British Manor Houses
Drive from England to Scotland
Spend time off the beaten path as you explore Britain's beautiful countryside, on this 7-night self-drive vacation!
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to London (LHR) and from Edinburgh (EDI)
- Manual economy car rental for the duration- upgrade to automatic available
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in the Windsor area at the Macdonald Frimley Hall
- 2 nights in the Warwickshire/Stratford-upon-Avon area at the Ettington Park Hotel
- 1 night in the Cheshire/Nantwich area at the Rookery Hotel & Spa
- 2 nights in the North Yorkshire/Yarm area at the Crathorne Hall Hotel
- 1 night in the Edinburgh area, at the Norton House Hotel & Spa
- 8-day English Heritage Pass, with entry to over 100 attractions + more
- Service charges and 20% VAT
- Breakfast daily
Great Ways to Explore
-
Experience the real Britain as you explore the beautiful countryside and visit charming villages along the way.
- As a self-drive vacation you can go as far off the beaten path as you'd like to create your own experience!
-
Your included English Heritage Pass gives you access to more than 100 of the most important places in English history!
-
Enjoy stays in traditional English Manor Homes.
-
Do not miss the attractions dedicated to The Beatles, including the award-winning Beatles Story exhibition in Liverpool.
This journey through Britain’s stunning countryside will give you an authentic view of the destination – as you drive yourself along the region’s scenic, country roads, stopping to sight see, visit the charming villages, and interact with the local residents as you wish.
Your manor house-style accommodations will enhance the authenticity of your journey, as they will put you in the middle of some of Britain’s most historically and culturally significant locations all along the way.
You’ll be able to take full advantage of the included English Heritage Pass, as it provides complimentary entry to more than 100 of the most important places in English history, as well as many hidden gems. Use our suggestions in the included itinerary, or take advantage of the guide book provided as inspiration for your own customized journey!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to London (LHR) and from Edinburgh (EDI)
- Manual economy car rental for the duration- upgrade to automatic available
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in the Windsor area at the Macdonald Frimley Hall
- 2 nights in the Warwickshire/Stratford-upon-Avon area at the Ettington Park Hotel
- 1 night in the Cheshire/Nantwich area at the Rookery Hotel & Spa
- 2 nights in the North Yorkshire/Yarm area at the Crathorne Hall Hotel
- 1 night in the Edinburgh area, at the Norton House Hotel & Spa
- 8-day English Heritage Pass, with entry to over 100 attractions + more
- Service charges and 20% VAT
- Breakfast daily
-
Experience the real Britain as you explore the beautiful countryside and visit charming villages along the way.
- As a self-drive vacation you can go as far off the beaten path as you'd like to create your own experience!
-
Your included English Heritage Pass gives you access to more than 100 of the most important places in English history!
-
Enjoy stays in traditional English Manor Homes.
-
Do not miss the attractions dedicated to The Beatles, including the award-winning Beatles Story exhibition in Liverpool.
This journey through Britain’s stunning countryside will give you an authentic view of the destination – as you drive yourself along the region’s scenic, country roads, stopping to sight see, visit the charming villages, and interact with the local residents as you wish.
Your manor house-style accommodations will enhance the authenticity of your journey, as they will put you in the middle of some of Britain’s most historically and culturally significant locations all along the way.
You’ll be able to take full advantage of the included English Heritage Pass, as it provides complimentary entry to more than 100 of the most important places in English history, as well as many hidden gems. Use our suggestions in the included itinerary, or take advantage of the guide book provided as inspiration for your own customized journey!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Departure Airport:
Departure Month:
Prices From:
Day 1. Welcome to London!
Arrive in London, where you will collect your hire car and make your way to your first hotel in the Windsor area. Time allowing, visit Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and a royal residence since William the Conqueror. The castle is one of the official residences of The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh who spend the majority of their weekends at the Castle. You can explore the magnificent State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, the setting of Prince Harry and Meghan’s fairy-tale wedding in 2018.
Macdonald Frimley Hall is set among peaceful gardens. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, television, and coffee/tea making facilities. The restaurant serves Scottish delicacies, afternoon tea, and light bites. The spa offers fitness classes, massage and beauty treatments, a swimming pool, and a steam room/sauna. The hotel is just 16 miles from Heathrow Airport and just over an hour to central London.
Woodlands Park Hotel is located in the village of Cobham in Surrey. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, a welcome tray, and television. The hotel is set among well-manicured grounds with gardens. There are two onsite restaurants, one contemporary and one more elegant. The hotel also features a fitness center for guests to use. London is easily accessible from the hotel's excellent location.
Audleys Wood Hotel dates back to the 1880s! Guest rooms are furnished with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, television, and additional luxurious amenities. Traditional British dining is offered at the Conservatory Restaurant. Afternoon Tea is also served onsite. The hotel's location offers easy access to nearby Reading and Southampton.
