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DT26 The Original Big One Tour (14 hours)  

Short of time but long on ambition? See a large part of England in a single day!

We head out of London and make a coffee stop and brief walk around OXFORD, seeing some of the famous colleges of one of the oldest universities in Europe. You'll hear some stories of the "good and the great" who have passed this way, admire the glorious architecture and have a chance to pick up some shopping. Leaving Oxford we will drive to BLENHEIM PALACE, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and magnificent home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough. We'll enjoy a short walk of the impressive grounds and some good photo opportunities, then take a look at WOODSTOCK VILLAGE, pause for coffee, then head north to WARWICK CASTLE, one of England's best preserved medieval castles. Complete with first class wax-figure displays by Madame Tussauds, depicting both medieval and Victorian events, this is a deservedly popular location.

Tom Tower - Oxford     Christchurch College in Oxford - there are Harry Potter connections here ..     Warwick Castle

Shakespeare's STRATFORD UPON AVON follows, and there's a chance to visit the birthplace of the bard, and to see the home connected with his mother, Mary Arden, also that of his wife, Anne Hathaway, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, plus the beautiful parish church where they are all buried. The shoppers in the group will enjoy the many varied gift shops and boutiques of Stratford!

William Shakespeare's birthplace - Stratford     Cotswolds villages tour     A Bridget Jones' Diary scene was shot here ..

It's early afternoon now, so leaving Stratford we'll drive acrosss the lovely COTSWOLD HILLS and villages and stop to enjoy either lunch in a typical old inn, (included) or if the weather is fine and wam, how about a fine picnic lunch (included) by the side of a brook in one of the charming little villages? (Please state your preference when booking your tour.) Following lunch, we'll carry on across the Cotswold Hills, seeing some interesting old market towns, like Cirencester and Tetbury, (passing the Prince of Wales' country home), before reaching the historic city of BATH. This entire, amazing city now enjoys World Heritage Site status. The splendid 18th century neo-classical architecture, fascinating ROMAN BATHS and some good museums will occupy us for an hour or two. Time permitting, why not take afternoon tea in the pump room before we leave?

The Royal Crescent at Bath Ruddick Tours group at mysterious Stonehenge

The last leg of our journey takes us past the mysterious structure which for over forty centuries has dominated Salisbury Plain. STONEHENGE is also a World Heritage Site and will be carefully preserved for future generations to see, admire, and theorise over. There are more questions than answers about this place, but we'll exchange facts and theories together. A motorway journey of little more than an hour will return you to your hotel, tired, but hopefully(!) very happy that you have "done the big one", and experienced a day to remember for a long time to come.

PROBABLY OUR MOST POPULAR AND BEST VALUE DAY TOUR

From just £88 per person:

DT26: 1-4 persons - £580* Book by PAYPAL
DT26: 5-8 persons - £700* Book by PAYPAL

N.B. Price is for the car NOT per person.* Includes : Car, driver-guide, all mileage and an excellent picnic lunch and drinks or pub lunch when weather not suitable for picnic. Excludes : Entrance fees, and gratuities. (Specially recommended for first time visitors.

See also TOUR 11B - THE ALTERNATIVE BIG ONE ! - for an alternative route for those who may already have seen some or all of the above sights).

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