Castles and Houses of the Cotswolds

After breakfast at your leisure, we will meet and depart for the short journey to Chavenage House, a delightful Elizabethan house made of traditional Cotswold stone nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside. There have only been two owners of Chavenage House, the current owners (the Lowsley-Williams family) and prior to 1981 the Stephens family. The house has featured in recent times in numerous productions including Agatha Christie’s Poirot, the BBC’s ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ and more recently ‘Poldark’. Enjoy a guided tour of the house with exclusive access to the ‘Poldark’ bedroom.

Departing Chavenage House, we head to the quintessential Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water for some free time to explore or perhaps grab a bite to eat or even indulge in a traditional English cream tea! Early this afternoon we depart for Sudeley Castle and Gardens. Built in 1443 the castle estate covers some 1,200 acres and has ten illustrious gardens. On arrival, we will be escorted on a walking tour of the castle exterior and can then enjoy exploring the castle rooms which are home to many fascinating artefacts dating from Ancient Roman times to the present day. Sudeley Castle is the only private castle in England that is the resting place of a queen – Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII who is buried in the 15^th century church within the grounds. After our tour, we make our way back to the hotel for dinner.

Breakfast is at your leisure this morning. We then take the short trip to the GWSR station at Cheltenham Racecourse to embark on a steam rail journey to Broadway. Reminisce about bygone eras as we puff our way along the winding Cotswolds railway that spans some 28 miles through the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire countryside. We pass through sleepy hamlets and tranquil villages with stunning vistas across the Malvern Hills. On arrival at the station in Broadway, we rejoin our coach for a short trip the National Trust property, Snowshill. Enjoy the tranquil gardens and explore secluded vistas and delights including Wolf’s Cove Model Village and the Priest’s House. We take a guided tour through the manor house which houses an eclectic collection of artefacts including tiny toys, instruments and even a Samurai armour.  Later, we depart to another National Trust property, Hidcote, famous for its arts and crafts garden which was masterfully created by the American horticulturalist Major Lawrence Johnston. Wander through the narrow pathways to discover secret corners, glorious vistas and bursts of vibrant colours. If you’re lucky, you may glimpse the green woodpeckers searching for morsels to eat or even spot the buzzards circling overhead. After our time here, we return to the hotel for dinner and the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Tewkesbury heading eastwards to a sleepy corner of the Buckinghamshire Cotswolds for our next stop, Waddesdon Manor. On arrival, we take a private tour to Eythrope Garden, a short ride from the main house. This working garden supplies Waddesdon’s restaurant, hotel and local artisan food market with fresh produce including fruit, vegetables and herbs. After we discover the four acre walled garden and glasshouses, we return the manor and enjoy a light lunch. Crafted with the very ingredients from Eythrope by the in-house chefs at the Manor Restaurant, this is a true garden-to-table experience. After lunch, enjoy a self-guided tour of Waddesdon Manor and Gardens. The manor was built by Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885 in the style of a French château. It is home to a vast collection of art including pieces by Reynolds and Gainsborough. Today, some of the original bedrooms have been converted to host a wide variety of exhibitions which are rotated on an annual basis. We then reconvene for the final leg of our journey, returning to London.