The tour begins June 11, 2019 at our castle-hotel located 40 miles south of London. (Instructions for how to reach our accommodation will be sent with the final documents, however, for planning purposes it can be reached by rail service from London in about an hour). It is strongly advised that participants arrive in England the day before the tour begins to avoid any possibility of missed connections with the group. Wine-Knows will be happy to obtain early arrival hotel space for you.

Group airfare has purposefully not been included to allow maximum flexibility in arrival & departure options. You may go early or stay over after the trip concludes. Wine-Knows Travel, Inc. provides land-only arrangements and does not provide airfare.

Our groups are composed of people from diverse occupations, singles & couples, men & women, a mix of young & old, well- seasoned international travelers as well as novices. All have a common interest in food & wine. Many participants on our tours are repeat clients. In addition, each tour participant is a non-smoker.

Wine-Knows is planning to use the following 3 properties, however, we will be previewing a wide selection of properties in 2018 from which we’ll make our final selection for 2019. If there are any changes in the properties below, participants will be notified.

Anne Boleyn’s Childhood Castle. The second wife of King Henry the VIII, Anne changed the course of English history. (The King had to renounce Catholicism & create the Church of England to marry her.) Her family’s castle contains 28 bedrooms, all decorated in antiques, rich fabrics, & well-outfitted bathrooms. 5 stars. Early arrival can be arranged, but space is limited so early booking is essential.

Elegant Private Estate in the Cotswolds. This spectacular country home offers 9 bedrooms, all of which are individually decorated. Most have private ensuite baths, however, some rooms will share a bath with another room. The gorgeous salon & formal dining room are huge with high ceilings & tasteful country decor. The property’s grounds include a pool, a 20 acre garden, and 500 acres of parkland.

5 Star Victorian Villa-Hotel in the Center of Bath. Built on a park in a prestigious part of this delightful city, this luxury boutique villa offers 20 stylishly appointed bedrooms. Elegant touches abound from goose down duvets to quality Egyptian cotton linens. The hotel is winner of Britain’s Breakfast Award…expect smoked salmon, free range eggs & a cornucopia of other delectable items.

Dining experiences have been mindfully selected. Meals will be special culinary events ranging from sophisticated world-class restaurants to simpler gastro-pubs.

In addition to carefully chosen restaurants, this tour will also feature a dinner at our estate in the Cotswolds with a private chef. Participants can assist in the kitchen if they so wish. There will also be excursions to England’s best Stilton Cheese maker (winner of numerous “Best in Show” awards throughout Europe). We’ll also visit a Gloucester cheese producer, as well as England’s top rated outdoor food market.

The tour will be business casual dress during the day. As the Europeans have a more formal dress standard, there will be no shorts allowed during our winery visits. It is strongly suggested that men bring a sport coat (tie optional) for dining at the more sophisticated restaurants. Women should bring a similar level of attire for these high-end dinners. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit as the private estate we’ve leased in the Cotswolds has a swimming pool.

Consider the following 3 rules of thumb to minimize the amount of clothing required: (1) Bring layers. (2) Use the mix-and-match principal (i.e. if it doesn’t mix or match, leave it at home.) (3) Use accessories to change the look versus bringing additional clothing.

Keep in mind that England is generally cooler than the Mediterranean countries of Europe. While this tour will involve the southern-most part of the country where temperatures are warmer, it can still be cool. Daytime temperatures can vary from low 60’s to low-70’s so pack accordingly. While rain is unusual at this time of year, it never hurts to pack a small umbrella.

The price is based upon double occupancy. Should you wish to share a room, every attempt will be made to find you a roommate (most of the time we have been successful in doing so), however, if we are unable to find you a roommate, you will need to pay the single supplement of $1450 US.

We have provided free time as detailed in the itinerary. Furthermore, it is not mandatory that you attend all of the planned experiences, although most of our clients do! This is your trip—if you would rather sleep in, shop, or simply chill at a local pub, then do it!

The tour ends in Bath. There is frequent rail service from Bath to London (1 ¾ hour). Wine-Knows can arrange transport for you to any part of England or other cities in Europe.