ENGLAND MIDSUMMER
MUSICALS
26 July - 19 August 2025
Join us to experience a musical feast in England with La Traviata and Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera Holland Park, Oliver on the Westend, and 3 shows as
part of the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival: The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe, an exclusive, private performance from Gilbert and Sullivan singers plus 4 of our own concerts along the way!
$24,960 per person twin share
Single Room Supplement Add $7420
Initial Deposit On Booking $4000
Final Balance Due: 14 April 2025
Days
22 Days
Highlights
2 music festivals, 7 shows, 4 Operatunity concerts, Beatles Museum, pretty villages, Lake District, visits to
houses of literary figures
Group Size
20
Travellers
Travel of Note
Boutique Tour
Meals
All breakfasts
9 Lunches
1 High Tea
13 Dinners
Mobility
Moderate Tour
MAP GUIDE:
1. LONDON (5 nights)
2. BATH (3 nights)
3. CHESTER (3 nights)
4. BUXTON REGION (4 nights)
5. LAKE DISTRICT (4 nights)
6. MANCHESTER (2 nights)
SPECIAL FEATURES
• A musical feast including 11 magnificent shows: La Traviata and Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera Holland Park, Oliver on the Westend, 3 shows as part of the annual Gilbert and Sullivan Festival: The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe, our own private concert from Gilbert and Sullivan singers, plus 4 of our own concerts along the way!
• A 22-day tour of England: London (5 nights), Bath (3 nights), Chester (3 nights), Buxton (4 nights), Lake District (4 nights) and Manchester (2 nights).
• Visit many of the most picturesque villages in England, and enjoy tours including Buckingham Palace, Chatsworth House, Bath, London, Cotswold, Manchester, Buxton, Chester with exquisite scenery in National Parks like the Lake District and the Peak District.
• Numerous literature highlights including visits to the houses and museums of Beatrix Potter, Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, Wordsworth and to the Globe Theatre.
• Wonderful museum and church visits including Victoria and Albert Museum, The Silk Museum, Roman Baths, Bath, Lowry Museum, Beatles Museum, Laurel and Hardy Museum, Lakeland Museum.
• This is a small boutique tour limited to 20 passengers, part of our Travel of Note series of trips.
• Hosted and concerts by the fabulous team of Cameron Barclay and Stuart Coats, both of whom have sang lead roles in operas, music theatre and Gilbert and Sullivan!
TRIP ITINERARY
Experience the Exceptional:
SATURDAY 26 JULY 2025
FLIGHT TO LONDON
Today we leave Auckland on our Emirates flight, bound
for London via Dubai for our exciting tour, filled with
music, scenery and great experiences.
SUNDAY 27 JULY 2025 (D) LONDON
Dixon Hotel, London (5 nights)
London is the capital of England and the United
Kingdom, known for its historic buildings, vibrant theatre
scene and its tree-lined streets and more than 200 parks.
Highlights Include:
• On arrival in London, after going through customs and luggage claim, we join our coach for our first glimpse of London.
• On route to our hotel, we enjoy a short driving tour of London including Westminster, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, and the parks surrounding Buckingham Palace.
• Early dinner at the hotel after our long flight with a chance for an early night.
MONDAY 28 JULY 2025 (B, D) LONDON
Highlights Include:
• A very regal start to our trip with a tour of Buckingham Palace, and the State Rooms, predominately used for state, ceremonial, and official occasions.
• We also have a chance to wander the gardens, made famous by royal garden parties.
• Free time this afternoon to enjoy your own wander or take time to rest and recover from your jet lag.
• Welcome dinner this evening in the Chambers Private Room at our hotel with a concert from Cameron and Stuart: From Broadway to the Westend, in keeping with our London base and our upcoming show on the Westend!
TUESDAY 29 JULY 2025 (B) LONDON
Highlights Include:
• We set off this morning for a visit to the famous Victoria and Albert Museum. Established in 1852, The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects.
• Here we will enjoy a guided highlights tour, followed by free time for our own exploring.
• We wander across to Harrods, the iconic department store, which opened in 1905, for free time and a chance to enjoy tea or lunch (at your own cost).
