DETAILS
You are cordially invited on a grand tour of England’s magnificent palaces to follow in the footsteps of the Her Majesty the Queen and other famous royals. During this regal affair we are treated to a private viewing of the Crown Jewels and discover a fascinating range of iconic landmarks; starting in London before venturing further afield to the Althorp Estate, the childhood home and final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as world-famous Sandringham in Norfolk and charming Highgrove in the Cotswolds, where the spectacular gardens of King Charles III await. As we weave our way around a splendid collection of exquisite castles, idyllic estates, country retreats and some of the most glorious gardens in England, our series of exclusive private tours illuminate the history of these stately treasures.
- Pricing from
- $9,650
No single supplement – limited availability!
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Tours
- Departure Dates
-
Aug 1, 2026 - Aug 12, 2026
Nights One to Four – Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London
Tucked away behind Hyde Park and Oxford Street in the sophisticated Marylebone area of the capital, the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill Hotel maintains a distinctly British charm. The hotel boasts two restaurants, an award-winning bar and al fresco terrace plus sophisticated en-suite rooms with HD TV, complimentary toiletries, robes, slippers, minifridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. Throughout the hotel, look out for design elements and features that subtly honor Sir Winston Churchill’s life.
Nights Five to Seven – Graduate Hotel, Cambridge
Sitting pretty on the banks of the River Cam, the unique Graduate Hotel is inspired by centuries of traditions and academia. You can expect an exquisite cocktail bar, lovely restaurant, riverside garden, a leisure club with indoor swimming pool, steam room and gym plus thoughtfully-designed bedrooms with HD TV, hairdryer, free Wi-Fi, complimentary toiletries, Coava coffee and a mini fridge.
Nights Eight and Nine – Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham
Nestled in 90 acres of pretty grounds, Ellenborough Park is a stunning country house bursting with historic character. The hotel offers elegant bedrooms with everything needed for a comfortable stay, an atmospheric restaurant and bar as well as a luxurious spa with an outdoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym (treatments are available at an extra cost).
Night Ten – Castle Hotel, Windsor
The Castle Hotel is the most historic hotel in the town of Windsor and has been delighting guests for centuries, particularly thanks to its wonderful views of the daily Changing of the Guard procession. The en-suite bedrooms blend historic features with modern amenities, while there is also a classic restaurant to enjoy.
Free private transfers to/from London Heathrow
PLEASE NOTE!
Important UK Entry requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure you have a full passport and we recommend that it is valid for 6 months after the return date of your trip. Tourist visas are not required for US citizens visiting the UK however a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will now be required.
Apply for an ETA
Applications can done via a smartphone app – UK ETA app or online at Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This is a simple process, and decisions are usually communicated within 3 days. It remains your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documentation for your trip.
VACATION CANCELLATION BY YOU: If you want to cancel your booking after we have confirmed it with you either verbally, over the telephone or by email, you can do so over the phone or in writing. The following cancellation charges will apply:
More than 91 days prior to departure $1000
90 days or less before departure 100% of the program cost is non-refundable
If any member of your party is prevented from travelling, that person may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing we are notified no less than two weeks before departure.
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1 & 2
depart U.S.
On arrival at Heathrow Airport, a private transfer will take you to the May Fair Hotel, our base for the first four nights of our tour. In the evening, join the group for a welcome drink and canapés, followed by dinner.
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day 3
Kensington Palace & Kew Palace & Gardens
We begin with a private guided tour of Kensington Palace, home to TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales. Highlights include the stunning Sunken Garden, loved by Diana, Princess of Wales and featuring her commemorative statue. We explore Victoria’s childhood rooms and the grand King’s State Apartments. Later, we visit Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens, renowned for plant research and home to 50,000 lants. Discover the Arboretum, Japanese garden and Palm House rainforest. We end our day at Kew Palace, a charming royal retreat with an 18th-century Great Pagoda and Georgian kitchens, once home to Queen Charlotte and George III.
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day 4
The Savill Garden, the Tower of London & the Ceremony of the Keys
We make our way to The Savill Garden, Britain’s finest ornamental garden in the heart of Windsor Great Park. Tranquil strolls are the order of the day as we explore the oasis of designed gardens and woodland. Created in the 1930s, acres upon acres of interconnected areas include the Hidden Gardens, Spring Wood, the Summer Gardens, the New Zealand Garden, Summer Wood and The Glades. The Rose Garden is an extra special addition, opened by Elizabeth II in 2010 and perfumed with the most beautiful rose-bed scents. We are treated to a guided tour and lunch in the Garden Kitchen here.
