Bath, Stonehenge & Somerset – 22 April 2024

Discover stunning British towns and villages with their historic attractions on this 4-day tour.  We arrive in the city if Bristol, visiting the SS Great Britain and enjoying a sightseeing before moving on to stay in the historic and captivating city of Bath, often referred to as one of the most beautiful cities in England. Bath offers both Roman and Georgian influences and is well known for the well preserved Roman Baths.  We visit Stonehenge and Salisbury where we visit the Salisbury Cathedral which houses the protected Magna Carta.  Also included is an excursion to Wells, visiting the famous Wells Cathedral, one of the  earliest English Cathedrals to be built in the Gothic style.

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  Day 1

• Your tour will start with a morning flight from Dublin to Bristol airport.  Flight departs Dublin at 09:00 and arrives Birmingham at 10:10.
• After arrival at Bristol airport, meet your local guide for transfer to your welcome lunch, following by afternoon city sightseeing tour of Bristol.  As part of the tour, visit the SS Great Britian.

SS Great Britian

• Brunel’s SS Great Britain is one of the most important historic ships in the world. When launched in 1843 the SS Great Britian was referred to as ‘the greatest experiment since the Creation’.
• Take a short guided tour and discover how Isambard Kingdom Brunel revolutionised ship travel, setting new standards in engineering, reliability and speed that changed the world.
• After the visit, proceed to your hotel for check-in.

Hotel: 4*Francis Hotel, Bath

• The Francis Hotel Bath is located just moments from the most popular sights of Bath.  The hotel is a regency-style townhouse and offers a restaurant and lounge bar.
• A welcome two-course dinner is included at the hotel.

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  Day 2

• Full day excursion to Lacock Village and Abbey visiting Roman Baths
• Start the day with a morning sightseeing tour of Bath taking in the magnificent Royal Crescent, Pultney Bridge inspired by Ponte Vecchio in Florence before visiting the Roman Baths followed by excursion to Lacock.
• The Roman Baths is one of the finest historic sites in Europe.  Here you can explore the Roman Baths complex, walk on the original Roman pavements and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. The museum collection, located next to the bathing complex, includes a gilt bronze head of the Goddess Sulis Minerva, and other Roman artefacts.
• Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before the tour continues on to the village of Lacock.
• Lacock is a stunningly pretty National Trust village.  The village is most famous as a filming location, appearing in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice, among many others.
•  Explore this pretty village itself and visit the 13th-century abbey located here.
• Return to hotel

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Day 3

• Full day excursion to Stonehenge and Salisbury
• The day begins as you travel by coach to Stonehenge.  Stonehenge really has to be seen to be believed. Standing on the Salisbury Plains for approximately 5,000 years, these mesmerizing stones are surrounded by thousands of theories as to their exact origin.
• After lunch, the tour continues on to Salisbury where you will visit Salisbury Cathedral, considered to be one of the masterpieces of Early English architecture. Discover the UNESCO protected Magna Carta — an incredibly significant historical document that recently celebrated its 800th anniversary.  Here you will have an introductory tour lead by one of the Salisbury Cathedral guides before your self-guided tour.

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Day 4

• Excursion to the Wells and return home.
• Today, visit one of the smallest cathedral cities in the UK, Wells in Somerset.  The city offers an old-world charm and is home to the famous Wells Cathedral.  The impressive Wells Cathedral is the earliest English Cathedral built in Gothic style, with over 300 13th century figures of saints and kings adorning the Cathedral.
• Lunch is included.
• Early afternoon we have to take out leave and head back to the airport for our departure flight home.
• Return flight with Ryan Air departs 15:55 and arrives Dublin 17:00 (please note that flight times are subject to change at airlines discretion)

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Price includes:

• Return flight from Dublin, taxes and transfers
• Three-nights in the 4* Francis Hotel in Bath with breakfast
• Four lunches and one evening meal
• Discover Bath on a city sightseeing tour with entrance to the SS Great Britian
• Full day excursion to Lacock Village visiting the Abbey
• Entrance to Roman Baths
• Full day excursion to Stonehenge and Salisbury with entrance to Salisbury Cathedral
• Excursion to Wells, visiting Wells Cathedral
• Private transfers and local guide according to the programme

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  FOR INFORMATION OR TO BOOK, PLEASE CALL (01) 888 7840 reservations@instituteforculturetravel.ie https://www.instituteforculturetravel.ie/en/client/tours/t16047-bath-stonehenge-somerset-22-april-2024.htm