Bath & Highclere Castle – 11 hour tour

It takes about 1 hour 45 minutes from central London to Castle Combe, a most delightful, quintessential English village in the area known as the Cotswolds. We stop here for about 30 minutes for photographs and Bath is a further 20 minutes away.

Bath has Britain’s only natural hot spring that has attracted people for thousands of years to bathe in and drink the water for medicinal and spiritual purposes. The Romans utilised the spring and developed the town as a place of rest, recreation and worship.

On arrival in Bath we have a quick drive around to see some of the most wonderful architecture the city offers. There is much to see in Bath and you really need a weekend here. The Roman Baths are the main attraction which I recommend visiting in detail. Realistically, there is time to see the Roman Baths and have a drive around the city for photographs. But if you are interested, there is the Jane Austen Centre, the Fashion Museum and more.
It is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Bath to Highclere Castle.

Set in 1000 acres of parkland, Highclere Castle is home to the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. The present stately home was built in 19th Century by Charles Barry (architect of the Houses of Parliament in London). Highclere has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. It was the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, with Howard Carter, that discovered the tomb of the Egyptian boy pharaoh, Tutankhamen in 1922. There is a small Egyptology exhibition within the house. The magnificent stately home is more famous as the Earl of Grantham’s home, Downton Abbey.

About 2 hours to visit Highclere and from here to central London is approximately 2 hours.

Opening Hours 2026

Special Guided Tours (refer to Highclere Website for more details).

April 23

May 8th – 14th

June 2,9, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25

July 3

September 12, 13, 17, 22, 25, 29

October 6, 13, 14, 17, 18, 29.

November 5

General opening

April 4th – 8th and 12th – 16th