Day 1: We depart Kent and make our way to Hampshire; along the way, we will stop in Guildford, a riverside town in the heart of Surrey. Guildford boasts a stunning High Street with beautiful architecture and fabulous shops. Here you will have free time to explore this historical town centre and take a welcome break at one of the many coffee shops or restaurants. We will continue on to Winchester and our hotel, arriving in plenty of time to relax and freshen up before dinner.
Day 2: This morning we make the short journey to Winchester for our visit to the magnificent Winchester Cathedral. Winchester is one of Europe’s largest cathedrals and boasts centuries of English heritage, magnificent architecture, priceless treasures and works of art. Our visit includes a guided tour, this is the best way to explore this fascinating Cathedral and learn about its colourful past. There will be free time after our tour to explore the Cathedral at your own pace. In the afternoon, we visit the city of Winchester itself; here you will have free time to discover our nation’s former capital. The city has a long and interesting past with its huge cathedral overlooking the Georgian-looking streets, flanked by the ancient flint city walls. There is a wide range of character buildings sweeping through the city centre, from medieval to Georgian, laid out to the original Saxon town plan. Wander through the winding streets of Winchester and you will find a retail offering that boasts independent shops, big name stores and chic boutiques alongside exclusive cafes, established restaurants and vibrant galleries.
Day 3: Our excursion today takes us to Beaulieu, this is a destination guaranteed to satisfy a variety of interests. With a stately home, a world famous motor museum and a 13th century abbey surrounded by picturesque gardens, there are over 800 years of heritage within Beaulieu. The Motor Museum exhibits over 250 vintage vehicles depicting the story of motoring in the UK and motor racing internationally. You can enjoy The World of Top Gear where the cars that were battered, modified and generally ruined are gathered in a special exhibition that pays homage to the world’s biggest car show. Visit Palace House, once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey and has been the Montagu family home since 1538. Lose yourself in Beaulieu’s serene grounds and gardens via the network of footpaths that criss-cross the attraction. There is so much to see and do within Beaulieu, you will be eager to return! We complete our day in Lymington, situated on the west bank of the Lymington River, on the edge of the Solent. Lymington is a colourful coastal town with a rich maritime history. The town’s narrow streets are lined with pretty period cottages and houses, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants. Lymington boasts a wide range of unique and interesting shops to browse or you may wish to wander through the pretty cobbled streets of the old town to The Quay to watch the luxury yachts and fishing boats come and go; a lovely place to spend the afternoon.
Day 4: Today we begin our journey home but not before we make one more visit, Milestones Museum. Milestones tells the story of how people used to live, the things they used and the work they did. The maze of Victorian and 1930s streets is packed with shops, factories and buildings; buy a ration of sweets from the 1940s sweet shop, view the collection of unique of vintage vehicles, or have a go in the penny arcade, the museum is so interesting and lots of fun! After our visit, we will continue our journey home.