially British gardens, before enjoying some seasonal treats Nights Three and Four – Hartwell House Special extras included tradition of afternoon tea and have time for from one of the many enticing stalls. Hotel, near Aylesbury This evening we enjoy a late dinner at a We have a limited number of single places available some Christmas shopping. with no supplement on this tour. These sell quickly. in your itinerary local restaurant. ™ Guided walking tour of Windsor Six Day Itinerary Meals: Breakfast, Dinner ™ Audio guided tour of Windsor Castle December 1: Arrival (depart U.S. on 11/30) ™ Guided tour and festive lunch at On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer Waddesdon Manor Blenheim Palace will take you to the Macdonald Windsor Hotel, our Eden © Jeff ™ Guided walking tour of Oxford base for the next two nights. In the late afternoon December 5: Blenheim Palace and ™ Afternoon tea at an Oxford hotel there is the option to join a guided walking tour ™ Private carol singing performance at the of Windsor. Situated on the River Thames, this Greys Court Macdonald Windsor Hotel ancient royal town has a rich heritage dating back Today we visit Blenheim Palace, set in over Greys Court Blenheim Palace over 1,000 years with many beautiful buildings 2,000 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown. As the seat of the Dukes of We continue on to Greys Court, a filming location Greys Court Waddesdon Manor and cobbled streets. We trace the origins of the town from its roots in the aftermath of the Battle Marlborough, the palace is synonymous with the of the hugely popular TV series of Hastings to its heyday as a bastion of Queen Churchill family and is the birthplace of Sir Winston and film. Set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns, this Victoria’s reign. Churchill. A permanent exhibition commemorates picturesque Tudor mansion has a rich patchwork the life of this famous wartime Prime Minister, of styles, including 18th-century additions and In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink Kew Gardens th at the hotel, followed by dinner. whilst the magnificent State Rooms will be 20 -century interiors. The house is still furnished sumptuously dressed for Christmas and reveal a as an intimate family home, having been occupied Meals: Dinner December 3: Waddesdon Manor superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain until 2003, and is beautifully decorated during the December 2: Windsor Castle, Ham Checking out of the hotel, we head to Waddesdon and furniture. countdown to Christmas. Manor, built by the wealthy Rothschild family in the Afterwards, we check back in to the Macdonald House and Kew Gardens style of a Renaissance château and filled with royal Windsor Hotel where we toast the festive season We begin our day with free time in Windsor, where treasures. During our guided tour we explore the with a farewell dinner this evening and enjoy a the independent boutiques and shop-lined streets interiors, given an extra sparkle around Christmas private carol singing performance, highlighting offer the perfect chance to stock up on some with lavish festive decorations, before enjoying a some of the traditions and customs during this festive goodies. festive lunch here. The Christmas theme continues special time of year. Next, we visit Windsor Castle, the oldest and into the gardens with light trails and stunning Meals: Breakfast, Dinner largest inhabited castle in the world which is illuminations, including Waddesdon’s 30ft high real still one of the official residences of Queen Christmas tree with its magical fairy lights, as well December 6: Departure Elizabeth II today. Established in the 11th century as a charming Christmas Fair offering a range of A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow by William the Conqueror, it has been remodelled Christmas treats. airport for your return flight home. by successive kings and queens and is regularly © NTPL/Nadia Mackenzie © NTPL/Nadia Greenway © Peter used for ceremonial and state occasions. The Meals: Breakfast

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