England: From Manor to Majesty

Our first day finds us arriving at London Heathrow International Airport where our private transportation will take us to The Cotswolds, famed for its golden-stone villages, rolling green hills, and timeless English countryside charm. We will spend the next 5 days and nights in Lords of the Manor, a historic hotel built in 1650! After our afternoon tea we will enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the gardens with Head Gardener, Mike Dron. Relax in the garden or tour the wine cellars then prepare for our first dinner at the Manor with Chef Charles Smith who directs the creations in The Dining Room and The Atrium restaurants. 

It’s the perfect beginning to a week where every moment blends history, luxury, and the flavors of England at its finest!

England’s most favorite son of the area was William Shakespeare. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, we will stroll along The Town Walk and explore its history, Shakespeare’s birthplace and school and experience the relationship they shared with the famous writer. It is here that he met and married Anne Hathaway, 8 years his senior. Married in 1582, William and Anne began their life together here in the heart of Warwickshire, raising a family while he penned words that would change the world. Though his career often took him to London, Stratford remained their anchor—a place of love, history, and the quiet English charm that still lingers today. We will feel the charm of this historical area and enjoy ourselves as participants in this era of time. 

After a beautiful river cruise, we will enjoy a five-course ingredient-led seasonal tasting menu at a local restaurant before returning to the Manor House to enjoy an evening of Cuban Cigars and Brandy!

Few figures shaped the course of the 20th century as profoundly as Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s Prime Minister during World War II and a man often regarded as the most important leader in Europe at the time. Born at Blenheim Palace in 1874, Churchill’s roots were an extraordinary blend of British aristocracy and American spirit—his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a prominent Conservative politician, while his mother, Jennie Jerome, hailed from the Bronx, New York. Today, as we step into the Palace’s magnificent halls and wander its landscaped grounds, we walk in the very place where Churchill’s story began. 

We will experience a private tour of the Palace including the Rooftop and Afternoon Tea in the Marlborough Room. An additional treat will be meeting the Beekeeper and the bees at 4pm where we will sample the honey produced on the grounds over 200 years. 

Upon arrival back at the Manor House, we will enjoy a beautiful tasting menu with Chef Charles accompanied by a wine flight in The Atrium. 

A lovely evening in the garden with Vivian for our late-night Cuban cigars and cognac! 

Today we are all taking a “Bath”!! Actually, we are visiting the amazing town of Bath where you will find Roman Baths, unique urban architecture and the 1774 Pulteney Bridge. One of our personal favorite towns to visit, we will have lunch at The Scallop Shell and choose a dessert from the Bath Chocolate Company! With some free time to roam the streets, find some very lovely memories of your visit to Bath, England!

Back in Lower Slaughter, we will prepare for supper at the Slaughters Country Inn before heading back to the Manor House. 

There are many beautiful Castles in England, and we have chosen some with great history. Today we will visit Sudeley Castle which dates back 1000 years. In the 1500’s, King Henry VIII visited with Anne Bolyn, and later, Katherine Parr, his 6th wife, lived and died in the Castle. Katherine Parr become the only English Queen buried in a privately owned castle. Her tomb is located in the chapel within the grounds. Sudeley Castle’s history is extraordinary and we will be privy to many backstories with our personal tour. And, of course, our Afternoon Tea with Champagne! 

On the way back to the Manor House, we will stop into Cotswold Woollen Weavers and The Witney Blanket Hall. “Half the wealth of England rides on the back of the sheep”! We will spend time with Richard Martin of The Woollen Weavers who will share the tradition of wool products in England. 

Tonight, we will enjoy our last dinner with Chef Charles and a relaxing time preparing for our departure in the morning. Off to Londontown!!

Before we get to London, we must visit Highclere Castle where the most popular Downton Abby was filmed both inside and outside of this beautiful privately owned Castle. This estate sits on over 5000 acres dating back to 749AD. The Castle was built in 1679 with several renovations throughout the year. Today we will meet the owners and tour the Egyptian Exhibition and Gardens of this very popular Castle and then enjoy our last Afternoon Tea in the Cotswolds! 

Off to the big city and the Soho Hotel where we will spend the next 2 nights. Once there we will have free time to visit places you may have wanted to explore or just relax in the hotel. We will meet up tonight at 7 at Churchill Bar & Terrace to begin our evening before dinner at Scott’s where we will enjoy a seafood and champagne meal! After dinner we will enjoy a nightcap and cigar at Cigars at No. Ten where Vivian will enchant us with her many years of knowledge of cigars, especially the Cuban kind! Our private transportation will take us back to the hotel from the cigar lounge. 

Today we will be treated to a private tour of Buckingham Palace grounds in conjunction with the Changing of the Guards. I’m hoping we will run into the future King and Queen! From this point, you will have the rest of the day to meander through the streets, whether you enjoy history, shopping or eating, there are plenty of opportunities to soak in all the greatness of this extraordinary historical town. 

Our last dinner in London will be at a restaurant called The Blue Kitchen. Here we will be entertained by the sounds of Americana music from jazz to blues to classic rock! 

As a final “Cheers to London”, on our way to LHR we will stop at Windsor Castle for a short tour that starts at 11am. Depending on the time of flights home, we may just pop in for a few minutes and see if Charles and his wife are there!!! 

As we bid farewell to England’s golden villages, grand palaces, and vibrant city streets, we hope the stories, flavors, and moments you’ve experienced will stay with you long after the journey home. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us—it’s been a joy to explore history and culture together, and we can’t wait to travel with you again.