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Iconic Luxury Hotels have created the perfect itinerary for your own road trip around the UK. Staying overnight at our luxurious hotels, your days will include diverse experiences, from tours of stately homes to wine tasting.
With an abundance of picturesque villages and excellent country pubs, you have the option of seeing off-the-tourist-track places and exploring the small lesser-known towns. With a myriad of experiences and sights to see, you have the flexibility to do as much or as little, as you desire on your 'Iconic Road Trip'.
The Iconic Luxury Hotels collection comprises of an eclectic array of properties that all celebrate their distinct architecture, cultural heritage, and natural surroundings. Each property has its own character, traditions, and stories but they share a common commitment to delivering outstanding experiences. The current portfolio includes some of the world’s most famous hotels from Cliveden House, one of England’s finest country estates, Chewton Glen an English estate on the South Coast, The Lygon Arms a 14th Century Coaching Inn in the Cotswolds, 11 Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea, one of London’s most prestigious residential areas and The Mayfair Townhouse, London that opened in late 2020.
Day 1
Arrive at Heathrow and Tour Windsor Castle and Town
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
Trans-Atlantic flights tend to land in the early morning, allowing time for freshening
up and visiting Windsor before your hotel room is ready.
Windsor Castle is reputedly the largest inhabited castle in the world. Your guide will take you through the town and tell the story of this much-favoured royal home. A visit to Windsor includes the architectural marvel of St George’s chapel, precincts and state apartments.
Guided tour of St George’s Chapel; See the tombs of Henry VIII, George VI, the Queen’s father and HRH Prince Philip.
Stroll through the grand state apartments adorned with a vast collection of art and treasures of all kinds.
See St George’s Hall, the banqueting space for great occasions.
Drive through the Thames Valley and stop at a country inn, enjoy lunch and contemplate the week ahead with your guide.
Overnight: The Mayfair Townhouse OR 11 Cadogan Gardens London.
Day 2
Tour of Royal London
Tour Style: Private guide using taxis and/or tubes
London is vast, and it therefore makes sense to use your time wisely and focus on one neighbourhood at a time. Royal London is known as Westminster, technically a city in its own right and full of royal connections.
Tour Churchills War Rooms, the WW2 government bunker, a perfectly preserved time capsule.
Tour Westminster Abbey, the royal church famous for royal tombs, poets and heroes.
See the Guard Change at Buckingham Palace subject to army schedules.
Enjoy lunch in St James.
Take a mini walking tour of St James and go inside traditional independent shops.
Option to visit some of the Royal Warrant Holders’ shops, whose produce has gained the royal seal of approval from members of the Royal Family.
Finish around 3.30 - 4pm or extend your tour, finishing the day with a flight on the London Eye.
Overnight: The Mayfair Townhouse OR 11 Cadogan Gardens London.
Day 3
Tour the Old City of London
Tour Style: Private guide using taxis and/or tubes
Westminster is about 1000 years old, but the Old City of London is 2000 years old. Today we delve deeper into the origins of London and start with the Romans. The Old City has layers of history, ready to be peeled back and discovered. We travel in time to Roman London, the middle ages and the tough Victorian streets. Commerce today continues in glass and steel megastructures; some of which are surprisingly environmentally friendly.
Go inside and tour St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s huge baroque masterpiece. Climb to the top of the dome; much energy required.
Enjoy lunch in an old city establishment or go modern have lunch at a rooftop bar.
Go inside and tour the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels, collection of armour and home for 140 people.
Take a mini walking tour of the City of London and discover London’s Roman amphitheatre hidden below ground.
Finish around 3.30 - 4 pm or add on time and take a boat back to Westminster Via Tower Pier.
Overnight: The Mayfair Townhouse OR 11 Cadogan Gardens London.
Day 4
England’s Sparkling Wine Region (Arundel Castle and Wine Tasting)
Tour Style: Private driver-guid
We leave town for the country, wine country to be more precise. England’s producers of high-end sparkling wine are taking the world of wine by storm; the change in climate, chalky soils and south-facing slopes have made Sussex the sparkling wine capital of Britain.
Your driver-guide will take the scenic route in the north downs, the Weald (wooded valley) and twist and turn through the South Downs.
We stop at the beautiful vineyard of Wiston with its stunning Wine Barn where we will enjoy the tour and tasting before heading off to Chichester harbour.
Stop for lunch overlooking Chichester’s natural harbour, before taking to the water to enjoy this area of outstanding natural beauty. More than 55,000 waterfowl and waders congregate on the site each year, nine specific habitats attract rare birds, plants and mammals.
Complete your first “country” day by driving through the New Forest National Park and arriving at Chewton Glen by 5.30 pm.
Overnight: Chewton Glen, the New Forest.
Day 5
The Jurassic Coast and Sailing
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
England’s Jurassic Coast is of worldwide importance. It is one of few places you can study 185 million years of geology in a 95 miles span of coastal beauty.
Take a full or half-day: a half-day excursion will allow you to return to Chewton Glen and enjoy an afternoon at the spa.
There are several options for the more adventurous, such as paddle boarding Old Harry Rocks. We can arrange hiking the coast, sailing the coast, and include (on a full day) a visit to the formidable ruins of Corfe Castle, a magical place.
On a full day, we aim to get you back to the hotel by 5.30pm and 1.30pm on a half-day.
Overnight: Chewton Glen, the New Forest.
Day 6
Salisbury, Stonehenge and Bath
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a UNESCO “memory” status site in one day.
