a christmas sighseeing Tour of England

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP
Day One - Monday 20th December 2004
Arrival London. You have the day at leisure and to do Christmas shopping in London. We’ll take an evening tour to see the Christmas lights. This, along with a stop in a traditional London pub, is the perfect start to the tour and to get you into the Christmas mood!	London
Day Two - Tuesday
Leaving London, we follow the old coaching road to Winchester. Traditionally, early English Kings celebrated Christmas at this ancient Saxon capital of England. We’ll enjoy a walking tour that will include the Cathedral (always beautifully decorated for Christmas), one of England’s most famous public school, and the legendary ‘King Arthur’s Round Table’ in the ancient Saxon 'Great Hall'. Lunch will be taken at a wonderful thatched country pub. We'll also visit Jane Austen’s house at Chawton. She spent the last eight years of her life here and the house, where she wrote ‘Sense & Sensibility’ and ‘Pride & Prejudice’ amongst others.	Salisbury
Day Three - Wednesday
Our first visit of the day will be to Old Sarum. Founded in the Iron Age around 500BC, Romans, Saxons and Normans have all left their mark. We’ll then move on to the nearby cathedral city of Salisbury. All of Britain's town and cities are attractively decorated at this time of year and Salisbury is no exception. The cathedral close is particulary pretty. There will probably be a Christmas Street Market on in the area somewhere today. We'll find one and enjoy a glass or two of the the hot, mulled wine we're sure to find being sold!	Salisbury
Day Four - Thursday
Our first visit of the day will be to the better-known prehistoric site of Stonehenge, site of pagan rituals even today. Then we’ll drive through some attractive Wiltshire countryside and quaint small villages, with a lunch stop in the perfectly preserved 14th century village of Lacock, to the Georgian Roman spa town of Bath this morning. A panoramic city drive will be followed by a visit to the Roman baths and pump room. You’ll then be free to explore at leisure before we leave to cross the mighty Severn River into Wales.	South Wales
Day Five - Friday
Today we have a magnificent day in store. We’ll take a look at Cardiff, the capital of Wales and it's decorated civic centre, before continuing our journey to the nearby Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans (subject to opening times). Here we’ll see a superb display of Welsh buildings from all over Wales, many of them dating back hundreds of years. Later today we’ll move on the burial place of ancient Celtic Kings, see the wonderful, rugged coastline, where ship wreckers lured ships to their destruction and smugglers landed their contraband. We’ll also cross a river by 13^th century stepping-stones to a picture postcard thatched village. Tonight we’ll eat out at a local pub or attend a Christmas carol service. There’ll be an optional visit to the midnight service at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff's ancient cathedral, or perhaps a smaller, more intimate church near to our Manor House accommodation. Of course, you may imply wish to sit beside the roaring log fire and enjoy the Christmas entertainment laid on at our manor.	South Wales
Day Six - Saturday 25th Christmas day
Will it be a white Christmas? Whatever the weather, following our Christmas morning breakfast and present giving around a traditional tree, we’ll take a scenic drive. Our itinerary for the day will depend upon the weather but we’ve plenty of choice. One of the prettiest views, especially in the snow, is the romanticruins of 12th century castles and abbey (such as Tintern) that cover South Wales and inspired botht e painter, Turner, and poet, Wordsworth. Later, we’ll return to our base for a home-cooked traditional Christmas dinner to remember! Traditional Christmas party games will ‘wrap up’ this lovely day.	South Wales
Day Seven - Sunday
‘Boxing Day’ is also a holiday in Britain. It’s traditionally when the servants received their Christmas boxes. Nowadays, Boxing Day is a day for sport, recreation and ancient ceremony. An undoubted highlight of our tour will be the Fox Hunt. Tallyho! What a spectacle! Fine horses, baying foxhounds, the red-liveried riders and the sheer excitement of the chase. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately if you’re the fox!) such events are in decline so this will be a rare change to see something people usually only see in photographs or paintings. Should fox hunting has been banned by the time of the tour (it is being mooted by current government) then alternative sightseeing will be arranged.	South Wales
Day Eight - Monday
We depart from Wales and drive through the picturesque countryside of the Cotswolds. Even in winter the honey-coloured and thatched cottages have a special charm. En route we’ll stop at places of interest and seek out some local markets at places like Stowe, the Slaughters, Chippingham Campden and Burford. The fine city of Gloucester will be first on today’s itinerary, however. There’ll be time to explore the Cathedral and the renovated Victorian docks. Tonight, we'll enjoy a West End theatre show.	London
Day Nine - Tuesday
‘Bah Humbug!’ Scrooge was one character who would perhaps have begrudged us our festive mood. Today, using the topical ‘Christmas Carol’ story as our theme, we’ll explore the London of Charles Dickens. This delightful way of seeing the city will introduce you to a London seldom experienced by normal tourists. This is also the ‘SALE’ season and so we’ll spend some time finding the best of the sales. Maybe you’ll even find a sale bargain at Harrods! Tonight, a special treat. You couldn’t come to Britain at Christmas and not attend a traditional pantomime. This light-hearted theatrical experience will both amuse and intrigue. It’s always a surprise to see the great Shakespearean actors transforming into knock-about comedy! It's a great way to complete our Chritmas tour.	London
Day Ten - Wednes1day
Return airport transfer.