PRIVATE TOUR ITINERARY

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The Southwest of England offers a delightful mix of historic cities, village charm and dramatic coastal scenery. In this private tour of Southwest England, your chauffeur-guide will take you on 11 days exploring England's beautiful west country. Experience the flower-boxed Cotswold villages, the elegant Georgian town of Bath, and myth and legend in Glastonbury, the wave-swept coast and charming villages of Cornwall, the sweeping moorlands of Devon, the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, the magnificent cathedral city of Salisbury, exuberant English gardens, the spires of Oxford, and Windsor Palace, the largest occupied castle in the world.

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Day 1) Arrive London 

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport where you will be met on arrival by your chauffeur-guide. Depart for the immaculately preserved village of Lacock, favorite of film producers and settings of Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. You’ll arrive in time for lunch. Explore the picturesque streets and historic cottages untouched by modern times, including the fine Romanesque Cloisters and Chapter House of Lacock Abbey. Continue your journey to Bath for a two-night stay at the Queensberry Hotel, located in the heart of the Georgian town, a short stroll from the Royal Crescent.  

 

Day 2) Bath & Castle Combe

Depart with your local guide for a walking tour of Bath taking in all the main sights including Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge (a covered bridge in the Palladian style), the Royal Crescent and many of the places associated with Jane Austen’s time and life in Bath. Enjoy afternoon tea at lunch time (includes savory selections) in the elegant interiors of the Pump Room, built between 1789-1799, and setting of Jane Austen’s Persuasionand Northanger Abbey, followed by a visit to the Roman Baths, the well-preserved thermae constructed in 70 AD. This evening, enjoy an excursion to the picturesque village of Castle Combe, setting of the film War Horse. Arrive in time to explore the village followed by dinner in the town.

 

Day 3) Montacute House & Bedruthan Steps

Today, depart Bath for Montacute House, a fine Elizabethan manor with landscaped gardens, where you’ll also be able to enjoy lunch. This afternoon, continue to the dramatic Bedruthan Steps on the beautiful Cornish Coast where there will be an opportunity to walk along the cliffs and admire the pirate coves below. Next, head to the charming historic port of Padstow for a stroll and casual supper at Rick Stein’s Fish & Chips restaurant. Rick Stein is an English celebrity chef, restaurateur, and television presenter. This evening, continue to Marazion for a three-night stay at The Godolphin seafront hotel boasting magnificent views of St Michael’s Mount.

 

Day 4) St. Michael’s Mount, Mousehole & Porthcurno  

Start the day visiting the famous St Michaels Mount, steeped in fascinating history, with amazing views over Mounts Bay, and still the family home of the St Aubyns. With its little fishing harbor and tidal causeway, the Mount holds plenty to see and explore. This afternoon, visit the pretty fishing village of Mousehole, explore the Merry Maidens, a unique Neolithic Stone Circle created thousands of years ago, admire the sea views from the Minack Theater, an open-air theater perched on the cliffs high above the sea, and visit the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, of strategic importance to the allies during WWII. Tonight, dinner is included at the hotel.

 

Day 5) Penwith Peninsula & St. Ives

Today, explore the famed Penwith Peninsula from St. Just to St. Ives, with their magnificent sweeping views across the North Cornish coast, and Botallack, filming location of Poldark. St. Ives is an artist mecca; wander around this picturesque fishing village and peruse the shops and art galleries. Visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, formerly the Trewyn studios and now in the care of the Tate Gallery. Barbara Hepworth, a leading figure of modern British art, lived and worked in Trewyn from 1949 until her death in 1975. You’ll also visit the Tate St. Ives, where you’ll discover 100 years of art, celebrating how West Cornwall has welcomed and inspired artists. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

 

Day 6) Trelissick & St. Mawes

Depart Marazion for Trelissick House & Gardens, a welcoming country house and garden set on an estate with stunning maritime views and lovely woodland walks. You’ll then cross the nearby estuary on the King Harry Ferry and continue to St. Mawes where you’ll first visit the castle, among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's artillery fortresses with spectacular views out to the English Channel, and have time to enjoy lunch in this pretty harbor town. This afternoon, depart for Devon where you’ll explore the wilds of Dartmoor, home to wild ponies, sheep, and stone bridges. Arrive at the Cornish Arms in Tavistock for an overnight stay where dinner tonight is included at their award-winning restaurant.

 

Day 7) Agatha Christie’s Greenway

Today, depart the Cornish Arms for Agatha Christie’s country home, Greenway. Located on the wooded banks of the River Dart in Devon, Greenway is the setting for some of Christie’s most famous stories. You can inspect some of her very own treasures and see the famous boathouse, where, in Dead Man’s Folly, Poirot’s case takes an unexpected twist. This afternoon, arrive in Shrewton for two-night stay at Rollestone Manor, a beautiful historic house near Stonehenge, where dinner is included tonight.

 

Day 8) Stonehenge & Salisbury

After breakfast, depart for Stonehenge — a World Heritage Site and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe — where you will walk in the footsteps of your Neolithic ancestors.  Explore the ancient landscape on foot and step inside the Neolithic Houses to discover the tools and objects of everyday Neolithic life. Visit the world-class exhibition and visitor center with 250 ancient objects and come face-to-face with a 5,500- year-old man. This afternoon, visit the Cathedral City of Salisbury for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a private-guided tour of Salisbury’s mediaeval quarter, Cathedral Close, the Cathedral itself and more. The Cathedral is famous for its rich lore and towering Gothic spire and includes one of four original copies of the Magna Carta, the 1215 document that first established that everyone was subject to the law. Dinner tonight is included at the hotel. 

 

Day 9) Oxford & Blenheim Palace

Leave this morning for the famous university town of Oxford. Enjoy a private-guided walking tour including visits to the Bodleian Library, the Eagle and Child Pub where C.S. Lewis and Tolkein met and enjoy exclusive access to two colleges. In the afternoon, visit Blenheim Palace, a magnificent estate set on 2,100 acres of beautiful parkland, landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, and home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough as well as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Continue your journey to the pretty village of Stow-on-the-Wold (usually referred to as Stow) in the Cotswolds for a three-night stay. Stow is an attractive Cotswold village and includes a mixture of quaint shops, tea rooms, local pubs and restaurants set amongst period houses, and picturesque honey-colored Cotswold stone cottages. Stow Lodge Hotel is set on its own picturesque grounds overlooking the market square. The hotel has been family owned and run for over 50 years and enjoys a fine reputation for its friendly hospitality and excellent service. Dinner tonight is included at Stow Lodge.

 

Day 10) Cotswolds

This morning, visit Sudeley Castle, a 15th-century country house where Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Elizabeth 1, amongst others, all have connections. The centerpiece is the Queens Garden, so named because four of England’s queens—Anne Boleyn, Katherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I—all admired the hundreds of varieties of roses found here. After visiting the castle, take some time to explore the pretty Cotswold town of Winchcombe, with its numerous cafes and pubs for lunch. This afternoon, visit Chastleton House, a fine unaltered Jacobean manor house with gardens laid out the same way for 400 years, also setting of the costume drama Wolf Hall. In the afternoon, enjoy a full afternoon English tea with spectacular views across the peaceful Cotswold valleys and superb food. 

 

Day 11) London Heathrow Airport

Depart Stow-on-the-Wold for London Heathrow Airport or central London.

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