2024 - 4* Bournemouth & Highcliffe Castle

Itinerary

Opulence & Elegance

Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach, head to the south coast for your 4 night stay at the 4* Hermitage Hotel in Bournemouth. Enjoy tea, coffee & biscuits on arrival as your luggage is taken to your rooms. DBB

Day 2 - 4 - At leisure in Bournemouth with two included excursions and one full day of leisure
Bournemouth - a resort town full of charm and character with a superb range of attractions, parks, gardens and 7 miles of soft sandy beaches. The centre is lively and cosmopolitan, marked by pedestrian boulevards and street cafés. With easy access to the beach and city centre without having to cross a single road, the hotel occupies one of the best locations in Bournemouth

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
HIGHCLIFFE CASTLE & MR SELFRIDGE EXPERIENCE 
Visit Highcliffe Castle to discover the creative vision, affluent rooms and prestigious guests, tragedy and revival with a private talk. Enter the home of Mr Selfridge, revered as "the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture", and imagine the life of this 19th-century Grade I listed castle. Admire the skilfully reinvented interior, overcoming fires and ruin to be restored in a massive repair and conservation programme. Whilst the Selfridges stayed at Highcliffe Castle, the grounds were used during the First World War for Mrs Gordon Selfridge Convalescent Camp for American Soldiers. The grounds are still an inspiring place to be today. Later head to Christchurch to the contemporary seaview cafe for an afternoon tea to hear tales from 'Mr Selfridge and his butler' of how the original Mr Selfridge rented Highcliffe castle for his family, to live the high-life complete with grand dinner parties and gambling, as you gain a little insight into the life, times and fortunes of this legendary retailer.

COMPTON ACRES HEAD GARDENER TOUR
Indulge in an idyllic haven of 10-acres of ornamental gardens at Compton Acres. Your exclusive expert guided tour will unravel the construction, horticulture, conservation and renovation behind the 5 themed gardens, that now boast over 3000 plant species, some of which grow uniquely at Compton, all created on stunning Dorset heathland. You will also find a cafe and tearooms, a gift shop and plant centre

Day 5 - After breakfast and check out and head back to interchange and onward to your hometowns.

Tour Highlights

• Hotel for 4 nights with breakfast & dinner
• Porterage
• Welcome Tea/Coffee
• Mr Selfridge Experience with talk & afternoon tea
• Entrance to Highcliffe Castle with private talk
• Entrance to Compton Acres with Head Gardener tour 

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Accommodation

Hermitage Hotel, Bournemouth

Located in the heart of vibrant Bournemouth and just a stone's throw away from award-winning beaches, the 4* Hermitage Hotel is an inviting retreat in the heart of town.

The iconic white building offers contemporary-style, cosy rooms with TV, hairdryer, tea / coffee making facilities and WiFi (seaview rooms are subject to availability and incur a supplement).

Hardy's Restaurant serves modern British cuisine using many local ingredients. The Lounge Bar serves drinks as well as light snacks.

There is a lift to all floors (some internal steps but also ground floor rooms). Please note - meals are served on tables of 6s and 8s Back to top