ENGLAND
5 DAYS from £441
4 DAYS from £321
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom
Shakespeare’s Bithplace
The Home of Shakespeare Based centrally in Stratford-upon-Avon this tour makes the most of the area with a day to explore this fabulous medieval market town complete with river cruise, as well as visits to Blenheim Palace, Charlecote Park and the Lord Leycester Hospital. MY TIME
Centre Stage for Gin & Tea & Shakespeare
MY TIME
Straddling the River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare and a vision of beamed houses, medieval halls and quaint alleyways. Our packaged tour includes a cream tea cruise along the Avon, tastings at the artisanal gin-making Shakespeare Distillery and a day free to trace the hallowed footsteps of the Bard himself.
PACKAGED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. Day 2 Stratford & River Cruise
PACKAGED ITINERARY
We begin our day with a 45-minute river cruise with an engaging guide who will bring Shakespeare’s Stratford to life. After disembarking, we have time for a stroll of our own and lunch, before getting a bit more involved in the town’s history as we head to Shakespeare’s Birthplace . A fascinating visit, here we can walk in the playwright’s famous footsteps, exploring his childhood home at our own pace. Alternatively, we could use the afternoon to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage instead, the 500-year-old Tudor cottage where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be. Day 3 Blenheim Palace We spend today at the fabulous Blenheim Palace , the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. One of England’s largest houses, it was built in the early 1700s and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The palace is a family home, a mausoleum and national monument, and is notable as being the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. Here, we can explore the gilded State Rooms, visit the Churchill Exhibition and wander the Formal Gardens. Blenheim Palace’s roof restoration project is scheduled to be completed, with scaffolding removed, by the end of 2026. This will ensure the Palace is returned to its former glory and fully unveiled for 2027. Day 4 Charlecote Park & Lord Leycester Hospital OR St Mary’s Guildhall This morning, we make our way to Charlecote Park , a grand National Trust property which was one of the first great Elizabethan houses. Queen Elizabeth I stayed here and, as a boy, William Shakespeare got into trouble for poaching here. Nestled in the Warwickshire countryside, along the banks of the River Avon, we can enjoy the house and the gardens with their colourful parterres. Afterwards, we make the short journey to beautiful Warwick to visit the Lord Leycester Hospital , which was built in the 1300s as a Guildhall for meetings, a Great Hall for entertaining and a kitchen, and later used as a “hospital” and place of sanctuary caring for fallen and deserving warriors. Considered one of the best-preserved examples of medieval architecture in England, the Lord Leycester Hospital re-opened as a visitor attraction in summer 2023 following a £4.5 million investment. As we are transported back in time to the medieval age, we discover stories of the heritage timber-framed buildings and their residents, past and present. OR Visit St Mary’s Guildhall and experience a combined 45-minute private tour, a 1-hour Coventry Cathedral guided tour plus enjoy a delicious cream tea within their Tales of Tea restaurant. Day 5 Departure After breakfast, we make our way home.
Day 1 Arrival We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. Day 2 Sightseeing Cruise & Shakespeare Distillery
We begin today with a 1-hour morning River Avon sightseeing cruise, gliding past Stratford’s sights and tree-lined riverbanks. Admire the views from our comfortable boat and tuck into a cream tea as we sail. This afternoon, we visit the Shakespeare Distillery , an artisan producer of historically themed spirits, including Stratford Gin. Here, we enjoy a guided tour and tasting experience, seeing how the drinks are made in the working distillery, discovering their history and ingredients, and finishing with a tutored tasting of the hand-crafted spirits, including a refreshing gin & tonic. Day 3 Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall & Stratford-upon-Avon at Leisure Today is at leisure in this wonderful town and birthplace of our greatest playwright, William Shakespeare. We enjoy a visit to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall where we discover more about his early schooldays and where he first experienced theatre. The rest of the day is free, perhaps visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage, a 500-year-old Tudor cottage where the Bard courted his bride-to-be. We have time for a stroll along the river, or pop in and out of the varied shops, making sure to stop for lunch in one of the many cafés, pubs and restaurants, before getting a bit more involved in the town’s history, there is plenty of it. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, and walk in the playwright’s famous footsteps, exploring his childhood home, hear tales of his family life and see objects from the Trust’s world class collection. Day 4 Departure After breakfast, we make our way home.
INCLUSIONS • 1 hour river cruise with cream tea • Shakespeare Distillery tour & tasting • Entrance to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall
HOW ABOUT? Why not enjoy a return journey on the steam-hauled Shakespeare Express . Travelling from Stratford-upon- Avon to Birmingham and back again, we steam along the scenic Shakespeare Line at speeds of up to 75 mph, taking in the pretty Warwickshire countryside as we go. Available on selected Sundays. Ask your Account Manager for details.
INCLUSIONS • River Avon cruise with live commentary • Entrance to Shakespeare’s Birthplace
• Entrance to Blenheim Palace • Entrance to Charlecote Park • Entrance to Lord Leycester Hospital or St Mary’s Guildhall
Albatross Approved Rating: ✓ Visited ✓ Inspected ✓ Graded
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