Walk through the heart of England , in the footsteps of English literary greats on this 7 day tour of inspirational sights and the settings of masterpieces. The Shakespeare Tour takes you from the dusty bookshelves of welsh booktown Hay-on-Wye through the inspiring Cotswolds and Stratford to the twisting spires of Oxford University. Austen, Tolkein, Rowling and Hardy are just some of the names you'll see not to mention the great bard himself William Shakespeare.
The Tour
Day 1 - Jane Austen's Winchester
After arriving in Britain head straight for Winchester through countryside that inspired Keat's “Ode to Autumn”. Winchester, a city wrapped in history, was once the ancient capital of England but later played home and inspiration to Jane Austen. A visit to nearby Chawton will see where she wrote and and revised six of her Best loved novels including Emma and Sense and Sensibility. The exhibition shows-off original manuscripts, early editions and family memorabilia. Then continue in to Winchester itself to see the cottage where she Austen spent her final days and the site of her burial at the captivating Winchester Cathedral.
Overnight Winchester.
Day 2 - Hardy Country and Glastonbury Abbey
Continuing West you may want to visit the Awe-Inspiring Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain before entering the county of Dorset where the quaint towns and villages were both the inspiration and settings of Thomas Hardy's greatest works. Head for Dorchester where the Dorset County Museum and Max Gate, his home, offer fascinating Hardy Exhibitions and insights in to his life and works including Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure. From here head north visiting Glastonbury , shrouded in myth and mystery. The spectacular ruins of Glastonbury Abbey are the final resting place for King Arthur and Guinivere whilst the nearby Glastonbury Tor (or Isle of Avalon) is reputedly where you may find the Holy Grail itself. Continue through the mendip hills to Bath for your overnight stop.
Overnight Bath.
Day 3 - Regency Bath and Book-Town Hay-on-Wye
Take this morning to explore the stunning regency city of Bath . Enjoy the 18th centry Royal Crescent before a visit to the spectacular Roman Baths , now a World Heritage Centre. A visit to the Jane Austen Centre will illustrate how spending much of her life in this remarkable city inspired and affected her writing. Westwards in to Wales and you'll see quaint welsh villages and market towns, such as Raglan and Abergavenny , as you journey in to the breathtaking scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park . Your stop tonight will be in the quaint booktown of Hay-On-Wye , self-proclaimed “Second-hand Book Capital of the World”. Home to Britain's leading literary festival, lose yourself in Hay-On-Wye's colourful jumble of eccentric bookshops.
Overnight Hay-On-Wye or Brecon.
Day 4 - Shakespeare's Stratford
Crossing the Welsh Marches over the border back in to England head for Stratford-Upon-Avon home and Birthplace of the great bard himself, William Shakespeare. There's a myriad of heritage sites to visit including Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage , Hall's Croft and his final resting place at Holy Trinity Chirch. Enjoy Stratford's scenic setting on the banks of the Avon and period timber-fronted architecture before rounding off your day with a trip to the Globe Theatre.
Overnight Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Day 5 - The Cotswolds and the Colleges of Oxford
A short drive from Stratford is the magnificent Warwick Castle , dating back to William the Conqueror. From here make your way through the quintessentially English countryside of the Cotswolds passing through quaint villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden before a stop in Woodstock to visit Blenheim palace, a fabulous Baroque mansion and Birthplace of Winston Churchill. Arriving in Oxford take an amble through the colleges of Magdalen, Chirstchurch and Queens and learn about some of Oxford's literary dons such as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Oscar Wilde, not to mention a great many eccentrics! The Bodleian Library and New College Hall you may recognize from the film adaptations of JK Rowling's modern classic Harry Potter.
Overnight Oxford
Day 6 - Eaton, Windsor and Windsor Castle
Spend your last day exploring one of England's great institutions with a visit to Eaton College and museum, school to a host of famous Britons past and present including British Prime Ministers, Princes William and Harry and even James Bond! Then on to Windsor itself where you can wander the cobbled streets and visit the largest inhabited stronghold in the world, Windsor Castle . Still a royal residence today, Windsor Castle harbours hundreds of years of history of the British Monarchy.
Overnight Staines near to Heathrow Airport.
Day 7 - Return Home
Return home with echoes of sonnets and prose in your memories and an extra classic English book or two for the journey.
Optional Extras
- Purchase the Great British heritage Pass offering queue skip and entry to a number of sites on the itinerary including: Stonehenge, Hardy's Cottage, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Warwick Castle, Raglan Castle, Roman Bath and Pump Rooms.
- Enjoy City Sightseeing Bus Tours of Bath, Startford and Oxford.
Customize your tour.
- Add extra nights in London at the beginning or end of your stay to enjoy the literary sights of Charles Dickens.
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