The New Forest

The New Forest

5 day holiday - Monday 27th May 2024


Highlights...

'Wicked' at the Mayflower Theatre

Tour of the New Forest with BBG

Palace House Beaulieu and Gardens 



The New Forest National Park, in the county of Hampshire, is a place of stunning beauty, fascinating wildlife and ancient history. William the Conqueror claimed the area in 1079 for the sole purpose of hunting for himself and his noblemen, and there are few other places in the country where the landscape has remained so unchanged for nearly 1000 years. The forest, an area of 145 square miles, is full of wildlife, including New Forest ponies, donkeys and cattle, all foraging feely, with much of the area still grazed by livestock belonging to local people. Deeper into the New Forest, herds of wild deer can sometimes be seen. We will be visiting Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, where viewing platforms are strategically placed for the public to see these magnificent animals. 


The New Forest is steeped in history and cultural heritage, which we will discover as we travel around the area. During our tour with a Blue Badge Guide, we will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful landscape and visit some of the picturesque villages, with a stop at the Drift Inn near Beaulieu for lunch and time to explore.

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Solent Hotel & Spa 4*


We will be staying at the 4-star Solent Hotel and Spa in Fareham, a market town at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour, between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton in South East Hampshire, centrally positioned for all our excursions. All the rooms have en-suite bathrooms with fluffy bathrobes, free Wi Fi, fresh filtered water dispensers, a mini fridge with fresh milk for your tea or coffee and a capsule coffee machine. Comfortable seating is provided in each room along with a flat screen TV and a desk. Use of the pool and spa is included and there is a pillow menu from firm to soft and all things in between! The hotel restaurants offer classic British cuisine using the finest local ingredients served in elegant surroundings. 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Monday 27th May


Collected from your home by door to door car, you will be taken to the Crowne Plaza, Gerrards Cross, to be greeted by your tour manager. Tea or coffee and pastries will be served before we board the coach for our trip to the New Forest. En route, we will stop for a visit to Highcliffe Castle which will include lunch and we expect to reach our final destination, the Solent Hotel & Spa, by mid-afternoon. After booking into the hotel, we will have time to settle in, explore our surroundings and meet with friends old and new, before enjoying our three-course dinner in the Hotel Restaurant. 


Day 2 – Tuesday 28th May


After breakfast we will board the coach for the drive to the Palace House at Beaulieu where we will start the day with a tour of the house, one of the first historic houses in Britain to open to the public. Following the tour, we will have lunch in the Brabazon restaurant and the remainder of the day will be spent in the grounds at Beaulieu, where we can visit the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Abbey or simply admire the gardens. There is a monorail and a vintage bus to assist with moving around the site. 

Day 3 – Wednesday 29th May

Today we will board the coach after breakfast to go for a guided tour of some of the New Forest Villages with Blue Badge Guide, Clare Dixon. Our tour will include the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary and a stop for lunch and time to explore at the Drift Inn Beaulieu Road. After an early dinner at the hotel, we will travel to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton to see a performance of ‘Wicked’. 



Day 4 – Thursday 30th May


Following breakfast, we will board the coach to travel to Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway. Often considered the finest garden of its type in the United Kingdom, Exbury has large collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, through which the narrow gauge steam train wends its way.On arrival at Exbury, we will have a short ‘Meet & Greet’ talk and tour before going for lunch in Mr Eddy’s restaurant. After lunch we have a trip on the steam railway and time to enjoy the gardens before returning to the hotel for the evening. 

Day 5 – Friday 31st May

After breakfast we will check out of our rooms and board the coach for our journey to the village of Buckler’s Hard. Here we will be able to explore at our leisure including a visit to the Maritime Museum and we will enjoy our two-course final lunch in the Master Builder’s House Hotel. Following lunch, we will board the coach for our journey to the Crowne Plaza in Gerrards Cross, arriving by approximately 4.00pm. Tea or coffee and cakes will be served before our door to door cars arrive at 4.30pm. 





Total Price of the Holiday:        £1,795 per person


Deposit:         £200 


Balance due:        1st April 2024


Whats Included:

  • Door to door cars from your home to the meeting point and back
  • Coach travel throughout the holiday
  • Four nights at the Solent Hotel & Spa in Fareham
  • 3-course dinner with 2 glasses of house wine each night
  • Full English or continental breakfast every morning
  • Lunch with coffee or tea every day
  • Ticket for Wicked at the Mayflower Theatre
  • Admission to Beaulieu
  • Admission to Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway
  • Admission to Highcliffe Castle
  • The services of a Blue Badge Guide
  • Admission to Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum
  • Gratuities
  • The services of your tour manager throughout your stay
  • V.A.T.     


For more information or to book call 020 4568 3377


If you have any questions about our holidays, please contact us by filling out the form below and we will get in touch with you shortly. Alternatively, you can give us a call – we hope to hear from you soon!

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