Steam & Spires in the Cotswolds

Day 1

We depart the local area and with a stop on route at Cirencester, we arrive at the 4* Holiday Inn Gloucester-Cheltenham hotel late afternoon.

Day 2

This morning, we make our way into the centre of Gloucester and visit the stunning Cathedral where we enjoy a guided tour. Find out about the fascinating world of the monks who used to live here, visit the tomb of the murdered King Edward II, hear about stunning stained glass, and see where Harry Potter was filmed. Followed by free time to explore the visit of Gloucester, you can visit one of the cities museums, including the Tailor of Gloucester Beatrix Potter Museum, or visit the Gloucester Quays designer outlet centre.

Day 3

We start our day at Sudeley Castle. With royal contentions entwined in its 1000-year history, the Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within its grounds - Catherine Parr, who lived and died here. This afternoon we make our way to the picturesque town of Tewkesbury.

Day 4

After a leisurely breakfast, we enjoy a scenic drive through the Cotswolds to the pretty town of Broadway. From here we board the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway and enjoy a journey through to Cheltenham. This afternoon we have time at leisure in the regency town of Cheltenham.

Day 5

After a leisurely breakfast we depart the hotel and make our way to Hidcote Manor Garden (NT), where you can discover one of the country's great Gardens with its magnificent vistas and dazzling arrays of plants and flowers. Covering an area of 10.5 acres the garden takes visitors on a journey through intimate formal areas revealing a different atmosphere or new vista at every turn. Smaller, more formal garden 'rooms' near the house, give way to more natural areas that blend in with the surrounding countryside further away. We arrive home mid-afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast