Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor & London
5 day Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Stratford Upon Avon & Oxford
Famous throughout the world as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, it is also where he returned to live his final years in semi-tranquility. Your guide will tell you all the history of this beautiful market town with the special emphasis on the Shakespeare connection combined with many other interesting facts along the way. On the tour you will pass many historic places linked with Shakespeare including Holy Trinity Church, his final resting place. Entrance is included into the family home of Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway. This picturesque thatched cottage on the edge of Stratford is one of the best preserved Tudor buildings in the country and undoubtedly one of the highlights of any day out in rural England.
Next stop Oxford, home of the world famous university. Founded in 1167, Oxford is England's oldest university. Upon arrival we will take you on a walking tour of the famous college buildings, amongst cloisters and quadrangles, along the back streets and into chapels and dining halls and across cobblestone squares standing in the shadows of the famous 'dreaming spires'. Some of the university colleges that you will see include Christchurch (the setting for some of the most famous Harry Potter movie scenes), Merton, Oriel, Corpus Christi, Magdalen, University, Queens, All Souls, Hertford, Trinity, Balliol and St John's. The University has 39 independent, autonomous colleges and you will also pass alongside many others on your tour.
Other famous landmarks you will cover on the tour include Carfax Tower, Christchurch Meadows, The Examination Schools building, the covered market, the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, Martyrs Memorial and the Ashmolean Museum.
Day 2 - Bath
Today we visit Bath where we take a guided tour of the city centre. Bath is a very fashionable city with over 2,000 years of history. Bath is famous for its Roman Baths, which is one of England's most popular tourist attractions. Bath is the most complete and best preserved Georgian city in Britain. The spa was used by the Romans, and the remains of the Roman baths are still there to be seen today, beside the 18th century Pump Room. Visitors have been coming to Bath for centuries, owing to the hot springs that bubble up to the surface at several locations in the city. A constant temperature of 46.5C, the only warm springs in the country, meant that it became the important Roman resort of Aqua Sulis during the time of their occupation nearly 2,000 years ago. The city was beautifully re-invented in the 18th century when it became the fashionable place to see and be seen. Elegant cresents, squares and terraces were built as the rich and famous travelled from London for 'the season' and relieve themselves of gout, rheumatic pain and stiffness of the joints. The fully guided tour of the city includes admission to the Roman Baths museum and a tour of the highlights of Georgian Bath, including the Royal Crescent, Royal Circus and the Assembly Rooms.
Day 3 - Stonehenge, Windsor & London
After breakfast we travel through mysterious Wessex, taking the back roads, through villages of flintstone and thatch and onwards to Salisbury Plain and the enigmatic circle of Stonehenge. Facts and theories abound at this ancient site, where and why, who were the builders, what was it used for? During our guided tour we learn about the different periods of building stretching back 5,000 years, we learn of the people that worship there and of the various ideas of its alignments and purpose.
After Stonehenge we drive to Royal Windsor and Windsor Castle, the traditional home of the Kings and Queens of England. Time to visit the Castle and then cross the River for a photo stop at Eton College. Early evening we head to London, England's Capital City. Often referred to as a 'World in one City', there is so much to see and do in London.
Day 4 - London
A full day sightseeing in London. Begin with coach sightseeing drive to see many of London’s major attractions – Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. In the afternoon head to Madame Tussauds for a photo with the stars! In the evening try a boat trip on the famous River Thames, see the city of London in lights, a fantastic way to end the day.
Day 5 - London
A morning excursion to the world famous British Museum, followed by some free time for shopping in Oxford Street, Regent street or Covent Garden.
