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.

We head to the pretty village of Avebury where we discover the world-famous stone circle, one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe. We also visit the 16th-century Avebury Manor where rooms have been recreated in five different styles; from Tudor to the 20th century, reflecting the lives of the people who once lived there.

We continue to Bowood House where we enjoy a guided tour followed by lunch. Family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, Bowood houses a unique collection of historical artifacts and family heirlooms built up over 250 years; from Queen Victoria’s wedding chair to Napoleon’s death mask and an extensive art collection. Outside are 100 acres of beautiful parkland, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.

Later, we check in to the Queens Hotel, where we spend the next five nights. The evening is free for you to make your own dinner arrangements.

We start the day with a ‘private view’ guided tour of Chastleton House. Built between 1607 and 1612 by a prosperous wool merchant, this rare gem of a Jacobean country house was owned by the same increasingly impoverished family until 1991, remaining essentially unchanged for nearly 400 years. With virtually no intrusion from the modern age, the house exudes an informal and timeless atmosphere.

Afterwards, we take a scenic tour through the Cotswolds, stopping in some of the prettiest towns and villages including Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Bourton-on-the-Water with its elegant low bridges and tree-shaded river banks.

Back in Cheltenham in the afternoon, we enjoy a guided walking tour where we learn about the town during its spa heyday and admire the Regency town houses, intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades that line the historic Promenade, squares and terraces.

This evening, we enjoy dinner in a local restaurant with a great reputation for using quality local produce.

Our first visit is to Sudeley Castle where we enjoy an introductory talk with refreshments. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, this Tudor castle has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. The castle rooms contain many fascinating treasures, from ancient Roman times to the present day while outside are award-winning gardens. The castle was once home to Katherine Parr, the last of King Henry VIII’s six wives, and she is buried in the 15th-century church within the grounds.

After free time for lunch in the Cotswold town of Winchcombe, we return to Cheltenham to visit the Wilson Gallery, an outstanding museum and art gallery with a programme of temporary exhibitions and permanent galleries. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the gallery’s highlights.

Later we enjoy an entertaining talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, while the rest of the evening is free for you to explore the festival further and make your own dinner arrangements.