Ancient Touring Routes of England

14
Days
From
$7,997.00 CAD
OverviewHighlightsWhat's IncludedItineraryDeparture DatesAdd-onsFAQ
Britain
Tour Type:Flight & Coach

Exploring Bristol, Oxford and London

Join us as we follow one of England’s ancient touring routes, known as Great West Way®. It was one of the first “Great Roads” commissioned by the Kings of England, and is considered one of the world’s premier touring routes.

Winding through lush green landscapes to historic cities and world-famous attractions, this tour is for travellers who want to explore the “real” England—and enjoy experiences not found in any other parts of the country. Our first 6 nights will be in Bristol, a lively yet laid-back city recently designated as the UK’s best place to live. Bristol has a rich maritime heritage with a famous harbour, historic landmarks and stunning architecture from a variety of historic periods. The second half of our tour will be spent in glorious Oxfordshire, a landscape rich with fairy-tale palaces, picture-postcard villages, and of course, the world’s oldest English-speaking university. We finish with 2 nights in a centrally located hotel, and touring, in “Everybody’s Favourite City”, London.

Tour Highlights

  • The UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath
  • The magical, historic town of Bradford-upon-Avon
  • Blenheim Palace birthplace of Winston Churchill
  • Bristol the SS Great Britain and “Being Brunel”
  • Berkeley Castle
  • The unspoiled village of Lacock
  • A tour of Chiltern Hills
  • The Royal Borough of Windsor
  • Waddesdon Manor
  • Cruise on the Thames
  • Oxford the City of Dreaming Spires
  • Windsor Castle

What's Included

  • Flights with Air Canada
  • First-class and Superior comfort hotels
  • Full English breakfast and 8 dinners (including 2 pub dinners)
  • An Afternoon Tea
Why you’ll love touring with us:
  • Home pick-up/drop-off (from most cities)
  • Convenient flights & transfers
  • Carefully selected hotels
  • Cultural & authentic dining experiences
  • Excursions with expert local guides
  • Exceptional Tour Manager
  • Comprehensive insurance plan
  • All taxes, gratuities & fees

Itinerary

Day 1DEPART
We depart for London.
Day 2BRISTOL
We arrive and transfer to our centrally located hotel in Bristol for a 6-night stay. Tonight is our Welcome Dinner.
Day 3BRISTOL
Our city tour begins at the historic waterfront, where we’ll visit the SS Great Britain and see what life was like on the world’s first great luxury liner. Then we’ll experience Being Brunel, where we will learn about the ingenious engineer who changed the face of England with his bridges, tunnels, dockyards, and railways. We finish the day with a leisurely walking tour of Bristol’s historic centre.
Day 4COTSWOLDS / BERKELEY CASTLE
Today we meander through the sleepy, honey-coloured villages of the Cotswolds, a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We make a stop to visit magnificent Berkeley Castle, the UK’s oldest medieval castle to be occupied by the same family from its inception (1153!) to today.
Day 5BRISTOL AT LEISURE
A day at leisure to explore stunning architecture, award-winning attractions, great restaurants, and stunning cityscapes.
Day 6BATH / BRADFORD-ON-AVON
We begin in the UNESCO City of Bath, home to stunning Georgian architecture, the iconic Royal Crescent, the majestic Circus, and Pulteney Bridge. Then it’s off to Bradford-on-Avon, where the town’s ancient, picturesque bridge still retains its original 13th-century arches. You will have some free time to explore before we head back to Bristol and dinner at a charming local pub
Day 7LACOCK ABBEY / TETBURY
Lacock Abbey is considered the birthplace of photography: it was here that William Fox-Talbot took his first photograph in the early 1830s. Lacock village is wonderfully preserved, with no television aerials and few signs of the modern world. After our visit to the Abbey, we’ll explore Tetbury, known for its antique shops and proximity to King Charles’s residence at Highgrove. We will enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea in Tetbury.
Day 8BLENHEIM / OXFORD
Today we visit Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill and home to one of Europe’s finest antique collections. We’ll tour the State Rooms, explore 2000 acres of landscaped parkland, and see some of the finest views in England. From here, we will drive to our hotel in the Oxford countryside for a 5-night stay.
Day 9HENLEY / CHILTERN HILLS
Henley-on-Thames is one of England’s most beautiful towns and is also famous for its internationally-renowned rowing regatta. We begin with a cruise along the regatta route, then tour the Chiltern Hills, dotted with quaint villages with typical brick and flint architecture. This evening we enjoy dinner in a local pub.
Day 10OXFORD
On our guided walking tour of Oxford, we’ll see ancient university buildings and hidden alleyways, visit Radcliffe Square and Bodleian Libraries, and see some of the oldest colleges. We’ll learn about the city’s past and some of the famous characters who studied here. There will be free time to explore on our own.
Day 11OXFORD AT LEISURE
Explore more of the fascinating city of Oxford, or take a walk through the nearby market town of Thame.
Day 12AYLESBURY / WADDESDON MANOR
Our first stop is Aylesbury, known for its vibrant (and wonderfully browsable) antique market. Then it’s off to Waddesdon Manor, a French Renaissance manor house inspired by the chateaux in the Loire Valley. Built by the Rothschild family in the 19th century, it boasts exceptional architecture, an extensive art collection and stunning gardens.
Day 13WINDSOR / LONDON
We’ll enjoy a walking tour and a visit to Windsor Castle, one of the King’s official residences and the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world. After our visit we proceed to London.
Day 14LONDON
On this morning’s guided sightseeing tour we’ll see many of London’s famous sights: Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, and more. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Tonight, it’s our Farewell Dinner—and cheers to an incredible tour!
Day 15RETURN
Air Canada takes us home.

Please note: Excursions that involve a ferry trip are subject to weather conditions. If a sailing is cancelled by the boat/ferry company, a suitable alternative will be provided.

Departure City

Departure Dates

  • Jul 25, 2022 — Aug 7, 2022
    From $7,997.00 CAD
  • Jul 24, 2023 — Aug 6, 2023
    From $7,997.00 CAD
  • Jul 21, 2024 — Aug 3, 2024
    SOLD OUTFrom $7,997.00 CAD
  • May 6, 2025 — May 20, 2025
    SOLD OUTFrom $7,997.00 CAD
  • Jun 2, 2026 — Jun 16, 2026
    SOLD OUTFrom $7,997.00 CAD

Add-on Costs

Add-on pricing for this date will appear here when available in the catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

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