Oxford Christmas

Day 1 Oxford Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to the Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel (4T). We aim for you to arrive between 4pm and 5pm, when you will enjoy tea, coffee and mince pies. Dinner is included this evening. Day 2 Christmas Eve - Blenheim Palace As suggested by its status as one of England’s cultural World Heritage Sites, Blenheim Palace is a fascinating place that has witnessed over 300 years of history. The park was a gift from Queen Anne to celebrate the success of John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, in the Battle of Blenheim. He created a masterpiece in Baroque architecture, and the surrounding 2,000 acres of parkland were later re-shaped by influential architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The grand home is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and it is at the Temple of Diana, within the extensive grounds, that Churchill chose to propose to Clementine Hozier. The Palace became a convalescence hospital for wounded soldiers during WWI and became home to over 400 Malvern College boys during WWII. Amongst the opulent rooms, discover impressive State Rooms of magnificent furnishings, portraits and tapestries, and learn captivating stories of the Palace, including those of Sir Winston Churchill. Dinner will be accompanied by Christmas carols. Church services are available within the local community, if you wish to join them. Day 3 Christmas Day - Oxford Merry Christmas! After breakfast, relax and enjoy a leisurely morning or local church service. Late morning there will be a champagne and canapé reception, before a Christmas lunch in the hotel’s restaurant - there will even be a visit from Father Christmas. Perhaps hear the Queen’s speech or take an afternoon stroll, before a buffet dinner at the hotel with light entertainment. Day 4 Boxing Day - Oxford This morning we take a tour of the beautiful, spire-topped city of Oxford. It is renowned worldwide for the oldest university in the English-speaking world, existing since the 11th century with an alumni that includes two British kings, 13 British prime ministers, great authors and philosophers. Christ Church College and Cathedral are equally admired, with significant buildings like Sir Christopher Wren’s Tom Tower and the Great Dining Hall, the seat of King Charles I’s parliament during the English Civil War; and have become the setting for many great films and TV shows including Harry Potter and Inspector Morse. Learn more as we explore the buildings and hear the legends that stretch back to the Saxons and beyond. We return to the hotel, where dinner will be available with entertainment. Day 5 Oxford After breakfast you will be collected at 10am by your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.