Cotswolds & The Severn Valley

Your holiday begins as you arrive at our hotel in Worcester, conveniently located next to the train station. After meeting the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers, there's time to explore at leisure.

Worcester is a medieval city filled with history and surrounded by idyllic countryside, including the rolling hills and quaint villages of the Malverns. Due to its position on the banks of the broad River Severn, Worcester has enjoyed great importance since Roman times. The city became wealthy in the Middle Ages due to the cloth trade and was famed for its glove-making - but today Worcester has become synonymous with porcelain and lays claim to being one of the oldest centres of porcelain production in the country.

This evening, we regroup in our hotel to enjoy our first dinner together.

• Dinner

A guided walking tour reveals the sights of Worcester as we head out after a leisurely breakfast. With our guide, we take in the city's many excellent attractions, including the timber-framed Tudor buildings that line the old streets and the magnificent cathedral.

Situated on the banks of the River Severn, this Anglican cathedral dates from the early medieval era and showcases an eclectic blend of architectural styles, from Gothic to Norman. Worcester has long been an important religious city and the chancel contains the tomb of King John, the monarch who drew up the Magna Carta in 1215. The cathedral was also spared destruction during the Reformation because it was the sight of a memorial to Henry VIII's brother, Arthur.

With the afternoon at leisure after the tour, you can get to know the city at your own pace. You could stop for an afternoon tea, enjoy shopping in the many boutiques or visit the Museum of Royal Worcester to see the famous Worcester porcelain.

We have dinner at the hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we head deep into the beautiful Cotswolds after breakfast, travelling by coach to Broadway. This pretty village is named the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', and there is time at leisure to discover its High Street. Admire the horse chestnut trees and its blend of period houses and picturesque Cotswold stone cottages.

Heading to the station, we board the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway* for a journey showcasing the area's spectacular scenery and views of the Vale of Evesham on the way to Cheltenham.

On arrival in Cheltenham, there is free time over lunch to enjoy the spa town's popular cafés, restaurants and street food options. Known for its Regency architecture, you could also seek out one of the many beautiful parks in the town and spend the afternoon relaxing.

Later in the afternoon, we return by coach to our hotel where there is time to relax before dinner this evening.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, we transfer by coach to the pretty Shropshire town of Bridgnorth, where there is time to explore at leisure. The River Severn splits the town into two parts: the High Town and the Low Town.

You could take a trip on the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, one of the steepest funiculars in England, with a maximum gradient of 64%. Founded in 1101, Bridgnorth Castle suffered severe damage during the English Civil War, and the results of the long siege can be seen in the remains of its great tower, with a lean four times that of Pisa's famous tower.

After time to lunch independently, we join the Severn Valley Railway* for a beautiful 16-mile journey along the winding River Severn, with views of remote valleys that can only be seen by rail. A highlight of the trip is crossing the 200-foot Victoria Bridge, where we can enjoy excellent river views. On arrival in Kidderminster, there is free time before travelling back to Worcester by coach, arriving in time for our final dinner at our hotel this evening.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This picturesque part of England has held many adventures during our getaway. From the historic city of Worcester and its attractive streets, we uncovered the Cotswolds from Broadway to Cheltenham on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. The Severn Valley Railway also showcased picture-perfect landscapes as we followed the river from the market town of Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. With rolling hills and winding valleys, we have experienced some of the most quintessentially English landscapes during our exploration.

Our Cotswolds holiday comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Once you've checked out of the hotel, you are free to make your way home or continue exploring the beautiful surrounding area on your own.

• Breakfast