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Luxury Break

Classic cars, spas and country house stays…

If you’re looking to live the high life on the Great West Way, we have lots of inspiration to help you create your own bespoke adventure. And if you really want to amp up the experience, hire a classic British car - a shiny red Jaguar E-type perhaps - with a friendly chauffeur to lead the way.

A dream adventure on the Great West Way

Did you know? Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
 

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Day 1

Morning 
If you want to feel like a king or queen, start the day with a walk around Windsor - the location of the latest royal wedding. You can visit St George’s Chapel, where those romantic scenes between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place, and also Windsor Castle. If the flag’s flying, the Queen is home - but you can still look around the opulent state rooms and delight in all her treasures. You might even catch the hypnotic pageantry of the Changing of the Guard - an iconic English sight.

Afternoon 
After lunch at one of Windsor’s smart cafes, visit Eton - less than a 10-minute drive away. Of 54 British Prime Ministers, 19 were educated at Eton College. Other famous students include Princes Harry and William and actor Eddie Redmayne. Get all the inside scoop on one of their popular guided tours - available from March to October. If you’re thinking of sending your own offspring there though, you might want to start saving. Boarding costs are about £13,000 per term.

Evening 
Spend the night at Cliveden House Hotel in Berkshire. The supreme luxury of the country house is evidenced by the fact that bride-to-be Meghan and her mother stayed the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. The rooms and suites have all the classic refinement you’d expect from somewhere that’s been entertaining royalty, politicians and celebrities since it was built in the 1850s. Winston Churchill, Lloyd George and Mahatma Gandhi all enjoyed its charms. You’ll want to make the most of your time at this exclusive establishment, so check in early and use the spa, wander about in the water garden and dine at the Astor Grill - named after former owners Lord and Lady Astor. You could also stay at The Langley, opening in 2019, close to Windsor and Eton with landscaping designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in the 18th century.

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Day 2 

Morning 
Time to float on over to Henley-on-Thames. There’s no better way to experience the town’s rich, rowing heritage and riverside culture than on the water. Opportunities abound, from group rowing sessions celebrated with champagne to a romantic rowing boat for 2 - with a ready-filled picnic basket on board. You could also coincide your visit with Henley Royal Regatta (July) or, nearby, Royal Ascot (June) - both are highly prestigious sporting events that for many are as much about wearing extravagant hats and socialising as observing rowing or racing.

Afternoon 
Head to Highclere Castle where costume drama Downton Abbey was filmed, for a glimpse at the lavish lifestyle of its real-life owners over the years. If you’d like a more personal insight, you can pre-book a private guided tour. For those smitten with the grandeur of the place, you can stay on the Highclere Estate and enjoy the surroundings a little longer. The charming Grotto Lodge, which boasts grand countryside views, has recently been sumptuously refurbished by Lady Carnarvon herself (seasonal availability and minimum stays apply, see website for details).

Evening
Assuming you’ve been sufficiently organised and booked your table 3 months in advance, you can enjoy the culinary experience of a lifetime at The Fat Duck in Bray. Heston Blumenthal’s 3 Michelin-starred restaurant takes you on an epicurean adventure via 14 courses of mind-blowing magnificence. A bit like eating your way through an Alice in Wonderland story.

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Day 3 

Morning 
When in Bath, it’s only fitting that you indulge in the local hot springs. And if that means booking yourself a full day’s spa package - so be it. Thermae Bath Spa, The Gainsborough Bath Spa and The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa are some of the most well-known, each offering irresistible combinations of treatments. The sort where you might be bathed in milk and rose petals while a Roman feeds you grapes, or have a Georgian hot chocolate massage accompanied by the gentle, glittering sounds of a harp…

Afternoon 
If you’ve opted not to spend the entire day at the spa, then treat yourself instead to a shopping spree in Bath’s boutiques. Due to the compact nature of the town, you can explore entirely on foot. Whether you’re into antique jewellery, antiquarian books, bohemian interiors or fine cheeses, you can take home some really unique finds. 
And there are wonderful cafes to stop and refuel wherever the need takes you - keep an eye out for The Circus, The Chequers, Acorn and The Olive Tree at The Queensberry Hotel.

Evening 
You have some really exciting options when it comes to where to stay in Bath and the surrounding area. The Bath Priory is a serene Georgian spa hotel, while No. 15 Great Pulteney offers a whimsical take on Jane Austen’s former home town. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Macdonald Bath Spa and The Gainsborough Bath Spa also come highly recommended. And just outside town - The Pig and Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa. For dinner, try fine dining country pub style at Josh Eggleton’s Pony & Trap in Chew Magna.

A few more ideas… 

●    Take a private hot air balloon flight over Bristol, Bath and beyond, with photos and champagne with Bailey Balloons.
●    Enjoy a helicopter ride over Stonehenge. 
●    Play a round of golf at Bowood House.
●    Have some exclusive animal encounters on a VIP tour of Longleat safari park.