On arrival at Heathrow airport, a private transfer will take you to our overnight hotel, the Macdonald Windsor Hotel. In the evening you are invited to join the group for a welcome drink, followed by dinner.

Leaving Windsor we travel to Baddesley Clinton, an atmospheric, medieval manor house dating back to the 13th century, set timelessly in its own secluded parkland. This moated house and its extensive formal gardens are steeped in history, including its use as a place of hiding and refuge for Catholic priests in Shakespeare’s time.

We then head to Compton Verney for a guided tour of this award-winning independent art gallery. Housed in a restored Georgian mansion and surrounded by 120 acres of stunning 'Capability' Brown parkland, the world-class art exhibitions include several portraits relevant to Shakespeare’s age.

Afterwards we check in to the Mercure Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Hotel, our base for the next five nights. Tonight we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Today we delve into the world of William Shakespeare as we discover some of his family homes, each place with its own fascinating story to tell. At Shakespeare's Birthplace we explore the extraordinary story of Shakespeare in the house where he was born and grew up in. Next is Holy Trinity Church on the banks of the River Avon, where Shakespeare was baptised, worshipped, and where he is buried. We end our tour at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens, the setting of the young Shakespeare’s courtship with his future bride. Here we can see original furniture and uncover the stories of 13 generations of the Hathaway family who lived here. There are also nine acres of beautiful cottage gardens to enjoy.

The evening is free for you to make your own dinner arrangements.

This morning we visit Kenilworth Castle, one of England’s largest medieval fortresses and most impressive castle ruins. Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I’s ‘favourite’, created an ornate palace in readiness for her visit in 1575, resulting in a show of pageantry that was believed to be the inspiration behind Twelfth Night. The beautifully recreated Elizabethan Garden, lost to the world for over 400 years, is now open to visitors once more.
Next is Stoneleigh Abbey that grew from humble beginnings as a Cistercian monastery in 1154 into a comfortable family home following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. This magnificent stately home is comprised of two halves; the first is a fine example of a Jacobean house in red sandstone built from the ruins of the monastery, while the second (the West Wing) was designed by famous architect Francis Smith of Warwick in Baroque style. The house has played host to many famous guests over the centuries including King Charles I, Queen Victoria and novelist Jane Austen.

After dinner back at the hotel, we are treated to a fascinating Shakespeare-themed talk by a guest speaker.