English Heritage Visitor Pass (9-day)
The English Heritage Pass is a one-price entrance ticket to some of England’s most iconic and historically significant English Heritage properties, valid for 9 consecutive days. It includes free entry to over 100 stately homes, castles, abbes, Roman and prehistoric remains; free or reduced price entry to hundreds of exciting events, a free 350-page color souvenir guidebook, including maps and information on over 100 staffed attractions and an additional 300 free attractions maintained by English Heritage.
Some of the included properties and attractions are Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall, Dover Castle, Kenilworth Castle, and the home of Charles Darwin. This visitor’s pass provides incredible value for money, and pays for itself after just 2 or 3 attraction visits!
Your pass will be valid for 9 consecutive days from the first day of use, and entitles you to free admission to any site listed as one of the English Heritage locations, subject to individual opening times.
Day 2. Windsor - Oxford - Cotswolds - Stratford-upon-Avon
Your route today will take you via Oxford through the beautiful Cotswolds, on to Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy some time sightseeing in the famous University town of Oxford before heading to Burford via the A40 - a good place for antique lovers.
Make your way to Bourton-on-the-Water, either via A40/A429 or via Rissingtons where you will find scenic, more beautiful country roads for more adventurous drivers. Then it's on to Stow-on-the-Wold (A429) - or you can dip into the Slaughters for a less tourist-crowded experience and gorgeous photo opportunities by the river.
From here head to Chipping Camden or Broadway (via A424/A44) and take any route up to Stratford from there. Your number of stops today of course depends on time spent in Oxford and other towns.
The Ettington Park Hotel in Stratford upon Avon is set in 40-acres of parkland in the Warwickshire countryside, in a verdant valley with the River Stour meandering through it. Situated 6 miles from the center of Stratford-upon-Avon and just a few miles from the start of The Cotswold Way, this spectacular Neo-Gothic mansion is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life. One of the best loved hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, Ettington Park Hotel is furnished with exquisite antiques, hung with fine paintings, and decorated with dozens of friezes that trace its centuries of tradition and heritage.
Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel offers four-star, luxury accommodations within a five minute walk to the Stratford-upon-Avon city center. The hotel boasts traditional Tudor house charm, well-appointed rooms, and various amenities to guarantee a lovely stay. Rooms are equipped with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, television, coffee/tea making facilities, and more. Enjoy a day of pampering at the spa using the steam room/sauna, swimming pool, and luxury treatments. Head to Manor Restaurant for a classic British menu and fine dining experience, or for a more relaxed environment, try Blue Lounge or Manor Bar. Relax at the lush and well-manicured gardens and savor every moment of your stay!
Ansty Hall is set amidst eight acres of well-manicured gardens. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, television, and coffee/tea making facilities. The hotel features an award-winning restaurant that serves fine British cuisine. The Warwick Bar and Lounge is a cozy place to sip a coffee or a cocktail. The hotel's close proximity to Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon makes it an excellent choice accommodation.
Billesley Manor Hotel is set amidst 11 acres of beautiful gardens. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, television, and coffee/tea making facilities. The onsite restaurant offers an elegant dining experience. The spa offers a wide variety of treatments and beauty services, perfect for those guests looking to relax and unwind. This hotel is an excellent choice for those wishing to explore Stratford-upon-Avon and other destinations within Warwickshire.
Day 3. Stratford-upon-Avon
Why not spend some time this morning visiting Stratford, and possibly also venture out to Anne Hathaway's (Shakespeare's wife) or Mary Arden's (Shakespeare's mother) farm (the latter being less crowded). If you would like to explore Warwickshire, visit the town of Warwick and its castle**, which gives you a sense of history, or Kenilworth Castle (included in OVP), which is of particular interest for fans of the Tudors.
Day 4. Shropshire and Chester
Leaving your hotel this morning, head west into the county of Shropshire. This region is known for its stunning scenery and historic, black-and-white architecture. Explore some of the picturesque towns, for example, Ludlow, famous for its food and castle, or Bridgnorth, known for its funicular railway connecting the lower and upper towns. Shrewsbury is the county town, and well worth a visit to explore the higgledy-piggledy lanes and more than 660 listed buildings. Continue across the county border to Cheshire and spend some time in Chester this afternoon. Chester’s history dates back to the Romans, and it’s the location of the largest Roman Amphitheatre, as well as the most complete city walls
in Britain. Spend some time exploring the historic city center and the Rows, the unique 700-year-old shopping galleries.
Built in 1816 and set in 38 acres of Cheshire countryside, Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa in Nantwich, Cheshire, 4 AA red stars offers 70 well-appointed bedrooms and a 2 AA Rosette restaurant. This 4-star hotel offers exceptional services for fine dining, weddings venues in Cheshire, meetings and conferences, private celebrations and romantic breaks.
