LONDON, WINDSOR, THE COTSWOLDS, BLENHEIM AND OXFORD
June 5 - 14, 2021
$6400/per person
This tour is priced for a minimum group of 8 people. Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price.
Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure to London and the countryside, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion. Contact us for more information. We'll be happy to send you the detailed itinerary and pricing for this tour
London and the Countryside
Day 1. Arrive in London
We'll be waiting for you outside of baggage claim to take you to our hotel.
Our luxury 4+star hotel combines the best of two worlds. In front is the British Museum, and to the rear there’s a serene private garden, cut off from the city by a rectangle of fine Georgian townhouses. Between the two lies our garden hotel – an intriguing blend of up-to-the-minute city vibrancy and old-world charm, where guests can expect British hospitality at its finest. Enjoy Al Fresco dining on the garden or one of the best rooftop bars in London. 88 deluxe rooms include heating and air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, Sky-TV, deluxe toiletries, plush bathrobes and slippers.
Please book your flights so you can arrive in London in the late morning so you can enjoy an included English tea at our hotel. We’ll enjoy a luxury sampling of tea sandwiches, scones and pastries with clotted cream, and of course, cocktails ... the perfect way to begin your London adventure. After tea, your rooms will be ready for check-in and an orientation to your area.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Day 2. London Tour
Today we’ll enjoy more of London with our private guide. It will be a big day, so enjoy your full English breakfast!
9:00. We'll begin at The Churchill War Rooms. (Tickets are included with your London Pass). Explore the secret headquarters of ‘the greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill, and uncover the underground nucleus of Britain’s war effort. The Churchill Museum is an interactive gallery of Churchill’s life, with documents, photos and film clips of his famous political reign. We're then on to Westminster Abbey. This beautiful Gothic church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with many visitors to London. Complete with paintings, stained glass windows and other religious artifacts, Westminster Abbey owns the most important collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in Britain. Enroute we’ll pass Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Lunch enroute, not included. We'll head to St Paul’s Cathedral, the Cathedral. Tickets included in your London Pass and finish our day with a Cruise on the Thames. Tickets are included in your London Pass and they run regularly. A Thames river cruise is without doubt one of the best ways to see London, meandering through the heart of the city and past so many of its most famous attractions. The Thames River is the longest river in London; it stretches to 215 miles long. See and experience the sights and splendor of this great city from the relaxed comfort of City Cruises modern, all-weather boats with open upper decks and spacious lower saloons with panoramic windows.
Dinner tonight is on your own
Day 3. Sunday Roast and London Theater
Included Sunday Afternoon Roast: Today we are going to be true Brits and enjoy a traditional English roast with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings. The British love beef, and particularly for lunch on a Sunday. The Sunday Roast came to prominence during the reign of King Henry VII in 1485 and the Yeoman of the Guard–the royal bodyguard–have affectionately been known as “beefeaters” since the 15th century because of their love of eating roast beef. Sunday Roast is the very heart of British food and cooking.
Afterwards, it's to the theater! Performance TBD and of optional, but highly recommended. Tickets not included in your tour price.
Day 4. To the Countryside! A Day in Windsor and tour of Windsor Castle
We’ll check out of our hotel this morning and head to the countryside. It’s about a 1 hour drive from London to Windsor.
Windsor is the place where Harry and Meghan got married: Windsor Castle, one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest in continuous occupation. The imposing towers and battlements of the Castle loom large from every approach to the town, creating one of the world’s most spectacular skylines.
You’ll have some time to explore Windsor and have lunch before we continue on to Oxford. About a 1 hour drive.
Situated in the heart of Oxford, our hotel's 117 year old building has been recently renovated into a truly unique venue.
Included dinner in Oxford
Day 5. A Day Trip to Blenheim Palace
Just a few miles north of Oxford is Blenheim Palace, a world heritage site, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
The main attraction is the palace itself with guided tours as part of the entrance ticket. The grounds and gardens too are truly impressive and there is enough to do and see to keep you occupied for the day. Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room - both are included in the Palace tour. He is buried in a simple grave in the nearby church at Bladon. A separate exhibition, ‘Churchill’s’ Destiny - the story of two great war leaders’, celebrates the achievements of Winston and his great hero and ancestor, John Churchill.
Overnight in Oxford.
Tonight: Pub crawl!
Day 6. A Day in Oxford
Morning walking tour of Oxford On the tour you will learn about the history of the city and the university, as well as the collegiate system of tutorial unique to Oxford and Cambridge. Discover the famous alumni who studied and taught at the university. Go inside the oldest college dining hall, chapel, cloisters and quadrangles. We’ll also take a walk to Christ Church. Christ church is one of my favourite colleges in Oxford. As you walk up to the entrance, you’ll stroll passed beautiful manicured gardens before entering the impressive building. The entrance fee is only £6, and you’ll be able to visit the cathedral and the dining hall, which was replicated in the film studios as the dining hall for the Harry Potter films. In fact, many scenes for Harry Potter were filmed at Christ Church.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy Oxford.
