TRIP PRICE: $3995.00

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Beautiful accommodations double occupancy; $895 single supplement fee

• Most meals (6 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 5 Dinners)

• Sudden Journeys Tour Director

• A small, friendly group of 12 people

• All ground transportation (pickup in Warwick/drop off in Oxford )

• All sightseeing, events, and visits as noted in the itinerary

• All entrance fees, service charges, and standard taxes

• Coach Driver and Restaurant gratuities

• Special dinner and welcome drinks

• Unique experiences exclusive to this tour

• Custom-designed gifts for your travels

• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks as well as any free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Arrival Airport: London (LHR) - Train to Warwick (55 mins)

Departure Airport: London LHR - Train return from Oxford to London (55 mins) or a private driver can be arranged for you (additional cost)

Note: The itinerary is descriptive, not definitive, and is subject to change. There also may be modifications due to weather, restoration works taking place are historic sites, and availability of local activities and guides.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Two Nights in Stratford upon Avon

Renowned as one of the finest hotels in Warwickshire, this stay is one to remember. Throughout the centuries, guests have been captivated by the grandeur of its Neo-Gothic mansion and charmed by warm hospitality synonymous with uncompromising luxury. Set within 40 acres of luscious parkland in a verdant valley with the River Stour meandering through it, the spectacular country house is built from six types of Cotswold stone, while its interior is furnished with fine paintings and friezes that trace its centuries of tradition and heritage. Boasting lavish, characterful bedrooms and the finest seasonal cuisine this luxury hotel is where historic extravagance meets contemporary comfort. 

Two Nights in Solihul

Imagine retreating to a 19th-century Victorian manor house nestled on a 45-acre estate. Built in 1855, the designer was heavily influenced by the work of William Morris. The Arts and Crafts movement contended for slow art amid industrialization and the hotel follows the ethos of their positive rebellion. Each of their bedrooms is individually designed, reflecting an ongoing love affair with Morris and his nature-inspired patterns. The Parlor Lounge has sofas to sink into, games to play, vinyl to spin, and fires to warm by. The house is your home so feel free to bring your slippers. Beyond the house, explore one of the many footpaths across the estate, wander down to the walled garden, or escape to the woodland spa for a relaxing treatment. With three restaurants and a bakery on-site, this is a food lover’s paradise.

Two Nights in Cotswolds

For your last three nights, you will stay in a 17th-century wool merchant’s house turned boutique hotel-with-a-buzz venue. When you step through the door, you’ll discover there’s a series of small, interconnecting sitting rooms with wood paneling, fireplaces, and shelves of books, perfect spots to enjoy a book or conversations with new friends. On the other side is another interconnecting set of rooms forming the dining and drinking area: a large, more formal room complete with exposed beams and plenty of space for intimate dinners. The bedrooms are a warm rustic country feel: think striking feature wallpaper, boldly colored bedheads, and the occasional piece of vintage furniture. The beds are the most comfortable! The best aspect of this hotel: The incredible staff. By the end of your stay, they’ll feel like family. An on-site spa in the shepherd’s hut is available to you. Beyond the hotel, there are many footpaths leading into the countryside and neighboring villages.

Kyle, a seasoned travel guide and tour leader with over two decades of industry experience, has dedicated her life to creating enriching and inspiring travel experiences for diverse groups. With a repertoire of leading more than 200 groups (over 1500 travelers), she possesses an intimate understanding of the transformative power of travel. Her journeys span across the picturesque locales of Europe and the US, underlining her vast travel experience and knowledge. Yet, with every tour, Kyle's heart for her guests remains the same: to ensure every individual returns home with a revitalized spirit, a broadened worldview, and heartwarming memories of newfound friendships.

DAY ONE (West Midlands) Your journey begins at the Warwick rail station where you will meet your Sudden Journeys tour director. Before you set off for an adventure, meet for tea and introductions where you will have a chance to get to know your fellow travelers. From here, you’ll visit the most beautiful medieval, moated manor house in England, Baddesley Clinton. There it sits, tucked away in rural Warwickshire, all picturesque and romantic. However, Baddesley Clinton is not as innocent as it seems. Its Tudor story is one of murder and treason! A short drive to your manor house turned hotel. With its Tudor Gothic architecture, Arts and Craft interior, and Victorian walled garden — it will be a delight for all the senses.

• Visit Baddesley Clinton National Trust

• Welcome drinks and dinner

• Free Time: Late afternoon on the manor estate

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the afternoon, moderate stairs. Bus 45 mins. Sleep in Stratford.

