Day 1: Following your home taxi collection we make the leisurely drive to Bournemouth, arriving at the East Cliff Hotel mid-afternoon for our seven-night stay on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis. Tea and coffee will be served on arrival whilst your luggage is taken to your rooms.
Day 2: A day at leisure to relax and enjoy Bournemouth.
Day 3: This morning we take a leisurely drive through the New Forest stopping in Ringwood. The town centre comprises a rich mix of architecture, thatched, Georgian and modern, with many historic buildings amongst them. Points of interest are Monmouth House in West Street named after the Duke of Monmouth, who was held there in 1685. The Presbyterian Meeting House built in 1727, with its original box pews and the church of St Peter and St Paul which overlooks the Market Place where the Jubilee Lamp was installed in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. A stroll down West Street takes you to the Jubilee Gardens with the millstream running through it.
We continue our day with a visit to Exbury Gardens. Now celebrating more than 100 years, Exbury Gardens encompasses a spectacular collection of woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower gardens. At over 200 acres, these impressive gardens located in Hampshire, were created, and are now managed by the Rothschild family. They boast several special collections including world-famous rhododendrons and azaleas, unprecedented swathes of hydrangeas and the National Collection of Nyssa trees.
Day 4: This morning we visit Christchurch. This ancient part of the world is the gateway to an idyllic coastline with award-winning beaches and story-telling Blue Plaques aplenty through its cobbled streets. This afternoon we continue to Highcliffe Castle, described as arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture. The magnificent building, once lavishly furnished in the 18th century French style, remained a family home until the 1950s. Whilst two fires destroyed the rich interiors in the 1960s, the Castle’s renovated exterior is testimony to the remarkable skills of craftsmen and women who carried out a huge repair and conservation programme in the 1990s. There will also be time to enjoy the beautiful grounds and beach. Don’t miss the wonderful views across Christchurch Bay to the Isle of Wight.
Day 5: This morning we take a leisurely drive through the New Forest stopping in Lyndhurst. Lyndhurst is the largest village in the New Forest and became the natural 'capital' of the area when William the Conqueror established his hunting grounds here. For centuries, Lyndhurst was the haunt of royalty, nobility and commoner alike. Kings and Queens regularly visited Lyndhurst’s own manor house. Now known as Queens House, the former manor is still home to Verderers’ Hall, the meeting place of the ancient Verderers’ Court whose history stretches back to at least the 13th century. A must for any visitor is the New Forest Centre which is home to the New Forest Museum. This afternoon we continue to Beaulieu, here we can visit the palace house and estate. The National Motor Museum is part of the Beaulieu Attraction, one of the South of England’s top visitor destinations. The Museum is home to a world-famous collection of over 280 vehicles and motoring memorabilia. From legendary Formula One cars and Land Speed Record-breakers, to incredible examples of pioneering motoring, the varied galleries and displays in the National Motor Museum tell the story of motoring on the roads of Great Britain.
Day 6: This morning we travel to the charming town of Wimborne Minster. The Minster itself has existed here for over 1300 years and its location on the banks of the rivers Stour and Allen, and a history dating back to pre-Roman times makes it an interesting and picturesque town to visit. A regular winner in the regional and national ‘In Bloom’ awards, Wimborne’s pretty streets and courtyards are filled with the scent and colour of flowers in summer. Our next destination is Poole. Here you can explore the historic quayside and delve deep into the heart of the old town where sea captains and pirates once stood. We also include a Harbour cruise where you can take in fantastic views from the open deck as you pass picturesque Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula, Studland Bay and more.
Day 7: A day at leisure to relax and enjoy Bournemouth.
Day 8: After a leisurely breakfast we depart and return to Norfolk, where our door-to-door service will be waiting to return you home.
Holiday Information:
7 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (Dinner will be 3 course, 3 choice seated, waiter service)
Price: £1015pp
Single Supplement: £nil (Limited Availabilty)
Additional Singles Beyond Allocation From: £210 (Will be allocated a true single room)
Insurance: TBC (Price subject to change- Insurance not currently available for 2025)
Tour Reference: AWE4922
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure