Downton Abbey August 29 - September 7, 2015

10 Days • 15 Meals

Escorted by Joilyn Doucette

Highclere Castle (credit Richard Munckton)

Downton Abbey has become one of television’s most

popular series over the past few years. It has created a

desire to explore the heart of England and to visit the many

areas that have become very familiar thorough the evening series. This rather unique itinerary will allow us not only to

visit and explore the principal residence of the Crawley

family, but also many of the villages and the countryside

that feature so strongly in the series. Highclere Castle is Downton Abbey and there are few great houses in Britain

that more clearly represent this important era in recent

British history.

If you have not yet succumbed to the charms and

relationships of this wonder show, we encourage you get

the DVD’s and discover a new fondness for the award winning series. If you are a devoted follower and would like

to immerse yourself in the post-Edwardian era of the

Crawley family, we urge you to join us.

Entrance to Highclere has been strictly limited and this

may be your best opportunity to experience this great

house, its extensive gardens and the quaint villages used to bring this fascinating tale to life.

INCLUSIVE FEATURES

Return airfare to London, England via Toronto on Air Canada from Canadian cities listed

Accommodation in first class hotels as indicated or similar

15 meals included as noted in the itinerary (shown as B - 8 breakfasts, L - 2 lunch, D - 5 dinners)

All gratuities and taxes for included services

Comprehensive insurance coverage

Services of our Canadian tour escort plus a professional guide in England

Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

See the Rothschild’s Waddesdon Manor

Explore Oxford visiting locations of iconic film scenes

Explore the villages of the Cotswolds and enjoy traditional afternoon tea

Visit Bampton where most of Downton Abbey’s outdoor scenes are filmed

Visit and tour of Highclere Castle

See West Wycombe Park the feature of literary classics and the venue for many of Downton Abbey’s interior scenes

Visit Windsor Castle The Queen's favourite weekend home and the world’s oldest inhabited castle

Travel the Bluebell Railway from Sheffield Park Station to East Grinstead featured in Downton Abbey

Enjoy a cruise on the River Thames passing many iconic sights including: Canary Wharf, the City, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Tate Modern, Houses of Parliament, London Eye and more

Farewell Dinner in London

TOUR ESCORT

Having worked in the group travel industry since 1985, Joilyn joined the staff of Craig Travel in January 2004. She has escorted both tour and cruise groups, including Bermuda, Israel, Europe including the Oberammergau Passion Play, South Africa, Costa Rica, Pennsylvania, Ireland, Alaska and the Yukon. She enjoys getting to know people and sharing new experiences together. Her bucket list includes Greece, East Africa, Polynesia, and other destinations too numerous to mention. She looks forward to sharing this journey with you.

Oxford, with it’s excellent university and classic architecture

Waddesdon Estate - credit Rothschild Collection

August 29, Saturday Depart Canada Group members from across Canada gather in Toronto for the overnight flight to London.

August 30, Sunday London / Waddesdon / Oxford Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, we will be met by our guide and private coach who will take us up to Waddesdon Manor, before continuing to our hotel in Oxford. Waddesdon Estate, originally a simple piece of farmland, was bought by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874. He wanted a country retreat built in the style of a Loire châteaux and engaged a French architect to achieve this end. Waddesdon was created as a place to entertain guests at Ferdinand's famous 'Saturday to Monday' house parties. When his sister Alice, who inherited Waddesdon on his death, died as well, the estate passed to her Parisian great-nephew James de Rothschild and his English wife, Dorothy. Changes on the estate reflected their particular interests with the construction of a golf course and a stud for racehorses. After the Second World War, James was increasingly ill and he began to consider Waddesdon’s fate after his death. Having no descendants, and with the end of the era of grand country house entertaining, he decided to leave the Manor, its collections of national importance and 165 acres of garden and park to The National Trust. In the afternoon we shall continue to Oxford, the delightful city known for its excellent university and classic architecture. Join the guide for a walking tour in the home of Britain’s oldest university, founded in 1167 by King Henry II. The tour will take you past centuries old buildings, Georgian shops and ancient churches. Sights you will see include University buildings, the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean Museum and more. Abingdon Four Pillars (4 nights) D

