Day 1 - Waddesdon Manor

Board our private executive coach at your designated pick up points - the French Renaissance-style chateau of Waddesdon Manor was built for Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 19th century to display his vast collection of works of art, including French royal furniture, Sèvres porcelain and works by Gainsborough and Reynolds - continue to the 4* Oxford Belfry Hotel.

Day 2 - Oxford & The Ashmolean Museum

Guided tour of the City of Dreaming Spires taking in the architecture and traditions of Oxford’s university and other famous buildings and institutions - guided tour of The Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s first public museum founded in 1683 and home to the University of Oxford’s world class collections of art and archaeology.

Day 3 - Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace & Hall’s Croft

After a scenic drive through the Cotswolds, visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage which was still owned by her descendants until the late 19th century and contains the Hathaway bed and many other items of furniture owned by the family - guided tour of Stratford upon Avon taking in Shakespeare’s Birthplace where rooms are furnished to recreate the interiors as they might have been in the 1570s and Hall’s Croft, the 17th century home of Shakespeare's eldest daughter, Susanna, and her husband Dr John Hall.

Day 4 - Charlecote Park & Compton Verney Art Gallery

The National Trust’s Charlecote Park has been home to the Lucy Family for over 700 years and its mellow brickwork and great chimneys seem to sum up the very essence of Tudor England - the award winning Compton Verney Art Gallery is located in the setting of a Grade I listed Robert Adam mansion and our guided tour examines its outstanding collection of British, Neopolitan, Germanic and Chinese paintings.

Day 5 - Blenheim Palace

Guided tour of Blenheim Palace, the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and set in beautiful parkland of 2,100 acres landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 1760’s - return to the original departure points with comfort stops en route.

Four nights on half board basis at the 4* Oxford Belfry Hotel. Located in a countryside setting thirteen miles from the famous university city of Oxford, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool and sauna, steam room and gymnasium. All rooms are en suite.

Single room supplement £79

Insurance

Entrance fees to places of interest (NT properties free to NT members)

Gratuities

Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:

• incorporate visits to the National Trust’s Hughenden Manor, Kingston Bagpuize House & Kelmscott Manor
• stay at a 3* hotel
• with fewer or different excursions
• for more (or fewer) days
• bring your own specialist lecturer
• include all entrance fees & gratuities