Bowood & Bath

Step into a world of serene beauty and quintessential Englishness as you head southwest to a weekend of rolling open scenery, timeless towns and villages, a magnificent stately home and an iconic Georgian city. You will get a warm welcome at Bowood House & Gardens, home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne since 1754 and where on 174 Dr Joseph Priestley isolated oxygen. Bowood's magnificent stately home stands within one of 'Capability' Brown's most beautiful parks, with gently sloping lawns stretching down to the lake and distant views to the chalk downlands. Spend a day in elegant Bath with all its treasures and two-thousand-year history waiting to be discovered.Weekend Highlights
- Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner- Porterage- Entrance to Bowood House & Gardens- En-route visits to Marlborough, Avebury and Stow-on-the-Wold (time permitting)- Wiltshire Explorer - Devizes & Lacock- Full day to Bath

Serene beauty and quintessential Englishness
Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach, head into the North Wessex Down National Landscape, an AONB, to pretty Marlborough with its buzzing high street full of independent shops and various cafes, pubs and tea rooms. Its claim to fame is the well-known College, the public school whose illustrious alumni include Victorian designer William Morris and Catherine, Princess of Wales. It is also where Merlin's bones are said to be buried. After time for a stroll and a snack, continue your journey via the World Heritage Site of Avebury. Known throughout the world, Avebury Henge and stone circles are one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, within which is the largest stone circle in Britain. Late afternoon arrival at 4* Blunsdon House Hotel near Swindon to check in for your 3-night stay. DBB\n\nDay 2 - 3 At leisure near Swindon with two included excursions\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nWiltshire Explorer & Bowood House & Gardens\nAfter a leisurely breakfast, board the coach to head to Devizes, a historic market town with a colourful medieval past and a wealth of history and architectural heritage with more than 500 listed buildings. Its large Market Place is at the heart of the town and there is a wide range of traditional independent shops. The famous Caen Hill flight of 29 canal locks is located just outside the town. Next stop is Lacock, the impossibly pretty National Trust village of Lacock, favourite location of film makers, has featured in 'Cranford', 'Pride & Prejudice (1995)' and 'The Other Boleyn Girl' to name but a few. Highlight of the day is an included visit to magnificent Bowood House. Bowood hosts a wealth of unique items from Queen Victoria's wedding chair to Napoleon's death mask as well as the laboratory in which Dr. Joseph Priestley identified Oxygen gas and a collection of art and historical treasures. Relax in 100 acres of beautiful parkland, designed by 'Capability' Brown, offering a lake, arboretum, pinetum, Doric temple, Terrace Gardens and cascade.\n\nA Day Out in Bath\nIt's not far to the Georgian City of Bath with its many historical treasures, monuments and beautiful architecture dating back to Roman times. Explore this magnificent city with its many attractions from the Abbey to the Roman Baths (entrances not included / some attractions may require pre-booking) and view the famous Pulteney Bridge or just relax on the banks of the River Avon. Bath's extraordinary array of architectural treasure has earned the whole city UNESCO World Heritage status and it is, of course, also home to many of the locations and scenes of the popular Netflix production 'Bridgerton' and its portrayal of Regency England. Enjoy free time or join an optional city sightseeing tour (details available from your driver)\n\nDay 4 - After breakfast, it's time to head homeward via a detour into the Charming Cotswolds for a stop in Stow-on-the Wold. At nearly 800ft, it is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and at the point where several roads meet, hence an important trading centre. It has a long history, it probably dates from a prehistoric, fortified settlement on top of the hill and had a special importance in the English Civil War, the last battle was fought close by in Donnington back in 1646. Onto interchange this afternoon and your home towns.Best Western Premier Collection Blunsdon House Hot
This 4* independent, family-owned hotel is set in 30 acres of well maintained grounds in beautiful Wiltshire countryside, overlooking the Vale of Cricklade with views of the Cotswolds. \n\nIt offers personal service and comfortable accommodation featuring TV, high speed WFi, desk and tea / coffee making facilities. \n\nThere is a distinctive restaurant, all day bar and a large outdoor sitting area (in the summer). \n\nThere are extensive leisure facilities including a sizeable indoor pool, outdoor tennis court, gym, sauna, steam rooms and jacuzzi. Beauty treatments are chargeable. \n\nThere is a lift