Essential England – London, Oxford, Stratford, Bath and much more!

On arrival enjoy a short orientation sightseeing tour taking in the Houses of Parliament,  Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, final resting place of seventeen monarchs, Buckingham Palace,  Trafalgar Square,  Nelson’s Column, and Piccadilly Circus. If time is short you’ll see them tomorrow instead. Enjoy the evening in the city’s Soho area, famous for cinemas, theatres, clubs and restaurants.
Overnight in central London.

Today is dedicated to taking in more of London’s great monuments  including the Tower of London, the medieval castle which served as a fortress, a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution and torture, an armoury, treasury, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.  Other ‘musts’ included in your visit are a walk over the iconic Tower Bridge to Butler’s Wharf, and on past City Hall, the HMS Belfast museum ship and The Globe – the replica of Shakespeare’s theatre. Continue to the Tate Modern gallery and via the  Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, where Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, the late Princess of Wales.  For a bird’s eye view of it all why not enjoy an unforgettable ride on the London Eye. Overnight in central London.

Visit elegant Knightsbridge this morning to see the most famous of all English department stores – Harrods -and  Kensington Palace which has been a royal residence for over 300 years. It was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and the residence for Lady Diana. Today it houses a stunning collection of royal court and ceremonial dress, including dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. In the afternoon visit The British Museum and/or Madame Tussaud’s waxworks museum.   Overnight in central London.

Travel west to Windsor to visit the town and Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world and one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle’s dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and as well as a royal palace contains the magnificent St George’s Chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people. Afterwards travel to Oxford, home of one of the world’s oldest universities with a visit to one of its prestigious Colleges. 
Overnight in the  Midlands area.

After breakfast step back in time and visit England’s greatest Medieval Experience, the wonderfully preserved Warwick Castle. The Kingmaker’s House, the dungeon, the gardens and the fascinating display of weaponry are just some of the highlights.  Travel the short distance to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace and home of William Shakespeare. Whilst here you can enjoy a visit to Shakespeare’s house, the local church which contains his grave and the house of Mary Arden, Shakespeare’s mother. Next we travel south through the amazingly picturesque villages of the Cotswold Hills. Overnight in the Bath area.

This morning explore the Regency city of Bath, prized by the Romans for its hot springs, and you can see why in the amazingly well preserved Roman Baths and Pump Room. From Bath we journey east to see the mystic stone circle of Stonehenge, a major gathering place for the ancient Druids.  Continue to Brighton via Winchester, a historic city and the ancient capital of southern England. Here is the world famous Mediaeval Round Table which some say is the legendary King Arthur’s original.   Overnight in the Brighton area.

Relax in the Regency  seaside resort of Brighton – a popular destination for summer holidays.  A visit to the Royal Pavilion and a walk along the famous pier are included.  On the way back to London this afternoon visit beautiful Borde Hill Garden, Park & Woodland to take a good breath of English fresh air perfumed with azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons or roses, depending in the time of year.
Overnight in central London.

Free time in London and a final chance fro some shopping before your homeward journey begins.