Stratford and a Shakespearean New Year

Make your own way to our hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, where you will meet our Tour Manager and enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner.

This morning, we board our coach and head for the pretty Cotswolds village of Bourton–on-the-Water, known for its traditional stone houses and low bridges that straddle the River Windrush in the centre. You'll have time to meander through the village before travelling by coach to Toddington for our return journey on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

The Railway uses part of the route of the former Great Western Railway's main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham and now operates steam and heritage diesel trains between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway, through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds. We board the train in Toddington and follow the line which offers wonderful views of the nearby sleepy hamlets and villages. During the journey, we will enjoy a tea/coffee and a mince pie.

Sudeley Castle's Spectacle of Light is our next stop of the day. Sudeley Castle remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds – Queen Katherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of King Henry VIII – who lived and died in the castle. We arrive late afternoon at Sudeley and, as darkness falls, we enter the gardens for the outdoor Spectacle of Light event. Explore the beautiful night-time illuminated trail around Sudeley Castle's stunning grounds and enchanted woodland. Gaze at the sparkling water features and the mesmerising carpet of colour, with light beams, lanterns and much more. Why not treat yourself to festive warmers of spiced mulled wine and sprinkled hot chocolate, as you make your way along the trail? We return by coach to our hotel for dinner this evening.

This morning, we enjoy an included walking tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, where we will be joined by a local Blue Badge guide. We discover this medieval market town, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, born here in 1564 in a half-timbered house on Henley Street. After the tour, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore further, before making your way back to the hotel for the New Year's Eve Gala Dinner to welcome in 2025!

Happy New Year! After a leisurely breakfast, we travel by coach to Cheltenham Racecourse for the New Year's Day Races. There is no better way to enjoy a day at Cheltenham Races than from the Club/Tatts Enclosure, with access to all public areas and spectacular views from the main grandstand, including the pre-parade ring, views opposite the finishing line, steps at the front of the Princes Royal Stand, winners' enclosure and much more. Enjoy the spectacle and fun of the races, and you might even pick a wining horse! With plenty of places to eat and drink and so much to see, it will be a fun-filled afternoon. Our coach returns us to the hotel for dinner this evening.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to our Shakespearean setting before you make your own way home.