England Touring 2017 Your destination England England may not be a big country but it certainly punches above its weight with heritage and history in spades, spectacular scenery from coastlines o cityscapes and culture galore! England Touring Sample Itinerary 2 2017 Your Destination We have highlighted the main points of your journey on the map below: England Touring Sample Itinerary 3 2017 Day By Day Itinerary Day 1 Welcome to England! 7.25am Welcome to Manchester! Your private driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a name board for you, he is then on hand to transfer you to Middlethorpe Hall 9.00am Approximate arrival time at Middlethorpe Hall Balance of the day at leisure O/N: Middlethorpe Hall A:Bishopthorpe Road York YO23 2GB T: +44 (0)1904 641 241 Day 2 Visit York Day to explore York with your driver-guide George VI once said that York ‘is the history of England’ and although a slight exaggeration, it is easy to see his gist. Seeped in 2000 years of rich history, York is one of the most fascinating cities in Britain to visit. It is a picturesque, riverside city that is home to the iconic York Minster, cobbled streets and shadowy medieval ‘snickleways’. Jorvik is a family exhibit that shows York as a Viking City and is definitely worth a visit. O/N: Middlethorpe Hall England Touring Sample Itinerary 4 2017 Day By Day Itinerary Day 3 Enjoy Castle Howard and the surrounding region 9.30am Depart your hotel with your private driver guide 10.00am Visit Castle Howard Castle Howard is one of Britain’s finest historic houses, situated just outside York in the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The castle was built over 300 years ago by Sir John Vanbrugh, today it remains home to the Howard family. With 1,000 acres to explore, Castle Howard is a haven of peace and tranquility with extensive woodland walks, temples, lakes and fountains. 1.00pm Lunch at leisure in a traditional local pub 2.00pm Visit Fountains Abbey From humble beginnings the magnificent abbey was established by devout monks seeking a simpler existence. The atmospheric ruins that remain are a window into a way of life which shaped the medieval world. One-of-a-kind, this special place is now recognised as a World Heritage Site. 4.00pm Depart back to Middlethorpe Hall 5.00pm Approximate arrival time at Middlethorpe Hall Balance of the evening at leisure O/N: Middlethorpe Hall Day 4 Transfer to The Cavendish Hotel 7.45am Depart on foot with your private guide and enjoy the short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to Chatsworth House through these beautiful grounds 8.00am Enjoy a private out-of-hours tour of Chatsworth House Chatsworth is a beautiful stately home in the heart of Derbyshire’s countryside as well as being home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Chatsworth has one of Europe's most significant art collections and gives visitors the opportunity to see everything from Old Masters to contemporary ceramics and artefacts from Ancient Egypt, through to cutting edge modern sculpture and computer portraits. 9.00am Enjoy brunch at leisure in the Flying Childers Restaurant. Continue exploring the estate at your own leisure – your guide is on hand throughout the day O/N: The Cavendish Hotel, Rowsley A: Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1SP T: +44 (0)1246 582 311 England Touring Sample Itinerary 5 2017 Day By Day Itinerary Day 5 Explore the Peak District Day with your private driver-guide Peak District The National Park is an upland area in England and offers breath-taking views and fantastic opportunities for pastimes such as cycling, walking and wildlife watching. The Peak District National Park became the first national park in the United Kingdom in 1951. A visit to Haddon Hall Haddon Hall is one of the finest examples of a medieval manor house in England. The hall is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland and lies alongside the River Wye, just south of Bakewell. O/N: The Cavendish Hotel, Rowsley Day 6 Transfer to Buckland Manor 10.00am Day with your driver-guide to transfer you to Buckland Manor 12.00pm Enjoy a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon is a medieval market town in England’s West Midlands and the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is possibly the most famous writer in the English language. He is known for his sonnets and plays such as 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Hamlet'. The Royal Shakespeare Company performs his plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and adjacent Swan Theatre on the banks of the River Avon. 4.00pm Depart for Buckland Manor 4.30pm Approximate arrival time at Buckland Manor Balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure O/N: Buckland Manor A:Nr Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LY T: +44 (0)1386 852 626 England Touring Sample Itinerary 6 2017 Day By Day Itinerary Day 7 Visit the Cotswolds 9.30am Depart with your private driver guide to explore the Cotswolds visiting beautiful towns such as Chipping Campden, Broadway and Stow–on–the-wold The beautiful Cotswolds is a region of gentle hills, delightful cottages of local mellowed stone and secluded manor houses. Enjoy lunch at a historic pub or maybe a traditional afternoon tea in one of the quaint village tea shops. The outstanding countryside is so ‘typically English’, sometimes you think time could have stood still for over 300 years! Frequently described as the "jewel in the crown" of Cotswold towns, Chipping Campden is also one of the best preserved and most historically important. The High Street is lined with a range of wonderful and intriguing shops. In the town centre is the Market hall built in 1627 for the sale of butter, cheese and poultry. Chipping Campden has been thoroughly preserved and still presents the character of a Cotswold market town. 5.00pm Your driver guide leaves you at Buckland Manor Balance of the evening at leisure O/N: Buckland Manor Day 8 Explore Oxford 9.00am Your private driver-guide collects you from your hotel and depart for Oxford 10.15am Enjoy a walking tour of Oxford What most people associate with Oxford is its university, and rightly so. Over the past eight centuries eminent scientists, philosophers, authors, archbishops, explorers and politicians have emerged from its ivory towers. However the city of Oxford is not to be forgotten, it is a medieval city seeped in culture and history with a lively mix of restaurants, pubs and theatres adding to its alluring and vibrant buzz. 1.00pm Enjoy lunch at leisure in Woodstock 2.15pm Visit Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace was a VERY generous gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough following his famous victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. As well as the beautiful palace itself, the stunning grounds and the Great Lake, there is also the room where Sir Winston Churchill was born 1874. 5,00pm Your private driver-guide leaves you at your hotel Balance of the evening at leisure O/N Buckland Manor England Touring Sample Itinerary 7 2017 Day By Day Itinerary Day 9 A tour of Bath 9.00am Depart with your private driver guide 10.30am Enjoy a walking tour of Bath Back in approximately 60AD the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex around Britain's only hot spring that still flows with natural hot water. Nowadays you can’t bathe in the water here but you can still see the water's source and the roman ruins of the temple which was once the hub of everyday life. The museum has an interactive element with roman costumed characters and the chance to try a glass of the spa water. 1.00pm Lunch at leisure 2.00pm Visit Lacock You really have to rub your eyes and ask 'Am I living in the 21st century?' That's the Lacock effect for you. Lacock is a timeless, traditional English village that looks like it has just stepped out of medieval times. Or the pages of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice or JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels. Nothing is allowed to interfere with its looks, not even TV aerials or overhead cables. No wonder, then, that it's the star of many movies and period dramas, including the adventures of a certain wizard from Hogwarts School… 4.30pm Your private driver guide leaves you at your hotel O/N: Buckland Manor Day 10 Transfer Home! 9.00am Depart with your driver and transfer to London Heathrow Airport in time for your flight back to the US 12.00pm Approximate arrival time at London Heathrow Airport Farewell! England Touring Sample Itinerary 8 2017 .