Itinerary

Day 1 London

London is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its settlement, London has been part of many important movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city. The city boasts four World Heritage Sites: The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church; the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Meet your driver at Heathrow airport, and take a private transfer to your hotel.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

One of the world's great cities, vibrant London manages to shine in the greyest weather and its diversity defies a simple definition. This sprawling city has drawn people for centuries, looking for something and finding the unexpected. It's one of the world's most international cities and its influences blend to create something uniquely wonderful. Let your Guide know your particular interests and he/she will help you discover the city in a new way. Learn how to take the "tube", explore the cobblestone streets, gardens, and markets, and be a Londoner for a day! Your Guide will meet you at your hotel. Please note that one should wear comfortable shoes and a hat; suitable for children. (No entrance fees included)

Located in the Oxford Street shopping district, home to famed department store Selfridges; this London hotel is 300 metres from Marble Arch and Hyde Park. Thistle Marble Arch's 692 spacious guestrooms include minibars, in-room safes, wireless Internet access, and baths with marble fixtures, TV speakers, and heated towel rails. This eight-story hotel retains its 1933 Art Deco exterior and offers business and fitness centres, a coffee bar, the 1930s-themed Carvery Restaurant, and the nostalgic Glenn Miller Bar.

Overnight at Thistle Marble Arch (4*).

Day 2 London

A visit to the magnificent medieval Warwick Castle, most of whose amazing towers and ramparts are still intact. Warwick Castle will take you back through its 1,000 year history as you enter over the footbridge to a bygone world of banquets, battles and ceremony. Visit the Tussaud"s waxwork, or if you"re feeling brave visit the spine-chilling dungeons where prisoners were tortured. You might wish to stroll through the Castle"s delightful and lovingly tended gardens set in the peaceful surroundings of England"s finest medieval Castle. During the summer months, archery, falconry and jousting take place.

Steeped in history and heritage the area of England known as The Cotswolds is a charming blend of cottages with honey-coloured walls and thatched roofs, market towns with crooked half-timbered houses lining the High Street, and ancient stone crosses, all set in the gently rolling hills ("wolds") that are so typically English in character.

We then travel through the rolling Warwickshire hills to Stratford-upon-Avon, a market town at the edge of the Forest of Arden made famous for being the birthplace of the world-famous playwright William Shakespeare. We"ll visit the Tudor-style birthplace of William Shakespeare, gaining a fascinating insight into his childhood with its typical parlour, bedrooms, kitchen, buttery and of course the glove-maker"s workshop used by John, Shakespeare"s father.

The colleges in Oxford date back to the 13th century and among its famous students were Bill Clinton, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein and Lewis Carroll. We take you on a fascinating walking tour through the cobbled streets of Oxford to see the Bodleian Library and the picture-perfect college courtyards, for which Oxford is justifiably famous.

Admission to Warwick Castle, Christ Church college and Shakespeare's Birthplace is included in the tour price.

Overnight at Thistle Marble Arch (4*).

Day 3 London

Here are some ideas for a Self Guided Shopping Tour... Outside of the mainstream shopping street of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge, there are plenty of great areas to check out... The Cabbages & Frocks Market in Marylebone High Street offers the best of global food, together with fashion and lifestyle. Popular with the tourists, St Christopher's Place is one of the most exciting specialist shopping locations in the West End. The area is made up of walkways that include Gees Court, St Christopher's Place, James Street, Barrett Street and parts of Oxford Street and Wigmore Street. Duke of York Square, in Chelsea is the area's newly developed pedestrian precinct. The eateries feature great outdoor spaces. One of the best places for outdoor shopping, Spitalfields is a quirky shoppers' dream. If you're looking for a one-off piece or something truly unique, you'll find it here.

Overnight at Thistle Marble Arch (4*).

Day 4 Cheltenham

Cheltenham (or Cheltenham Spa) is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image of being respectable and wealthy. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The town is famous for its Regency architecture and is said to be "the most complete regency town in England".

Meet your driver for a private train station transfer.

Enjoy a train ride from London to Cheltenham. The train takes around two hours.

Train station transfer in private vehicle with driver.

In attractive grounds near the centre of Cheltenham and in the beautiful Cotswolds, Thistle Cheltenham Hotel (4*) offers excellent service, a heated indoor swimming pool and easy access to the M5 motorway. The Thistle Cheltenham hotel boasts an atmosphere of informality and serenity. The hotel is also conveniently located between Cheltenham, 3 miles (5 km) away and Gloucester, 4 miles (6.5 km) away. All of the en suite rooms are furnished to a high standard and include a range of modern amenities. Guests can also enjoy the Otium Health & Leisure Club, with a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a fully equipped gymnasium. In the grounds, there are two all-weather, floodlit tennis courts. The award-winning Burford Room restaurant offers international cuisine and an extensive wine list.

Overnight at Thistle Cheltenham (4*).

