Gems of Southern England

Overview
Itinerary
Hotels
The Experience

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Explore the southern corner of England's bustling cities and breathtaking scenery

Journey through the ancient cities of England’s historic South: palaces, castles, cathedrals, and gardens await you.

Trip details

Tour start Windsor

Tour end London

Days

Nights

Meals

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Highlights

Stonehenge

Marvel at the massive stone circle crafted by prehistoric people.

Kensington Palace

Visit the former home of Princess Diana and young London royals for over 300 years in London's famous Hyde Park.

Blenheim Palace

Visit the gilded State Rooms with their priceless collections of portraits, tapestries and furniture, and an exhibition devoted to the palace's most famous son, Winston Churchill.

Roman Baths

Discover why these mineral-rich hot springs have been a popular destination for more than 2,000 years.

Canterbury Cathedral

Discover 1,400 years of history in the grand cathedral — including an original copy of the Magna Carta.

Windsor Castle

Visit the Queen's magnificent home, the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe.

Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival | Windsor Castle

Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Windsor hotel. Venture to see the splendors of Windsor Castle, a residence of the King, and the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group; dine and explore this intriguing medieval town as you wish this evening.

Day 2Blenheim Palace | Cotswolds | Bath

Travel to Blenheim Palace, the magnificent country house once home to Winston Churchill and often seen as the setting for popular TV shows and movies; tour the house and explore the gardens. Set off on a drive through the rolling hills of the quintessentially English Cotswolds, with charming villages and colorful gardens. Arrive in Bath, a striking city of honey-colored Georgian buildings with an ancient heritage. Take a walking tour of the city before visiting the famed Roman Baths. Dine at your hotel this evening. (B,D)

Day 3Stonehenge | Salisbury

Visit prehistoric Stonehenge and marvel at the vast monoliths mysteriously erected 5,000 years ago. Head to the medieval city of Salisbury, with free time for lunch and sightseeing. Along with charming local shops, Salisbury boasts a splendid 13th-century cathedral housing the world's oldest working clock. Head back to Bath, where your evening is free to explore and dine as you wish. (B)

Day 4Winchester | Portsmouth | Brighton

Visit Winchester, where some say the legendary King Arthur had his roundtable. Then, delve into nautical life at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can step aboard some of Britain's most notable ships, and see the Mary Rose, King Henry VIII's favorite ship. Head on to your seafront hotel in Brighton, a friendly, creative city that's been popular as a resort area for centuries. Enjoy dinner with your group. (B, D)

Day 5Birling Gap | Royal Tunbridge Wells | Sissinghurst

Visit Birling Gap for a gentle cliff walk. Head to Royal Tunbridge Wells, a delightful old spa town, for some free time to discover its exquisite Georgian and Victorian architecture and charming shops and pubs. Next take a stroll to explore Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the finest gardens in England. Head to your hotel for dinner. (B, D)

Day 6Canterbury Cathedral | Leeds Castle

Journey to the beautiful city of Canterbury. Take time to explore its medieval center before visiting its imposing cathedral and hearing some of its enthralling tales. Proceed to romantic Leeds Castle in Kent, once called “the loveliest castle in the world”. Tour this storybook structure, complete with a moat, and discover its colorful gardens. Head to London where you'll dine with your group. (B, D)

Day 7Kensington Palace | London Exploring

Visit Kensington Palace, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate. Next, savor a light lunch, and then the rest of the day is yours to explore the amazing city of London as you wish. (B, L)

Day 8Tour Ends in London

Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner>

Where you’ll stay

Castle Hotel Windsor Windsor, England

The Castle Hotel, Windsor – MGallery Hotel Collection is a 4 star luxury hotel-based in the heart...

DoubleTree by Hilton Bath Bath, UK

Set on the banks of the River Avon, Doubletree by Hilton Bath is a comfortable 176-bedroom hotel...

DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole Brighton, England

A Victorian hotel by Brighton Beach Set on the vibrant Brighton seafront, our 1890's building...

Chilston Park Hotel Maidstone, England

Once home to politicians and Lords, this hotel has 22 acres of rural parkland. Filled with...

100 Queen's Gate Hotel - an impressive white building on a London street

100 Queen's Gate Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton London, England

A stylish city spot, a fashionable location where history meets modernity: 100 Queen's Gate was...

Inclusive package with no hidden extras

What's included?

Full daily breakfast and many meals*
Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
Welcome drinks with your group
Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
All entrance fees to attractions
Comprehensive travel itinerary and documents

*Breakfast is not included on Day 1

Our welcome gift to you

A travel backpack
Travel adapter
Rain poncho
Luggage strap and tags
Documents wallet

We take care of everything: authentic experiences, expert local tour directors, and more. Check out the CIE Tours difference!

See what people are saying about this trip

CIE Tours Customer

2 months 4 weeks ago

Great locations, mediocre guide

Hotels were very nice, well located and service was excellent. Access by bus first thing in the morning made Stonehenge and Blenheim very nice. All of the connecting drives were a fairly short distance, attractions were well spaced and the balance of what we saw was great.

Christine Laurenson

4 months 2 weeks ago

Great Tour

Loved how well organized and well planned everything was. Tours were good, hotels were wonderful. David, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and informative. Danny the driver did a great job, impressive! Loved the places we went and the timing was good, not too long and not too short at each stop. thanks for the great trip!

Edward T Kohn

10 months 2 weeks ago

It was reasonable, and CIE booked extra nights for us at our request

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