British Heritage Travel Magazine - Stately Homes of Oxford

British Heritage Travel Magazine - Stately Homes of Oxford

& the Home Counties

Themes

  • Royal Connections

  • Historical

  • Film Locations

Associations

  • British Heritage Travel Magazine

British Heritage Travel Magazine - Stately Homes of Oxford

& the Home Counties

Prices From $2,190p/p

The pastoral landscapes of the Home Counties that surround London provide a beautiful backdrop to some of Britain’s most impressive stately homes. We delve into the fascinating stories of these magnificent places with their hidden treasures and superlative art collections, including Highclere Castle, filming location of the much loved Downton Abbey television series.

What’s Included
• Shared airport transfers from London Heathrow*
• 5 nights at the Holiday Inn Maidenhead
• Full English breakfast
• 3-course table d’hôte dinner on three evenings
• After dinner tea and coffee
• Services of a tour director throughout your stay
• Travel to and from all excursions
• All entrance costs
• Porterage
• British Heritage Travel’s contributing editor Sandra Lawrence will join the tour

*supplement applies for transfers from all other airports

 Single Room Supplement - $500

Day 1
Arrival

On arrival at Heathrow airport, you will be transferred to the Holiday Inn Maidenhead, our hotel for the duration of our stay. This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner with the tour director.

Day 2
Waddesdon Manor and Ascott House

After breakfast, we travel to Waddesdon Manor where we enjoy a guided tour. Built by the renowned de Rothschild family, Waddesdon is a renaissance-style chateau that looks as though it’s been transported to the gentle Buckinghamshire countryside from France’s Loire Valley. Inside are sumptuous rooms with unique furniture and stunning art collections while outside are Victorian style gardens, ornate fountains, statuary and an aviary.

Next stop is another de Rothschild residence; Ascott House. This half-timbered Jacobean house was transformed by the de Rothschild family towards the end of the 19th century. Although the property was donated to the National Trust in 1949, it remains the countryside residence of the family. The house contains an exceptional collection of paintings, fine furniture and superb oriental porcelain. The extensive gardens are an unusual blend of the formal and the natural, with specimen trees, shrubs and quirky features.

Day 3
Kew Palace and Windsor Castle

We start the day with an exploration of Kew Palace, an intimate royal retreat within the famous Kew Gardens. The house has a rich history spanning nearly 400 years, from its modest beginnings as the home of a rich Flemish merchant to a royal retreat for Kings George II and III and their families. We also discover the Royal Kitchens which give a fascinating insight into Georgian culinary life and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, built for George III’s wife as a picnic retreat.

Afterwards, we head to the ancient royal town of Windsor to visit Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and one of the Her Majesty the Queen’s official residences. Established in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, it has been remodelled by successive kings and queens and is regularly used for ceremonial and State occasions. The magnificent State Apartments are furnished with some of the finest works of art from the Royal Collection while St George’s Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England.

Day 4
Blenheim Palace and Oxford

We head to Blenheim Palace, undoubtedly one of Britain’s greatest houses, which we learn about on our guided tour. Seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Blenheim was designed on an awe-inspiring scale by Vanbrugh and is a masterpiece of 18th century baroque architecture. The palace boasts impressive State rooms and is set in over 2,000 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown.

We then travel to Oxford, known as the city of dreaming spires and world-famous seat of learning. We enjoy a guided walking tour to learn more about this unique city, its history, university and famous people.

Day 5
Henley-on-Thames and Highclere Castle

We travel first to the beautiful riverside town of Henley-on-Thames, famous for its rowing regatta, where we enjoy morning coffee overlooking the river. We also have time to explore the town at leisure. Several of Henley’s buildings are designated ‘of special architectural or historical interest’ including St Mary’s Church, the Town Hall, Market Place and the 18th-century stone bridge.

We continue on to the world-famous Highclere Castle, residence of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and filming location for the much loved Downton Abbey television series. Entrance includes access to the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle, which explores the achievements of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922.

Later, we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

Day 6
Departure

You will be transferred back to Heathrow airport for your return flight home.

What’s Included
• Shared airport transfers from London Heathrow*
• 5 nights at the Holiday Inn Maidenhead
• Full English breakfast
• 3-course table d’hôte dinner on three evenings
• After dinner tea and coffee
• Services of a tour director throughout your stay
• Travel to and from all excursions
• All entrance costs
• Porterage
• British Heritage Travel’s contributing editor Sandra Lawrence will join the tour

*supplement applies for transfers from all other airports

Single Room Supplement - $500

Holiday Inn, Maidenhead
The Holiday Inn is situated on the outskirts of Maidenhead and is ideally situated for Heathrow airport and our programme of excursions. The hotel offers modern en-suite rooms with free Wi-Fi and satellite TV, a bar and restaurant plus a health club with indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and gym.

Single Room Supplement - $500