Overnight in Oxford.
Dinner on your own
Day 7. The Cotswolds Cottage Tour
We’re checking out and going to the Cotswolds! It’s about a 1.5 hour drive, so we’ll leave the hotel at 8:00.
10:00. Today we’re spending the day in the British countryside to explore the hidden villages with quaint thatched cottages and perfectly clipped lawns, which perfectly illustrate what life was like in the 16th century. They are based out of a private home called ‘Secret Cottage’, quintessentially the perfect place for guests to experience and explore how the English live in the Cotswolds. Everything inside is old and quaint with three inglenook fireplaces which are open log fires used to heat the cottage, the ancient winding stairs and floors are made from original old elm planks and our heavily beamed, beautiful listed cottage is nearly 500 years old! Get your cameras ready!!!
The tour finishes at 4.30 for a transfer back to London
Overnight in London. Dinner not included.
Day 8. London - A Day of Choices at Your Leisure
You have the whole day and evening to explore. There is so much to see in London, Please let us help you plan your day. You might want to think about:
The Tower of London. Without a doubt one of London’s most important and historic buildings – and is a highlight on everyone’s itinerary. You'll learn about the Tower’s wealth of history, dating back to the Norman Conquest, the secrets and scandals of the court and the role the Tower used to play as prison, armory and menagerie. After that, walk over to The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, made up of 11,000 glass panels on its exterior, covering a total area of 56,000 sq metres. The viewing area is spread over the 68th, 69th and 72nd floor.
The Victoria and Albert Museum: The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It has lots of great fashion exhibits as well as furniture, metal working and sculpture.
The National Portrait Museum or the Tate Modern are also good choices. Elton John has a photo collection at the Tate Modern.
Sir John Soane's Museum is a house museum that was formerly the home of the neo-classical architect John Soane. It holds many drawings and models of Soane's projects and the collections of paintings, drawings and antiquities that he assembled.
Shop at Herrods and even have lunch or dinner there. Harrods has a fantastic market and food court (really) with steak, oysters, a caviar bar, fish bar, rotisserie and a wonderful market.
Take a stroll along the Thames and go to Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Hampton Court Palace is the former home of the flamboyant King Henry VIII. He extended and developed this grand palace after acquiring it in the 1520s and its many royal occupants have furnished the palace with decadent tapestries and paintings throughout the centuries. Set in 60 acres of formal gardens, including the famous maze and Great Vine, this palace is well worth a visit.
HMS Belfast tells the stories of those who lived on board the former Royal Navy warship, which was home to a crew of up to 950 men. Explore nine decks of seafaring history and hear sailors’ experiences of battle from the Second World War and beyond – including the convoys in icy Arctic conditions and the 404 days spent patrolling the waters during the Korean War.
London Tower Bridge is one of the most impressive structures and sites in the capital and has stood over the River Thames since 1894. As well as being one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, it is one of the most visited attractions in London and continues to be a working bridge to this day. Its fascinating exhibition delves into significant moments in Tower Bridge history and how it was built, through interactive displays and videos about its impact on the River Thames. Visitors will also fall in love with the Tower Bridge glass floor that lines the structure’s two walkways, which provide a fascinating view of the Thames, London skyline and cars passing by down below.
House of Commons and the House of Lords to watch MPs and Peers question the government and debate current issues and legislation. House of Commons debates also take place in the Grand Committee Room just off Westminster Hall. These are known as Westminster Hall debates and visitors are welcome to attend.
For another English tea experience, you can have the classic at Claridges.
This evening, think about taking the Jack the Ripper Tour or see Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap.
Tonight: Dinner on Your Own
Overnight in London
Day 9. The Royal Parks and Palaces: Understanding the British Monarchy with the Trooping of the Colours
Through a thousand years of history, the British monarchy has moved from the center of power to ceremonial periphery, a movement vividly illustrated by the style and geographical placement of the remaining royal palaces and the parks that surround them. Today, we'll visit some of the most important parks and palaces in the city, including St. James’s Park, St. James’s Palace and Clarence House, Kensington Palace, and Hyde Park, the Royals Mews and ending at Queen Victoria’s birth place: Kensington Palace. Diana has a great dress collection at Kensington Palace.
We have planned this tour today so that we can experience the more expansive Trooping of the Colours. Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The Queen's official birthday. We'll be part of the ceremony waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Day 10. Depart for the U.S. Transfers to the airport
June 5 - 14, 2021
$6400/per person
This tour is priced for a minimum group of 8 people. Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price.
Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure to London and the countryside, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion. Contact us for more information. We'll be happy to send you the detailed itinerary and pricing for this tour
London and the Countryside
Day 1. Arrive in London
We'll be waiting for you outside of baggage claim to take you to our hotel.
Our luxury 4+star hotel combines the best of two worlds. In front is the British Museum, and to the rear there’s a serene private garden, cut off from the city by a rectangle of fine Georgian townhouses. Between the two lies our garden hotel – an intriguing blend of up-to-the-minute city vibrancy and old-world charm, where guests can expect British hospitality at its finest. Enjoy Al Fresco dining on the garden or one of the best rooftop bars in London. 88 deluxe rooms include heating and air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, Sky-TV, deluxe toiletries, plush bathrobes and slippers.
Please book your flights so you can arrive in London in the late morning so you can enjoy an included English tea at our hotel. We’ll enjoy a luxury sampling of tea sandwiches, scones and pastries with clotted cream, and of course, cocktails ... the perfect way to begin your London adventure. After tea, your rooms will be ready for check-in and an orientation to your area.
Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Day 2. London Tour
Today we’ll enjoy more of London with our private guide. It will be a big day, so enjoy your full English breakfast!
9:00. We'll begin at The Churchill War Rooms. (Tickets are included with your London Pass). Explore the secret headquarters of ‘the greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill, and uncover the underground nucleus of Britain’s war effort. The Churchill Museum is an interactive gallery of Churchill’s life, with documents, photos and film clips of his famous political reign. We're then on to Westminster Abbey. This beautiful Gothic church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with many visitors to London. Complete with paintings, stained glass windows and other religious artifacts, Westminster Abbey owns the most important collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in Britain. Enroute we’ll pass Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Lunch enroute, not included. We'll head to St Paul’s Cathedral, the Cathedral. Tickets included in your London Pass and finish our day with a Cruise on the Thames. Tickets are included in your London Pass and they run regularly. A Thames river cruise is without doubt one of the best ways to see London, meandering through the heart of the city and past so many of its most famous attractions. The Thames River is the longest river in London; it stretches to 215 miles long. See and experience the sights and splendor of this great city from the relaxed comfort of City Cruises modern, all-weather boats with open upper decks and spacious lower saloons with panoramic windows.
Dinner tonight is on your own
Day 3. Sunday Roast and London Theater
Included Sunday Afternoon Roast: Today we are going to be true Brits and enjoy a traditional English roast with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings. The British love beef, and particularly for lunch on a Sunday. The Sunday Roast came to prominence during the reign of King Henry VII in 1485 and the Yeoman of the Guard–the royal bodyguard–have affectionately been known as “beefeaters” since the 15th century because of their love of eating roast beef. Sunday Roast is the very heart of British food and cooking.
Afterwards, it's to the theater! Performance TBD and of optional, but highly recommended. Tickets not included in your tour price.
Day 4. To the Countryside! A Day in Windsor and tour of Windsor Castle
We’ll check out of our hotel this morning and head to the countryside. It’s about a 1 hour drive from London to Windsor.
Windsor is the place where Harry and Meghan got married: Windsor Castle, one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest in continuous occupation. The imposing towers and battlements of the Castle loom large from every approach to the town, creating one of the world’s most spectacular skylines.
You’ll have some time to explore Windsor and have lunch before we continue on to Oxford. About a 1 hour drive.
Situated in the heart of Oxford, our hotel's 117 year old building has been recently renovated into a truly unique venue.
Included dinner in Oxford
Day 5. A Day Trip to Blenheim Palace
Just a few miles north of Oxford is Blenheim Palace, a world heritage site, home of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
The main attraction is the palace itself with guided tours as part of the entrance ticket. The grounds and gardens too are truly impressive and there is enough to do and see to keep you occupied for the day. Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room - both are included in the Palace tour. He is buried in a simple grave in the nearby church at Bladon. A separate exhibition, ‘Churchill’s’ Destiny - the story of two great war leaders’, celebrates the achievements of Winston and his great hero and ancestor, John Churchill.
Overnight in Oxford.
Tonight: Pub crawl!
Day 6. A Day in Oxford
Morning walking tour of Oxford On the tour you will learn about the history of the city and the university, as well as the collegiate system of tutorial unique to Oxford and Cambridge. Discover the famous alumni who studied and taught at the university. Go inside the oldest college dining hall, chapel, cloisters and quadrangles. We’ll also take a walk to Christ Church. Christ church is one of my favourite colleges in Oxford. As you walk up to the entrance, you’ll stroll passed beautiful manicured gardens before entering the impressive building. The entrance fee is only £6, and you’ll be able to visit the cathedral and the dining hall, which was replicated in the film studios as the dining hall for the Harry Potter films. In fact, many scenes for Harry Potter were filmed at Christ Church.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy Oxford.
