The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

2017

Your destination

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

2 2017

Cotswolds: The Cotswolds is a region of gentle hills, delightful cottages of local mellowed stone and secluded manor houses. The

outstanding countryside is so ‘typically English’, sometimes you think time has stood still for over 300 years!

Your destination

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

3 2017

We have highlighted the main points of your journey on the map below.

Day by day itinerary

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

4 2017

Day 1 9.00am 1.00pm 1.30pm 3.30pm 4.30pm

Arrival to the UK, transfer to the countryside with a visit to Highgrove Gardens Upon arrival into London Heathrow, once you have passed through security and customs you will be met by your private driver-guide in the arrivals hall. He will be your driver-guide for the entire duration of your trip. Depart Heathrow and drive to your Cotswolds hotel, Barnsley House (approx. 1 hour 30 mins). Barnsley House Situated in the centre of the Cotswold village of Barnsley, is this wonderful (fully staffed) country house set in extensive landscaped gardens. The hotel is contemporary and stylish whilst remaining packed with character and has a dedicated spa, private cinema and 18 large and luxurious rooms to choose from. Once you have checked in, enjoy the balance of the morning and lunch at leisure. This afternoon, your driver-guide will transfer you to Highgrove Gardens (approx. 30 mins) for your afternoon champagne tea tour. Champagne Tea Tour at Highgrove Gardens Since 1980 when The Prince of Wales first arrived at Highgrove, His Royal Highness has devoted much energy to transforming the gardens around the house. For the last 25 years the gardens and surrounding land have been managed to the organic and sustainable principles that His Royal Highness has for so long championed, creating a space that “works with nature, not against it”. Following your tour enjoy Champagne Afternoon Tea in the Orchard Restaurant. The shop is also available to purchase delicious Highgrove goods. Depart Highgrove with your driver-guide and return to the hotel to enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N at Barnsley House A: Barnsley, Cirencester GL7 5EE

T: +44 (0)1285 740000

Day by day itinerary

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

5 2017

Day 2 9.00am 10.00am 1.00pm 2.30pm 4.00pm

Visit to Blenheim Palace and Oxford This morning, your private driver-guide will meet you at the hotel to set off for your morning visit (approx. 45 mins). Visit to Blenheim Palace Blenheim Palace was a VERY generous gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough following his famous victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. As well as the beautiful palace itself, the stunning grounds and the Great Lake, there is also the room where Sir Winston Churchill was born. After your visit, continue into Woodstock for a short tour and lunch at leisure. Woodstock Woodstock town is a collection of easy-to-explore historic, honey-coloured streets as lovely as any found in the Cotswolds. Wander in and out of interesting boutiques, unique art galleries and antique shops. A light lunch at leisure at The Bear, Woodstock Nestled in the heart of Oxfordshire, you will experience fine dining amidst the most picturesque streets of Woodstock. The restaurant holds two prestigious AA rosettes, awarded for their classic British menu with its fine seasonal ingredients and impressive wine list. After lunch, your driver-guide will transfer you into Oxford (approx. 30 mins) for a panoramic walking tour. Oxford What most people associate with Oxford is its university, and rightly so. Over the past eight centuries eminent scientists, philosophers, authors, archbishops, explorers and politicians have emerged from its ivory towers. However the city of Oxford is not to be forgotten, it is a medieval city seeped in culture and history with a lively mix of restaurants, pubs and theatres adding to its alluring and vibrant buzz. It is impressive to think that within one square mile alone, Oxford has more than 900 buildings of architectural or historical interest. With so much to see, a walking tour is the perfect way to explore the city and is a fascinating way to learn about this unique city, its history, famous people and odd traditions. Afternoon punting experience Try the quintessentially English pastime of punting, or have a highly experienced punter take you down the river on a beautifully hand crafted Oxford punt. The duration of the trip is entirely up to you, but you will undoubtedly drift past Oxford's famous Botanic Gardens, through Christ Church Meadows (where Lewis Carroll taught students at the time he wrote the famous Alice Through the Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland) past St Hilda's College gardens and back to the Boathouse. At the end of the afternoon, your driver-guide will transfer you back to the hotel (approx. 1 hour) to enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N at Barnsley House

