7-Nights A Very English Escape - Tailormade Journeys

The British capital is an overflowing antiques cabinet on the River Thames, the cosmopolitan home of royalty and rascals, red double-deckers and black cabs. Catch a show in Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, roam the hallowed aisles of Westminster Abbey or delve into the gripping history of the Tower of London. Years could be spent idling between museums and markets, parks and pubs here, but even a day’s exploration promises an unforgettable first taste.

Set out on a tour of London, starting in Westminster with a flight on the London Eye, enjoying spectacular views of this world capital. Pause at Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, then head down Whitehall and past Downing Street to the Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament. Stop at Westminster Abbey, the traditional venue for coronations and burial site of monarchs. Finish your morning with a drive past Buckingham Palace.

Safe from the Blitz beneath the streets of Westminster, the War Rooms served as the headquarters from which Winston Churchill steered Great Britain through its most perilous days. See where the prime minister lived and worked and track the progress of his remarkable career in the Churchill Museum. A guided stroll then takes you through leafy St. James Park, past Clarence House (former residence of the Queen Mother) and ending at Buckingham Palace.

With the help of an expert guide, tour Windsor Castle, an official residence of the British monarch for almost a millennium. A highlight is the spectacular State Apartments, still used by His Majesty the King today for official ceremonies and lavish state banquets.

Whether from the Hollywood screen or a period drama, you will instantly recognize the Cotswolds’ pretty, honey-hued stone cottages as a timeless symbol of the English countryside. This vast, rolling swathe of chalk hills between Oxford, Cheltenham and Bath promises beauty down every winding, hedge-lined lane: medieval churches and tiny time-warp villages, grand manors set in acres of deer-grazed parkland, and old country inns putting gourmet spins on traditional pub fare.

Start in the eye-catching village of Bourton-on-the-Water, with the meandering Windrush River running through its heart. Continue to nearby Stow-on-the-Wold. This market town stands beside the Roman Fosse Way, at its junction with six other roads, where a settlement has existed since the Iron Age. Return to picturesque Broadway for fantastic views from the village’s iconic tower.

Explore the charming English countryside to the west of London. Stop first at Oxford, called the “City of Dreaming Spires” and home to England's oldest university. Walk through the impressive campus buildings that are still home to the university's main ceremonial and educational functions, admiring the impressive architecture. Continue to Woodstock, stopping at Blenheim Palace for a visit. Currently home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the palace was designed by the architect Vanbrugh and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.