August 31, Monday Cogges / Shilton / Swinbrook / Bampton A full day of Downton Abbey filming locations in the stunning Oxfordshire Cotswolds. Our first stop is a visit to Yew Tree Farm (Cogges). The farm first appeared in series 4 as the home of tenant farmer Mr Drewe. We learn of the developing storyline between Charles Blake, the dashing government adviser sent in to advise Downton and surrounding estates on how to survive changing times, and Lady Mary, now entrusted with the running of the estate following Matthew's death. They immediately clash over family tradition and the need to reform, but following the now famous 'pig scene' their relationship improves. Is romance in the air? In Series 5 the farm plays a more central role and Mr & Mrs Drewe adopt Lady Edith’s love child! After Yew Tree Farm we take a drive through the beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds passing untouched villages including Shilton, which provided the series with a village pub scene, and Swinbrook, where the Swan Inn hosted the elopement of Lady Sybil and Branson, the family chauffeur. Our Downton filming locations day ends in Downton Village, otherwise known as Bampton. This village has been used extensively in all series for Downton Village filming. Bampton Library was used for Downton Cottage Hospital and Doctors surgery; St.Mary’s Church became Downton Church and Church Square; Churchgate House was used as the Crawley family home; and we walk along the street which has been used for shops, the post office and the Grantham Arms. BD

September 1, Tuesday Highclere Castle Enjoy a morning visit to Highclere Castle, the Downton family home and one of England's most beautiful Victorian Castles set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland. The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and the current Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of the medieval palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester for some 800 years. Longstanding friend of the Carnarvon family, Julian Fellowes had Highclere Castle in mind as he wrote Downton Abbey. He often commented he wanted a house which spectacularly testified to the confidence and soaring optimism of the Edwardian period. The success of Downton Abbey took everyone by surprise. The series has become a phenomenon with appreciative viewers all around the world. We shall have a tour of the castle and time to enjoy the grounds. The State rooms include the Saloon, Library, Dining room, Music room, Drawing room and Smoking room. Visitors can then go up the Red Stairs to view some of the Bedrooms and the Gallery, before walking down the Oak staircase back to the Saloon in the heart of the house. After the tour you will have time to visit the Egyptian exhibition. The Castle was the seat of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who famously discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian Boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, in 1922. In the cellars of Highclere Castle there is now a new exhibition to celebrate the discovery! In the afternoon we return to Oxford, for a leisurely afternoon. Included is entry to Christ Church College, one of the largest in the University of Oxford, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and recently the location where scenes from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter films were filmed. We will visit the dining hall (which is the dining room at Hogwart’s) and we will also drop into the Eagle and Child Pub where JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis regularly met and read out passages from their books. End the day with some free time in the city of Oxford, before returning to our hotel. BD

September 2, Wednesday The Cotswolds Our day will be spent exploring one of England’s favourite destinations - the Cotswolds. Hidden here are hundreds of small towns and villages that combine to make a harmonious and romantic place to visit. The villages are the true jewels in the Cotswolds’ crown, their honey-coloured stone buildings, old-world charm and tranquility summing up so much of the Cotswolds magic. Amongst others there are Bourton-on-the-Water (often referred to as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’), Chipping Campden (one of the best preserved and most historically important towns in the region) and Moreton-in-Marsh (with the largest open-air street market in the Cotswolds on Tuesdays). En route, we shall stop for a traditional afternoon tea before returning to the hotel. BD

September 3, Thursday Wycombe Park / Windsor Castle / London Our first stop will be West Wycombe Park - one of the most theatrical and Italianate of all English country houses and the Dashwood family home for over 300 years. Set in 45 acres of landscaped park, the house as we see it today is the creation of the 2nd Baronet in the 18th Century. This Palladian gem is frequently featured in screen adaptations of literary classics such as Cranford and Little Dorrit and more recently it was used for interior scenes for Downton

