Oxford's Dreaming Spies & Blenheim Palace

HIGHLIGHTS: Blenheim Palace, Cotswold countryside, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway, Guided tour of Oxford, Moreton-in-Marsh

Enjoy a wonderful five day break in the very heart of the Cotswolds. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty with hidden villages featuring picture-postcard honey-coloured limestone cottages, proud markets towns and idyllic rolling countryside with tranquil vales, gentle rivers and verdant pastures. But there's more, much more, to discover in this wonderful neck of the woods, including the 'dreaming spires' of Oxford, one of England's premier seats of learning with its rich heritage and architecture, and majestic Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and one of Britain's greatest treasures.

**Please note it is a condition of travel with Grand UK, for all passengers to hold valid travel insurance for the duration of their tour.**Excursions
YOUR EXCURSIONS

FULL DAY: This morning we head into the Cotswolds and visit Moreton-in-Marsh where there is an opportunity to explore the huge Tuesday market, a celebrated weekly event, which takes over the High Street. Next to the pretty Cotswold village of Broadway, a delightful place often referred to as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds'. Here there is time to explore the 'broad way' with its ancient Cotswold stone cottages and myriad of antique shops before concluding our day in Stow-on-the-Wold, where there is time to explore the ancient market square surrounded by dozens of independent antique shops.

FULL DAY: This morning we head to Oxford, the 'city of dreaming spires'. This famous seat of learning is steeped in a rich and fascinating history with its 38 colleges, world-renowned Bodleian Library and familiar landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs - often featured in TV dramas, including the very popular Inspector Morse series. In the morning we include a guided tour of Oxford before enjoying free time to explore at leisure.

HALF DAY: To nearby Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the backdrop for many TV and film settings. The palace is regarded as one of the finest baroque houses in the country with extensive gardens and elegant gilded state rooms along with Churchill's birth room and new Churchill exhibition.

Escorted Travel
Every one of our coach holidays includes the services of a coach driver and is always fully escorted by a knowledgeable Tour Manager, they are on hand every day and night and stay in the same hotel to ensure your holiday is stress-free.




Our coach Tour Managers are there purely for your extra comfort and enjoyment, from organising activities to breaking the ice and helping you all make the most of your holiday.


We hand-pick these extra special people because of their passion for people and places; they are the heartbeat of our coach holidays, a smiling face, a helping hand and always a listening ear and have the ability to turn a great time into a truly magical and memorable holiday experience.


They are simply the best in the business.




Our coach Tour Managers are there purely for your extra comfort and enjoyment, from organising activities to breaking the ice and helping you all make the most of your holiday. They are simply the best in the business.

We hand-pick these extra special people because of their passion for people and places; they are the heartbeat of our coach holidays, a smiling face, a helping hand and always a listening ear and have the ability to turn a great time into a truly magical and memorable holiday experience.


Everything Included:

- Free local joining points
- Collect Coach Miles
- All coach travel
- Reserved seats on tour coaches
- Tour Manager escorted
- Hotel accommodation and board as stated
- No single room supplement
- Excursions / itinerary as stated
- Admission fees and entertainment if stated
- Complete luggage handling
- Price-Back Insurance Offer


Your Pick Up Points
Joining Your Grand UK Coach Holiday
For 2024 we have introduced improvements to our network of local pick up points across the eastern, central and southern England, aimed at shortening your journey times and getting you away on holiday more easily and conveniently, meaning an altogether more relaxing start. We now have two pick up regions so your travel days will be more convenient, providing more efficient journeys, meeting your tour manager and fellow travellers earlier and in most cases arriving in resort earlier, please refer to our Pick-ups section below for more details.
The Tour Ref below indicates whether the tour departs from Area A or Area B by having either an A or B at the end. For example, GUK5A would be a tour departing from Area A.

Pick-Up Information
For 2024 we have introduced improvements to our network of local pick up points across the eastern, central and southern England, aimed at shortening your journey times and getting you away on holiday more easily and conveniently, meaning an altogether more relaxing start. We now have two pick up regions so your travel days will be more convenient, providing more efficient journeys, meeting your tour manager and fellow travellers earlier and in most cases arriving in resort earlier.
The Tour Ref on the holiday tab indicates whether the tour departs from Area A or Area B by having either an A or B at the end. For example, GUK5A would be a tour departing from Area A.






Traveling from Departure Area A: Be picked up from your free local departure point, and join your tour coach at our interchange area at Northampton Services on the M11, at junction 15A.





Traveling from Departure Area B: Be picked up from your free local departure point, and join your tour coach at our interchange area at Beaconsfield Services, M40, junction 2.Cotswold Hotel Golf and Spa
This modern and spacious hotel is situated in its own extensive grounds and golf course in the Cotswold countryside, approximately one and a half miles from the centre of Chipping Norton.

Hotel Facilities

- Bar, restaurant & terrace
- En-suite bedrooms
- Free Wi-Fi
- Golf course, spa & gym
- Lift to most rooms

Hotels
• The Cotswolds Hotel, Golf & Spa (Chipping Norton) - View Information