A CITY & VILLAGE TOURS SLEEPOVER PACKAGE

The Cotswolds Explorer

3 days

This three-day tour at a 4* hotel brings together three popular City & Village Tours itineraries:

The Downton Abbey Matinee Explorer, Cotswolds Gold and The Cotswolds River Thames Explorer.

Day One: Meet the Blue Badge guide at midday on the Sunday for a 2-course carvery lunch with coffee in a very attractive restaurant overlooking the beautiful Windrush Valley in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. This afternoon we are going to show you the Downton Abbey outdoor filming locations with visits to Bampton, which is Downton Village, to see Isobel Crawford’s house, the Downton Cottage Hospital and that cottage that has given Mrs Patmore so much trouble. We also visit Yew Tree Farm (Cogges Manor Farm) before continuing on to check into our 4* hotel near Swindon for time to freshen up before a three-course, three-choice dinner is served.

Day Two: On Monday morning after a big cooked breakfast we’re off to enjoy some Cotswolds Gold. Enjoy a scenic tour with the Blue Badge guide through the Gloucestershire Golden Valleys - this is Laurie Lee country, the inspiration for his childhood memoir ‘Cider With Rosie’. We visit Painswick, Queen of the Thames, where 99 clipped yews form a churchyard maze and stop for free time to buy lunch in Tetbury. In the afternoon we head to ancient Malmesbury and the glorious Abbey House Gardens set against the dramatic backdrop of the town’s ruined Benedictine Abbey. The first King of all England is buried somewhere in these gardens. Tea and cake is served before returning to the hotel with time to freshen up before tonight’s three choice, course dinner.

Day Three: On Tuesday morning following breakfast we check out and head off to trace the origin of the mighty River Thames including a short cruise to the highest navigable point on the Thames at Lechlade and a visit to Fairford to see England’s only complete set of mediaeval glass and enjoy a 2 course lunch & coffee before heading home at 3.30pm.

• 2 nights DBB at the 4* Alexandra House

• 10 singles free of single supplement

• Free organiser place

• Free driver room, meals and parking

• Blue Badge guide for three days

• All entrance fees & cruise fares

• 2 Course lunch days 1 & 3

• 100% Passenger Payment Protection

• Free GTO Liability Insurance

Available Sunday to Tuesday until March 2018

THE HOTEL

Alexandra House Hotel is a modern and stylish 4* hotel set in 20 acres of beautiful Cotswolds countryside at Wroughton, 4.5 miles from Swindon. The hotel offers a sophisticated restaurant and bar with a comfortable lounge area and indoor pool, sauna, exercise room and tennis courts.

£259pp