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The cultural voyage through historic houses from London across the Berkshire Downs

The cultural voyage through historic houses from London across the Berkshire Downs


4 stops


4 nights


446 miles


London definitely merits a trip by itself - and its own Route du Bonheur! Yet, beyond Britain's capital, an entire region lies in wait with unexpected surprises in store. Royal castles, century-old regattas, treasured libraries, legendary horse races and universities follow one after another amid green scenery. While on this route, you never quite know who you'll bump into: fishermen and jockeys, lords of the manor or even Churchill's ghost. All England is distilled here, with its endearing and elegant sense of style and humour...

01

Departure

Recommended duration : 0 night

West Hoathly

Hotel - Restaurant

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Elizabethan manorworld-renowned English gardengourmet experiencekitchen garden

West Hoathly, United Kingdom

Gravetye Manor

Discover

Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Walking the High Weald

Walking the High Weald

The road from West Hoathly to Amberley crosses the East Sussex National Nature Reserve which has been designated as an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). There is a succession of untamed landscapes here: farmsteads, forests and hilltop villages. When you get to Clapham village, the view is breath taking. That these landscapes have remained unchanged for centuries is down to the Dukes of Norfolk who have protected them from property market predators. Bringing joy to us all...

During your stay

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Chichester in memory

Chichester in memory

The small city of Chichester is picture postcard perfect. The Georgian architectural style evokes the city's zenith in the 18th century. The roads leading from the market cross still follow the original Roman tracks. The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum just 7km north of the town is a collection of 40 historic buildings from the 15th century that were taken down, restored and rebuilt in a wonderful open air park. Opened in 1967, this is a quintessentially English museum. 

02

40 milesCar

Recommended duration : 2 nights

London

Several properties available for this stop

Hotel - Restaurant

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Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Borough Market

Borough Market

This is undoubtedly the most famous food market in London. London's Larder has been a haunt for food lovers for centuries! Spices, herbs, fish, meats and vegetables from all around the world meet up among the stalls and shops in this unrivaled market. These products can be enjoyed in one of the adjoining restaurants including the popular Baxter's Café and Fish! Restaurant.

During your stay

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Victoria & Albert Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

Built nearly two centuries ago to honor Queen Victoria, the V&A exhibits the largest collection of decorative art and design in the world, representing 5,000 years of artistic creations from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, along with Renaissance objects, Indian fabrics, British paintings, and evening dresses by Alexander McQueen. A new gallery inaugurated in 2017 houses spectacular temporary exhibitions, such as the one devoted to David Bowie.

During your stay

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Dennis Severs' House: Still-life drama

Dennis Severs' House: Still-life drama

California artist Dennis Severs reconstructed the interior of a Huguenot family's house in the Spitafield neighborhood, where he lived from 1979 to 1999. In the manner of a living tableau, he depicts the life of the Jervis family from1724 to 1914 by appealing to your imagination. The inhabitants seem to have just left each room seconds before your arrival, leaving behind only sounds, smells, objects and even half-eaten food. By the light of a candle, let yourself be guided by your senses.

During your stay

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Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf

Situated on the Isle of Dogs, on the banks of the River Thames, the London business district is characterized by its modern architecture of glass and steel. Some of its buildings are among the highest in England. It is here, in the shadow of the towers, where Billingsgate market, the capital city's vast fish market, also hides. All along the docks, you can watch the fishermen returning with their amazing crates of lobsters, sea bass, scallops and turbot. Does any other city in the world have traders and fishmongers working in such close proximity?

During your stay

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Design Museum

Design Museum

Opened in 2016 in Kensington to the south of Holland Park, the museum created by Sir Terence Conran in 1989 is dedicated to contemporary design in all its forms: fashion, furniture, architecture, graphics, transport, industrial design, and more. The building's design was entrusted to the architecture firm OMA, directed by Rem Koolhaas, and its interior decor to minimalist designer John Pawson. The museum invites you to explore the history of objects that shape our lives.

03

102 milesCar

Recommended duration : 1 night

Oakham

Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Discover Burghley House, Peterborough

Discover Burghley House, Peterborough

This amazing castle belonged to Sir William Cecil (1520-1598), the highly influential Lord High Treasurer to Elizabeth I. It is even said that he designed the plans himself. The stately home features finely worked chimneys and pinnacles that tower high into the sky and is today home to an impressive collection of paintings. The Hell Staircase and the Heaven Room painted in the 17th century by the Italian Antonio Verrio are worth the trip alone.

During your stay

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Birdwatching on Rutland Water

Birdwatching on Rutland Water

With a surface area of just over 10km², Rutland Water is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom. Completed in 1976, this freshwater reservoir is now bordered by many protected habitats. It has become a major wild bird sanctuary, both for migratory bird species and for birds that winter here, which we can watch from the shores.

04

305 milesCar

Recommended duration : 1 night

Edinburgh

Things to do, see, and discover

During your stay

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Enjoy a dram in the capital of Scotch whisky

Enjoy a dram in the capital of Scotch whisky

Both a bar and a shop, Whiski Rooms is something of an institution for whisky fans, with expert-led tastings organized daily for novices and connoisseurs alike. In Edinburgh, perhaps more than anywhere else, people truly appreciate the art of distillation and the delicate alchemy between barley, peat and water. From cozy basement pubs to the opulent Johnnie Walker Princes Street, there are countless opportunities throughout the city to taste Scotch whiskies.

During your stay

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Explore Edinburgh Castle, symbol of the city

Explore Edinburgh Castle, symbol of the city

Perched atop Castle Rock, the impressive Edinburgh Castle has watched over the Scottish capital for nearly a millennium. A symbol of centuries-old tensions between the Scots and the English, it has served as both military fortress and royal residence. The site encompasses a palace, chapel, museum and fortifications. Not to be missed is the daily firing of the One O'Clock Gun, which has been signaling the time to sailors for over 150 years. In August, the castle hosts the Military Tattoo, an unrivalled parade of military bands.

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