Village Life in England’s Cotswolds
September 15 - 23, 2012
Blenheim Palace in England's Cotswolds
Cornish Cream Tea
Poetically referred to as the "very soul of England," the Cotswolds feature thatched-roofed hamlets and a bucolic countryside. Stroll across the fabled quads of higher learning at Oxford; marvel at the grandeur of Gloucester Cathedral; witness a profusion of autumn color in the magnificent arts and crafts-style Hidcote Manor Garden; and experience village life in Broadway and Chipping Camden, where daily routines have changed little over time. A private, behind-the-scenes tour of Winston Churchill's birthplace at Blenheim Palace, hosted by Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill, will be a highlight.
Study Leader Information
By special arrangement, Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill,Sir Winston Churchill’s cousin and brother of the present Duke of Marlborough,hosts an exclusive guided tour and private lunch in Blenheim Palace.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - DEPART FROM THE U.S.
Day 2 - LONDON, ENGLAND/CHELTENHAM
Check into the QUEEN’S HOTEL.
Day 3 - CHELTENHAM/GLOUCESTER
Cheltenham walking tour and visit to Gloucester Cathedral. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Lecture on the history of Cheltenham.
Day 4 - BLENHEIM /BLADON/OXFORD
Tour of Blenheim Palace. Visit to Winston Churchill’s grave in Bladon. Walking tour of Oxford. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Meet Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill.
Day 5 - COTSWOLDS VILLAGES
Visits to Hidcote Manor Garden, Chipping Campden and Broadway.
Day 6 - COTSWOLDS VILLAGES
Tour the villages of Ebrington, Upper and Lower Brailes and Shipston-on-Stour. Visit to Broughton Castle.
Day 7 - COTSWOLDS VILLAGES
Visits to the villages of Bibury, Burford and Stow-on-the-Wold. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Cheltenham VILLAGE FORUM™.
Day 8 - CHELTENHAM/STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Day at leisure in Cheltenham. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT OPTION: Excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon, hometown of William Shakespeare.
Day 9 - CHELTENHAM/LONDON/U.S.
To register by credit card, please call 888-484-8785; to register online, please fill out our reservation form. View our terms and conditions.
Please email National Trust Tours for questions about this program. Be sure to include your mailing address if you are requesting a paper copy of the brochure for this program.
