Travel with Blakes, travel with friends! - Blakes Coaches

Oxford is a beautiful city of stunning architecture, history and culture. For over 800 years,
it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century an established town.
The Cotswolds is an area renowned for its exceptional natural beauty, honey-coloured
architecture and secluded valleys… a picture-perfect retreat from a hectic lifestyle.
Located in the peaceful market town of Witney, this contemporary 4* hotel prides itself on
its warm welcome and beautiful surroundings. All rooms are light, en suite, and are
comfortably furnished with TV, hairdryer, trouser press and tea & coffee-making facilities.
The bar and restaurant offer a wide array of mouth-watering snacks and meals prepared
with the finest local ingredients, and the hotel’s leisure club boasts an indoor pool, spa bath,
sauna, steam room and gym. Although there is no lift, there are ground floor rooms.
Itinerary
OXFORD
& THE COTSWOLDS
5 DAY TOUR
Departure: Monday 24th – Friday 28th June
The Four Pillars Hotel
Witney
MONDAY – We leave the West Country and make our way to Sanders Garden World for
coffee, before continuing on to Burford, one of England's prettiest small medieval towns with
time to browse the shops and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Later we complete our journey to our
hotel in Witney, with time to settle before dinner.
TUESDAY – Our Cotswolds tour begins with a stop at Moreton-in-Marsh where each
Tuesday a Charter market is held with over 300 stalls, one of the largest open-air markets
in the country. With plenty of time to browse and maybe pick up a bargain, we continue on
to Broadway, often referred to as the ‘Jewel in the Cotswolds’ on account of its sheer beauty.
It has one of the longest High Streets in England, and is dominated by a delightful mix of
Tudor, Stuart and Georgian buildings. For the energetic, the Broadway Tower stands 65 feet
high on top of a hill overlooking the village, and on a clear day you can see 13 different
counties from its summit. You will also find craft and gift shops and some lovely restaurants
to enjoy lunch.
WEDNESDAY – After a leisurely breakfast we make the short journey into the centre of
Oxford, where you will have plenty of time to explore this wonderful city of Dreaming Spires.
You may like to visit one of the many historic buildings, colleges, museums or art galleries,
take a boat trip on the river or browse the many shops and enjoy coffee and a leisurely
lunch. We later return to our hotel with time to relax and freshen up before evening dinner.
THURSDAY – This morning we make our way a little further north to Banbury, a delightful
market town, famous for the nursery rhyme ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ and for Banbury cakes.
After an early lunch we visit Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Whilst
here you will have plenty of time to visit the State Rooms and the Churchill Exhibition,
explore the lovely park, gardens and lake whilst enjoying afternoon tea and browsing the
gift shops.
FRIDAY – We leave our hotel after breakfast and make our way to Bourton on the Water –
probably the most popular Cotswold village, and often referred to as the ‘Venice of the
Cotswolds’ because the River Windrush runs through its centre. The combination of the
clear, sparkling water and the attractive low bridges crossing it creates a charming scene.
Whilst here you may like to visit the Model Railway, Cotswold Motor Museum, the
perfumery, Dragonfly Maze or the pottery. There are also many gift shops to browse and
restaurants to enjoy a leisurely lunch.. We later complete our journey back to our home
area, arriving early evening.
TOUR PRICE £325.00
Price includes:
4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast
Entrance to Blenheim Palace. All excursions
Supplements:
Single supplement £80.00
Travel insurance £13.50
TELEPHONE 01398 341160
York is a city of contrasts and exciting discoveries, renowned for its exquisite architecture,
tangle of quaint cobbled streets and the iconic York Minster The city has retained so much
of its medieval structure that walking into its centre is like entering a living museum.
We are delighted to return to this 3* hotel where you are always assured of a warm
welcome. Ideally situated on the banks of the river Ouse in the heart of York’s city centre,
all rooms are ensuite, with satellite TV, high-speed Internet access, direct-dial telephone,
hairdryer and tea & coffee-making facilities. There is a lift to all floors, and the Royal
Brasserie restaurant serves delicious traditional food.
Itinerary
YORK & THE NORTH
YORKSHIRE MOORS
5 DAY TOUR
Departure: Thursday 27th June – Monday 1st July
The Queens Hotel
York
THURSDAY – We leave the West Country and begin our journey north, stopping for coffee
and lunch en route, arriving at our hotel with time to freshen up before dinner and, perhaps,
an evening stroll around York.
FRIDAY – The whole day is free for you to explore all that York, the magnificent city of
architecture has to offer. You may like to visit the Minster, the National Railway Museum, or
stroll along the ancient timbrel houses, perched along the narrow winding streets. The
quaint side streets are full of surprises, and Little Shambles is an absolute delight. There
are also many shops to browse, and numerous places to enjoy coffee, lunch and tea! As
our hotel is ideally located in the centre of York, you can spend as much or as little time
exploring as you wish.
SATURDAY – This morning we travel to Pickering and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway,
to enjoy a scenic train journey through the heart of the moors to Grosment. We then rejoin
the coach for the short drive to the picturesque fishing port of Whitby, with its ancient abbey,
stunning coastline, and deliciously fresh fish and chips. We recommend a trip to the Magpie
Cafe, described by Rick Stein as ‘the best fish and chip shop in Britain’… but you might
have to queue! In addition to the many shops and cafés, the ruins of the 13th Century Abbey
are fascinating and for the more energetic, the views from the top are stunning. We later
return to York through some of the wild, heather-clad North Yorkshire Moors National Park,
stopping in Goathland, also known as Aidensfield in the TV series Heartbeat and as the
bewitching Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter Film.
SUNDAY – After a leisurely breakfast we travel a little further north to Thirsk, a small
compact Market Town mentioned in the Doomsday book. Whilst here you may like to visit
the James Herriot Museum, in the house he actually lived in and used as his surgery. After
lunch we visit the delightful spa town of Harrogate, with its wonderful architecture and public
gardens, as well as shops to browse…and Betty’s tea shop is a must!
MONDAY – This morning, we leave of our hotel and begin the homeward journey south,
stopping for coffee and lunch en route, returning to the West Country early evening.
TOUR PRICE £325.00
Price includes:
4 nights’ dinner, bed & breakfast
North Yorkshire Moors Railway ticket
All excursions
Supplements:
Single supplement £80.00
Travel insurance £13.50
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