Salisbury Cathedral is not your everyday place of worship; it has several special attributes. Firstly, it has a 404 ft spire, making it the tallest medieval church in the world. Secondly, it has an original copy of the Magna Carta (regarded by UNESCO as one of the most important constitutional documents in history), hence the Memory of the World award. Salisbury is part of an exclusive gated community called a “close” - within the close stand several beautiful historic houses and pieces of modern art.
From Salisbury, we head into the Nadder valley and stop at a lovely old country pub or a picnic at the ruins of Old Wardour Castle if the weather is particularly nice.
Stonehenge and the exhibition is a short drive; your guide will enlighten you on the features and history of Europe’s most famous ancient monument, thought to be a temple to the sun, moon and stars.
We then head north to the UNESCO city of Bath. The city has been a tourist spa town for nearly 2000 years. The Romans harnessed the springs and developed an advanced leisure complex, complete with steam rooms, plunge pools and gyms. The 18th-century city architecture has attracted filmmakers in their droves. More recently, Bath became a film set for “Bridgerton”, the hit period drama.
Overnight: The Lygon Arms, Broadway.
Day 7
The Cotswolds Countryside
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
We drive, stop for photographs and shop in this delightful region of stone cottages and stunning churches.
Castle Combe is our first stop, and visitors should recognise the place; it has been a film location for countless movies. For antique lovers, a settlement with more going on, stop at Tetbury, the home town of HRH Prince Charles.
Lesser-known Malmesbury has an old Abbey with the tombs of Anglo-Saxon Kings.
There is always an antique shop, church, and pub in a Cotswolds village. You will be surprised what trinkets you will discover.
After shopping and pub lunch, head to Hidcote Manor Gardens or Sudeley Castle Gardens for a lazy afternoon admiring horticultural at its best.
Arrive at Broadway by 5 pm and check in to the Lygon Arms.
Overnight: The Lygon Arms, Broadway.
Day 8
Wales and Gloucester or Enjoy the Spa and More Cotswolds Touring
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
Broadway is a short hop from the Welsh Border. Head over the impressive Seven Bridge and enjoy one of the world’s greatest suspension bridges. Wales is famous for its landscapes, castles, rugby and singing.
Today we see Chepstow Castle, a medieval marvel perched on cliffs high above the River Wye. Built to guard the border between England and Wales, the structure has withstood centuries of warfare and weathering but remains largely intact.
Explore the chambers, and your driver-guide will tell you tales of life in the middle ages.
Drive a short distance up the Wye Valley to Tintern Abbey, a relic of the golden age of the monastic communities. Think of Tintern today as a romantic ruin, painted and photographed by many, but still a secret to most foreign visitors. Your guide will explain the lifestyle of Cistercian monks in the 13th century and walk through the complex and show you their daily routine.
Enjoy a simple Welsh Rarebit lunch before heading further up the Wye valley.
We stop briefly in historic Monmouth or Symonds Yat, a beauty spot, before heading to Gloucester.
There are so many beautiful cathedrals in England, so which ones do you choose to visit? We like those with a story, unique architectural elements and special things to see. There is a stunning gothic vault, the tomb of King Edward II and the most beautiful cloisters in Europe. Gloucester has it all, plus it is a film location for the Harry Potter series of movies.
Overnight: The Lygon Arms, Broadway.
Day 9
Oxford and Blenheim Palace
Tour Style: Private driver-guide
Drive down through the rolling Cotswolds hills to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of
Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s great wartime leader.
Blenheim Palace is an iconic country home and palace. It is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough, the first of which defeated King Louis 14th troops at the battle of Blinheim on the River Danube in 1704. John Churchill, the first Duke, received the estate at Woodstock and built a home as a gift from a grateful nation. It is a giant baroque palace in the middle of “capability” Brown landscaped grounds.
The whole estate is awe-inspiring. The state apartments tell the story of the victory over the French King with the help of a series of detailed tapestries specifically designed to hang on display in the staterooms. The rooms with paintings and furniture are a fascinating insight into the life and time of an 18th-century war hero.
Enjoy the fountains, gardens, miniature train, butterfly house and maze.
Blenheim offers several tour options apart from the obvious staterooms. We will advise and explain the options when booking.
After lunch in Woodstock, head into Oxford, England’s oldest university city. Twenty-eight Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford and so many other worthies, such as Dr Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel), Benazir Bhutto (former PM of Pakistan), Hugh Grant, Rupert Murdoch and Tim Berners Lee, computer scientist and inventor of original World Wide Web software.
Tour the colleges, halls and chapels and be immersed in the history, architecture and culture of Oxford.
Head into the Thames Valley and arrive at Cliveden House Hotel at around 5 pm.
Overnight: Cliveden House Hotel, Berkshire.
Day 10
Enjoy at day Cliveden House
Private driver-guide (if required)
Wake up late, enjoy the spa and go for a private boat cruise on the River Thames.
Have lunch in a local Michelin starred restaurant village or relax at the Astor Grill.
Overnight: Cliveden House Hotel, Berkshire.
Day 11
Chauffeur-driven Transfer to Heathrow
(25 minutes)
Your chauffeur will be with you 15 minutes before you need to leave to assist with luggage.
The Iconic Luxury Hotels collection comprises of an eclectic array of properties which all celebrate their distinct architecture, cultural heritage, and natural surroundings. Each property has its own character, traditions, and stories but they share a common commitment to delivering outstanding experiences. The current portfolio includes some of the world’s most famous hotels from Cliveden House, one of England’s finest country estates, Chewton Glen an English estate on the South Coast, The Lygon Arms a 14th Century Coaching Inn in the Cotswolds, 11 Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea, one of London’s most prestigious residential areas and The Mayfair Townhouse, London - expect the unexpected.
For more information, visit: iconicluxuryhotels.com
