Hampshire And Jane Austen

Itinerary:

Thursday
Depart Leyland at 08.30hrs for our journey to Norton Park with a lunch stop in Tewkesbury en-route, departing at 14.00hrs to continue our journey. Arrive to a warm welcome while your case is taken to your room.

Friday
We start our Hampshire discovery in the market town of Alton where we join the 'Watercress Line' heritage railway for the 10-mile journey through scenic Hampshire's countryside to Alresford. Re-joining the coach, we travel on to the National Trust's Hilton Ampner, an elegant country house with an outstanding collection of furniture, paintings and objets d'art. Stroll the gardens, widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century garden design.

Saturday
Today's excursion allows us to step back in time at Milestones, Hampshire's Living History Museum, comes as something of a surprise, explore a remarkable recreation of a Victorian town, with cobbled streets, traditional shops, a village green, pub, a large collection of commercial vehicles including a tram and a bus, penny slot machines, costumed characters and much more. In the afternoon we take a relaxing 2½ hour cruise through beautiful countryside on the Basingstoke Canal.

Sunday
Today we have a special day for all jane Austen fans or lovers of history and English literature. Visit Chawton and the house where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years of her life, this is where she wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion. In Winchester we visit the magnificent Cathedral and see where she was buried. Don't miss a visit to The Great Hall to see the greatest symbol of medieval mythology, King Arthur's Round Table.

Monday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast for the return journey home with a lunch stop in elegant Royal Leamington Spa en-route, departing at 14.00hrs to continue our journey home.