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.​

 

Day 1) Depart London

Depart London Heathrow Airport, or centra London, with your driver-guide for the immaculately preserved village of Lacock, favorite of film producers and settings of Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. 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 in the heart of the city, a short stroll from the Royal Crescent.  

 

Day 2) Bath & Castle Combe

Today, enjoy a private-guided tour of Bath taking in all the main sights including the many places associated with Jane Austen’s time and life in this fine city. You will see Bath from the best viewpoint, tour the Georgian town and visit the well-preserved thermae of the Roma Baths, constructed in 70 AD. Afterwards, enjoy afternoon tea in the elegant interiors of the Pump Room, built between 1789-1799 and setting of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. This evening, visit the picturesque village of Castle Combe, setting of the movie War Horse. Arrive in time to explore the village. Dinner is included this evening at a local inn.

 

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 a luxury seafront hotel boasting magnificent views of St Michael’s Mount.

 

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

Today, visit the famous St Michaels Mount, a tidal island steeped in fascinating history with amazing views over Mounts Bay. The mediaeval castle is still the family home of the St Aubyns. With its little fishing harbor and tidal causeway, the Mount holds plenty to see and explore. Continue your tour of Cornwall; 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 cliffs of Land’s End, and visit the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, of strategic importance to the allies during WWII. Tonight, dinner is included at the hotel.

 

Day 5) Cornwall’s Tin Coast & St. Ives

Today, explore Cornwall's heritage Tin Coast and discover the former mine buildings and walk through the mining landscape of the famed Penwith Peninsula. Visit Botallack, filming location of Poldark and the village of St. Ives, an artist mecca. Wander around this picturesque fishing town and peruse the shops and art galleries. Visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden—Barbara Hepworth is a leading figure of modern British art—and 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 House & Gardens, St. Mawes & Dartmoor

Depart 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. 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. Stop for a Cornish pasty lunch in the pretty harbor town of St Mawe’s. This afternoon, depart for Devon where you’ll explore the wilds of Dartmoor, home to wild ponies, sheep, and stone bridges. Tonight, stay at a gastro pub with luxury rooms in nearby Tavistock or at a splendid manor house hotel with an award-winning restaurant.

 

Day 7) Devon & Agatha Christie’s Greenway

Today, depart the south coast of Devon 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 a two-night stay at a beautiful historic manor house near Stonehenge, where dinner is included tonight.

 

Day 8) Stonehenge & Salisbury

This morning, depart for nearby Stonehenge—a World Heritage Site and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe—where you will walk in the footsteps of your Neolithic ancestors. If you want something extra special, please ask about our sunset/sunrise experiences where you walk between the stones on a private tour. This afternoon, visit the Cathedral City of Salisbury where you will 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. 

 

Day 9) Oxford & Blenheim Palace

Leave this morning for the famous university town of Oxford. Enjoy a private-guided walking tour of historic Oxford including exclusive access to at least one college. This 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 Cotswolds for a two-night stay, with several choices of hotels. You will visit pretty Cotswold villages featuring a mixture of quaint shops, tea rooms, local pubs and restaurants set amongst period houses and picturesque honey-colored Cotswold stone cottages. Dinner tonight is included.

 

Day 10) Cotswolds & Luxury Afternoon Tea
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 Chipping Campden, with its numerous cafes and pubs for lunch. In the 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. By the end of the afternoon, enjoy a full afternoon English tea at an award-winning restaurant with spectacular views across the peaceful Cotswold valleys.

 

Day 11) London Heathrow Airport

Depart with your driver for London Heathrow Airport for your return flight or continue to central London.