The Three Choirs Festival & the Cotswolds

Check into the Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel, Tewkesbury in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager, followed by dinner.

Today we head to Chavenage House, a unique family home full of history and fascinating stories around every corner. The Elizabethan manor house has remained largely unchanged since the building’s completion in 1576, and only two families have owned Chavenage; the Stephens and the Lowsley-Williams, the current owners. During our guided tour, we explore the lavish rooms, filled with tapestries and stunning period furniture, discover the secrets of the room where Cromwell stayed during the Civil War and spot the famous filming locations of various movies and TV series, including BBC’s Poldark.

Afterwards, we spend some time in Tetbury, a charming market town of picturesque streets and independent shops  and known for its connections to The King. Enjoy lunch at your leisure in one of the town's cosy cafés and take in the beauty of its historic architecture, including the iconic Market House.

We then head back to our hotel for some free time and after an early dinner, we journey to Worcester Cathedral for our evening concert. A real celebration of choral and orchestral music, the Three Choirs Festival brings together outstanding musicians, composers and choirs to perform an eclectic mix of works, from traditional choral masterpieces to contemporary compositions. As such, we can expect to hear works by world-famous composers – previous highlights have included Elgar, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Monteverdi – with the Saturday and Sunday concerts usually amongst the event's highlights.

Today begins with the exquisite Cotswolds gem of Sudeley Castle, boasting an extensive history and an important role in England’s turbulent past, where we enjoy entry to the castle and then a guided tour of the historic grounds. Once a royal residence closely associated with famous monarchs such as Henry VIII and Charles I, it remains the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds – Queen Katherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII. The castle rooms contain many fascinating treasures from ancient Roman times to the present day while outside are award-winning gardens bursting with seasonal colour and often frequented by Percy the peacock.

We continue to the delightful market town of Tewkesbury, with origins spanning back to Saxon times and narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, Tudor buildings and independent shops. Formerly a Benedictine monastery, our guided tour of Tewkesbury Abbey reveals its stunning Norman architecture, intricate stained glass and one of England's largest surviving medieval towers. After our tour, there are some charming riverside walks to enjoy, some lovely eateries to find lunch at your leisure or to continue a tradition that dates back to the 16^th century, why not head to Tewkesbury Mustard? The local artisan product was once famous throughout the country and was even mentioned in Shakespeare's Henry IV!

Later, we head back to our hotel for dinner and to change for our evening concert at Worcester Cathedral. It promises to be another memorable evening of fine music and a wonderful end to our delightful itinerary.

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