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Itinerary
Steaming through the Cotswolds & Cruising the River Avon
From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.
Steaming through the Cotswolds & Cruising the River Avon
Forever associated with William Shakespeare, we head to the beautiful town of Stratford-upon-Avon. We start with a sightseeing cruise along the River Avon where we sit back, relax and enjoy the glorious Warwickshire countryside as our guide keeps us entertained with interesting facts about Stratford’s history. After our cruise, we have time at leisure to explore Stratford. Fans of Shakespeare can visit the house in which he was born, and there’s a chance to wander the riverside gardens or discover the town’s theatres including the Swan Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Full Day
Steaming through the Cotswolds & Cruising the River Avon
We spend some time in the historic city of Worcester, set on the banks of the River Severn. The town is known for its exquisite Royal Worcester porcelain and piquant Worcestershire sauce as well as a magnificent cathedral. Next stop is the delightful Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury, where there’s time to look around the abbey with its stunning medieval architecture and wander the narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses and Tudor buildings. Lastly, we travel to Cheltenham Racecourse where we board our train on the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. We embark on a nostalgic journey to Broadway, travelling through the spectacular scenery of the Cotswolds with lovely views of sleepy hamlets and villages along the way.
Full Day
Steaming through the Cotswolds & Cruising the River Avon
A journey through the Cotswolds provides a glimpse into the quintessential English countryside. We first visit the beautiful market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, renowned for its traditional stone buildings and charming collection of artisanal boutiques. Highlights include the picturesque cobbled streets, the historic Market Square and the ancient St Edward’s Church, famous for its yew trees framing the doorway. Next, we explore Broadway, often called the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds,’ which features a wide main street lined with perfect cottages, pubs and shops.
Full Day
Steaming through the Cotswolds & Cruising the River Avon
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.
Worcester Cathedral & Riverside City Visit
Explore the Cathedral Quarter of Worcester, set beside the broad sweep of the River Severn. Admire the soaring Gothic nave and intricate cloisters of Worcester Cathedral; when open, step quietly inside to sense centuries of devotion beneath stained-glass light and memorials chiselled into pale stone.
Uncover the city’s layered past, from King John’s tomb to echoes of the English Civil War. Nearby streets recall the craft heritage of Royal Worcester porcelain and the city’s famed sauce, balancing history with a lively, lived-in Midlands character.
Tewkesbury Abbey & Medieval Lanes
Visit Tewkesbury Abbey, one of England’s finest monastic churches, where a mighty Norman tower rises above meadows at the meeting of the Avon and Severn. Inside, round arches, Romanesque piers and glowing glass create a hushed, contemplative space before you wander lanes edged with half-timbered streets.
Sense the town’s turbulent story at the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471), then admire overhanging jetties, carved shopfronts and cozy inns that preserve the texture of a medieval riverside borough.
Cotswold Steam Railway to Broadway
Board a heritage train on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Cheltenham Racecourse and settle into vintage carriages for a nostalgic run across stone-walled fields. Watch farmsteads, orchards and church spires slip by as views open over the Cotswold escarpment, before you arrive in Broadway, the picture-book village at the line’s northern end.
Learn how volunteers revived this former Great Western route, restoring period stations and semaphore signals. The gentle rhythm, coal-scented air and window-framed vistas evoke Britain’s golden age of rail as the Cotswolds unfold in cinematic scenes.
Stow-on-the-Wold Market Town & St Edward’s Church
Explore Stow-on-the-Wold, a high-perched wool town where honeyed cottages gather around the broad Market Square. Browse antique shops and delicatessens before seeking the story-steeped calm of St Edward’s Church, whose north door is clasped by ancient yews to create a quietly magical, yew-framed north door.
Hear how Stow prospered at the crossroads of the Fosse Way and medieval drovers’ routes. Weathered stone, slate roofs and cozy tea rooms lend a timeless Cotswold character perfect for unrushed wandering and photography.
Stratford-upon-Avon River Cruise & Historic Riverside
Cruise the River Avon through Shakespeare’s market town and take in waterside views as your crew shares stories of Stratford’s past. Glide by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the leafy sweep of Bancroft Gardens, with timber-framed facades peeking between willows and narrowboats moored along the banks of Shakespeare’s hometown.
Hear how the Avon shaped local trade and performance culture, and look for the spire of Holy Trinity Church upriver. The calm pace and water-level vantage reveal Stratford’s Tudor textures and theatrical heritage from a fresh, photogenic angle.
