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                      This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle, . . .
                      This other eden, demi-paradise, . . .
                      This precious stone set in the silver sea, . . .
                      This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England . . .
                                                                    Richard II

Shakespeare's memorable lines are quoted so often that they appear trite. But nothing expresses so well the wonderful attractions of England. How does one choose where to go in this land that is so blessed? This tour samples the best: England's gardens and the Cotswold Hills.

We'll tour some of the most beloved gardens in England, from Kent to Gloucestershire, and we'll visit the romantic stone villages of the Cotswold Hills. We'll also see some castles, country houses and ponder the remnants of Roman Britain.

The small group will be organized and escorted by Harlan Hague, Ph.D., writer and retired history professor, who lived in the north Cotswolds and returns often. For my background and experience in organizing and escorting tours, see my home page. Tour arrangements are by Lord Addision Travel, the premier company specializing in travel to Great Britain, particularly tours that feature gardens. The group will be led by an expert Lord Addison courier.

The Itinerary

June 19 Thursday   Fly to London
Evening departure aboard British Airways regular overnight service from your gateway city to London.
Overnight on plane

June 20 Friday   The Southeast
You'll be met on your arrival in London (Heathrow or Gatwick) by your personal driver as you pass through Customs. Enjoy the drive to our hotel in Dorking where you'll be met by the Lord Addison Travel courier. Avoid jet lag with some sunshine as you explore this Surrey market town. Our courier will lead an optional walk. If you come down to the bar before dinner, you may rub elbows with the ghost of Charles Dickens. He was known to frequent the bar. The hotel is reputed to have been the home of the "Marquis of Granby" in the Pickwick Papers. The group gathers this evening for a welcome dinner.
Overnight: White Horse Hotel, Dorking                                      

June 21 Saturday   The Southeast
This morning, we drive across Sussex and the Weald to Kent. Our first visit is Sissinghurst, the famous garden built by writer Vita Sackville West. Afterwards, we'll drive through the scenic countryside and pretty villages, stopping for lunch, perhaps at an historic pub. This afternoon, we'll visit Bateman's, the home and gardens of Rudyard Kipling. The author wrote some of his best-known works here. Our small country hotel is set in beautiful grounds on the edge of picturesque Hawkhurst village.
Overnight: Tudor Court Hotel, Hawkhurst.                                 

June 22 Sunday   The Southeast
We begin the day with a morning visit to Bodiam Castle, one of the most dramatic, romantic castles in Britain, famed as much for its setting as its structure. Then we'll tour the expansive gardens surrounding the ruined Scotney Castle in its lakeside setting. This afternoon, we visit Great Dixter, the acclaimed gardens of Christopher Lloyd. Afterwards, we drive westward and return to the White Horse in Dorking.
Overnight: White Horse Hotel, Dorking                                       

June 23 Monday   Southeast--Chipping Campden
The morning begins at nearby Wisley, the showcase gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society. Then we turn west and north, following the Thames Valley to Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. This afternoon, we visit the gardens of Barnsley House, the personal garden of the late Rosemary Verey. We continue northward through the rolling limestone hills to Chipping Campden. There may be time to stroll around the village before dinner. Our hotel, originally a coaching inn, dates from the 14th century. Charles II rested here in 1651.
Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Campden                        

June 24 Tuesday   North Cotswolds
Our excursion today takes us down the west side of the Cotswold escarpment to the village of Winchcombe and a morning visit to Sudeley Castle and gardens. Queen Catherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII, is buried in a little chapel near the rose gardens. Afterwards, we drive to Broadway, one of the prettiest of the Cotswold villages, and stroll the pretty High Street. Later, we return to Chipping Campden in time to explore this medieval wool town.
Overnight: Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Campden                          

June 25 Wednesday   North Costwolds
This morning we visit nearby Hidcote Manor Gardens, a magnificent early twentieth-century garden. Then, we take a short drive to ponder the mystery of the Rollright Stones, among the most celebrated of Britain's 600 prehistoric stone henges. In the afternoon, we visit moated Broughton Castle and gardens, the seat of Lord Saye and Sele since the seventeenth century and hotbed of Parliamentarians during the Civil War. Later, we drive through Chipping Norton to Stow-on-the-Wold. Our small Cotswold stone hotel, furnished with Jacobean antiques, is just off the Roman Fosse Way and around the corner from the village square.
Overnight: Unicorn Hotel, Stow-on-the-Wold    

