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Arrive
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Day 1 Arrive and travel to the Cotswolds via Bletchley Park
Upon arrival into London's Heathrow airport, meet your private driver guide who will whisk you northwards to Bletchley Park, the secretive location of the ENIGMA codebreakers. Their significance to the war effort cannot be underestimated, and their value was frequently acknowledged by Sir Winston Churchill. Continue through the rolling countryside to the charming village of Woodstock, home to numerous gastro pubs, antique shops and boutiques, and your home for the next two nights. Enjoy an evening at leisure with a delicious pub supper [payable locally].
Overnight: Historic Inn
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Day 2 A full day exploring Blenheim Palace & Bladon
This morning, travel with your driver guide to Blenheim Palace, the only non-royal palace in England, famed as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and seat of the Dukes of Marlborough. Explore the magnificent State Rooms and enjoy a visit to the extensive gardens, including the fiendish maze. In the afternoon, travel to nearby Bladon to discover the modest tombstones of Winston and Clementine Churchill at St. Martin's Church.
Optional upgrade : take a tour of Blenheim's private apartments hosted by a former butler to the late 11th Duke of Marlborough. He will provide personal insight into life at Blenheim and insight into the history of this great, aristocratic family.
Overnight: Historic Inn
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Day 3 Visit Churchill's Alma Mater and travel to London
Check out of your Woodstock hotel and travel onwards to England's capital. Based on availability, you might wish to stop at Harrow School, Churchill's alma mater, for a brief tour. Here you'll step within the walls that shaped the young Winston into a man, including the historic Fourth Form room, which bears his name engraved in the wooden walls, as well as graffiti from no less than four British Prime Ministers! On arrival into Central London, your guide will lead you on a walking tour of Whitehall - the military and governmental nerve centre of the UK. You'll see the poignant Cenotaph - the nation's war memorial; the former War Offices; 10 Downing Street and discover bomb damage from the Blitz still evident on the buildings today. Your tour will finish at the Ritz, a regular haunt of Churchill's, where we suggest ordering a 'Churchill's Courage' cocktail at the Rivoli Bar! This evening, check into your hotel, Brown's. As Churchill himself stated, "I don't stay in a hotel. I stay in Brown's".
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 4 Uncover Churchill's London
Meet your guide in the morning and start your day at the Imperial War Museum, the astonishing collection dedicated to worldwide conflict. The museum's Second World War galleries provide fascinating insight into this most devastating of conflicts, through an array of artefacts including full sizes tanks and aircraft, as well as personal testimony and interactive displays. We recommend stopping for lunch at Simpson's-on-the-Strand - an iconic dining room in London's West End, regularly frequented by Churchill [payable locally]. In the afternoon, stroll through the Mayfair streets with your guide, uncovering London through Churchill's lens. You might like to follow his culinary diktat that 'a gentleman only buys his cheese at Paxton & Whitfield'; pick up some shirts at Turnbull & Asser on Jermyn Street [although there is still an outstanding £197.00 on Churchill's account..] and savour the scent of Cuban cigars at JJ Fox on St. James. Don't forget to stop off at historic wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd to put in your order of Pol Roger Champagne!
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 5 Explore Churchill's home of Chartwell
Today's explorations will take you south of London to the glorious Kent countryside, where you will find Chartwell, Churchill's home for over 40 years, having purchased it in 1922. The house has been preserved very much as the Churchill family lived in it - a much loved home, entertaining space and source of creative inspiration for painting and writing. Chartwell boasts the largest collection of Churchill's own paintings, of which he was extremely accomplished in oils. In own words, 'I must say I like bright colours … I rejoice with brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor brown ones.' During your visit, you will also be able to explore his painting studio as well as the landscaped gardens that were created to better appreciate the breathtaking views that Churchill found so inspiring. Today's visit will provide a remarkable understanding of Churchill as a private man, father and husband, in counterpoint to his persona as a stateman and respected leader.
Option : enjoy a private tour of Chartwell led by either a member of staff with personal memories of the Churchill family or the house's dedicated curator.
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 6 A day in Westminster
Start your day at Westminster Abbey, England's most famous church whose history enshrines that of the nation. Amidst the glorious stained glass, tombs, memorials, carvings and chapels, is the memorial to Sir Winston Churchill. Commissioned by Her Late Majesty The Queen in recognition of his service to the nation, the memorial is notable for its prominent position in the Abbey, reflecting how a great a debt the people of Great Britain owe to this great statesman. Take some time to explore Parliament Square, with its vast statue of Churchill surrounded by both the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. We suggest having a spot of lunch at The Clarence on Whitehall [payable locally] where Churchill was known to drop in between Parliamentary sessions. Your day will finish at the Churchill War Rooms where you will have the privileged opportunity to go Behind the Glass into the very rooms where Churchill led the Allied forces to victory. Tonight we will make a dinner reservation at the iconic Savoy Grill, where the restaurant still maintain 'Churchill's table', which we will request on your behalf [dinner payable locally].
Option : embark upon an insightful private dinner hosted by the former director of the Churchill War Rooms.
Overnight: Brown's Hotel
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Day 7 Depart
This morning, check out of Brown's and take a private transfer to London's Heathrow airport, ahead of your departure flight.
Upgrade option [1] : a private butler tour at Blenheim Palace.
Upgrade option [2] : a private tour of Chartwell hosted by either a friend of the Chruchill family, or a curator.
Upgrade option [3] : an intimate dinner hosted by the former Director of the Churchill War Rooms
Extension option [1] : travel to Morocco, staying at La Mamounia in Marrakech, where Sir Winston Churchill regularly visited in the winter, describing the views from the rooftop as 'painticeous'.
Extension option [2] : from London, journey to southern France where Churchill was a frequent visitor, staying with many of the glamorous 'Riviera Set' of the 1920s and 30s, notably including Coco Chanel of whom he was extremely fond.
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Depart
