Wales, Oxford & Windsor

As we begin our journey to Wales, we stop in Bath — a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its cultural significance and outstanding universal value. Your Tour Manger will take you on a walking tour pointing out some highlights of this exceptional city. Later, we arrive in the heart of Cardiff, where we’ll spend the next two nights and enjoy a welcome dinner.

Dinner / Overnight -  Hilton Cardiff or The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

 

In Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, our morning starts with a walking tour of the city centre where we visit Cardiff Castle, one of Wales’s leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Our guided tour will walk us through this extraordinary Victorian Gothic mansion, and you will discover a story 2,000 years in the making. This evening you will be entertained by the finest of Welsh talent, including a Welsh harpist, presenting the beautiful music of Wales, its poetry, language and stories. Dinner is ethically and locally sourced by first-class chefs, who also provide fine dining for the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh Assembly.

Dinner / Overnight - Hilton Cardiff or The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

 

We travel to Pembrokeshire, nestled in the south-west corner of Wales. Our first stop is in the popular seaside town of Tenby, where you will have free time to explore its charming harbour and picturesque seafront. We then continue to St Davids, Britain’s smallest city. Despite its modest size, it boasts a magnificent cathedral, set beside the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace - founded by Wales’s patron saint, St David. Inside the cathedral are the tombs of influential medieval knights, and a shrine to St David himself. Later we arrive in Aberystwyth, where we spend the night.

Dinner / Overnight –      The Gwbert Hotel or Gwesty Marine, Aberystwyth
 

Our journey continues to majestic North Wales. Our first visit is Caernarfon Castle, a royal fortress-palace built on legends and bitter medieval conflict and regarded as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. Our next stop is Snowdon Mountain Rail – a journey like no other. Here we travel from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon, a magical journey with breathtaking views (weather permitted).

Dinner / Overnight - The Royal Oak Hotel, Betws-y Coed

 

We start the day at a family farm, where we experience a sheep dog training demonstration, and the family discusses 370 yrs of farming, sustainability, traditions, heritage, beliefs and wool production. We make our way to Conwy, where we enjoy an included lunch perfectly situated with views of the castle. We visit Conwy Castle, one of Wales’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Plas Mawr, the magnificent 16th century town house, said to be the finest standing houses of its era. This evening, take some time to relax and explore the charming village of Betws-y-Coed on your own.

Lunch/Overnight - The Royal Oak Hotel, Betws-y Coed

 

Heading back to south Wales, we enjoy a day of outstanding scenery. Our journey includes a stop in Shrewsbury - named one of ‘The Happiest Places to Live in England’ in 2025. Known for having one of Britain’s best high streets and as the birthplace of Charles Darwin, Shrewsbury holds a unique connection to one of history's most transformative scientific figures. You will have free time to explore the town before we arrive in Abergavenny. This lively market town, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, was named one of Conde Nast’s top 10 places to visit in the UK in 2021. Here you will have time to discover this gem on your own. Tonight, we dine at the hotel, which has won 2 AA rosettes for the standard of its cuisine. 

Dinner / Overnight - The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny

 

We bid farewell to Wales and make our way back into England.  Our journey takes us through the Cotswolds, England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where we stop in a couple of villages that are quite simply, quintessentially English. We’ll enjoy an included pub lunch before arriving at our centrally located hotel in Oxford where we will spend the next 2 nights.

Lunch/Overnight – Graduate Hotel, Oxford
 

Oxford, the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, is home to over 1,500 listed buildings, the oldest University in the English-speaking world, the historic Bodleian Library, and a charming covered market dating back to 1774. A favourite location for filmmakers, the city has also inspired countless famous writers over the centuries. Our walking tour will take in some of the highlights and include a tour of Christchurch College, the largest of Oxford’s colleges. Alice in Wonderland was written there by Lewis Carroll, and you will also see the areas where Harry Potter and Inspector Morse were filmed. You will have the afternoon and evening free to take in some shopping on the High Street. Or perhaps you may want to enjoy a pint at one of Oxford’s historic pubs: The Bear, the city’s oldest; The Eagle and Child, famously frequented by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis; or The Turf Tavern, thriving since the 16th century.

Overnight – Graduate Hotel, Oxford

 

Leaving Oxford, we have a short drive to Windsor. The Royal Borough thrives on its royal patronage, rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture and beautiful natural scenery. You will have an introductory walk with your Tour Manager, followed by a visit to Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of His Majesty The King as well as a venue for ceremonial and state occasions.  The castle spreads over the equivalent of 269 tennis courts and is more like a fortified town. It contains the magnificent State Apartments, furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection and St George's Chapel - a Royal Peculiar and one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England. It is the burial place of 11 monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II, Henry VIII and Charles I. You will have free time to explore Windsor before enjoying a farewell dinner and raising a toast to an unforgettable tour of Wales and England!

Dinner/Overnight – Macdonald Windsor Hotel, Windsor

 

Your tour ends after a hearty English breakfast.