• After some time at the hotel to freshen up, we are off to Opera Holland Park to see Verdi’s beloved tragic opera La Traviata. We enjoy exceptional seats and envelope ourselves in this magnificent opera, filled with tunes we know such as the The Drinking Song, Ah Fors’ e lui and Di Provenza.
• Surrounded by the beautiful formal gardens and wilded woodlands of Holland Park, the canopied open-air auditorium is the perfect place to enjoy critically acclaimed opera in the heart of London.
WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2025 (B, D) LONDON
• A full free day to enjoy your own tours, museums shopping, wandering or meeting up with friends and family.
• Our second production at Opera Holland Park. After enjoying dinner we experience Donizetti’s most beloved and powerful opera Lucia di Lammermoor. Made famous by Joan Sutherland, Lucia is a tragic story of young love and a family’s determination to make her
marry the wrong man. The music is sublime and includes Lucia’s Mad Scene, Regnava nel Silenzio and the Lucia Sextet, a wonderful piece of writing.
THURSDAY 31 JULY 2025 (B, L) LONDON
Highlights Include:
• A visit to the Globe Theatre with theatre and backstage tour, one of the highlights of our English tour, as they demonstrate costuming and scenery.
• Lunch at the Dickens Inn, one of London’s historic taverns, with views of the Thames River.
• We transfer to the Westend with time to grab your own dinner or drink this evening before our Westend show.
• Taking London by storm this summer is Oliver, based on the novel by Charles Dickens. This is a new production which is receiving rave reviews. Every song is a gem but some of the most well-known include Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, Where is Love? As
Long As He Needs Me and Oom-pah-pah!
FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025 (B, L, D) LONDON - WILLIAM MORRIS - BATH
Hotel Indigo, Bath (3 nights)
Bath is a historic Roman and Georgian city and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Bath is famous for its hot springs, Roman period baths, medieval heritage, and was home to Jane Austen.
Highlights Include:
• On route to Bath, we visit William Morris’s house: Kelmscott Manor for a tour and lunch. William Morris was a poet, artist and the most important textile designer of his time. His significant designs in the Arts and Crafts Movement transformed the look and style of the era with his use of nature in wallpapers and fabrics.
• On arrival in Bath we check into our lovely hotel and enjoy dinner in the hotel this evening.
SATURDAY 2 AUGUST 2025 (B, D) BATH
Highlights Include:
• A walking tour of Bath’s 18th Century features: Queen Square, Circus, Royal Crescent, and Great Pulteney Street.
• Visit to the Fashion Museum at the Assembly Hall.
• Dinner this evening in a characterful restaurant with music from our artists.
SUNDAY 3 AUGUST 2025 (B, HIGH TEA) BATH
Serengeti Serena Lodge, Serengeti (3 nights).
Highlights Include:
• Visit and a guided tour of the Roman Baths Complex, dating back nearly 2000 years.
• Visit to the Abbey and then enjoy a special high tea, close by.
• Visit to Jane Austen’s House Museum, offering a snapshot into life in Regency times, Jane’s writings and the places that shaped Jane Austen’s life.
MONDAY 4 AUGUST 2025 (B) BATH - CHESTER VIA THE COTSWOLDS
Hotel Indigo, Chester (3 nights)
Chester is an ancient city, well-known for its abundant history and breathtaking experiences. It boasts the most complete city walls, the oldest racecourse and the largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1000 year old Cathedral with Europe’s finest example of medieval carvings - and of course the 700 year old Rows galleries where shopping is a double delight.
Highlights Include:
• Today we leisurely drive north through glorious countryside, stopping to enjoy some of the many pretty villages in the Cotswold area.
• Along the way, villages will include Castle Combe, considered one of the prettiest villages in England, Bibury and the cute Bourton-on-the-Water with free time to enjoy and get your own lunch.
• On arrival in Chester, we have free time to wander from our centrally located hotel.
TUESDAY 5 AUGUST 2025 (B, L, D) CHESTER
Highlights Include:
• A 2 hour guided walking tour of Chester this morning enjoying all the highlights of the lovely city, including the famous Row Gallery, Elizabethan architecture and the 100 year old cathedral.