Abbey. Enjoy lunch in a nice restaurant en-route to the small English town of Windsor, where we will visit Windsor Castle - the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and The Queen's favourite weekend home. The Castle is at the top of a steep hill, and the visitor route covers long distances. Visit the State Apartments, the Drawings Gallery, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St. George’s Chapel at your leisure using the complimentary audio tour, which lasts ninety minutes. We then continue into London where we will spend the next four nights. Copthorne Tara Hotel Kensington (4 nights) BL

September 4, Friday London Today we have a morning panoramic sightseeing tour of London to introduce us or perhaps to refresh us on all the delights of this most fascinating city. Highlights will include such familiars as Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Church. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening at your leisure. B

September 5, Saturday Hosted Keynes / Greenwich Returning to a golden era of rail travel in England, we travel in style on the Bluebell Railway from Sheffield Park Station to East Grinstead and return to Horsted Keynes Station. The station was built in 1882 by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. The Bluebell Railway has restored the station to the Southern Railway period - mid 1920’s. This station is often featured in films and television, most recently as ‘Downton station’ in Downton Abbey. Visit the carriage works viewing gallery and display which is accessible from Platform 5. We will return to London in the afternoon via a stop in Greenwich for lunch. Greenwich is London’s oldest Royal Park and the place where hemispheres meet. Internationally recognised as the home of time, Greenwich is also where to find the Prime Meridian of the World. From Greenwich we cruise back into London on a sightseeing boat travelling up the River Thames. From the river we pass many attractions including Canary Wharf, the City, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Tate Modern, Houses of Parliament, London Eye and more. This evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner. BLD

September 6, Sunday London Enjoy a full free day in England’s capital city to end your tour. London has a fantastic collection of free museums and galleries including the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and National Gallery. Or spend your time in vibrant Covent Garden with the famous street entertainers. Take a trip to Camden and experience a traditional London market or enjoy the amazing shopping opportunities on Oxford Street or Regent Street. B

September 7, Monday London / Canada This morning we transfer to the airport to catch our homeward bound flights. Members can request to extend their stay in London by advance arrangement. B

Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars (per person) .

Land Only (Join / Leave London) ............................... $3,215 Toronto ....................................................................... $4,495 Ottawa / Montreal ....................................................... $4,525 Halifax ....................................................................... $4,725 St. John’s .................................................................... $4,855 Winnipeg ................................................................... $4,825 Saskatoon / Regina .................................................... $4,925 Calgary / Edmonton / Vancouver ............................... $4,825 Victoria ...................................................................... $4,925 Single Supplement ........................................................ $895

.Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Airfares and air carriers are subject to change and will be confirmed prior to final payment. Refer to inclusive features for details.

REV18DEC14

CT RATING 2.5 - Slightly Challenging: This tour is designed as a leisurely, in depth experience with multiple night stays at hotels. However members should be aware that the tour includes a number of longer walks, some over uneven terrain.

Prices are based on a minimum 20 members and on rates, taxes and fees effective December 2014. Prices are subject to change due to factors beyond our control.

The price includes the cost of comprehensive insurance ($215 - $285pp) for passengers up to and including 74 years on departure date (rate varies by the cost of the trip). Cost supplements will apply for members aged 75 - 85 (from $180 - $352pp). Clients 86 years and older and/or residing outside Ontario - please contact our staff for procedures. This insurance is effective from the date of purchase and carries limitations on pre-existing medical conditions. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Refer to enrollment form for terms and conditions. Please check our website for the most current information. Final payment will be due June 23, 2015.

To reserve your spot on this tour, complete the enclosed

enrollment form, indicating the tour you wish to join and

your home city, and forward it with your deposit of $500 per

person plus the cost of insurance to:

CRAIG CANADIAN GROUP TRAVEL LTD

1092 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto ON M4P 2M6

Tel: 416-484-0926 or 1-800-387-8890 / Fax: 416-484-8143

tours@craigtravel.com

www.craigtravel.com

Library, Highclere Castle © Highclere Castle LLP 2014