At 09:30am, meet your tour leader Phillip Sametz and fellow travellers at a central London hotel (to be advised) and travel by coach to Chartwell, the beloved home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until his death in 1965. Enjoy a private, guided tour and see how everything has been kept as it was when he lived here, including pictures, books, photos, maps, as well as a half-smoked cigar that the World War II prime minister never finished.

Later, continue to Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club, a beautiful 19th-century mansion set in the heart of Ashdown Forest, home for the next four nights. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

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Following a talk by Phillip on the coming days’ performances, visit Wakehurst, the country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which houses the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world. After a guided visit, enjoy some time at leisure to further explore the gardens at your own pace. The Great Broad Walk Borders and the Rose Garden are not to be missed in the summer.

In the mid-afternoon, depart for an evening at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, near Lewes. Tonight’s performance of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia is directed by Mariame Clément. It features the acclaimed London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Italian conductor Vincenzo Milletarì, with baritone Rodion Pogossov as Don Geronio and Cuban-American soprano Elena Villalón as Fiorilla.

During interval, enjoy dinner at the estate’s Middle & Over Wallop fine dining restaurant.

(BD)

In the morning, explore the medieval market town of Lewes, once home to political philosopher and author Thomas Paine, and explore its narrow lanes lined with antique shops, tearooms and historic landmarks.

This afternoon, return to Glyndebourne for Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, William Kentridge’s inspired production of one of opera’s earliest masterpieces, featuring the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and conducted by Jonathan Cohen. The cast includes tenor Krystian Adam as Orfeo, Italian soprano Francesca Aspromonte as Euridice and American mezzo-soprano Leia Lensing as Proserpina.

During interval, partake in a Glyndebourne tradition – a fully catered picnic on the beautiful lawns.

(BD)

After a morning talk by Phillip, explore the enchanting Pashley Manor Gardens, a quintessential English garden which offers a perfect blend of romantic landscaping, imaginative plantings and fine old trees, fountains, springs and large ponds.

Later, return to Glyndebourne for a visual and musical feast – Puccini’s Tosca, featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by acclaimed Robin Ticciati and directed by Ted Huffman. American soprano Caitlin Gotimer performs in the lead role, with Italian tenor Matteo Lippi as Mario Cavaradossi and Belarussian baritone Vladislav Sulimsky as Baron Scarpia.

Dinner will be served in one of Glyndebourne’s several restaurants during interval.

(BD)

In the morning, depart for Petworth House, a remarkable stately home set within 700 acres of parkland and housing a celebrated art collection, including works by Turner, Van Dyck and Gainsborough.

Following a private, guided tour of the estate, continue to Danesfield House Hotel, once a wartime intelligence base and now a refined riverside hotel overlooking the Thames.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BD)

Begin the day with a pre-performance talk by Phillip. Then, visit Nuffield Place, the beloved home of one of the most prolific philanthropists of the 20th century. Learn about the down-to-earth life of William Morris, later Lord Nuffield and founder of the Morris Motor Company.

In the afternoon, transfer to Garsington Opera at Wormsley Estate. Enjoy some time to stroll around the exquisite grounds and Walled Garden before attending a new production of Verdi’s La traviata, directed by Louisa Muller and conducted by Douglas Boyd. American soprano Madison Leonard takes the role of Violetta, while Alfredo and Giorgio Germont are performed by Ukranian tenor Oleksiy Palchykov and baritone Roland Wood respectively.

Enjoy a fine gourmet dinner during interval.

(BD)

This morning, drive to the southern Chiltern Hills for a private, guided tour of Greys Court, a Tudor country house first mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book as Redrefield (Rotherfield). Within its grounds are a fortified tower built in 1347, the only remains of the medieval castle, overlooking the gardens and surrounding countryside, as well as a Tudor wheelhouse.

In the afternoon, return to Garsington for a performance of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Finnegan Downie Dear and directed by Bruno Ravella with Swedish soprano Matilda Sterby, mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan and bass-baritone Martin Winkler in the main roles.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BD)

In the morning, travel from the wooded, gentle countryside of Buckinghamshire to the more rolling, chalk-based landscape of Surrey. En route, enjoy lunch at a traditional country pub before arriving in Surrey in the afternoon. Check into the gracious Woodlands Park Hotel and enjoy dinner in the charming Oak Room.

(BLD)

After a pre-performance talk by Phillip, transfer to Claremont Landscape Garden, one of the earliest surviving gardens of the English Landscape Movement in the early 18th century. It represents the work of some of the best-known landscape gardeners at the time, including Capability Brown.

In the afternoon, transfer to Grange Park Opera for a performance of Rossini’s Barber of Seville. The production is conducted by Gianluca Marciano and directed by Bruno Ravella, featuring Italian-American mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson as Rosina and baritone James Newby as Figaro.

Dinner will be served in one of Grange Park’s restaurants during interval.

(BD)

Today, explore Polesden Lacey, favourite retreat of socialite Margaret Greville, where glittering state rooms reflect her close ties with Europe’s royal families. The future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother spent the first part of their honeymoon at Dame Margaret’s house.

Later, return to Grange Park for the final performance of the tour – Verdi’s Don Carlo. Gianluca Marciano and George Jackson conduct the Orchestra of English National Opera and the performance features Georgian tenor Otar Jorjikia as Don Carlos and British bass Matthew Rose as King Philip II.

During interval, join Phillip and fellow travellers for a special farewell dinner in the historic Grange Park homestead.

(BD)

After a leisurely breakfast, depart the hotel for London. Tour arrangements conclude at upon arrival in central London at approximately midday.

For those returning home today, make your way to the airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour, airport transfers and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)