Christmastime At Downton & Bath Festive Market

Itinerary

Christmastime at Downton & Bath Festive Market

Celebrate the festive season with a visit to Highclere Castle to enjoy a truly lavish and enchanting seasonal setting. Discover the real Downton at Christmas, beautifully decorated by sparkling lights, ornaments and garlands, with velvet ribbons running down the grand staircase and a huge Christmas tree illuminating the Saloon. Admire the stunning rooms, find the perfect gift in the lovely shop, explore the Egyptian exhibition in the castle cellar, enjoy a delightful, wintery walk in the gardens and take home a bit of Downton magic with an included copy of Christmas at Highclere, full of recipes and stories from Lady Carnarvon. We also stop at Bath’s festive market, a wonderful chance to browse the cosy stalls and indulge in delicious Christmas treats!

Christmastime at Downton & Bath Festive Market

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to the picturesque city of Bath to explore the beautiful Christmas market, set against the backdrop of the city’s historic streets and illuminated abbey. Browse the many stalls packed with handcrafted gifts. There's time to enjoy dinner at your leisure in the city before continuing to the hotel for our overnight stay.

Christmastime at Downton & Bath Festive Market

After breakfast, we check out and head to the world-famous Highclere Castle, filming location for the much-loved Downton Abbey TV series and film. Beautifully decorated for the season, many of the rooms will be familiar to viewers of the series – both the Drawing Room and Dining Room forming the backdrop to the dryly withering put-downs delivered by Maggie Smith, as the Dowager Countess to some poor unfortunate relation. The Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle explores the achievements of the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, while outside are distinctive gardens and spectacular parkland designed by ‘Capability’ Brown. The castle also has a gift shop and a tea room. We depart for home in the afternoon.

Christmastime at Downton & Bath Festive Market

• Return coach travel
• Overnight stay at a selected hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating) with breakfast
• Visits to Highclere Castle & Bath Christmas Market
• Copy of Christmas at Highclere book (one per person)

Christmastime at Downton & Bath Festive Market

• Overnight stay at a selected hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating) with breakfast
• Visits to Highclere Castle & Bath Christmas Market
• Copy of Christmas at Highclere book (one per person)

Accommodation

Selected Hotel JG3 | JG4

We’ll stay at a well-appointed hotel (JG3 or JG4 rating). All rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.

Your hotel will be confirmed approximately 3 weeks before departure, therefore we cannot guarantee that the hotel will have a lift and/or ground floor rooms and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.

Hotel Rating

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.

Accommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.