8 days Gems of Southern England 2024
Explore the southern corner of England's bustling cities and breathtaking scenery
Journey through the ancient cities of England’s historic South: palaces, castles, cathedrals, and gardens await you.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival | Windsor Castle | Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Windsor hotel. Venture to see the splendors of Windsor Castle, a residence of the King, and the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group, and dine and explore this intriguing medieval town as you wish this evening. |
| 2 | Blenheim Palace | Cotswolds | Bath | Travel to Blenheim Palace, the magnificent country house once home to Winston Churchill and often seen as the setting for popular TV shows and movies; tour the house and explore the gardens. Set off on a drive through the rolling hills of the quintessentially English Cotswolds, with charming villages and colorful gardens. Arrive in Bath, a striking city of honey-colored Georgian buildings with an ancient heritage. Take a walking tour of the city before visiting the famed Roman Baths. Dine at your hotel this evening. (B, D) |
| 3 | Stonehenge | Salisbury | Visit prehistoric Stonehenge and marvel at the vast monoliths mysteriously erected 5,000 years ago. Head to the medieval city of Salisbury, with free time for lunch and sightseeing. Along with charming local shops, Salisbury boasts a splendid 13th-century cathedral housing the world’s oldest working clock. Head back to Bath, where your evening is free to explore and dine as you wish. (B) |
| 4 | Winchester | Portsmouth | Brighton | Visit Winchester, where some say the legendary King Arthur had his roundtable. Then, delve into nautical life at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can step aboard some of Britain’s most notable ships, and see the Mary Rose, King Henry VIII’s favorite ship. Head on to your seafront hotel in Brighton, a friendly, creative city that’s been popular as a resort area for centuries. Enjoy dinner with your group. (B, D) |
| 5 | Birling Gap | Royal Tunbridge Wells | Sissinghurst | Visit Birling Gap for a gentle cliff walk. Head to Royal Tunbridge Wells, a delightful old spa town, for some free time to discover its exquisite Georgian and Victorian architecture and charming shops and pubs. Next take a stroll to explore Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the finest gardens in England. Proceed to your hotel for dinner. (B, D) |
| 6 | Canterbury Cathedral | Leeds Castle | Journey to the beautiful city of Canterbury. Take time to explore its medieval center before visiting its imposing cathedral and hearing some of its enthralling tales. Proceed to romantic Leeds Castle in Kent, once called “the loveliest castle in the world”. Tour this storybook structure, complete with a moat, and discover its colorful gardens. Head to London where you’ll dine with your group. (B, D) |
| 7 | Kensington Palace | London Exploring | Visit Kensington Palace, the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate. Next, savor a light lunch, and then the rest of the day is yours to explore the amazing city of London as you wish. (B, L) |
| 8 | Your Tour Ends In London | Your program ends after breakfast. (B) |