Day by day itinerary

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

6 2017

Day 3 9.00am 10.00am 12.30pm 2.00pm 5.00pm

Visit to Lacock Abbey and Bath This morning, your private driver-guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Lacock (approx. 1 hour). Lacock You really have to rub your eyes and ask 'Am I living in the 21st century?' That's the Lacock effect for you. Lacock is a timeless, traditional English village that looks like it has just stepped out of medieval times. Or the pages of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice or JK Rowling's Harry Potter novels. Nothing is allowed to interfere with its looks, not even TV aerials or overhead cables. No wonder, then, that it's the star of many movies and period dramas, including the adventures of a certain wizard from Hogwarts School... Visit Lacock Abbey The Abbey is a quirky country house located in the heart of the village. Here you can experience the atmosphere of the medieval rooms and cloister count, giving a sense of the Abbey’s monastic past. The museum celebrates the achievements of former resident William Henry Fox Talbot who is famous for his contributions to the invention of photography. Lunch at leisure at the Sign of The Angel Inn A 2 AA Rosette awarded 15

th Century coaching inn using the best local, seasonal produce served in an easy

going atmosphere. After lunch, your driver-guide will transfer you on to Bath (approx. 30 mins) for your afternoon walking tour. Set off on a walking tour of Bath, to include the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. Back in approximately 60AD the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex around Britain's only hot spring that still flows with natural hot water. Nowadays you can't bathe in the water here but you can still see the water's source and the roman ruins of the temple which was once the hub of everyday life. The museum has an interactive element with roman costumed characters and the chance to try a glass of the spa water. The present Bath Abbey was built in 1499 and is considered to be the last of the great medieval churches of England. And it is easy to see how it got that title. The spectacular stained glass windows and honey coloured stone rise majestically above the city whilst the real unique feature of the abbey is the Ladder of Angels; a façade of ascending and descending angels. After the tour, your driver-guide will transfer you back to the hotel (approx. 1 hour 10 mins) to enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N at Barnsley House

Day by day itinerary

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

7 2017

Day 4 9.00am 1.30pm 5.00pm

Full day touring quaint Cotswold villages This morning, your private driver-guide will meet you at the hotel to set off on your full day touring some of Cotswolds most picturesque villages. Visit Chipping Campden Frequently described as the "jewel in the crown" of Cotswold towns, Chipping Campden is also one of the best preserved and most historically important. The High Street is lined with a range of wonderful and intriguing shops. In the town centre is the Market hall built in 1627 for the sale of butter, cheese and poultry. Visit Stow-on-the-Wold Stow-on-the-Wold is a small market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire. Stow is an important shopping centre and has many fine Antique shops, Art galleries, Gifts and Crafts and is a centre for Walking the Cotswolds countryside. Lunch at leisure at the Wild Rabbit Inn Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Wild Rabbit is a re-invention of the traditional English Inn, They serve locally sourced, seasonal food in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Visit to Bourton-on-the-Water Probably the most popular village in the Cotswolds, and often referred to as the "Venice of the Cotswolds" because the River Windrush runs right through the centre. The combination of this clear sparkling water and the attractive low bridges crossing it create a charming scene. At the end of the afternoon your driver-guide will transfer you back to the hotel (approx. 20 mins) to enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N at Barnsley House

Day by day itinerary

The Cotswolds Sample Itinerary

8 2017

Day 5 9.00am 10.00am 12.00pm 1.30pm 3.30pm 5.30pm Day 6

Cookery Class in the UK’s Best Cookery School - Daylesford followed by visit to Sezincote House and Gardens This morning, your private driver-guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Daylesford Organic Farm and Cookery School (approx. 40 mins). Private cooking class at Daylesford Organic For three hours, the cookery school will be yours, together with the undivided attention of The Cookery School team. Enjoy interactive, fun-filled demonstrations as well as a tour of the market garden. Enjoy the labour of your works with lunch at Daylesford before continuing on to Sezincote (approx. 25 mins) for your afternoon visit. Sezincote House and Gardens After winding through the mighty oaks that line the long drive, this Gloucestershire garden on the edge of the Cotswolds, you see a weathered-copper onion dome straight out of India. The south front, complete with curving orangery, unfurls above a Repton landscape that has remained unchanged since the mid-19

th century.

The garden is blessed by a series of spring-fed pools, connected by gurgling water which tumbles into the Island Pool in the valley bottom before joining the River Evenlode below. Restored in 1968, the garden includes canals and Irish yews, a curving conservatory – home to many tender climbing plans, a little pavilion and all the exceptionally fine planting of the water garden, where many rare plants can be seen. At the end of the visit, your driver-guide will take you back to the hotel passing through the Slaughters en route. The Slaughters Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter share a fascinating name, which derives from "miry place" which it certainly is not now! The link (and the fascination) is the tiny River Eye that links the two small villages. Lower Slaughter is just off the Roman Fosse Way and a wonderfully conserved typical Cotswold village, with a Water Mill and ducks on the stream - a wander alongside the stream seems like a privilege. Upper Slaughter is equally attractive with old cottages and farmhouses, and a Manor House now a hotel. Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

O/N at Barnsley House This morning, your driver-guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to London Heathrow in plenty of time for your return flight. Bon Voyage!

LIFE IS IN THE DETAIL