Want to tour the back roads of the Cotswolds and Shakespeare's land but don't want to join a large coach group? Looking for a little flexibility and spontaneity in your itinerary? Do you have a few days to really get deep into the English countryside?

Virtually, all of the "must-see" icons a first time visitor to London and England wants to see. Oxford, Stratford, the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock, Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle. Usually, it takes three separate day tours from London to cover all of these. If you do it this way, however, over the three days you waste at least eight (yes, eight!) hours of your precious holiday time sitting on a coach traveling the freeway and fighting London. People totally underestimate the time it takes getting to and from these sites from London.

With a maximum group size of 11 and a university educated guide/driver, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

Seasonal - 2008 dates:

• April 09
• May 28
• June 25
• July 16
• August 27

Departure Point:

See "Departure Time" field

Departure Time:

• Royal National Hotel (nearest underground: Russell Square) - 8:15am
• Corus Hotel (nearest underground: Lancaster Gate) - 8:25am
• Grosvenor Thistle (nearest underground: Victoria Station) - 8:30am
• Holiday Inn Kensington Forum (nearest underground: Gloucester Road) - 8:40am
• Chiswick Hotel (nearest underground: Turnham Green) - 9:00am

Return details:

Tour returns to your central London hotel (Day 3) at approximately 6:00pm

Hotel Pickup:

Hotel pick up is available from The Royal National, Corus Hotel, Grosvenor Thistle, Holiday Inn Kensington Forum and Chiswick Hotel. Please advise your preferred pick-up point at the time of booking

Itinerary:

Day One:

Your first port of call is the ancient town of Beaconsfield to see the nearby Mayflower Barn - a Quaker Meeting House built from timbers of the historic ship. Beaconsfield is Britain's richest neighborhood and home to countless celebrities. You'll hardly believe the homes you'll see here! Less then an hour's drive through the picture post card Chiltern Hills lies mediaeval Oxford, "city of the dreaming spires". Here you'll enjoy a guided walk through the colleges. Literature fans will delight to see the places associated with C S Lewis, JR Tolkien, "Alice in Wonderland", and even Harry Potter's "Hogwarts"! Next you will see Winston Churchill's tomb at Bladon and visit his remarkable birthplace Blenheim Palace. Your accommodation base for the next two nights is a charming 15th century coaching Inn in the Cotswolds.

Day Two:

Stratford upon Avon with its Shakespearean sites is first on today's visits. Stratford can be busy, being England's most popular tourist destination outside of London, but as you are staying close by, you will arrive early and leave before the large tour coaches arrive! There'll be free time to explore this interesting town before a visit to the lesser-known house of Shakespeare's mother and an informative tour learning about life in the 1500's. This afternoon sees you at the incredible Warwick Castle where there will be ample time to explore both the castle and the medieval town itself. Use the time saved by not having to dash back to London to see the picturesque Kenilworth Castle.

Day Three:

The morning see you exploring the very best of the Cotswolds. With a small vehicle you can get where larger coaches can't and avoid the commercialized "honey-pots". Naturally you will not miss seeing the most famed market towns like Stow on the Wold, but you'll also enjoy the hidden, less visited villages. Then to the preserved village of Lacock. This lovely place, where TV ariels, telephone wires and advertising are banned, has been used as a film set in everything from Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter. Fittingly, the local abbey was where George Fox Talbot pioneered photography. The final visit of the day, and tour, is at Avebury. This incredible World Heritage prehistoric temple site is more impressive for many than even Stonehenge. You'll also see the mysterious Silbury hill.

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Entrance fees
• University-educated driver/guide
• Hotel drop off (central London hotels)
• Two nights accommodation with breakfast and dinner
• Hotel pick up (selected hotels as listed in "Departure Time" field)

Exclusions:

• Optional gratuities
• Food and drinks, unless specified

Hotel list:

All properties are chosen on the basis of style, friendliness of welcome, location, historical interest and cooking. All are three star but may include 17th century working farm houses, 17th century coaching Inns, pubs, guest houses, small family run hotels and manor houses.

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date
• Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of departure in which case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
• Tour is operated in English unless otherwise specified
• Maximum group size is 11

Terms and Conditions:

A 100% cancellation penalty applies if cancelled 15 days or less prior to travel date.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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