Craxton Wood Hotel sits amidst 27 acres of woodland in Chester. Guest rooms are furnished with free WiFi, complimentary toiletries, television, and coffee/tea making facilities. The Craxton Wood Grill offers British classics and delicious desserts. The hotel features a terrace where guests can sip a cocktail and watch the sunset. There is also an onsite spa with a variety of treatments to help melt your stresses away!
Day 5. District and Chatsworth House
Today’s route will take you into Derbyshire and the Peak District, one of England’s national parks. Explore the stunning scenery on a drive through the national park stopping in pretty villages such as Castleton or Bakewell, known for its delicious pudding. Drive through the dramatic limestone
gorge of Winnats Pass to appreciate fabulous views. You may choose to stop to visit Chatsworth House the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, where you can explore the 300 rooms and extensive gardens. Continue to Yorkshire, the largest of all English counties with a very diverse landscape and two national parks.
Built in 1906, overlooking the Leven Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, Crathorne Hall is at once grand and stately, warm and welcoming. Owned by the Dugdale family until 1977, Crathorne Hall has played host to politicians, courted royalty and delighted socialites over the decades. Yet despite moving in stately circles, the house has stayed true to its roots as a place of entertainment and relaxation.
Gisborough Hall Hotel is a country house-style hotel. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, television, coffee/tea making facilities, bathrobes, and slippers. The hotel's restaurant provides an elegant, fine dining experience featuring local produce. There is also a bar & grill providing a more casual atmosphere. The hotel is situated around beautiful countryside and is a great base for exploring the nearby towns of Whitby and Saltburn-by-the-sea.
Middlethorpe Hall is a William III country house just two miles from York’s city center, yet is set in 20 acres of its own beautiful gardens and parkland – the best of both city and country. Built in 1699, it was once the home of the famous diarist, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and today it is renowned for its excellent food, luxurious accommodation, and boutique Spa.
Day 6. York and the North York Moors
Today you are free to explore North Yorkshire. Ensure some time for sightseeing in York as well as one of the two national parks. Drive across the North York Moors, with its stunning scenery, to Whitby on the coast. The more adventurous driver can get an adrenaline kick from taking route A170, which starts near Thirsk with a very steep climb up the moors.
In Whitby, you find coastal views, cliff walks, an old Abbey (included in OVP) - Bram Stoker found his inspiration for the famous book of Dracula here. It is also famous for its seafood and fish & chips, which is a must-try.
Slightly further up the coast, stop in the old village of Staithes, to explore its winding streets and art galleries, located in a sheltered cove at the base of a cliff. Maybe visit Castle Howard a stunning stately home known from the Brideshead Revisited TV series. Or head west to explore the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with its hills and picturesque market towns and villages.
Day 7. Yorkshire - Alnick Castle - Edinburgh
The last leg of your Britain tour will take you over the border and into Scotland. Take the coastal route to Scotland. We recommend a visit at Alnwick Castle, you might know Alnwick Castle from its starring role as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films.
Bamburgh Castle is also nearby, which invites a photo stop capturing the castle, shoreline and Farne Island. Then continue to Berwick-upon-Tweed before heading up to Edinburgh for some sightseeing in Scotland's Capital City.
Set in 22 acres of beautiful woodlands, Macdonald Houstoun House is the perfect country hotel and retreat. Once visited by Mary Queen of Scots, this historic building has the classic grace of a historic 16th century Tower House. As befits an elegant country retreat, it offers 70 stylish and comfortable guestrooms, which blend luxury and character. For traditional Scottish fare with a modern twist, the Jeremy Wares at Houstoun House restaurant is a two AA Rosettes Award-winner for excellent local ingredients, expertly cooked in season. In the cellar, the cozy and more relaxed Vaulted Bar is the perfect spot for a drink or afternoon tea. Guests will also enjoy the hotel's Vital Health and Wellbeing Club, with fully equipped Technogym, 60-foot indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam and spa treatment rooms, as well as the clay surface tennis court concealed in the hotel's lovely walled gardens, offered free of charge to hotel guests.
Kildonan Lodge is located close to the heart of Edinburgh. Guest rooms are equipped with free WiFi, television, complimentary toiletries, and coffee/tea making facilities. The onsite restaurant features home cooked dishes and fresh local ingredients. The hotel dates back to the 1870s and retains much of its Victorian beauty!
Day 8. Depart Edinburgh
Your tour of Britain's manor homes comes to an end today. In accordance with your flight time, make the short transfer from your hotel to Edinburgh Airport, to begin your journey home.
Fly home!
We have selected the most economical flight schedule for you. Please note that shorter and more convenient flight options may be available at an additional cost.
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