Backroads English Countryside
Leisurely Paced Vacation Including the Chelsea Flower Show


May 20-28, 2012 - Sold Out
9 days 8 nights   

Your host hotel, The Oxford Belfry, is a charming location for your exploration of the English Countryside while affording you the convenience of one hotel for six nights.

Your tour includes notable and historic attractions. Explore Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle its beautiful gardens and sculptured landscape covers many acres.

Enjoy a walking tour of Oxford, famous the world over for its University. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars. Tour Christ Church, a unique institution and one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. Christ Church has a fascinating history and many distinguished people have studied here including John Wesley.

Experience gardens galore as you travel to Blenheim Palace, home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Set in 2100 acres of beautiful parkland, the magnificent Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns, award-winning formal gardens and the Great Lake, offering a unforgettable day. And you can't visit England without seeing Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace and gardens. It’s easy to see why this was Henry VIII’s favorite palace. Hampton Court boasts 60 acres of beautiful riverside gardens, sparkling fountains and a world-famous maze.

For over 750 years pilgrims have come to Salisbury to seek inspiration in the glory and peace of the building and surrounding Cathedral Close. Then you head to Bath a historic Roman city and a World Heritage Site. A unique city, Bath is famous for its hot springs, Roman period baths, Medieval heritage and stately Georgian architecture.

Day-trip through the beautiful and romantic Cotswold's region of England. This is where peaceful river valleys, country towns and villages of honey-colored stone, complete with manor houses, churches and traditional pubs await you. You will arrive in the Elizabethan town of Stratford-on-Avon, home and birthplace of William Shakespeare. Here you will visit Anne Hathaway's thatched roof cottage.

Then the Chelsea Flower Show, one of the most famous garden shows in the world and a major social occasion in London. For 141 years this horticultural flower show has attracted visitors from around the world, and today it’s your turn to visit. See more than 600 exhibits, amazing garden designs, floral displays and new plants as you wander the spacious site.

Read our blog post "Escape to Blossoming Enchantment."

      
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
  • Unpack just twice at beautiful country resort inns
    outside of Oxford & Hampton.
  • Chelsea Flower Show in London
  • Cotswold's with Stratford on Avon
  • Visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage
  • Tour Blenheim Palace
  • Tour Hampton Court
  • Tour Windsor Castle
  • Eton College
  • Visit Coventry Cathedral
  • Jaguar Car Factory
  • Visit Salisbury and ancient Roman Bath
  • Gardens galore at Oxford, Hampton, Blenheim
    and Chelsea
  • Guided Oxford walking tour with visit to Christchurch College
TRIPS INCLUDES
  • Round trip commercial air from Indianapolis
  • Full meal & beverage service for international flight
  • Home pick-up & return Indy metro area
  • Airport transfers
  • Transportation aboard a private, luxury,
    temperature-controlled motorcoach
  • 8 nights first class accommodations in England
  • Baggage handling (1 checked bag per person)
  • 13 meals: 7 breakfast, 6 dinners
  • Attractions and comprehensive sightseeing package as highlighted in itinerary, including entrance fees where applicable
  • All room and meal taxes, as well a gratuities to bellmen
  • Professional Tour Director
  • Operated by an Interlude Travel Partner
  • A Valid Passport Required

  
PRICING DETAILS (Cost per Person)*
Double from $3,399*
Single from $3,899*
Deposit $650 per person
Balance Due February 17, 2012
Travel Insurance: $262 (D), $300 (S)
* Air departure from Indianapolis estimated and subject to change. Call for pricing from other departure cities.

 
TRAVEL ITINERARY


Day 1: Indianapolis / London
Indianapolis overnight flight to London Heathrow airport with full meal and beverage service, as well as complimentary stereo headsets, available while aloft. (In-Flight Meal)

Day 2: London / Windsor Castle / Oxford
 Arrive at Heathrow airport. Travel into the heart of the English countryside. Enjoy a visit to the monarch's country home, Windsor Castle. Marvel at the ancient architecture while enjoying the splendid gardens. Also see Eton, the private high school for the rich and famous. Then arrive at our country hotel outside Oxford. Welcome Dinner tonight. Oxford Belfry Hotel (D)

Day 3: Oxford / Blenheim
Drive through the countryside that is quintessential England - patchwork quilt fields, beech wood, and winding lanes - en route to Oxford. This university boasts colleges dating back to the 12th century. Enjoy a walking tour of Oxford including a visit to Christ Church College. Your next stop will be the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace. Enjoy a guided tour of the estate and the magnificent English gardens. Tonight's dinner will be at a local Oxford pub. Oxford Belfry Hotel (B, D)

Day 4: Cotswolds / Straford Avon
Your path today winds through the Cotswolds; gentle hills full of golden stone. The buildings here glow with the same soft color, and the villages are picture-postcard perfect. Arrive at Stratford-on-Avon, a charming Elizabethan market town and home of one of England's most famous son's; William Shakespeare. His historic birthplace stands alone and the interior looks just as it did back in his day. Also visit Anne Hathaway's thatched roof cottage, looking just as it did when Shakespeare won her hand there. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight. Oxford Belfry Hotel (B, D)

Day 5: Coventry / Jaguar Factory Tour
Coventry is a blend of the old and new. Its medieval cathedral was bombed during the WWII blitz, with only some exterior walls and the slender 303-foot spire surviving. The ruins were incorporated into the new cathedral, completed in 1962. Enjoy a guided tour here. Then it's off to tour the Castle Bromwich, now the factory for the English-built Jaguar car.Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant. Oxford Belfry Hotel (B, D)

Day 6: Salisbury / Bath
Wander on the roads less traveled through the magnificent green English countryside to beautiful Salisbury. Tour the cathedral before heading to Bath, an ancient city dating back to the Roman conquest. The ornate Roman Baths are yours to explore. Return to the respite of your English countryside hotel with with dinner included here tonight. Oxford Belfry Hotel (B, D)

Day 7: London / Chelsea Flower Show
Spring is a colorful time to be in England. Enjoy a day trip into London for the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Botanists, locals and tourists make this pilgrimage every year to this, the most famous of all horticultural events in the world. If time allows, visit the well known Portobello Saturday Market just outside of London. Spend time browsing the various stalls selling unique crafts, delicious fruits and vegetables, flowers and clothing. It's a colorful event. Return to your hotel for a free evening. Carlton & Mitre Hotel (B)

Day 8: Hampton Court / Free Time
Today walk the same corridors that Henry VIII did with his numerous wives so many years ago. A tour of Hampton Court is like walking back in time, with its walled courtyards, ornate chapel and formal gardens. Then enjoy a free afternoon to walk and explore this quaint town of Hampton on the Thames. Tonight, meet for your Farewell Dinner at a fine local restaurant. Carlton & Mitre Hotel (B, D)

Day 9: London / Indianapolis
On to London airport to fly home. The rich tapestry of beauty and history that is England will linger in your memory for years to come. (B, In-Flight Meal)


Note: This tour requires a valid passport.

Commercial Air: Book Now to ensure your place on this trip because this trip operates on commercial air. Space is limited and may not be available less than 90 days before departure.

Cancellation policy: if insurance is not purchased, cancellation charges are: 91 days and earlier: full refund; 90 -76 days before departure: $650; 75 and less days prior to departure: no refund. In addition, airline penalties and charges may apply. A valid passport is required.
Call Interlude Tours today for reservations!    (317) 913-0387
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