Day 5 Cheltenham

Enjoy a private 10 hour tour with your own vehicle, guide and driver to the Roman town of Wells, the world heritage site of Stonehenge and the Georgian town of Bath. The first stop is the beautiful town of Wells, with it's gothic buildings including the magnificent cathedral and St Cuthbert's church. Explore the town on foot, along the cobblestoned streets, before visiting the Bishop' Palace and Vicar's close. Lunch is at leisure. Continue through the rolling Wessex landscape to Stonehenge, a collection of stones dragged 5000 years ago to this lonely windy plain near Salisbury. Stonehenge continues to enthrall the imagination and captivate the heart of every visitor. In Bath, you'll enjoy a panoramic tour, in which you'll see the famous Bath Abbey, the often photgraphed Pulteney Bridge which is modelled on the Florentine Ponte Vecchio and the Georgian crescents that helped make Bath so famous. During the tour you will visit the Roman Baths that made the city famous, the best preserved Roman spa from the ancient world. (Includes entrance to Bath museum and baths and entrance and audio guide in Stonehenge).

Overnight at Thistle Cheltenham (4*).

Day 6 Windermere

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it. It is in the county of Cumbria and entirely within the Lake District National Park.

Train station transfer in private vehicle with driver.

Enjoy the train ride from Cheltenham to Oxenholme (20 mins from Windermere). A connection in Birmingham is required. Train travel time is approximately 3 hours.

Take a private transfer with vehicle and driver from Oxenholme train station to your accommodation in nearby Windermere.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Windermere. Pick up some information at the local tourist information centre on short walks and hikes in the area, stroll down to the lake shore, enjoy an afternoon tea in one of the many cafes and try the local Kendal mint cake - a staple for hikers on their ambles across the mountains.

Standing on the shore of Lake Windermere, England's largest lake, the historic Macdonald Old England Hotel and Spa (4*) is an ideal base for exploring the Lake District National Park. The award-winning Number 23 Church Street restaurant offers unrivalled views over mature lawns to the lake. Enjoy one of the 106 luxurious bedrooms in a spectacular lakeside setting. On site facilities include spa treatments and packages, a 20m pool, gym, sauna and steam room, 2 AA Rosette restaurant, bar, lounge and terrace. The hotel is also in close proximity to local attractions and watersports.

Overnight at MacDonald Old England (4*).

Day 7 Windermere

Experience what this region has to offer as you take in the splendid views throughout the day on a full day (shared) tour with a driver/guide. Often described as 'the most beautiful corner of England' this tour offers a wonderful introduction to the magnificent scenery of the English Lake District. Along the way, you will see ten Lakes and three mountain passes, before embarking on an extended cruise from the mountains to the moorland on Ullswater - 'Queen of the English Lakes'. We will pass a beautiful waterfall, Castlerigg Stone Circle, and the ancient township of Keswick (where you have lunch at leisure). Our last stop of the day is the delightful village of Grasmere. At the end of the day, you are sure to appreciate why this area has inspired poets and artists alike and for generations has drawn visitors from all over the world. Throughout the tour there are frequent stops for photographs and short walks.

Overnight at MacDonald Old England (4*).

Day 8 Windermere

Explore the stunning surroundings by bike. There are lots of different routes available, depending on how long you would like to bike for, and your personal interests. Your activity includes the hire of a quality 24 speed Trek bikes fitted with puncture-resistant tyres, use of safety helmet, route sheet, map holder, lock and expert route advice as well as well-researched, traffic friendly easy-to-follow route sheets ranging from 6 to 30 miles. Tag-a-longs, Burley trailers, cycling information and accessories are available for hire if needed. Some suggested places to visit include Cartmel and Holker Hall, home of the Lakeland Motor Museum and the magnificent garden festival, Hawkshead, the Stott Park Bobbin Mill and Grizedale Forest.

Who has not heard of Peter Rabbit? Or Pigling Bland, Jeremy Fisher, Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and other characters brought to life by Beatrix Potter! Spend the day on a shared, comprehensive tour of the houses, farms, villages, valleys, lakes and mountains that are linked to her stories. Enter the world of Beatrix, a lonely child who became one of the world's best loved children's authors, and one of the most important benefactors of the National Trust, using income from her Peter Rabbit Tales to protect her beloved Lake District. Travel north alongside Lake Windermere to Waterhead and then from here to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farm where she wrote many of her famous children's stories in this little 17th century stone house. You have the opportunity to go into the shop, explore her garden and do an optional visit the house. The next stop is the medieval village of Hawkshead where you have time to explore this fascinating village. On the way to Coniston Water you will be driven through the renowned beauty spot of Tarn Hows where there will be a stop for a photo. Then board a ferry near Coniston for a lake cruise. The tour continues through Yewdale, passing Yew Tree Tarn and Skelwith Bridge then back to Windermere and Bowness. Complete this enjoyable half day shared tour with an optional cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, former home of Beatrix Potter’s mother, before returning to your accommodation. (entrances or cream tea not included - please speak to your Sales Advisor if you would like them to be included).

Essentially this tour is of the central and northern parts of the area, with frequent stops for photographs and detailed commentary. The lunchbreak at Grasmere provides an opportunity to visit Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth. The afternoon sees us near Keswick visiting locations where Beatrix Potter holidayed and which inspired her Tales of Mrs. Tiggy-winkle and Benjamin Bunny, including Newlands Valley and Moss Force Waterfall.

A lake cruise on Squirrel Nutkin's Derwentwater, a spectacular drive over the northern mountain passes and a visit to the 5,000 year old Castlerigg Stone Circle completes the tour.

Overnight at MacDonald Old England (4*).

Day 9 Windermere

Transfer to Manchester Airport in a private vehicle with driver. The journey should take approximately 1.5hours.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Manchester/Liverpool airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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