• Lunch in a character filled restaurant, followed by free time to enjoy your own wandering.
• Dinner this evening with concert from our artists.
WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST 2025 (B, D) CHESTER
Highlights Include:
• A light hearted tour with a difference as a ‘Roman Soldier’ takes us on a Roman history tour. We are transported back nearly 2000 years, to visit the city
of Chester when it was the largest Roman fortress in Britain; so large and well appointed that it has Britain’s biggest amphitheatre.
• Free time this afternoon to enjoy shopping in the oldest shopping row in Britain, with dinner at our hotel to wind up our visit to this wonderful city.
THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 2025 (B, D) CHESTER - BUXTON VIA LIVERPOOL AND BEATLES TERRITORY!
Shrigley Hall Hotel, Buxton Region (4 nights)
Buxton is a special thermal spa town, nestled in the centre of the beautiful Peak District, the UK’s oldest National Park. We are located out of Buxton in a country house hotel, set on the edge of the National Park. We enjoy 3 spectacular performances at the 31st
International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival at the stunning Buxton Opera House with the wit, charm, and joy of exceptional performances, all accompanied by the acclaimed National Festival Orchestra.
Highlights Include:
• On route to Buxton we stop off in Liverpool, home of the Beatles.
• We visit the Beatles Museum, the ultimate Beatles experience with over 1000 authentic exhibits.
• We enjoy some free time at Albert Dock before lunch at the iconic Albert Fab 4 Restaurant.
• Following our drive to Shrigley Hall, we enjoy a very special dinner and concert this evening.
• One of our most exclusive events, professional singers from the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival will present a concert, just for us, in a private room including dinner at our beautiful hotel: Tarantara!
FRIDAY 8 AUGUST 2025 (B, D) CHATSWORTH HOUSE
Highlights Include:
• Today we set off for Chatsworth House for a guided tour. Chatsworth House has long been known as a centre for creativity and features art and artefacts that span 4,000 years. We can explore over 25 rooms in the stately home, including the Painted Hall, State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery. Discover the history of the Devonshire family and how seventeen generations have each contributed to the creation of one of Derbyshire’s finest country houses plus an amazing garden. It is one of the greatest houses in England, still lived in by the Devonshire family.
• There’s also free time to shop - and these are great shops - enjoy the gardens, take the small train on a garden tour and have lunch in one of their market cafes.
• Free time back at our hotel to enjoy a walk in the grounds or a spa (cost is extra).
• Dinner this evening in Buxton before the first of our Gilbert and Sullivan shows: The Mikado. This is one of the composing duo’s most famous works featuring songs like I’ve Got a Little List, Here’s a How-de-do, The Kissing Duet, Tit Willow and so many more! What a fun way to start our Gilbert and Sullivan journey!
SATURDAY 9 AUGUST 2025 (B, L, D) BUXTON
Highlights Include:
• A guided tour of Buxton this morning with our special local guide, An Audience with Mary, Queen of Scots. Whilst under house arrest here she took the water treatments for her deteriorating health against a backdrop of plotting, betrayal and murder. The lives of three strong, intelligent and dynastic women, Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth 1st of England and Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury were inextricably linked in the tragic, political and religious power game we explore on our tour today.
• Then it’s off to our second G and S show: The Pirates of Penzance. Cameron Barclay starred in a touring version of this as Frederic. Again one of their most wellknown shows and filled with songs like Tarantara, The Pirate Song, Poor Wandering One, A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One and The Modern Major General. (Get Stu to sing that fabulous patter song!)
• Back to our hotel this evening for a light dinner before an early night (if you want!)
SUNDAY 10 AUGUST 2025 (B, L) THE HIDDEN VILLAGES OF CHESHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE
Highlights Include:
• Today we give our feet a rest and enjoy a guided bus tour of the hidden gems and villages of this beautiful area including the Peak District National Park.
• We visit the Silk Museum, located in a nineteenth century mill. Here we can discover the heart of the silk industry in an original mill setting.
