Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, a private transfer will take you to our hotel, the Macdonald in Windsor, where we stay for the next two nights. We join the group for a welcome drink and canapés in the evening, followed by dinner.

Meals: Dinner

We visit the 12th-century house and farming estate of Mapledurham, which blends traditional and sustainable farming techniques and boasts a tranquil watermill, the only one on the Thames that is still in use. The atmospheric Elizabethan manor has been passed down by marriage to different owners throughout the 13th-15th centuries. Since being sold to Richard Blount, it has been passed down through generations of the Blounts family. Our guided tour provides the perfect chance to wander the house and church and discover stories through the many artifacts on display.

Later, we explore the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle, founded in the 11th century by the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror. With its beautiful State Apartments still used by the Royal Family today, the famous Windsor Castle has been a royal retreat for centuries. We enjoy a private tour of the castle’s decadent Ceremonial rooms, including the striking Grand Reception Room, extraordinarily decorated with real gold and prominent pieces on display, such as the urn once presented to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas I in 1839. There is also the chance to see one of the world’s greatest collections of paintings, including Antony van Dyck’s portrait of King Charles I, where the former monarch is depicted as a calm and powerful ruler by his melancholy gaze into the distance. Not long after the painting was completed, civil war broke out and Charles would be declared a traitor to the nation.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we make our way to the world-famous Highclere Castle, home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the filming location for the much-loved Downton Abbey TV series and movies. There is plenty to explore, from the Drawing and Dining Rooms to the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle, celebrating the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun tomb in 1922. Walk in the footsteps of your favourite Downton Abbey characters including the Dowager Countess, Lady Mary Crawley and Bates, Lord Grantham's valet, and look closer at the rooms and vistas that formed the backdrop to this hugely popular series. Outside you can explore the beautiful gardens and 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland, designed for the 1st Earl of Carnarvon by the famous 18th-century landscape gardener Lancelot Capability Brown. The castle also has a gift shop and a tea room.

We enjoy lunch at the castle and from here, we make our way to the nearby Bombay Sapphire Distillery, where we are taken on a tour to find out more about the artistry behind every drop of this iconic drink. Bombay Sapphire's heritage began in 1761 when distiller Thomas Dakin purchased his first site in England and the popularity of a good old G&T continued to surge throughout the British Empire during Queen Victoria's reign. We discover more about the popular brand’s heritage before we enjoy a complimentary drink in the on-site Mill Bar. This evening, we check into the Ellenborough Park Hotel, where we stay for the next five nights.

Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner

We make our way to Waddesdon Manor, built by the wealthy Rothschild family in the style of a Renaissance château. Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 1870s, the French-inspired château was lavishly designed to entertain guests and showcase his enthusiastic interest in art. From Dutch paintings to British portraiture, Waddesdon has one of the finest collections of French decorative arts. Nestled within 5,000 acres of beautiful parkland, the formal gardens are said to be one of the finest examples of late Victorian gardens in England and include a Rococo-style aviary, a Parterre, sculptures, and more. We have time to explore the interiors and are treated to a tour, a private Rothschild Wine Cellar experience and lunch at the house.

Next is a visit to Cheeseworks Cheltenham, one of Britain’s finest cheesemongers, for an indulgent evening sampling a spectacular selection of fine wines and speciality cheese. We return to our hotel later for our evening meal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we are treated to a guided tour of Highgrove Gardens, the organic gardens of Their Majesties. Over 30 years in the making, Highgrove has one of the most creatively inspired and innovative gardens in the country and embodies The King’s environmental philosophy ‘it is better to work with nature than against it’. Each area has its own purpose and includes the Kitchen Garden, the stunning Wildflower Meadow and a National Collection of Beech trees, with Highgrove House always visible in the distance. Highgrove is also just a few miles from Gatcombe Park, the country residence of Anne, Princess Royal.

We enjoy lunch at Highgrove before moving on to Berkeley Castle. Built by Robert Fitzharding in the 12th century and ordered by Henry II to defend the Severn estuary and the Welsh border, Berkeley is a real jewel, a near complete medieval survival, allowing us to imagine how it might have been to live here. Reigning monarch Edward II was sent to the castle as a prisoner after his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer usurped his power, and we can even see the room where he is supposed to have been murdered in 1327. The castle is the oldest building in the country to be inhabited by the same family who built it, and the Berkeley family are one of only four in England who can trace their ancestry from father to son right back to Saxon times.

We stop at a traditional English pub to enjoy a delicious Fish and chips supper before returning to our hotel for the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner