British Pullman - Castles, Stately Homes and Gardens 2010

Journey to the heart of the New Forest to the home of the Montagu family. Explore the 13th century Abbey, the Palace House and gardens and the celebrated Motor Museums with its absorbing collection of over 250 vehicles, including the legendary 'Bluebird'.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time in Beaulieu).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served outbound aboard the British Pullman. On arrival at Southampton you will be met by your guide who will accompany you on the coach transfer to Beaulieu. There you are free to visit the Abbey and Palace House with its spreading lawns and enjoy the Motor Museum at your leisure. You will rejoin the British Pullman and enjoy a four course dinner on your return journey to London Victoria.

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Whether for its striking Great Hall, State Rooms and breathtaking 55m Long Library, or the various external delights of its expansive gardens, arboretum, water terraces and Butterfly House, a visit to the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill is an enthralling destination. The Palace will be decorated for Christmas for the December excursion.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Blenheim Palace).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini on outward journey, free time to explore the palace and grounds, four course supper with champagne and wine on return journey.

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October 16.

December 2.

Brooklands is unique. The world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit, constructed at Weybridge, Surrey in 1907, was more than a great sporting arena. Brooklands was the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, home of Concorde and the site of many engineering and technological achievements throughout eight decades of the 20th century.

Drink in the atmosphere that reveals the secrets of Brooklands - the place where the great British adventure in speed and altitude all began. The Museum displays a wide range of Brooklands-related motoring and aviation exhibits ranging from giant racing cars, motorcycles and bicycles to an unparalleled collection of Hawker and Vickers/ BAC-built aircraft, including the only Concorde with public access in South East England.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Brooklands).

Includes :

Outward journey by coach, admission to Brooklands Museum. A glass of chilled champagne will be followed by a four course dinner with wine whilst you travel back to London Victoria.

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Now a beautifully preserved National Trust property, the rooms and gardens of the splendid home of Sir Winston Churchill remain much as he left them - with pictures, maps and fascinating personal mementoes. A further insight into the man himself is available from Sir Winston's own paintings.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Chartwell).

Includes :

Three course lunch with champagne and wine on outward journey, admission to house and gardens, cream tea at Chartwell, return by coach to London.

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Wander amidst the stately elegance of one of the finest houses in Britain. Visit the State Rooms and chapel, view the tapestries, sculptures and old masters before exploring the immaculate gardens.

Christmas sees Chatsworth decorated with trees, candles and foliage and there are ample opportunities for festive shopping.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Chatsworth).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Chesterfield you will be met by guides for the coach transfer to Chatsworth. Here you are free to explore the house with its magnificent decor and furnishings at your leisure. A glass of chilled champagne is served as you board the train. This is followed by a five-course dinner with wine and a liqueur to round off your meal.

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A spectacular 200 acre woodland garden, world famous for the Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, rare trees and plants that form a riot of colour in spring. Other features include the hydrangea walk, the rock garden with its black swans, the sundial garden which follows an exotic planting and a camellia walk.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Exbury).

Includes :

Three course lunch with champagne and wine on the outward journey, admission to the gardens, three course supper with champagne and wine on return journey.

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April 30.
June 16.

Hardwick Hall is one of Britain's finest Elizabethan houses built for Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury.

The house stands in a commanding position overlooking the surrounding countryside next to the ruins of Hardwick Old Hall. Hardwick contains a remarkable collection of 16th Century furniture and paintings and the visited part of the hall is fully furnished. Perhaps the most notable items on view are the large collection of huge tapestries and of needlework that cover many of the walls of the rooms and staircases. The house stands within a country park containing rare breeds of cattle and sheep and the walled and enclosed gardens around the house include a herb garden, orchard and decorative gardens.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Hardwick Hall).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Chesterfield you will be met by guides for the coach transfer to Hardwick Hall. Here you are free to explore the house with its magnificent decor and furnishings at your leisure. A glass of chilled champagne is served as you board the train. This is followed by a five-course dinner with wine and a liqueur to round off your meal.

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Explore the 17th century Yorkshire home of the Earl and Countess of Harewood with its exquisite collection of artworks, china and Chippendale furniture. With uniquely landscaped gardens designed by 'Capability' Brown, and a magnificent parterre terrace, the impressive beauty extends both inside and out.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Harewood).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini on outward journey, admission to house and gardens, five course dinner with champagne, wine and a liqueur on return journey.

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Visit the magnificent 13th century childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Guarding an exclusive collection of fine furniture, tapestries and other works of art, and set within expansive formal gardens, this is one of the most beautiful and dramatic examples of the architecture and lifestyle of the period.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Hever Castle).

Includes :

Travel outbound from London Victoria by coach. On arrival at Folkestone West you will be met by your guide who will accompany you to Hever Castle. On arrival at Hever Castle take time to enjoy the castle and grounds. Enjoy a cream tea before joining the British Pullman. A glass of chilled champagne will be followed by a three course lunch with wine whilst you travel back to London Victoria.

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The treasure trove of England's horticultural passion is nowhere more apparent than amidst the vividly colourful and constantly changing gardens of Great Dixter and Hole Park, where beautiful parkland encompasses inspirational planting, together with superb views across the Kentish Weald.

(Smart day wear is appropriate, you are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for much of the time at Great Dixter and Hole Park).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Rye Station your guide will accompany you on the coach transfer to Great Dixter for a tour of the house and gardens and then on to Hole Park, where you will have time to explore the beautiful gardens before you rejoin the train for the journey back to London. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a four course supper with wine.

