Day 1: This morning we make our way to Bournemouth and our hotel, arriving in time to relax before dinner.
Day 2: Our excursion this morning takes us to Salisbury. A city of ageless beauty and captivating history, Salisbury has been welcoming visitors since 1227. At the city’s heart is Salisbury Cathedral, a beacon that has attracted visitors for centuries with the best preserved of the four Magna Carta manuscripts dating from 1215AD. Gathered around the Cathedral is a modern medieval city, full of buildings crafted with care of another age. The historic streets are home to all your favourite stores, as well as independent retailers offering unusual items you won’t find on every high street. In the afternoon, we make our way to Shaftesbury. This charming market town, steeped in Saxon history, offers a wealth of fascinating sights and experiences. From the iconic Gold Hill, made famous by the Hovis advert, to the stunning views over Thomas Hardy’s Blackmore Vale. Take a leisurely stroll along Park Walk for seemingly endless panoramas, or explore the quaint old-fashioned stores and flea markets on the High Street. Don’t forget, if you have time, visit the Gold Hill Museum or the Shaftesbury Abbey Museum for a deeper dive into the town’s rich history.
Day 3: Today you may wish to spend a day at leisure in Bournemouth, or alternatively you can choose to join our optional excursion to Portsmouth. Bournemouth has many outstanding attractions including museums, an art gallery, two piers and the outstanding Lower, Central and Upper Gardens. There is no shortage of places to eat with fabulous restaurants, fantastic fish and seafood eateries to small independent bistros and cafes, Bournemouth does have it all.Our optional excursion to Portsmouth offers you so much choice for an exciting day out. Portsmouth is the Great Waterfront City and is packed with world-class attractions, and fantastic things to do. This port city is best known for its Historic Dockyard, it is the UK’s premier destination for exploring 500 years of naval history. A visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard allows you to step on-board world-famous ships, explore heroic submarines and uncover some of the Navy’s best-kept secrets with first-hand accounts from the Royal Navy’s finest - past, and present. Gunwharf Quays is among the biggest draws to the area; here you will find amazing shopping, bars and restaurants, offering top-quality cuisine from around the world as well as a huge range of street food. On the waterfront of the Gunwharf Quays, overlooking Portsmouth and the Solent is the Spinnaker Tower. Standing higher than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and Big Ben, and at 170m it is one of the tallest publicly accessible structures in the UK, outside of London. You may prefer to explore the cobbled streets of Old Portsmouth that evoke the times of vagabonds and smugglers, yet today they're filled with traditional pubs, tea rooms and fish markets! There is so much to see and do in Portsmouth you really will be spoilt for choice!
Day 4: This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we make the short journey to the opulent National Trust property Kingston Lacy, sitting beautifully in the Dorset countryside. Kingston Lacy is an elegant 17th-century Venetian inspired lavish family home, set in attractive formal gardens and extensive parkland. With an abundance of art, Egyptian Artefacts and lavish furniture, you will marvel at the magnificent rooms and elegant surroundings. This stunning Italianate mansion has been home to the Bankes family for centuries, and its most influential owner was William John Bankes inherited Kingston Lacy in 1834. He was a traveller who had a keen eye for interiors, luxurious art, marble and furniture. He even had an Egyptian obelisk brought back to the UK, which now sits proudly within the grounds. As well as the magnificent house, you can explore 8,500 acres of the estate with its glorious landscaped gardens.
Day 5: Today say our goodbyes and begin our journey home.