DAY TWO (West Midlands) After breakfast, travel to the other side of Birmingham where you’ll visit Wightwick Manor. This was once a haven of a romantic industrialist with its timber beams and barley-twist chimneys, gardens of wide lawns and yew hedges, rich William Morris furnishings, and exquisite Pre-Raphaelite paintings — Wightwick is in every way an idyllic time capsule of Victorian nostalgia for medieval England. Each room inspires the imagination. The magic and warmth of the home are as enthralling and enchanting as ever. After lunch, travel north to Stoke-on-Trent, home to many of England’s pottery factories. You will tour Middleport Pottery where the world-famous Burleigh Transferware has been using traditional methods since 1889.  Walk around the original Victorian offices and learn about the people and events which have shaped Burleigh Transferware. Of course, you will have time to visit the factory shop and hopefully go home with a few cherished pieces of transferware. After a full day, close the day with dinner at a fabulous 18th-century country pub.  

• Visit Wightwick Manor National Trust

• Tour Middleport Pottery, home to Burleigh Transferware

• Dinner at a country pub

Light walking: 3-5 miles throughout the day, moderate stairs. Bus 2 1/2 hours. Sleep in Stratford.

DAY THREE (Warwickshire) After a late morning lingering over breakfast or having a lay-in, depart the hotel and travel through Shakespeare Country. Visit Stratford upon Avon. You will have time to visit Shakespeare’s home, a half-timber Tudor building in the town center, and find a spot for lunch. Continue to the hotel. After check-in, you will have the afternoon to enjoy exploring this gorgeous property or simply rest. In the evening, gather for drinks by the fire before moving to the Library Room for a candlelit feast.

• Visit Stratford-upon-Avon

• Free Time: Morning in Stratford, late afternoon at the hotel

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the afternoon, moderate stairs. Bus 1 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Solihul

DAY FOUR You will have the morning free to sleep in, and linger over breakfast, wander through the garden, or enjoy a countryside amble on the estate’s 45 acres. Book a massage or beauty treatment at the onsite woodland treatment room. At lunch, you will take part in a unique Meet the Maker experience where you’ll go behind the scenes for a fun and interactive session with one of the chefs on the estate. Lunch is included. Enjoy the afternoon to yourself. Dinner will be an affair to remember. Built into the very walls of the Victorian Walled Garden, dine in what has been voted the UK’s number-one restaurant of 2023. This is a most immersive dining experience. It will delight your senses and leave your conversations enriched. The fifteen-course tasting menu is served from an open kitchen. It celebrates a revolution in growing and farming which Chef David Taylor believes is the key to unlocking flavor. Quietly underpinning every choice is a commitment to soil health, bio-diversity, ethics, and sustainability.

• Meet the Maker - A Two-Hour Experience. Lunch included.

• A special dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant

• Free Time: All morning and late afternoon on the manor estate

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day. No Bus. Sleep in Solihull.

DAY FIVE (Northern Cotswolds) Depart the hotel and travel south for your first day exploring the Northern Cotswolds. Make a stop at the Daylesford Farmshop. This will be an experience in and of itself! Lunch will be in the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold. You'll have time to explore on your own. You'll visit the charming villages of Snowshill, Stanton, Lower Slaughter, and more. Make one last stop in Bibury. Set in an idyllic landscape, you will see why the area pulls on the heartstrings. Arrive at your lovely country inn. Enjoy the late afternoon for a walk or get cozy in one of the many hotel nooks with a book by the fire. Dinner on your own at the hotel or one of the nearby pubs.

• Explore the villages of Lower Slaughter, Stanton, Snowshill, Stow on Wold plus more.

• View Bibury Row Houses, National Trust location

• Shop at Daylesford Farmshop

• Free Time: Lunch time at Stow-on-the-Wold

Light walking: 2-4 miles throughout the day, light hills and stairs. Bus 1 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Cotswolds.

DAY SIX (Southern Cotswolds) Departing early, you will travel to the southern region of the Cotswolds. Your first visit will be to Castle Combe, considered the most beautiful village in England. You will have plenty of time to take in this enchanting place. From there, travel to the Georgian city of Bath. You’ll be given the entire afternoon free to take in this stately city. Return to the hotel for a final farewell feast together.

• Visit Castle Combe, England’s most beautiful village

• Free Time: afternoon in the city of Bath

Moderate walking: 4-6 miles throughout the day, moderate hills and stairs. Bus 2 hr 45 mins. Sleep in Cotswolds.

DAY SEVEN (Departure Day) Departure breakfast. After an amazing 6 days together, it is time to leave. You will depart the hotel for the rail station in Oxford.