Friday 20th: We depart travelling south to Swindon.
Saturday 21st: This morning, we will visit the historic Lacock Abbey and village famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings and more recently as a TV and film location including Downton Abbey, the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, and Cranford. In the afternoon, we will visit the “Prettiest village in England”, Castle Combe - a picture-postcard Cotswold village has also been the location for many films and TV productions, including the original Dr Doolittle film and more recently, Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse.
Sunday 22nd: We will enjoy a trip on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Embarking at Cheltenham Race Course station we will enjoy a gentle 35 minute journey through the glorious Cotswold countryside to Toddington, where there is a shop, museum and large tea room. The line commands wonderful views of the hamlets and villages, with outstanding outlooks across to the Malvern Hills and beyond. After our rail trip, we will make our way to the historic Cotswold village of Broadway and the elegant English town of Stow-on-the-Wold. Broadway has a pretty high street with plenty of shops, pubs and tearooms. Stow-on-the-Wold offers a fine selection of shops, gift and craft shops, restaurants and tearooms. We can enjoy lunch and time to look around before making our way back to our hotel via the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water and the town of Burford.
Monday 23rd: This morning we will visit the steam museum of the Great Western Railway, which is opposite the Designer Outlet. After lunch we make our way homeward.