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Encompassed by a calm oasis of park-land and gentle gardens, and standing in the middle of a natural lake, experience the fairy-tale beauty of Leeds Castle - hailed as the 'loveliest castle in the world.'

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for some of the time at Leeds Castle).

Includes :

You will be met at London Victoria and transfer by coach to Leeds Castle. On arrival your are free to visit the castle and grounds at your leisure and can enjoy coffee and a Danish pastry before joining the coach for the journey onto Folkestone where the British Pullman train awaits. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a three course lunch with wine.

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Longleat House is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain and one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public.

Substantially completed by 1580 and now home to the 7th Marquess of Bath, Longleat House is set within 900 acres of magnificent 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland with a further 8000 acres of woodland, lakes and farmland. In the late 13th Century a priory belonging to the Black Canons of the Order of St Augustine occupied the site where Longleat House now stands.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans or trainers. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Longleat).

Includes :

A delicious Brunch with Bellini will be served on your outward journey. On arrival your guides will accompany you on a coach transfer to Longleat House. Explore the Explore the house and grounds before your return to the British Pullman. On your return journey to London Victoria, after a glass of champagne, you will be served a four course supper with half a bottle of wine.

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Both awe-inspiringly medieval and full of warmth and character in turn, the heart of this rare manor house has remained constant over the centuries. Set within ancient parkland, the gardens offer an abundance of variety in form, foliage and bloom throughout the summer months.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for some of the time at Penshurst Place).

Includes :

A delicious Brunch with a Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Tonbridge station, you are met by your guide and coach for the transfers to Penshurst Place where you are free to explore the house and gardens at your leisure. The coach returns to Ashford Station where you rejoin the train for your journey back to London. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a delicious four course dinner with wine.

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Visit the beautiful gardens at Sarah Raven's Perch Hill Farm. A very intensive, productive garden stretching to two acres with different garden rooms full of annuals and biennials for picking for the house or table. The Oast garden has an extravagant mix of colour and structure, Salvias, cardoons, artichokes - brilliantly coloured dahlias, zinnias, gladioli, cannas, jungly corn and banana foliage.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for some of the time at Perch Hill Farm).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Rye Station your guide will accompany you on the coach transfer to Perch Hill Farm where you will have time to explore the beautiful gardens before you rejoin the train for the journey back to London. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a four course supper with wine.

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The majestic 700-acre park is internationally important as one of the finest unspoilt examples of an English landscape park designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. It is also home to the largest and oldest herd of fallow deer in England. Petworth House is situated on the very edge of the park with its back to the town. The west front is a triumph of architectural design and is a combination of French and English elements. The house is home to an impressive art collection including works by Turner.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for some of the time at Petworth House).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on your outward journey. On arrival at Pulborough Station your guide will accompany you on the coach transfer to Fishbourne Roman Villa to view the Roman ruins then on to Petworth House where you will have time to explore the house and grounds before you rejoin the train for the journey back to London. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a four course dinner with wine.

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With its small, enclosed gardens, intimate in scale and romantic in atmosphere, each season brings new delights. Browse these beautiful 6 acre gardens created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband, renowned throughout the horticultural world.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Sissinghurst).

Includes :

A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a three course lunch with wine on the outward journey. On arrival at Folkestone you will be met by your guide who will accompany you on the coach transfer to Sissinghurst (approximately one hour). At Sissinghurst, you can browse around the gardens at your leisure for around an hour before enjoying a cream tea in the Barn Restaurant. You then rejoin the coach for the journey back to London.

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Stroll through landscaped grounds and of course the famous 25 acre vineyard itself. Tenterden offer a unique opportunity to see the home of the largest producer of English wines, fast gaining a world wide reputation. A guided tour allows you to learn the wine making process followed by wine and cheese tasting, where you can sample some of England's finest produce.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time at Tenterden).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini is served on the outward journey. On arrival at Headcorn station, there will be a coach transfer to the Vineyard. After a guided tour of the vineyards and winery, you can enjoy a tasting of English wines and cheeses. There will be time to walk in the Herb Garden and Vineyards and browse in the Wine and Fine Food Store before the coach departs to rejoin the train at Ashford for the journey back to London. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a delicious four-course meal with wine.

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Unwrap over 450 years of history at Wilton House, standing in 21 acres of landscaped parkland and gardens, and housing one of the finest art collections in Europe including works by Van Dyck, Rubens and Joshua Reynolds. Continue your tour with a visit to beautiful Salisbury Cathedral before returning to the train.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors for part of your time in Salisbury).

Includes :

Brunch with Bellini will be served on the outward journey. On arrival at Salisbury, your guide will accompany you on the coach to Wilton House. After your tour of the house there will be time to explore the beautiful grounds before the coach leaves for Salisbury. Enjoy a guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral before travelling onto Warminster Station, to rejoin the British Pullman. A glass of chilled champagne is followed by a four course supper with wine.

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Famous to gardeners the world over, experience the delight and inspiration of the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley, where 400 acres of beautiful planting await your leisurely inspection. For gifts or a personal memento of your day, the visitor centre offers an incomparable selection of gardening books.

(Smart day wear is appropriate. You are asked not to wear jeans. Please remember you will be outdoors at Wisley and are advised to wear comfortable shoes).

Includes :

Travel outbound from London Victoria by coach. On arrival at Folkestone you will be met by your guide who will accompany you to Wisley gardens. On arrival at Wisley, take time to enjoy the grounds. A glass of chilled champagne will be followed by a four course dinner with wine whilst you travel back to London Victoria.

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