Overnight in Oxford.
Dinner on your own
Day 7. The Cotswolds Cottage Tour
We’re checking out and going to the Cotswolds! It’s about a 1.5 hour drive, so we’ll leave the hotel at 8:00.
10:00. Today we’re spending the day in the British countryside to explore the hidden villages with quaint thatched cottages and perfectly clipped lawns, which perfectly illustrate what life was like in the 16th century. They are based out of a private home called ‘Secret Cottage’, quintessentially the perfect place for guests to experience and explore how the English live in the Cotswolds. Everything inside is old and quaint with three inglenook fireplaces which are open log fires used to heat the cottage, the ancient winding stairs and floors are made from original old elm planks and our heavily beamed, beautiful listed cottage is nearly 500 years old! Get your cameras ready!!!
The tour finishes at 4.30 for a transfer back to London
Overnight in London. Dinner not included.
Day 8. London - A Day of Choices at Your Leisure
You have the whole day and evening to explore. There is so much to see in London, Please let us help you plan your day. You might want to think about:
The Tower of London. Without a doubt one of London’s most important and historic buildings – and is a highlight on everyone’s itinerary. You'll learn about the Tower’s wealth of history, dating back to the Norman Conquest, the secrets and scandals of the court and the role the Tower used to play as prison, armory and menagerie. After that, walk over to The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, made up of 11,000 glass panels on its exterior, covering a total area of 56,000 sq metres. The viewing area is spread over the 68th, 69th and 72nd floor.
The Victoria and Albert Museum: The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It has lots of great fashion exhibits as well as furniture, metal working and sculpture.
The National Portrait Museum or the Tate Modern are also good choices. Elton John has a photo collection at the Tate Modern.
Sir John Soane's Museum is a house museum that was formerly the home of the neo-classical architect John Soane. It holds many drawings and models of Soane's projects and the collections of paintings, drawings and antiquities that he assembled.
Shop at Herrods and even have lunch or dinner there. Harrods has a fantastic market and food court (really) with steak, oysters, a caviar bar, fish bar, rotisserie and a wonderful market.
Take a stroll along the Thames and go to Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Hampton Court Palace is the former home of the flamboyant King Henry VIII. He extended and developed this grand palace after acquiring it in the 1520s and its many royal occupants have furnished the palace with decadent tapestries and paintings throughout the centuries. Set in 60 acres of formal gardens, including the famous maze and Great Vine, this palace is well worth a visit.
HMS Belfast tells the stories of those who lived on board the former Royal Navy warship, which was home to a crew of up to 950 men. Explore nine decks of seafaring history and hear sailors’ experiences of battle from the Second World War and beyond – including the convoys in icy Arctic conditions and the 404 days spent patrolling the waters during the Korean War.
London Tower Bridge is one of the most impressive structures and sites in the capital and has stood over the River Thames since 1894. As well as being one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, it is one of the most visited attractions in London and continues to be a working bridge to this day. Its fascinating exhibition delves into significant moments in Tower Bridge history and how it was built, through interactive displays and videos about its impact on the River Thames. Visitors will also fall in love with the Tower Bridge glass floor that lines the structure’s two walkways, which provide a fascinating view of the Thames, London skyline and cars passing by down below.
House of Commons and the House of Lords to watch MPs and Peers question the government and debate current issues and legislation. House of Commons debates also take place in the Grand Committee Room just off Westminster Hall. These are known as Westminster Hall debates and visitors are welcome to attend.
For another English tea experience, you can have the classic at Claridges.
This evening, think about taking the Jack the Ripper Tour or see Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap.
Tonight: Dinner on Your Own
Overnight in London
Day 9. The Royal Parks and Palaces: Understanding the British Monarchy with the Trooping of the Colours
Through a thousand years of history, the British monarchy has moved from the center of power to ceremonial periphery, a movement vividly illustrated by the style and geographical placement of the remaining royal palaces and the parks that surround them. Today, we'll visit some of the most important parks and palaces in the city, including St. James’s Park, St. James’s Palace and Clarence House, Kensington Palace, and Hyde Park, the Royals Mews and ending at Queen Victoria’s birth place: Kensington Palace. Diana has a great dress collection at Kensington Palace.
We have planned this tour today so that we can experience the more expansive Trooping of the Colours. Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The Queen's official birthday. We'll be part of the ceremony waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
Tonight: Included Farewell Dinner
Day 10. Depart for the U.S. Transfers to the airport