Majestic Castles, Gardens & Homes of Glorious Gloucestershire

Check in to the hotel in Cheltenham in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Today we visit Berkeley Castle, 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 with its fine rooms and magnificent collections. The castle is the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it, and the Berkeley family are one of only three in England who can trace their ancestry from right back to Saxon times. This historic gem is also famous as the scene of Edward II’s brutal murder and has additionally been used as a filming location, including in the hugely successful Poldark TV series and Wolf Hall. We learn more about the history and collections within the castle on our fascinating guided tour.

We then travel the short distance to Dr Jenner’s House, also situated in the historic market town of Berkeley. Here we discover the elegant former home of the country doctor whose work changed history. This is the house where Edward Jenner, pioneer of the smallpox vaccination, once lived and from where he told the world about his work.

Later, we step back in time at Thornbury Castle, the only Tudor castle to be opened as a hotel. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn spent ten nights here in 1535 and the beautiful fortress was once owned by the infamous Tudor king. Here we are treated to an indulgent afternoon tea, while outside, there’s time to follow in the footsteps of royalty and explore the manicured lawns and landscaped grounds.

We begin with an expert-led 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 embody 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.

Next is a guided tour of Woodchester Mansion, a unique and unfinished Victorian Gothic Revival house. The masterpiece of a young local architect, Benjamin Bucknall, the mansion blends the local traditional work in limestone with the ideas of the French architectural thinker Viollet-le-Duc. Building started around 1857 but stopped in the mid-1860s, leaving floors and ceilings missing, walls unplastered and windows unglazed.

After dinner this evening we enjoy an interesting themed talk from a guest speaker.

Today we head to Chavenage House, a unique family home full of history and fascinating stories around every corner. The Elizabethan manor house has remained largely unchanged since the building’s completion in 1576, and only two families have owned Chavenage; the Stephens and the Lowsley-Williams, the current owners. We explore the lavish rooms, filled with tapestries and stunning period furniture, discover the secrets of the room where Cromwell stayed during the Civil War, escape into the peaceful surroundings of this lovely manor and spot the famous filming locations of various movies and TV series, including BBC’s Poldark.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.