Leeds Castle:
Heading out to Leeds Castle, we pass through Greenwich, home of the famous 'Cutty Sark' tea clipper and the Royal Observatory, and cross over the Greenwich Meridian.
Leeds Castle was described by Lord Conway as 'the loveliest castle in the world' and is set in the middle of a natural lake, surrounded by 500 acres of parkland and gardens. Experience its magic in an atmosphere of still tranquillity. There will also be time to explore the castle grounds where you will find the 'Lady Baillie Garden' with views over the lake, an aviary and maze. Canterbury Cathedral:
Traveling through Kent, the county known as the 'Garden of England', we make our way to Canterbury to visit the Cathedral. This magnificent Cathedral is the most important church within the worldwide Anglican faith. The central 'Bell Harry Tower' dates back to 1498, and the crypt to the 11th Century. It is here where your guide will tell the story of the shocking murder of Archbishop Thomas Beckett in 1170 and there will also be time to explore the narrow streets of Canterbury. There will be an opportunity for lunch in Canterbury.Dover:
We continue our tour through the picturesque landscape of Kent dotted with unusual buildings and quaint little villages to Dover, where you'll see the famous White Cliffs standing 400 feet above sea level. Brooding above the White Cliffs is the sprawling Dover Castle still watching over the town 800 years on.
Warwick Castle:
Visit the magnificent medieval Warwick Castle, most of whose amazing towers and ramparts are still intact.
Warwick Castle will take you back through its 1, 000 year history as you enter over the footbridge to a bygone world of banquets, battles and ceremony.
(Optional: Purchase entrance to Warwick Castle, stroll through the castle's delightful and lovingly tendered gardens, visit the Tussaud's waxworks, or if you're feeling brave, visit the castle's spine-chilling dungeons.*)ÃÂ Stratford Upon Avon:
We then travel through the rolling Warwickshire hills to Stratford upon Avon, a market town at the edge of the Forest of Arden made famous for being the birthplace of the world-famous playwright William Shakespeare.
(Optional: Purchase entrance to the Tudor-style birthplace of William Shakespeare, a half-timbered house that has been carefully furnished to recreate the interiors of his childhood.*)ÃÂ Oxford:
The colleges in Oxford date back to the 13th century and among its famous students were Bill Clinton, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll. We take you on a fascinating walking tour through the cobbled streets of Oxford to see the Bodleian Library and the picture-perfect college courtyards, for which Oxford is famous.
(Optional: Purchase tickets for an interior visit to Christ Church college to see the dining room where Harry Potter was filmed.*)The Cotswolds:
Steeped in history and heritage, the area of England known as the Cotswolds is a charming blend of cottages with honey-coloured walls and thatched roofs, market towns with crooked half-timbered houses lining the High Street, and ancient stone crosses, all set in the gently rolling hills ('wolds') that are so typically English in character.
*Admission fees are not included, but tickets may be purchased from your guide.