A journey through England’s heartland is a step back through time but that’s enough politics, on with Travel Department’s invitation to visit Olde England.
It’s a world I know well from cutting my teeth as a scribe in the Royal County of Berkshire.
Where the royal family were neighbours down the road in Windsor.
The Royal County of Berkshire has given the world its most radiant (no not Waity Katie), English rose but my own succulent Sadie.
And it is ideally placed, and you’d expect the Windsors to bag the best locations, to explore the verdant Cotswolds, Shakespeare country, Royal Berkshire and London itself.
TD will base you in horse racing country, Cheltenham in their five-day guided package.
So without further ado, here’s TD’s skinny on the heart of England.
Cotswolds, Windsor & Bath
You’ll explore Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon and visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.
Spend a day visiting the scenic villages of the Cotswolds (MC Beaton’s Agatha Raisin anybody?)
And travel back to Ancient British Rome and Jane Austen’s England of manners (what happened to them?)
On another full day excursion, you’ll discover Oxford University.
Queen who?
And pay a visit to Queen Elizabeth II’s weekend palace, Windsor Castle.
Where back in the day I used to rub shoulders with Her Maj at her beloved country pursuits extravaganza, The Windsor Show.
Lizzie would dress down (headscarf, tweeds, sensible shoes) which threw one car park steward.
When he asked for her pass.
One alert journo, not me but remember I was still cutting my teeth, spotted the scene.
And sold the story to a national newspaper who put a picture of the monarch on their front page.
With a strap: ‘For the only person in the UK who doesn’t recognise this woman… THE QUEEN’.
King who?
And because we here are a public service and because we’ve not seen much of him of late, this is the current monarch.
The TD tour departs on August 10 from €959pp including return flights and transfers.
And five nights’ B&B basis in the 3* Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham with guide.
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