The Heart of England

We depart for Manchester.

We arrive and transfer to our country-house hotel in Church Stretton for a 7-night stay. Known as Britain’s “Little Switzerland”, the rolling hills here offer fabulous views in all directions. Tonight is our Welcome Dinner.

Shrewsbury is home to 660 listed buildings, and is most famous as the birthplace of Charles Darwin. His statue sits by Shrewsbury Library, which was his school. Our guided tour will take in the stunning Tudor buildings and bring to life their history. Then we’ll enjoy beautiful views along the Severn River on a cruise with entertaining commentary. There will be free time to explore Shrewsbury’s shops, cafes and cozy pubs.

Stokesay Castle is England’s best-preserved fortified medieval manor house, with a great hall unchanged for over 700 years. See the characters carved in the 17th-century gatehouse, and climb to the top of a fairy-tale tower for breathtaking views of the Shropshire Hills.

This World Heritage Site was the heart of the Industrial Revolution. We begin at Blists Hill Victorian Town, where we meet the Victorians and learn about their culture. Then at the Jackfield Tile Museum we’ll see magnificent tiles that decorated Victorian Britain. Finally, we’ll walk across the famous Iron Bridge and see the charming Tollhouse.

A free day. You may want to stroll through the extensive grounds and the woodland sculpture trail that threads through the trees, dip into the heated outdoor pool, relax in the lounge with its wall of glass showing the idyllic views of our surroundings, or enjoy a local pint of Shropshire Lad or Lass with your fellow guests. The town is a few minutes walk away and offers shops, pubs and cafes.

We’ll enjoy a tour and free time in Ludlow - a thriving medieval market town and architectural gem with a lively community feel. The historic town centre and the 11th century Ludlow Castle both sit on a cliff above the river, surrounded by the beautiful countryside of Shropshire and the Welsh Marches. Then in Kidderminster, we’ll board the Steam Train for the 16-mile journey to Bridgnorth. Breathtaking scenery, and charming towns and villages, make every trip on the Severn Valley Railway unforgettable.

Birmingham was one of the world’s greatest industrial cities. On our tour we’ll see the canals (the ‘roads’ of the 18th century), and the impressive Victorian buildings, including the Jewellery Quarter where skilled workers produced their wares. After some free time we’ll head back to our hotel, stopping first at the ‘model’ village at Bournville created by the Cadbury (chocolate) family.

We head to the magnificent Peak district, stopping en route at RAF Cosford to hear amazing stories of the brave pilots who served in the Royal Air Force, and see the fantastic display of old aircrafts and other exhibits. Later we arrive at Dovedale, for a 3-night stay.

We begin at the Heights of Abraham, and a cable car trip to the top of Masson Hill for the magnificent 360 degree views of the serene landscape of the Derbyshire Dales. Our next visit is the National Tramway Museum, where we’ll be transported back in time as we ride on the vintage trams, soak up the atmosphere on the period street with village shops, or stroll on the sculpture trail enjoying the breathtaking views.

Chatsworth, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, has been home to 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Renowned for the quality of its art, landscape and hospitality, Chatsworth has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes of each generation. There are 25 rooms to explore, including the magnificent Painted Hall, regal State Rooms, restored Sketch Galleries and beautiful Sculpture Gallery. After our visit we stop in Bakewell, best known for its unique and delicious pudding. With its mellow stone building and quaint courtyards, Bakewell is a magnet for painters and photographers.

We proceed to Manchester, the world’s first Industrial City. We’ll enjoy a city tour which will include a visit of the RHS Garden Bridgewater - one of Europe’s largest gardening projects, which blends the heritage of an old garden with contemporary designs and world-class horticulture.

A day at leisure to explore this diverse and energetic city. The city centre is packed with unique restaurants, cafés, shops, museums, and the Salford Quays where you may want to visit the BBC Media City, or the Award Winning Imperial War Museum. You may also want to visit the Old Trafford Stadium - famous home of the Manchester United Football Club! Tonight is our Farewell Dinner.

We fly home from Manchester.