Harry Potter & England’s Historic Southern Cities

Day 1 London – Windsor

After arriving at Gatwick Airport, pick up the hire car and head for the historic town of Windsor, home to the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world and Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Spend some time wandering the streets of this marvelous Tudor town if time allows before the evening. Dinner & hotel in Windsor.

Day 2 Windsor – Oxford

Today spend the morning at Windsor Castle. Watch the changing of the guard at 11am (except Sundays), an interesting variation on what happens at Buckingham Palace, before visiting the castle itself. Visit the State Apartments, with its grand rooms with works of art by Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Dyck amongst others, St. Georges Chapel, a beautiful Gothic chapel where Henry VIII and other monarchs are buried, and also Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, the most famous doll house in the world, as well as the Jubilee Gardens inside the main entrance of the castle. Then head up to the ‘dreaming spires’ of the university city of Oxford, the basis for much of what was Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films: Christ Church College and its Great Hall and Bodleian Library being the most notable backdrops. Make the most of the afternoon to walk along The High, the city’s striking main street, and to visit some of the university colleges scattered around the centre. Dinner & hotel in Oxford.

Day 3 Oxford – Bath – Bristol

See anything else of interest in Oxford before visiting Blenheim Palace, home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Afterwards make your way down to Somerset stopping off at Lacock Abbey near Chippenham, which provided some more of the settings for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies, and the charming town of Castle Combe. Spend the afternoon visiting either the Roman spa town of Bath or else the old port of Bristol on the River Avon. Dinner & hotel in Bristol.

Day 4 Bristol – Cotswolds – Bristol

Day trip north into Gloucestershire and the innate splendor of the Cotswolds. To begin with, head up to Gloucester stopping off to sample the timeless beauty of the village of Painswick. Once in Gloucester visit its superb cathedral, the cloisters of which were used as a backdrop to some of the scenes in the Harry Potter films. Next, continue northwards to what is said to be one of the most beautiful villages in England, Broadway. Saunter down its beautiful High Street and enjoy the striking houses and gardens on show. After this head back down south passing Bibury, yet another stunning English village, before returning to Somerset. Dinner & hotel in Bristol.

Day 5 Bristol – Salisbury – Stonehenge – London

Set off southeast towards Salisbury, stopping briefly if time allows at the lovely country house of Wilton House. Once in the medieval city of Salisbury visit its landmark, the 13th century cathedral, whose spire is the tallest in Britain, visible for miles around. And before leaving the area it is essential to visit one of Britain’s most celebrated monuments, Stonehenge, about 15km north of Salisbury. After this head east to London and drop off the hire car at Gatwick Airport before taking the Gatwick Express into central London. Dinner & hotel in London.

Day 6 London

In the morning take a panoramic tour around London to see all of the city’s major landmarks. Then in the afternoon spend time enjoying some of the city’s attractions in more detail, whether it be the Tower of London, the London Eye, the Tate Modern, the British Museum, shopping at Harrods, or seeing Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross. Dinner & hotel in London.

Day 7 London

Catch the Gatwick Express back to the airport for your flight home.