Itinerary for: Heart of England (BRTHOE)
| England | Oxford |
| Stratford | Cotswolds |
| Avebury | Lacock |
| Blenheim Palace | Warwick Castle |
ITINERARY:
Day 1 Cotswolds
Relax as we travel through the beautiful English countryside on our journey to the famous university city of Oxford where we walk through the impressive sandstone buildings as we wind our way to Christ Church, Oxford's grandest college. This afternoon is a feast for literary enthusiasts as we visit Shakespeare's Stratford-upon- Avon to discover the Ye Olde England of the Bard's birth and his final resting place. We then enjoy a short drive to Anne Hathaway's cottage en route to our delightful Cotswold accommodation.
(D)
Day 2 Bath
Today we explore the Cotswolds and its honey coloured, picture-postcard villages littered with atmospheric churches, traditional country inns and lovely thatched cottages. Our day will start with a visit to historic Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the current home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. We then traverse through the gentle timeless rolling hills of the Cotswolds, stopping at some of the exquisite village gems on our way to the splendid city of Bath.
(B)
Day 3 Bath
Listed as a World Heritage Site, Bath is truly one of Europe's most attractive cities and can boast the highest concentration of listed building anywhere in the UK. Spend the morning exploring this Georgian city, visit the recently restored Roman Baths, the towering 11th century Abbey and Georgian stone crescents. Literary enthusiasts may choose to visit the engaging Jane Austen Centre, which offers a snapshot of life during Regency times and explores how living in this magnificent city affected Jane Austen's life and writing. During the day we take a journey to the nearby picturesque village of Lacock. Both the village and its Abbey have been used in TV and film productions such as Pride and Prejudice, The Other Boleyn Girl and Harry Potter. Tonight we return to Bath for a delicious local evening meal.
(B/D)
Day 4 Stonehenge / Windsor Castle
We say farewell to Bath, and look forward to more spectacular sights as we wander through the back roads to visit the great mystical construction of Stonehenge then onto the glorious city of Salisbury to admire Britain's tallest cathedral spire. Our final destination is a regal exploration to discover Europe's largest occupied fortress, Windsor Castle, the favourite home of the Queen. At the conclusion of a marvellous day we return to London.
(B)
Price
Twin Share
£580
Single
£695
Pick-up/Drop-off Information:
Tour departs at 08.30am and returns (approx) at 5.30pm from:
Corus Hotel
Hyde Park
Lancaster Gate
London, W2 3LG
EARLYBIRD SPECIAL!
Book your tour before the 31st December 2009 and save 10% off the price of your 2010 tour.*
*Discount applies to the full tour price. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Tour must be booked and deposited before deadline for discount to apply. Normal tour terms and conditions apply.
TOURS INCLUSIONS
What is included in your tour price
Historic heroes, ancient sites and regal castles meet with picturesque villages and towns on this insightful introduction to southern England's most engaging people and places.
INCLUSIONS
• 3 nights in traditional & unique accommodation
• Driver/Guide companion
• All mini-coach transportation
• Full English cooked breakfast daily
• Three-course evening meals x 2
Entrance fees as listed:
• Christ Church College, Oxford
• Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
• Anne Hathway's Cottage, Stratford
• Roman Baths Pump House, Bath
• Lacock Abbey
• Stonehenge, Wiltshire
• Windsor Castle
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Arrival and departure airport transfers are NOT included on tours unless it is specifically stated as being so on your booking confirmation.
All tours depart from our centrally located base. You are responsible for being at the departure point by the time designated in the itinerary. If you are not booking into our base hotel, you can book a transfer to this from where ever you are staying or we can collect you from any centrally located hotel where you are staying and deliver you to our base hotel at a cost £15.00. Transfers from accommodations further than 20 minutes drive away cost from £25.00.
Where transfers are not included as part of your tour unless specifically mentioned on the tour itinerary. Customised ('tailor-made') holidays for gorups usually have airport transfers included as part of the package.
We are happy to provide airport transfers but these have to be booked independently. |
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All tours commence from a major city. Accommodation in the departure city, prior and post tour is NOT included unless specifically stated in a tour itinerary and must be reserved separately. |
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Accommodation is in three-star or equivalent lodgings. All rooms are with private facilities (bathrooms), unless specifically informed at the time of booking your tour.
