On this tour we discover the glorious gardens of Wrest Park, Woburn Abbey and the Swiss Gardens, see the Duke of Bedford’s art collection and his world-renowned safari, and delve into the world of spies and wartime espionage at Bletchley Park.

ITINERARY

Day 1 We pick you up by taxi from your home and then travel by coach to St Albans where we have a break for lunch and sightseeing. We continue to our hotel in Bedford, arriving in time to relax before dinner.

Day 2 After breakfast we travel to Woburn Abbey. Set in a beautiful 3,000 acre deer park, Woburn Abbey has been home to the Dukes of Bedford for over 300 years. The Abbey houses world-renowned collections on three floors and a private art collection including works by Gainsborough, Reynolds and Canaletto. We also visit the famous Safari Park with over 800 animals to see!

Day 3 Today we head for Wrest Park, one of the most magnificent gardens in England which remained unknown and unseen for 50 years before a dramatic restoration project began to restore it to its original ‘Capability Brown’ glory. We have included a guided tour of the gardens. In the afternoon we have some free time in Bedford.

Day 4 We visit Bletchley Park today, home to the secret WWII Enigma decoding machine, and the birthplace of the modern computer. The ornate Victorian mansion was British Intelligence HQ, and is now home to the outstanding Churchill Collection. We then visit the Swiss Garden at Old Warden. Laid out in the early 1800s, it is a rare example of the period with formal walks, tiny thatched buildings and woodland glades.

Day 5 We depart after breakfast and make our way back to the local area making suitable refreshment stops along the way. We join our taxis mid afternoon and continue home.