There is then some free time in Windsor, where you may wish to enjoy dinner at your own leisure. To round off the day, we head to the Tower of London, the oldest building in London, for a special evening tour after the hustle and bustle of the daytime. A particular highlight is the Crown Jewels, the dazzling symbols of the British monarchy. Afterward, we are treated to the Ceremony of the Keys, in which the same exchange has been cried
out every evening for 700 years, forming part of the traditional locking-up process. -
day 5
Buckingham Palace & Afternoon Tea at the Goring Hotel
No London trip is complete without visiting Buckingham Palace, the official residence of UK sovereigns since 1837 and backdrop to the Changing of the Guard. Explore the stunning State Rooms, where the Royal Family hosts ceremonial and official events, before discovering The King’s Gallery, featuring historic paintings, rare furniture and unique photographs. We also visit the Royal Mews, home to state vehicles and horse-drawn carriages. Next, we enjoy afternoon tea at Belgravia’s iconic Goring Hotel, the only remaining luxury family owned hotel in London and where Catherine, Princess of Wales, stayed here on the night before her wedding to Prince William
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day 6
London & Windsor Castle
There’s plenty of time to explore the iconic sights of London at your leisure today, from a trip on the London Eye to a spot of shopping on Oxford Street or a stroll through Hyde Park. There are plenty of world-class museums and galleries to enjoy too. In the early evening, we head to Windsor for dinner at your own leisure. Later, we are treated to a private out-of-hours guided tour of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and the final resting place of Elizabeth II. Established in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, it has been remodeled by successive kings and queens and is regularly used for ceremonial and State occasions, with fine artworks on display. Later, we travel to the historic city of Cambridge, where we check into the Graduate Hotel, our base for the next three nights.
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day 7
Holkham Hall & Sandringham
Our day starts with a private tour of Holkham Hall, a Neo-Palladian masterpiece set in parkland. Founded by jurist Edward Coke, it is home to the 8th Earl of Leicester. Highlights include the Marble Hall with its 50ft domed ceiling inspired by Roman architecture, ancient statuary, original furniture, tapestries and art by Rubens, Van Dyck and Gainsborough. Next, we visit Sandringham Estate, a favorite of Elizabeth II and a royal residence since the 1860s. On our guided tour, we explore its royal history, view the car collection in the Transport Museum and enjoy the walled and water gardens. After afternoon tea, we visit St Mary Magdalene Church, where the Royal Family attends services during their stay.
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day 8
Blue Badge Guided Tour of Norwich & Blickling Hall
This morning, we enjoy a Blue Badge guided tour, beginning at the stunning Norwich Cathedral, a magnificent structure that befitted Norwich’s 12th-century status as England’s second city and one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. The tour continues with Norwich itself, one of the most complete medieval cities in the country.
Set at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park, our next stop is Blickling Hall, a fine Jacobean house and once home to the Boleyn family. In decorative terms, it’s a wonderful house to explore because of its plasterwork, superb 18th-century Long Gallery and impressive Great Hall. It is also home to one of the country’s most significant libraries; with over 12,500 volumes, it’s the National Trust’s largest book collection.
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day 9
Althorp Estate
Leaving Cambridge, we head to Althorp Estate, set in 550 acres of attractive parkland. Built at the beginning of the 16th century, it has been home to 19 generations of the Spencer family and houses one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, paintings and ceramics. Althorp was also the childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales and her final resting place. In addition to exploring the beautiful interiors, we have time to wander around the magnificent park, remodeled gardens, arboretum and peaceful Round Oval Lake.
Later, we check into the delightful Ellenborough Park Hotel, where we stay for the next two nights.
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day 10
Highgrove Gardens & Berkeley Castle
Today we are treated to an exclusive private guided tour of Highgrove Gardens, the organic gardens of Their Majesties. Over 30 years in the making, Highgrove has one of the most creatively inspired and innovative gardens in the country and embodies The King’s environmental philosophy ‘it is better to work with nature than against it’. Each area has its own character and purpose and includes the Kitchen Garden, the stunning Wildflower Meadow and a National Collection of Beech trees, with Highgrove House always visible in the distance. Highgrove is also just a few miles from Gatcombe Park, the country residence of Anne, Princess Royal.
Our second guided tour of the day is at Berkeley Castle, built by Robert Fitzharding in the 12th century and ordered by Henry II to defend the Severn estuary and the Welsh border. Berkeley is a real jewel, an almost complete medieval survival that allows us to imagine how it might have been to live there. Reigning monarch Edward II was sent there as a prisoner after his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer usurped his power, and we can even see the room where he is supposed to have been murdered in 1327. The castle is also the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it, and the Berkeley family are one of only four in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son right back to Saxon times. After our tour we enjoy lunch here.
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day 11
Hampton Court Palace
After checking out of our Cotswolds hotel, we make our way to Hampton Court Palace for a dive into the fascinating world of the Tudor court during our guided tour. We experience the private life (and very public dramas) of Henry VIII, while we explore one of Europe’s most sophisticated palaces. We see Henry’s Great Hall, which still houses Anne Boleyn’s falcon badge, and the Tudor kitchens, with time for a stroll around the enchanting riverside gardens – blossoming with flowers and grand Yew tree avenues. Imagine walking in the footsteps of his famous six wives, who were all brought to this opulent property.
Later, we check into our hotel in Windsor, where we enjoy a farewell dinner together.
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day 12
Departure
A private transfer will take you back to Heathrow Airport for your return flight home.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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