The Highlife - Highclere & its Neighbours

Check into your hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Our aristocratic adventure begins at beautiful Loseley Park, where a guided tour introduces us to one of England's finest Elizabethan manor houses. Home to the More-Molyneux family for more than 500 years, the house is filled with treasures, from royal portraits and fine artwork to panelling rescued from Henry VIII's lost Nonsuch Palace. Afterwards, we are treated to a traditional Ploughman's lunch before continuing to our next destination.

This afternoon, we enjoy an introductory welcome talk followed by a self-guided audio tour of Hatchlands Park, a classic red-brick country house perched on the edge of the Surrey Hills. Built in the 1750s, the house is crammed with Robert Adam's fine ceiling decorations and tenant Alec Cobbe’s superb assortment of paintings, sculptures and fine furniture as well as Europe’s largest collection of keyboard instruments associated with composers such as Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. Outside, the informal grounds include a parterre garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

Our first visit today is Blenheim Palace, designed on an awe-inspiring scale by Vanbrugh and set in over 2,000 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. As the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, the palace is synonymous with the Churchill family and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A permanent exhibition commemorates the life of this famous wartime Prime Minister, whilst the magnificent State Rooms reveal a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture. We learn more during our special guided tour, followed by lunch.

We then visit Kingston Bagpuize House, a much-loved Georgian family home with a remarkable Queen Anne exterior, 18^th-century cantilever staircase. As we wander through the beautiful entrance hall, lavish drawing room, oak-panelled library and more, look out for the French furniture, Turkish rugs and Chinese wallpaper amongst other family treasures. It is no surprise that the house has featured on screen multiple times, including series 5, 6 and the Christmas special of Downton Abbey plus the 2020 adaptation of Emma. Following our guided tour, there is time to enjoy tea or coffee and cake before returning to the hotel.

We head to the Grade I listed Shaw House for a guided tour, nestled in tranquil surroundings. This well-preserved Elizabethan mansion was built in 1581 by the wealthy cloth merchant, Thomas Dolman, and features exquisite architecture, ornate plasterwork ceilings, intricate woodwork and period furnishings. This hidden gem has witnessed so much over the centuries: it has welcomed past monarchs such as James I and Charles I, became a stronghold during the Civil War, provided shelter to soldiers in WWII and has schooled hundreds of local children. Each room tells a unique story of its rich past, while the grounds provide a lovely backdrop for a leisurely stroll.

Our final visit is the jewel in the crown – world-famous Highclere Castle, home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and instantly recognisable as the setting for Downton Abbey. Visiting on one of Just Go!'s exclusive-access days, when the castle is closed to the general public, we can explore the magnificent State Rooms, grand staircase, fascinating Egyptian Exhibition and beautiful grounds at leisure. Each guest also receives a complimentary copy of A Year at Highclere by the Countess to take home too.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.

Meals: Breakfast