Cheltenham & the Cotswolds
5 day holiday - Monday 15th September 2025
Highlights...
Cotswolds Villages Tour
Sudeley Castle
Hidcote Manor
In this historic heart of England, every cobblestone and spire has a tale from centuries gone by. This highly-anticipated holiday will give you the unique opportunity to explore a variety of interesting locations. In Cheltenham, the grandeur of Regency architecture still echoes the elegance of its spa-town past, while Gloucester’s incredible cathedral stands as a reminder of the town’s Roman and medieval roots. As you journey through this fascinating landscape, you’ll pass through quaint market towns and rolling hills that have witnessed history unfold. Cheltenham was once known as ‘Celle’ during the Roman era and later rose to prominence for its healing mineral springs, which helped establish it as a fashionable spa town in the Regency period. Beyond its historical charm, Cheltenham is famed for its horse racing festival and cultural highlights like the Literature, Jazz, Science, and Music Festivals. The town’s grand architecture, including the Georgian-era Pittville Pump Room, stands as a lasting symbol of this golden age.
Our bespoke tour ventures into The Cotswolds, where many lifetimes of English heritage are reflected into its honey-coloured stone buildings and timeless landscapes. Spanning several counties in south-central England, this ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ is home to market towns such as Broadway village and Bourton-on-the-Water, where medieval origins and traditional architecture remain wonderfully preserved. Once at the centre of the medieval wool trade, the Cotswolds features ancient churches, scenic walking trails, Roman roads, and stately homes that offer a vivid glimpse into the past. Our tour also gives us a look at Cirencester, known for its enduring role in regional trade and community life. From ancient streets to beautiful gardens, this is a trip where every moment offers a new chapter in England’s rich and captivating story.

Delta Hotels by Marriott, Cheltenham Chase 4*
Perched at the gateway to the Cotswold Hills, this 4-Star hotel offers a countryside retreat just five miles from the Cheltenham town centre. Spacious rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, free WiFi, plasma TVs, toiletries, plus tea and coffee making facilities. Lift access is available. Cultural Breaks Members can unwind in the leisure club, which includes an indoor pool, hot tub, gym, and spa treatment options. A full English or continental breakfast buffet is served each morning. In the evenings, a 3-course meal is served in Hardy’s Restaurant, showcasing a variety of locally sourced ingredients and is table service. You may also wish to relax in Hunters Bar & Lounge.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Monday 15th September
Your chauffeur car will drop you off at the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, where you’ll meet your Tour Managers, who will assist you throughout the holiday. Enjoy tea, coffee, and pastries while your luggage is loaded onto the coach ready for departure. We stop near Cheltenham for lunch, and then visit the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral. A masterpiece of Gothic design founded in 678 AD, it features soaring fan vaults, intricate stained glass, and stunning cloisters – it’s also famed as a filming location for the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Later, the Tour Managers will assist you with check-in at the hotel and there will be some free time before dinner.
Day 2 – Tuesday 16th September
We meet our Blue Badge Guide and venture to Hidcote Manor, a National Trust property renowned for its Arts & Crafts gardens, designed by Lawrence Johnston. After a welcome talk, explore the garden’s unique ‘rooms’. For the first time, Hidcote hosts over 200 sculptures by 55 artists, reflecting themes of nature and sustainability. All works are available for sale in materials like bronze, glass, and alabaster. Following lunch, our guide will take us to Broadway village, often called ‘The Jewel of the Cotswolds’. With a history spanning over 5,000 years, Broadway boasts a charming High Street lined with horse chestnut trees and independent shops.
Day 3 – Wednesday 17th September
Our Blue Badge Guide accompanies us again for the day, with our first stop at Chavenage House in Tetbury. This Elizabethan manor, dating back to the late 16th century, is renowned for its stunning architecture and connection to the Lygon family. The house features fine Jacobean furniture, lavish tapestries, and a remarkable collection of portraits. Chavenage has also served as a filming location for ‘Poldark’. Our guided tour will reveal more about its fascinating timeline and expansive grounds. We have lunch at Chavenage, then move on to the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’, Cirencester. This market town blends Roman heritage with vibrant shops, historic architecture, and green spaces like Cirencester Park and the striking Church of St. John.
Day 4 – Thursday 18th September
Step into Sudeley Castle, a historic treasure in the Cotswolds and the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within its grounds: Queen Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. Our guided tour reveals centuries of royal intrigue, political power, and wartime resilience. After exploring the castle’s rich interiors and award- winning gardens, we have a light lunch in the Orangery café. In the afternoon, we return to Cheltenham with our Blue Badge Guide for a gently-paced walking tour of the area, with a look at the Regency-era Montpellier District, known for its spa heritage, Caryatids, exquisite architecture, and 19th-century affluence.
Day 5 – Friday 19th September
After breakfast, the Tour Manager will assist you with check-out and your luggage will be loaded onto the coach for the return journey. For your comfort, we will pause half-way for a 2-course lunch, including tea or coffee. Following lunch, we continue on to The Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, where final refreshments will be available, and your chauffeur-driven car will arrive. We hope you had a delightful holiday in ‘Chester & the Welsh Countryside’!
Total Price of the Holiday: £1,775 per person
Deposit: £200
National Trust Discount: £19
Balance due:
21st July 2025
Whats Included:
Door to door cars from your home to the meeting point and return journey
• Coach travel throughout the holiday
• Four nights at the 4-Star Cheltenham Chase Hotel
• 3-course dinner with 2 glasses of house wine every night
• Full English or continental breakfast buffet every morning
• Lunch with tea or coffee every day
• 2-course farewell lunch at Chisledon House
• Refreshments on the first and final day at the Crowne Plaza
• Blue Badge Guide (BBG) for three days
• All Admission/talks/tours at properties visited:
• BBG to Broadway village, Cirencester & Cheltenham • Chavenage House
• Gloucester Cathedral
• Hidcote Manor & Sculpture Exhibition
• Sudeley Castle
• Plus, the services of your Tour Managers throughout your stay
• Gratuities
• V.A.T.
For more information or to book call 020 4568 3377
