Literary Cotswolds Tour

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Discover the rural English world of Lark Rise to Candleford and Cider with Rosie. Visit country houses known to John Betjeman and explore William Morris’ “prettiest village in England”. The Cotswolds valleys, villages, pubs and churches have a special place in English literature, and here we put them in context and introduce you to the lives of the writers who found them so inspirational.

Holiday highlights:

• The pretty riverside villages of Bibury and Kelmscott which are forever associated with William Morris, and also the small Thames-side town of Lechlade with its connection with Shelley and Mary Godwin
• We will explore villages and houses which were homes to the Mitford Girls (a term coined by John Betjeman). We will also visit Swinbrook church where most of the girls are buried. This will include a visit to Batsford Arboretum. Batsford was the Mitford family’s principal seat and the genesis of the arboretum was the work of their grandfather
• We will visit places associated with 20th century poets, three of whom (John Masefield, Cecil Day Lewis, and John Betjeman) were Poet Laureates. We will also encounter a poet guaranteed to be represented in any poetry anthology – W H Davies, the ‘Super Tramp’
• We will explore the countryside around Juniper Hill, Cottisford and Fringford in Oxfordshire which forms the background of Flora Thompson’s Lark Rise to Candleford
• In the evenings there will be the opportunity to explore in more depth some of the literary subjects that we have encountered in our travels

What’s included:

• Two full-day coach excursions with all admissions to places of interest included
• A knowledgeable leader accompanies the tour
• Comfortable en-suite bedrooms at our 4-star Country House
• Full Board accommodation with all meals included