A grand journey through the very best of England

Day 1

Upon your arrival in London meet with your driver for a private transfer to a Victorian boutique hotel, where you will stay for three nights.

Day 2

Today you will enjoy an awe-inspiring full-day private tour, taking in some of the spectacular sights of London. This will include a walking tour that will include seeing the iconic ceremony, The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. You will visit imposing Westminster Abbey, famous for many royal weddings, coronations and burials, including those of Queen Elizabeth II. You will also see Downing Street, the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister and Trafalgar Square, with its unforgettable Nelson’s Column.

Spend the evening at your leisure, having received our recommended restaurant list to help you choose somewhere special to eat (dinner not included).

Day 3

In the morning, enjoy a private tour taking you back to the late 1500s at Shakespeare’s Globe, a stunning replica of the original Elizabethan theatre beautifully set by the River Thames, where the celebrated playwright staged his famous plays. Nearby, discover the wonderful food stalls of Borough Market, which dates back to the 12th century. This is heaven for foodies, with the best artisan cheeses, charcuterie, breads, olives, wines, spirits and more to sample and buy.

Later, discover more of the capital’s most important sights, such as the unmissable Tower of London, founded in 1066. A castle, royal palace and prison, it houses the dazzling Crown Jewels, ardently guarded by the Yeomen Warders, dressed in their striking uniforms and commonly known as Beefeaters. You will have the opportunity to also optionally attend an exclusive ceremony of the keys experience, hearing the stirring words that have not altered in seven centuries.

The evening will be spent at your leisure (dinner not included).

Day 4

Your own private vehicle will transfer you from your London hotel to Windsor Castle, founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and one of the United Kingdom’s official royal residences. You will then continue to Stonehenge, a unique prehistoric monument and World Heritage Site, and certainly one of the great wonders of the world. You will have the option to join the Stonehenge Inner Circle Private Access Tour.

You will then have a private transfer to the luxurious Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa for two nights in Bath, famous for its Roman baths and superb Georgian architecture.

Day 5

On your half-day private city tour of Bath you have the choice of visiting spectacular Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths or the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. There has been Christian worship on the site of Bath Abbey for more than 1,200 years and it is the last great medieval cathedral to have been built in England. The ancient baths are surprisingly well preserved, and a tour includes a visit to its museum, housing artefacts from the Roman period. The Herschel Museum is situated in the house where William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781, his observations helping to double the known size of the solar system.

Afterwards, enjoy afternoon tea in The Pump Room, an historic building next to the baths and named after the water pumped into the room from the baths’ hot springs. Alternatively, you can explore some of Bath’s industrial heritage, at the Museum of Bath at Work,

Spend the evening at your leisure, having received our recommended restaurant list to help you choose somewhere special to eat (dinner not included).

Day 6

Today, after a morning at your leisure exploring more of Bath you will have a private transfer through the charming English countryside to the renowned Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Hotel in Oxfordshire, southwest England, where you will stay for two nights. After a stroll in its beautiful grounds, enjoy a delicious meal at its restaurant, which has held two Michelin stars since opening nearly four decades ago.

Day 7

An exploration of the outstandingly beautiful city of Oxford, known as the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, is not to be missed and today you will join your own personal guide for a half-day private walking tour of the city, learning about the many stories and characters through the ages here. Simply strolling amongst the magnificent historic buildings and world-famous university campuses will immerse you into more than 1000 years of history. You may like to take a rowing boat, pedalo or traditional punt on the river.

Spend the evening at your leisure, enjoying dinner at one of Oxford’s best restaurants (dinner not included).

Day 8

A private vehicle will be provided for the lovely journey northwards through the pretty English countryside to the Cotswolds, a range of hills in Gloucestershire, which has been designated the biggest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. Along the way you will stop at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill and currently home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. You will continue on to the historic Lygon Arms, a luxury coaching inn situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, your home for two nights. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Day 9

With its picturesque thatched cottages of honey-coloured Cotswold stone set in pretty rural villages surrounded by rolling hills and ancient woodlands, The Cotswolds is a delight to explore. Your full-day private tour will include a visit to Bourton-on-the-Water, straddling the River Windrush, known for its attractive stone houses and low bridges, and where you can enjoy a delicious  leisurely lunch. Spend the evening at your leisure.

Day 10

Today this ever-inspiring journey continues northwards by private transfer through the lush English countryside to the Lake District in Cumbria, northwest England. Its striking fell mountains, glacial ribbon lakes and attractive market towns ensure its enduring popularity and will provide delightful memories. Tonight, and the next night, the luxurious Lithwaite House Hotel will be your home away from home. Situated on a hilltop overlooking Lake Windermere, its beautifully manicured grounds include a giant outdoor chessboard. There are also rowing boats available for guests wishing to explore the little islands and hidden coves of the lake, before enjoying a gourmet meal at the hotel’s celebrated restaurant.

Day 11

A full-day private tour with a knowledgeable driver/guide will unravel the magical rugged charm of this extraordinarily beautiful corner of England. From its gorgeous lakes to its stunning mountains, every vista is a new delight. Focusing on the Northern Lakes, journeying over Kirkstone Mountain Pass to the highest mountain point in the Lakes will reveal breathtaking views. You will pass by Brotherswater and Ullswater, the latter named the most beautiful lake in the Lake District. Another unmissable sight is the picture-perfect Aira Force Waterfall, where you will embark on a short walk through the forest before enjoying a memorable seven-course lunch in a peaceful forest setting.

Enjoy a leisurely drive back to your hotel amongst the most beautiful scenery with an option to visit the Lakes Distillery to find out how the finest whiskies are distilled, and to sample some, of course. The route continues past Thirlmere Reservoir, which offers spectacular views and walks, and the pretty village of Grasmere and its lake.

The remainder of the day can be spent at your leisure.

Day 12

In the morning your private transfer will whisk you from your hotel to the beautiful walled city of York in northeast England that was founded by the ancient Romans and which also has a Viking past. After checking into your hotel for the next two nights, the historic Grays Court Hotel – which with Norman origins is thought to be the oldest inhabited house in York – you will embark on an afternoon private city walking tour of York,  which includes visiting its imposing 13th-century Gothic cathedral, York Minster, to admire its impressive medieval stained glass and two functioning bell towers. Strolling through the lovely Museum Gardens, with its pretty lawns and array of plant species, you will see the ruins of a Roman fort and the medieval St Mary’s Abbey. Enjoy an evening meal at the hotel, using the finest fresh, local ingredients.

Day 13

A full-day chauffeured tour will take you to the beautiful, rolling Yorkshire Moors, a treasured landscape forged by nature that provides instant tranquility to all who visit. Its richly diverse landscapes including coastal cliffs and wide sweeps of open heather moorland helped inspire the turbulent love story of Wuthering Heights, beloved of generation after generation. And what could be more delightful than breaking up the day with a visit to a traditional country inn, located in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Yorkshire Dales are dotted with picture-perfect pretty villages, and spectacular views such as the famous Aysgarth Falls at Wensleydale. The day’s tour concludes with a trip to Bolton Castle, one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles and where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

Day 14

The tour concludes with a private transfer to London for the night, before either flying home or extending your tour. End your stay with a memorable evening watching a West End show.