Cutting Edge

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D1 Friday, 4 September

Hidcote & Kiftsgate

We start the day exploring Chipping Campden, a busy, honey-stoned Cotswold market town, where we visit St James' Church, a fine example of a medieval wool church. Then to Hidcote Manor, the world-famous Arts & Crafts gardens created by Lawrence Johnston. Johnston, an American anglophile who settled in Britain with his mother, bought Hidcote in 1907, was gardening by 1910 and, by the 1920s, had 12 gardeners! Hidcote was his life's work and remains one of England's most influential 20th-century gardens.

We stop for dinner at The Halfway, Kineton, en route home to Lower Slaughter.

Today's driving is about 50 miles/80 km

D2 Saturday, 5 September

Oxford

e spend the whole day in Oxford, a busy, historic city most associated with its university.

The University of Oxford can trace its teaching to 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. It also has the world’s largest university press and the largest academic library system nationwide.

There is plenty of time to explore and visit colleges and museums, before we meet for tea and scones at the Old Parsonage Hotel, after which we will return to Lower Slaughter for dinner.

Today's driving is about 60 miles/100 km

D3 Sunday, 6 September

Kelmscott & Buscot

We start our day in Burford, for a brief walk around this charming, busy Cotswolds market town, before a late-morning visit to Kelmscott Manor, the country home of the writer, designer and socialist William Morris. One of the 19th century's most celebrated designers and a leading light in the Arts & Crafts Movement, Morris made Kelmscott his home from 1871 until his death in 1896.

We’ll dine out at one of our many favourite pubs, en route home to Lower Slaughter.

Today's driving is about 60 miles/100 km

D4 Monday, 7 September

National Herb Centre & Broughton Grange

Tim will collect you from the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel, immediately north of Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport and, once we are all together, we drive just north of Banbury, Oxfordshire, to the National Herb Centre for lunch and a look around their extensive range of herbs – from kitchen to medicine cabinet.

Today's total driving is about 100 miles/160 km

D5 Tuesday, 8 September

Upton Wold, Batsford & Sezincote

Our day starts with a private guided tour of Upton Wold, like Broughton Grange, an exceptional private garden. Created by its owners, Ian and Caroline Bond, it is astonishing to think that there was no garden here at all, when they moved to Upton Wold in 1973, just a piece of land surrounding a beautiful house, two very ancient yews, an imposing holly, some old apple trees and a very beautiful view.

Today's driving is about 50 miles/80 km

D6 Wednesday, 9 September

Hidcote & Kiftsgate

We start the day exploring Chipping Campden, a busy, honey-stoned Cotswold market town, where we visit St James' Church, a fine example of a medieval wool church. Then to Hidcote Manor, the world-famous Arts & Crafts gardens created by Lawrence Johnston. Johnston, an American anglophile who settled in Britain with his mother, bought Hidcote in 1907, was gardening by 1910 and, by the 1920s, had 12 gardeners! Hidcote was his life's work and remains one of England's most influential 20th-century gardens.

We stop for dinner at The Halfway, Kineton, en route home to Lower Slaughter.

Today's driving is about 50 miles/80 km

D7 Thursday, 10 September

Oxford

e spend the whole day in Oxford, a busy, historic city most associated with its university.

The University of Oxford can trace its teaching to 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. It also has the world’s largest university press and the largest academic library system nationwide.

There is plenty of time to explore and visit colleges and museums, before we meet for tea and scones at the Old Parsonage Hotel, after which we will return to Lower Slaughter for dinner.

Today's driving is about 60 miles/100 km

D8 Friday, 11 September

Kelmscott & Buscot

We start our day in Burford, for a brief walk around this charming, busy Cotswolds market town, before a late-morning visit to Kelmscott Manor, the country home of the writer, designer and socialist William Morris. One of the 19th century's most celebrated designers and a leading light in the Arts & Crafts Movement, Morris made Kelmscott his home from 1871 until his death in 1896.

We’ll dine out at one of our many favourite pubs, en route home to Lower Slaughter.

Today's driving is about 60 miles/100 km