June 26 Thursday   Central Cotswolds
This morning we'll visit some of the loveliest villages in the central Cotswolds. We'll walk on the high street of Burford, then drive to Bourton-on-the-Water, where the River Windrush flows through the pretty green. There will be time to sample the village shops, pubs and tea rooms.  This afternoon we visit Chastleton House, England's finest Jacobean country house and the best example of a conserved rather than restored historic property. Afterwards, we'll return to Stow-on-the-Wold in time to stroll about this interesting village.
Overnight: Unicorn Hotel, Stow-on-the-Wold                              

June 27 Friday   South Cotswolds
We spend today in the southern Cotswolds, beginning with a drive along the River Coln to Bibury. Here, we'll walk along the clear stream and view the lovely cottages of Arlington Row. Then we drive to the ancient market town of Cirencester. We'll visit the Corinium Museum, among the finest museums of Roman Britain. There will be time to explore the town, have lunch and visit the historic church of St. John the Baptist, like most other churches in the Cotswolds, built on the profits of the medieval wool trade. This afternoon, we visit Chedworth Roman Villa, the remains of one of the finest Romano-British villas in the country.
Overnight: Unicorn Hotel, Stow-on-the-Wold                                

June 28 Saturday   Cotswolds--Oxford--London
Today we leave the Cotswolds for the return to London. En route, we'll visit Oxford. A short walking tour with our courier will introduce us to this historic university town. We'll have lunch here with a bit of time afterwards for exploring on our own. Continuing, we'll arrive at our London hotel in mid-afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is free. We'll gather this evening for a farewell dinner.
Overnight in London                                                                    

June 29 Sunday   London-flight home
There may be some time this morning for a bit of shopping or a stroll in Covent Garden before your transfer to the airport for the flight home. Transfers will be staggered, according to departure times.

On the other hand . . . .

. . . if you would like to spend a few additional days in London, or on the south coast, or Devon, or Yorkshire, or the Lake District, or Scotland, or  .  .   . Lord Addison Travel will be happy to arrange your stay, anywhere and for as long as you wish. Write to Nikki O'Neill, our trip coordinator at Lord Addison.

Notes:

We are going to try to work in visits to one or two private gardens open for charity under the wonderful National Gardens Scheme. We can't plan the visits now since the NGS schedule for June 2003 will not be published until spring.

We will visit a number of properties of the National Trust. For that reason, each member of the tour group will be enrolled for a year's membership in the National Trust. If you extend at the end of the tour and visit Trust properties, you will be admitted at no charge. Just show your card.

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Is traveling with a tour
right for you?

Before you decide to sign on this tour, or any tour, consider carefully whether tour travel is right for you. If you find it a bother and a distraction to have to search for accommodation, hunt for a place to eat, research a destination, plan an itinerary, arrange transportation, handle baggage and other travel chores, a tour is right for you. On the other hand, if you would find adherence to a schedule planned by someone else too confining, if you prefer the flexibility of making changes on the spot, if you would find it a bore to see the same faces each morning, then you should not join a tour group. Traveling independently is more flexible to be sure, but it is considerably more difficult than tour travel. Tour group members are willing to give up some options for the assurance that they can devote their full attention to enjoying travel without the time-consuming distractions required by having to make their own day-to-day arrangements.

COSTS

Program fees listed below are per person, double occupancy. Fees are shown for two group sizes. We intend to form a group of 16-18.

                                                               16 members/11 members
Boston/New York/Philadelphia                         $3160/$3520
Washington, D.C./Baltimore                              $3210/$3570
San Francisco/Miami/Orlando/Chicago/Dallas    $3260/$3650
Seattle/Phoenix/Denver/Detroit                          $3310/$3670

If your departure city is not listed, write to Nikki O'Neill at Lord Addison.

Some British Airways schedules offer World Traveler Plus, a  super economy class. For more comfort on the transatlantic flights, upgrade for $480.

British Airways is a partner with American Airlines, so one can earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles on a BA flight.

Land only: $2620 (16 members), $2980 (11 members)

Single supplement: $350, none if you are willing to share with a suitable roommate. Write to me for an explanation of the policy.

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READY TO SIGN ON?

If you are ready to sign on, read Lord Addison Travel's terms and conditions page. Either print the page, retaining the top portion for your records, or copy and paste the actual registration form into a word processing program, and print it. Complete the form and mail it to the address shown, enclosing a deposit cheque of $200 for each applicant. Deposits and final payments also may be made by credit card. If you wish to pay by credit card, add a note on the application that you are doing so. Then telephone Nikki O'Neill at Lord Addison, 800-326-0170, and she will take your credit card information. Send your completed application to the address shown on the form. If you have any questions, write to me, or if you wish, write directly to Lord Addison.

When all is done, write to me, and I'll give you a proper welcome to the group. Then the anticipation begins. This promises to be a memorable trip.

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