Roadtrip Through the Cotswolds

Once you touch down in London you will pick up your rental car and head to the countryside. Your first stop is the new Hampshire hot-spot, Heckfield Place. The estate is only 45 minutes from Heathrow, but you’ll feel worlds away. After checking in to this dreamy country home, a relaxing spa treatment to fight off jet lag is a must.

Take the afternoon to explore the grounds. Meet the farmers at the Heckfield Place gardens, stroll through the walled gardens, enjoy the estate’s impressive art collection or find a swing hidden beneath a willow tree by the pond. Freshen up before heading to the Moon Bar to enjoy cocktails by the fire. After dinner at their fantastic on-property restaurant, Marle, you can relax and play games with friends in one of the living areas. If you’re more in the mood for a movie, watch a featured film in the gorgeous screening room. You will feel right at home!

Enjoy a private yoga session at the spa with a private trainers from Bodyism to kick off your morning. This movement studio will provide you with a bespoke fitness blueprint, one that encourages you to reconnect with yourself once again. After enjoying breakfast to refuel from your AM workout, consider heading out to explore or an equestrian riding lesson at nearby Wellington Riding.

There are several options for sightseeing in the area. If you are a “royal watcher,” head to Windsor to tour the castle, St. George’s Chapel and relish in seeing The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding outfits on display. Downton Abbey fans will enjoy taking a ride through the Hampshire countryside to Highclere Castle for a guided tour of the real Downton.

Or, if you are looking for something more traditional, travel to one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, Stonehenge for a guided tour arranged by your travel advisor. That afternoon, return to Heckfield Place to freshen up, relax and enjoy another fabulous dinner. If you are there on Friday or Saturday, you can try Hearth, a restaurant centered on an open fire. The cooking is simple, heartfelt and crafted with ingredients fresh from the farm.

You’ll say goodbye to Heckfield Place today and head to the Cotswolds. Take a detour on your way to Barnsley House to spend a day in Bath where you will meet your guide. You’ll take to the water and view Bath from a different angle on a morning boat tour. Enjoy a cup of tea as you float by the Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey.

After a trip on the river, you’ll explore this historic city by foot. As a compact city, a walking tour is one of the best ways to see Bath. After a full day of exploring, you’ll get back on the road and head to Barnsley House. After checking-in and freshening up, head to Barnsley’s Village Pub for a casual dinner by the open fire. It’s the quintessential Cotswolds pub experience!

Wake up early to take a hot air balloon ride where you will soar over the Cotswolds. Take in the magnificent views on this peaceful and serene experience. After an amazing morning, your driver and guide will pick you up to head out to explore the nearby villages like Bourton-on-the-water, Bibury, and Upper and Lower Slaughter. You’ll have afternoon tea at The Slaughters Manor House before heading back to Barnsley House. Before dinner at The Potager, you can relax in the Barnsley House spa or enjoy their beautiful gardens.

After enjoying a delicious English breakfast at Barnsley House, you’ll head further into the Cotswolds. Take slight detour to enjoy lunch and shopping at Daylesford Farm in Gloucestershire. After lunch, you’ll have a private floristry workshop with the talented Daylesford team of expert florists. You’ll make beautiful foraged displays and learn to create the perfect table setting.

Now it’s time to head towards Fancombe Estate where you’ll check in to the final hotel of your trip. Imagine staying with super chic, hospitable friends (who have no rules!), and you’ll arrived to Foxhill Manor. Relax, freshen up, and then head to the kitchen to talk with the chef and his team about what you would like for dinner.

Today, you’ll be traveling back to London, but you if you’re not in a rush, consider a slight detour to spend the day in beautiful Oxford. There, you will meet your tour guide who will guide you through the streets and countryside within Oxford. Be sure to explore historic Oxford and its famous university.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, your guide can show you all of the filming locations! For lunch, you will climb aboard a traditional Oxford punt boat and gently punt along the river exploring college grounds only accessible by river. After lunch, you will roam through the suburbs visiting homes of famous Oxonians (including J.R.R. Tolkien) before strolling alongside Oxford’s tranquil waterways. After, you’ll say goodbye to the countryside and head back to London.