• Free time for your own dinner before we are off for the third of our Gilbert and Sullivan operettas: Iolanthe. Featuring the famous patter song The Nightmare Song, O Foolish Fay, None Shall Part Us and When Britain Ruled the Wave, Iolanthe is a comedy, based around fairies and the Peers of British Realm!
MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2025 (B, L, D) BUXTON TO LAKE DISTRICT
Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa (4 nights), The Lake District
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and is fed by numerous rivers. It has spectacular walks and views and historic buildings.
Highlights Include:
• On route to the Lake District we stop off at the Laurel and Hardy Museum for a tour and lunch. The world famous Laurel and Hardy Museum is situated in the town that was the birthplace of half of the comic duo, Stan Laurel. Stan and Ollie starred in 105 films and this
museum traces Stan’s early life as well as the careers of these comedians via films, letters, photographs, posters, film stills and personal items.
• We enjoy a lovely drive to our hotel in the Lake District, situated right on the lake where we have lake view rooms.
• After settling in, it’s dinner at our hotel this evening.
TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2025 (B, L) THE LAKE DISTRICT - A LITERARY DAY
Highlights Include:
• We enjoy the tale of Beatrix Potter by visiting Hill Top, her famous house and farm.
• Full of her favourite things, this house appears as if Beatrix had just stepped out for a walk. Every room contains a reference to a picture in a ‘tale’.
• Then it’s off for a Wordsworth expedition to Grasmere which includes a visit to Wordsworth’s grave, Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum.
• Private reading of Wordsworth’s poems in Dove Cottage (subject to availability).
• Free evening for your own dinner at the hotel or in the village close by.
WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2025 (B, L, D) THE LAKE DISTRICT
Highlights Include:
• After a leisurely start we are off on a driving tour along the lake before stopping at The Lakes Distillery for whisky tasting and chocolate tour, followed by a light lunch. It’s a hard life but someone has to do it!
• The balance of the afternoon is at leisure before we enjoy dinner and a concert from our fabulous artists!
THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2025 (B) THE LAKE DISTRICT
Highlights Include:
• We visit the Lakeland Motor Museum which has over 3000 exhibitions. It boasts the bluebird boats of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell and pays tribute to their racing careers, and also has a great selection of classic cars.
• Then we are off on a short vintage steam train ride, before free time to explore one of the pretty villages in the area for shopping and lunch.
• We board our boat for a lake cruise, enjoying the spectacular scenery in the beautiful National Park.
• We explore the World of Beatrix Potter, a cute exhibition bringing the stories of Beatrix Potter to life before transferring back to the hotel.
• Time to rest and enjoy our beautiful hotel and grounds with dinner at leisure this evening.
FRIDAY 15 AUGUST 2025 (B) THE LAKE DISTRICT VIA BRONTE PARSONAGE TO MANCHESTER
Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, Manchester (2 nights)
Known throughout the world as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a proud history in science, politics, music, arts and sport. And today the city combines this heritage with a progressive vision to be a city that delivers surprise and delight in equal measures.
Highlights Include:
• En route from the Lake District to Manchester, we visit the Brontë Sisters’ Parsonage in Haworth plus have time to visit the cute town of Haworth. Our tour includes an introductory talk and time to look at the house, church and graves.
• On arrival in Manchester we have free time for dinner and an explore of this city from our centrally located hotel.
SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2025 (B, D) MANCHESTER
Highlights Include:
• A full guided tour of Manchester which includes its extensive history especially during the Industrial Revolution and its cotton making past.
• Free time to rest or further explore Manchester this afternoon.
• Final night dinner with music from our artists. This is a special gala event to enjoy and reminisce on our fabulous musical journey through Britain.
SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2025 (B, L) MANCHESTER AND THEN FLIGHT HOME
Highlights Include:
• A leisurely start to the day after which we visit the Lowry Museum, with the world’s largest collection of his art. The museum houses over 400 of his works and the buildings are famous for their innovative architecture with theatres and galleries.
• A lovely lunch and then we enjoy a visit to Old Ena Mill for some last minute shopping or simply a wander and a cup of coffee.
• Opened in 1908, Ena Mill is reputedly named after a Spanish Queen and is a classic example of the type of cotton spinning mill that prevailed at that time. The shopping mall is situated in a large Grade 2 listed building.
