Winchester - Gold Collection

Combine the tranquil landscape of the New Forest with the beautiful and historic cathedral city of Winchester on this enchanting tour.

Highlights
• Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner
• Tea/coffee after dinner
• Included excursion to Winchester & Salisbury
• Included visits to Jane Austen’s House and Chichester
• Included excursion touring the New Forest visiting Burley, Lyndhurst & BeaulieuDAY 1 Departure & Jane Austen’s House: A morning departure, stopping at Jane Austen’s House on the way to our hotel. We will have the opportunity to visit the 17th Century house situated in the pretty village of Alton, where Jane Austen lived from 1809-1817. Here she wrote and revised 6 of her great novels and you will be able to see copy letters, pictures and memorabilia. There is also a beautiful old-fashioned garden to stroll around.

DAYS 2-4 You can relax and enjoy the facilities within the hotel, alternatively join our optional* excursion, details available from your driver.

Winchester & Salisbury: After breakfast, we will head to the historic cathedral city of Winchester. You will have free time this morning to take in the sights.Why not visit Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College or St Cross Hospital, all of which are interesting attractions. The Great Hall, which is all that survives of Winchester’s castle, is worth a visit. In the afternoon, we will take the short drive to the magnificent medieval city of Salisbury. Here you will find historic streets and alleyways, charming half-timbered buildings, traditional English eating houses and shopping streets full of character, not to mention a superb range of attractions, including the UK’s finest medieval cathedral.Why not join our optional city tour on board your touring coach taking in all the sights of the city and the surrounding area including Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge.

New Forest: Today we will go to the picturesque New Forest visiting towns and villages typical of the area such as Burley, one of the prettiest New Forest villages and home to the New Forest Cider Farm.We continue from here to Lyndhurst in time for lunch. The village of Lyndhurst, “Capital” of the New Forest was established as a Royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror and offers among other things a museum in the New Forest visitor centre, shops, and the grave of the original Alice in Wonderland (Alice Liddell, later Hargreaves) in the churchyard. This afternoon we continue our New Forest tour and visit Brockenhurst, the place where the North and South Weirs streams join. Our last visit of the day is Beaulieu, home to the National Motor Museum, you have a short while at leisure to explore the village before returning to the hotel.

LAST DAY Travel home via Chichester: Today we begin our journey home stopping off with free time for lunch and sightseeing in the Cathedral City of Chichester. The magnificent Cathedral stands in the heart of the city.Why not take a stroll around Bishop’s Palace Gardens located within the city walls. We will depart for home early afternoon, arriving during the evening. Please note-entry fees are not included unless stated.Norton Park, Winchester

Residing in 54 acres of peaceful grounds this 4 star hotel offers peace and tranquillity and features restaurant, bar, sauna, steam rooms and spa treatment rooms (treatments must be pre-booked direct with the hotel). Each of the 175 en suite bedrooms offers TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a lift to all floors and porterage is included.