Included Excursion
Dyrham Park & No 1 Royal Crescent in Bath
We start our day with a visit to Dyrham Park, a magnificent estate nestled in the heart of South Gloucestershire. The 270-acre parkland is home to an impressive 17th-century mansion with rich connections to the British Empire. The rooms are full of beautiful Christmas decorations and yuletide ornaments adorning the antique furniture, fine art and fascinating historical artefacts. As we explore these grand rooms, we glimpse into the elegance and style of a bygone era. From the opulent Great Hall to the charming private chambers, there is much to see, and each space tells a unique story. Outside, the parkland offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and rich history.
After our visit, we continue to an iconic address in Bath – No 1 Royal Crescent. Here we enjoy a self-guided tour of this popular Georgian townhouse museum which was used for the exterior of Lady Featherington’s home in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton. The stunning Georgian interiors dazzle with festive decorations, making our visit even more special. There is also time to enjoy free time at leisure in Bath to see the sights before we return to Cheltenham for our evening meal at the hotel.
Included Excursion
Cotswolds Villages Drive & Blenheim Palace
Today, we begin with a relaxing tour of some of the most beautiful towns and villages in the Cotswolds, beautifully decorated for the Christmas period. We have lunch at a lovely place called Stow-on-the-Wold, renowned for its traditional stone buildings and wonderful collection of artisan boutiques.
Afterwards, we head to Blenheim Palace, designed on an awe-inspiring scale by Vanbrugh and set in beautiful parkland landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. As the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, the palace is synonymous with the Churchill family and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. With twinkling Christmas trees and pretty decorations, the Palace has a magical atmosphere during the holidays, with plenty of tempting goodies on offer at the enchanting Christmas Market. We enjoy the delightful atmosphere with the Christmas Light Trail through the gardens, all lit up with glowing lights, along with festive songs filling the air.
Included Excursion
Berkeley Castle & Sudeley Light Trail
We start the day with a guided tour of Berkeley Castle, built by Robert Fitzharding in the 12th century and ordered by Henry II to defend the Severn estuary and the Welsh border. Berkeley is a real jewel, an almost complete medieval survival that allows us to imagine how it might have been to live here, complete with sparkling trees and twinkling lights. Reigning monarch Edward II was sent to Berkeley as a prisoner after his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer usurped his power, and we can even see the room where he is supposed to have been murdered in 1327. The castle is also the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it, and the Berkeley family are one of only four in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son right back to Saxon times.
Later, a lovely festive experience awaits at Sudeley Castle, an exquisite Cotswolds gem. The magnificent fortress creates a spectacular backdrop for the Spectacle of Light, where delightful music, light beams, colourful lanterns, twinkling illuminations and sparkling water features combine to create an enchanting trail around the grounds – it’s a real highlight of the Cotswolds festive calendar.