• Following our shopping, it’s off to the airport with plenty of time to check in and travel home after this magnificent tour of England.
MONDAY 18 AUGUST 2025 (flight meals)
In Flight
TUESDAY 19 AUGUST 2025
Home today with memories of this extraordinary tour
filled with music, cute villages, art, history and scenery!
PLACES WE STAY
The Dixon, London (5 nights)
was formerly the Tower Bridge Magistrate’s Court. This 4-star hotel has been fully restored, highlighting its Edwardian heritage with quirky features celebrating its past. It is located 1 minute from Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Butler’s Wharf full of restaurants and shops.
Indigo Hotel, Bath (3 nights)
is set in a historic Georgian Terrace and is located steps away from Bath’s city centre. This 4-star hotel has modern and stylish rooms, with influences of the architects and novelists who made Bath famous.
Hotel Indigo, Chester (3 nights)
is a contemporary boutique hotel in Chester City Centre. Designed to reflect the city’s neighbourhood, from its famous architecture to the oldest racecourse in the UK, the hotel is just a short walk from Chester’s famous Rows and extensive shopping district, not to mention the award-winning Storyhouse Theatre, and the 2,000-year old city walls.
Shrigley Hall Hotel and Spa, Buxton Region
(4 nights)
is an elegant Georgian country house, set in 262 acres of grounds. The hotel is located on the edge of the Peak District National Park, and has a
championship 18-hole golf course, along with a spa.
Shrigley Hall Hotel and Spa, Buxton Region
(4 nights) is an elegant Georgian country house, set
in 262 acres of grounds. The hotel is located on the
edge of the Peak District National Park, and has a
championship 18-hole golf course, along with a spa.
Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa (4 nights)
is a luxury Lake District Spa Hotel nestled on the Lake Windermere shoreline, in the heart of the Lake District
National Park. We enjoy lake view rooms at this hotel.
Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, Manchester (2
nights) is a striking Grade II listed building. This 4-star
hotel overlooks the River Irwell and is near several
of Manchester’s iconic landmarks and top tourist
attractions, and is within easy access of the city centre.
This Trip Includes:
• Economy airfares, Auckland - London//Manchester - Auckland including all taxes on Emirates via Dubai.
• All accommodation at historic hotels, in beautiful settings: London (5 nights), Bath (3 nights), Chester (3 nights), Buxton (4 nights), Lake District (4 nights) and Manchester (2 nights).
• A musical feast including 11 magnificent shows: La Traviata and Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera Holland Park, Oliver on the Westend, 3 shows as part of the annual Gilbert and Sullivan Festival: The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe, an exclusive private concert from Gilbert and Sullivan singers, plus 4 of our own concerts along the way!
• Visit many of the most picturesque villages in England, and enjoy tours including Buckingham Palace, Chatsworth House, Bath, London, Cotswold, Manchester, Buxton, Chester with exquisite scenery in National Parks like the Lake District and the Peak District.
• Numerous literature highlights including visits to the houses and museums of Beatrix Potter, Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, Wordsworth and to the Globe Theatre.
• Wonderful museum and church visits including Victoria and Albert Museum, The Silk Museum, Roman Baths, Bath, Lowry Museum, Beatles Museum, Laurel and Hardy Museum, Lakeland Museum.
• All tours and entrances as listed on itinerary including Buckingham Palace, Chatsworth House, Dove Cottage, Hill Top Farm and all other tours and entrances as listed on itinerary.
• All breakfasts, 1 high tea, 9 lunches and 13 dinners plus all tips, taxes, porterage.
• This is a small boutique tour limited to 20 passengers, part of our Travel of Note series of trips.
• Escorted by Cameron Barclay and Stuart Coats.
Important Information
• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
• Bank transfer payments incur no surcharge. Credit card payments incur surcharge of 1.5%.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit & booking form.
• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.
Mobility - Moderate Tour
This trip has a little more walking than an easy tour. It is a moderate tour for one of the following reasons - you may need to walk with ease for up to one hour at a slow pace or be able to climb stairs or be able to get on and off boats, trains and buses. This trip will not suit those on walkers and a moderate level of mobility is required.