Luxury Guided Tour - Sojourn in Southern England ULGB04

Personal Highlights:

• Seeing the Royal Pavilion in Brighton
• Visiting Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s residence on the Isle of Wight
• Visiting the ancient Roman Baths, still in working order
• Touring Hever Castle, birthplace of Ann Boleyn

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your overnight Business Class flight to London.

Day 2 Welcome to Sussex

Upon arrival you are met by your driver and taken to your hotel which was built in the 17th Century and was the former home of the poet, Shelley. After your flight we have arranged for you to enjoy a massage at the hotel's spa before a light lunch. You have the afternoon to relax before enjoying dinner in the hotel's fine dining restaurant.

Day 3 Brighton and Arundel Castle

After a god night's rest and a hearty English breakfast, you are ready to do some exploring and your guide is waiting to take you some of the scenic sights of Sussex Your first stop will be the seaside resort of Brighton made famous and chic by the Prince Regent who built the Royal Pavilion which would look more at home in Delhi than Sussex. You get an opportunity to explore this architectural wonder and to visit many of the antique shops and boutiques which fill the narrow streets. After lunch at one of our favorite restaurants you are off to Arundel Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes of Norfolk with an interesting history going back 1,000 years. You will tour the castle and its art collection before returning to the hotel

Day 4 Winchester, Stonehenge and Bournemouth

This morning you head inland to the city of Winchester and its remarkable Cathedral, which you take time to visit. After lunch you head out to Salisbury Plain where you have a chance to view Stonehenge that enigmatic circle of massive stone pillars before heading to the coast and Bournemouth. Your hotel is located overlooking the water and offers excellent views from your room and while dining. It will be your home for the next three nights.

Day 5 A Day in the New Forest

Today you will explore the countryside with a full day excursion to the New Forest. Despite the name "New", the forest was actually a hunting preserve for the early Saxon kings. In fact, King William Rufus was shot by an arrow here in 1100AD and died of his wounds. Today wild ponies, donkeys, cattle, pigs and deer roam freely amongst its 93,000 acres. You will have lunch in a country pub during your exploration.

Day 6 A visit to the Isle of Wight and Osborne House

After breakfast you will drive to Southampton to board a ferry for the one hour ride to the Isle of Wight. Although it is close to the mainland coast, the micro climate is different and offers more sunshine than would be expected especially in the colder months. Upon docking, your driver will take you on a scenic tour of the Island's shoreline, stopping at certain points to allow the opportunity to walk the hills or the beaches. After lunch you will visit Osborne House which was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845 and used as their vacation home. After Albert died, Victoria spent most of her time here until her death in 1901. Much of the house is as it was in her day and you have a chance to explore it before retuning to the mainland.

Day 7 Wells Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey and the Arthurian Legend

You say farewell to Bournemouth and head inland to the heart of Somerset and the city of Wells. Here you see the magnificent façade of Wells Cathedral which was constructed starting in 1180 and is still one of the most intact cathedrals remaining in England. Your next stop is Glastonbury said to be the mythical Avalon. It is said that after the crucifixion, Joseph of Aramethea, Jesus' great-uncle came to Britain bearing the Holy Grail, the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper which is supposedly buried here. Later, Glastonbury was associated with King Arthur and, in 1278 the monks excavated the spot where he was supposed to be buried. Seven feet down, they found a stone slab with the inscription (in Latin) "Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon". Guinevere was supposedly interred with him. Under the eye of Edward I, the bones were transferred to a black marble tomb in the Abbey. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries they disappeared and were never seen again. After your visit you will head for the town of Bath.

Day 8 Exploring Roman and Regency Bath

After breakfast you will commence a walking tour of Bath starting with the Roman Baths which made the town a center of Roman life at that time. Based on natural springs, the baths are still in working order today. Nearby is the Thermae Bath Spa which has modern baths based on the same hot springs. You will have time to walk the Royal Crescent an arc of 30 Regency houses and spend a little time in the footsteps of Jane Austen who lived in the city for five years and based her novels "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion" here. After lunch, the rest of the day is at leisure

Day 9 Hever Castle and Royal Tunbridge Wells

This morning you leave Bath and set off for Hever Castle which was the birthplace of Ann Boleyn. Early in the 20th Century it was bought by William Waldorf Astor and restored to its full glory. You have a chance to visit the Castle before heading to another Spa town, Royal Tunbridge Wells. Upon arrival you have lunch and then have the afternoon to shop The Pantilles, a colonnaded shopping area dating back to the Regency period.

Day 10 Return to USA

Your driver will be ready to drive you to the airport for your return flight to the US.

Services Included

• 1st Class rail travel as indicated on the itinerary
• Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)
• Private Transfers to and from the airport or rail station at destination
• All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
• Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.
• Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary
• Baggage handling at all hotels
• All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

• International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)
• Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)
• Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page
• Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.
• Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)
• Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round