Christmastime in the Country Homes of the Cotswolds

Check in to the Delta Hotel by Marriott, Cheltenham in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Our first day begins with Ditchley Park, a Grade I listed Palladian mansion and one of the country’s finest estates, which has been used as a country retreat for royalty and those in power for centuries, symbolised by the stag antlers hunted by James I which adorn the Saloon. The first owner of the property, Sir Henry Lee, was one of Elizabeth I’s most eminent courtiers and welcomed the monarch to Ditchley in 1592, commemorated by the lavish Ditchley portrait which now hangs at the National Portrait Gallery. In the 1930s, the house was transformed by wealthy Anglo-Americans Ronnie and Nancy Tree (who became the famous decorator Nancy Lancaster), while Winston Churchill used Ditchley as a secret base at the start of the Second World War. Elizabeth II also visited several times, and we find out more during our guided tour.

We continue to Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A permanent exhibition commemorates the life of this famous wartime Prime Minister, whilst the magnificent State Rooms reveal a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture. During this special time of year, the house takes on a different theme and is decorated sumptuously for Christmas, glittering with festive lights and beautiful decorations. Outside, there is an enchanting Christmas Market in the Great Court, where the cosy chalets are bursting with homemade gifts and tasty treats, as well as a magical, illuminated trail around the grounds.

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 the glorious Sudeley Castle, an exquisite Cotswolds gem. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, this spectacular castle played an important role in England’s turbulent past and the castle was once home to Katherine Parr, the last of King Henry VIII’s six wives (it remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds). 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.

This morning we step in from the cold and into the inviting Ardington House, a true Georgian masterpiece adorned with portraits of previous occupiers. Built between 1719-1721 with perfect symmetry in mind, you can just imagine the people of ‘the ton’ socialising here centuries ago and gathering next to the Imperial staircase which dominates the property’s entrance, or in the oak-panelled dining room. Still a family home to this day after changing hands several times, we learn more about its history on a guided tour. Notable past residents include Robert Vernon, who made his fortune selling horses during the Napoleonic Wars, and Lord Wantage, who was awarded a Victoria Cross for bravery during the Crimean War and went on to establish the British Red Cross.

We continue to the beautiful historic estate of Lydiard Park, aglow with decorations at this special time of year. The striking Palladian house was the ancestral home of the Viscounts Bolingbroke until it passed by marriage to the St John family, who called it home for 500 years until the Second World War. After serving as a military hospital and Prisoner of War hospital, it was refurbished and opened to the public in 1955 with its original furnishings, ornate plasterwork and family portraits dating back to Elizabethan times on display. Now restored to its former glory, it’s a lovely place to enjoy some festive refreshments and wander through the elegant State Rooms.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.

Please note: the itinerary order is subject to change and guided tours are subject to availability.