Accommodations include country inns, manor houses, cosy farmhouses and quaint family owned B+B's whilst on tour. Where not available, properties of similar standards are used.
PLEASE NOTE: the vast majority of the accommodations we use do not have traditional-style porterage (neither do they have lifts/elevators). Your guide, however, will normally be able to assist with your baggage. BUT please do note that if you bring along bags that are heavier than the normal standard airline permissable weight and size, European Health and Safety regulations apply. Under these circumstances, guides will be within their rights should they be reluctant to carry that bag. |
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All transportation aboard our comfortable 6 to 16 seat mini-coaches and the services of a driver/guide throughout. |
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Cooked breakfast daily* whilst on tour and minimum two-course dinners every night**. See detailed tour itinerary for full meal inclusions. There is inevitably a budget for dinners but it is normally more than sufficient to cover a free choice of the menu. However, should the group dine in places where the costs of the meals are substantailly higher than the budget allows, particpants will have an option of adding to the budget on an ad hoc basis if wanting higher priced menu items.
*In tour arrival cities - London, Paris, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Nice, Rome and Dublin, continental breakfast is sometime served. All tours on the European mainland include continental breakfast.
**On all tours over four nights where individual short tours are combined, the dinner between tours not included (unless specifically stated as such in the tour itinerary) to allow tour participants some independence and flexibility. Dinners are never included in arrival and departure cities unless specifically stated in the tour itinerary. |
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All sightseeing and entrance fees to sights mentioned as possible visits in the itinerary, or when accompanied by driver/guide, up to a budget specified by the guide. Tour participants may be asked to pay an entrance fee for attractions and sights they may have specifically requested that be visited and are not normally included on a tour itinerary. All taxes. All tips and gratuities (except to guide/companion) to outside suppliers but you're free to supplement if the service warrants such. |
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No Cancellation Guarantee - once a deposit has been made, we promise that we will only cancel the tour in extreme circumstances (eg. where local or organisational circumstances make it impossible for us to deliver our tour). Historically we have never cancelled a tour simply because we have low numbers. If you have invested your travel dreams with us, we will do our best to honour them! Where we have accepted your booking, and it later becomes apparent that you might be the only person(s) on that tour, Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd will notify you of such and give you the opportunity of changing to another departure, or for you to cancel your tour without cost. |
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Comprehensive 'Pre-Departure' material is posted on another section of this website. |
What's not Included
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Air Fares to Europe. Air travel must be booked independently and the flight details given to us. It is your, or your travel agents, responsbility to let us have this information in a timely manner. |
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Transfers to and from arrival/departure airports unless specifically reserved or promised as part of an overall tour reservation. These must be booked independently. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are at the departure hotel at the appointed time. |
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Driver/Guide gratuity is at your discretion. |
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Lunches, social drinks, items of a personal nature and entrance fees when not accompanied by our Driver/Guide. |
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Occasional optional evening theatre/festival visits. |
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Incidental expenses, such as telephone bills, newspapers and room service incurred at accommodations is the responsibility of the individual client. All expenses are to settled prior to leaving the accommodation. |
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Laundry costs and any shipping charges for the return of purchases made on tour, or for the return of property lost on tour. |
Personal expenditure on drinks etc.
Please View All Departure Dates Below:
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Departs
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Returns
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Price
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Guarantee
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Available
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Fri 06 Aug 2010
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Mon 09 Aug 2010
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£580
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Full
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Fri 13 Aug 2010
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Mon 16 Aug 2010
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£580
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Full
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Fri 20 Aug 2010
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Mon 23 Aug 2010
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£580
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Fri 27 Aug 2010
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Mon 30 Aug 2010
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£580
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Fri 03 Sep 2010
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Mon 06 Sep 2010
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£580
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Fri 10 Sep 2010
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Mon 13 Sep 2010
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£580
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Fri 17 Sep 2010
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Mon 20 Sep 2010
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£580
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Fri 24 Sep 2010
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Mon 27 Sep 2010
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£580
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Fri 01 Oct 2010
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Mon 04 Oct 2010
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£580
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Fri 08 Oct 2010
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Mon 11 Oct 2010
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£580
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