21 OF THE BEST LUXURY ACTIVITIES IN ENGLAND

England is a wonderful, beautiful country to visit with luxury experiences to be enjoyed in so many different places.  Once you have made the journey here, there is so much to see and do.  Whether you are exploring or celebrating; enjoying a vacation with a group of people or just with one or two, here are some ideas for the best luxury activities in England.

Enjoy a day at the races in a private box at The Cheltenham Festival.  With an unrivaled view of the racecourse, watch the finest horses fly over the jumps with jockeys and owners determined to win the highest racing honors.  http://cheltenham.thejockeyclub.co.uk/

The Chelsea Flower Show is the World’s most prestigious flower show and is a fabulous day out.   There are cutting edge gardens from World renowned designers along with spectacular floral exhibits and glorious show gardens.  A treat for anyone who loves horticulture.  To find out more about The Chelsea Flower Show visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show.

Held in the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex this annual event, founded in 1993 by Lord March, is usually held in late June/early July.  The Festival of Speed is a hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles.  Fans are able to get close to the action as they are only separated from the drivers by straw bales.  To find out more about The Goodwood Festival of Speed, go to https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/event-coverage/festival-of-speed/.

In a setting of extraordinary natural beauty, Garsington Opera gives spectacular performances in the Opera Pavilion which sits amidst the rolling landscape of the Chiltern Hills.  Garsington Opera engages the best performers from around the world as well as supporting the up and coming talent from within the UK.  Only one hour from London, nothing can beat a hazy summers’ evening listening to opera at Garsington.

For all those Downton Abbey addicts, this is a wonderful opportunity to see behind the scenes of the phenomenally successful BBC series.  A private tour of the castle with Highclere’s own, expert guides, will give you a fascinating insight into the history of this magnificent castle and it’s custodians throughout the centuries.  For more information contact andrew@ltrcastles.com.

Royal St George’s has played host to The Open Championships fourteen times and is one of England’s finest links courses.  Improve your swing and get some top tips whilst at the same time enjoying a round of golf at this historic course with a celebrity golfer.  For more information email andrew@ltrcastles.com.

The Cotswolds are perhaps, the most quintessentially English part of England (if that’s possible!).  Anyway, they are beautiful and quaint with their soft rolling hills, Cotswold stone buildings and fields dotted with sheep and cows.  To sail over this landscape, peacefully in a hot air balloon, is a wonderful way to see the vast expanse of countryside and to soak up it’s beauty.  We have the stunning Cornwell Manor which sleeps up to 24 guests in 12 bedrooms, in the heart of the Cotswolds, offering supreme luxury and a perfect base for exploring from.  For more information email andrew@ltrcastles.com.

London has some of the finest shops in the world.  For anyone who doesn’t know the city well, it can be a daunting prospect wondering where to start.  However, with your very own Personal Shopper you can avoid any wasted time or bad purchases.  Whether it is clothes you’re after or simply some mementos to take home after a happy family vacation in the UK, a Personal Shopper can be the answer to it all.   Why not enjoy Foyle Style shopping whilst staying at one of our manor houses near London, all organised for you by us.

After spending some time in England’s capital city, a weekend away will give you the chance to wind down and enjoy a less frenetic existence.  We love this coastal boutique hotel in Cornwall where you will get the chance to breath some fresh sea air and explore the glorious coastline.  With truly wonderful food and delightful accommodation, it is a fabulous place to stay to enjoy a few days of resting and exploring the local Cornish villages and harbors.  The Driftwood Hotel is a great weekend retreat.

The River Test is one of the best chalk stream rivers in the country.  Running through Hampshire and only 70 miles from London, it is very easily accessible and offers some fantastic trout fishing.  The famous Mayfly hatches from early May to late June offering excellent fishing.  A perfect place to stay would be the magnificent Farleigh House, a manor house in Hampshire, which has plenty of room, sleeping 21 guests in 11 rooms and is ideally situated to enjoy a fun day on the River Test.

For those interested in politics or indeed interested in 1,000 years of history and stunning architecture, a tour of Parliament is a wonderful way to experience this unique mix.  Visit Westminster Hall, the Lord’s Chamber, the Royal Gallery, the Prince’s Chamber and the Queen’s Robin Room among others.  Afternoon tea looking over the River Thames is a fabulous way to finish this wonderful tour.  For more information contact andrew@ltrcastles.com.

If you’re interested in speed and adrenalin, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix is one of the worlds greatest sporting events and one that the F1 drivers call ‘insanely fast’.  It is exhilarating and exciting and combined with a weekend of concerts you will be in for a weekend packed full of entertainment.  Find out more about the British Grand Prix.

Unquestionably, one of the best luxury activities our guests can enjoy is dining out at the Aqua Shard in London.  Not only does dinner on the 31st floor of The Shard offer spectacular views across London, but also some of the finest contemporary British cuisine.  A fabulous restaurant to enjoy and reflect upon the day whilst watching the world go past down below.  Dinner at the Aqua Shard is an experience not to be missed.

If you’re in London, it would a shame to miss The Ritz Hotel’s world famous afternoon tea.  Sit in splendor at The Ritz enjoying Earl Grey, Lemon Verbena or The Ritz Chai tea along with a selection of sandwiches including cucumber with cream cheese, dill and chives on granary bread followed by various scones and pastries.  Tea at The Ritz is a fun way to finish off an afternoon of serious shopping.

Stonehenge is an incredible monument and a very popular visitor attraction from the ground but it is even more spectacular when viewed from the air.  If you take a bespoke helicopter flight you can also enjoy many of the other historic sites on the Salisbury Plains such as the Uffington White Horse, the stones at Avebury and the mysterious crop circles.  Email andrew@ltrcastles.com for more information.

Charter a beautifully appointed, fully crewed yacht and sail off into the sunset.  Visit the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands having blown the cobwebs away whilst getting there with your highly trained and qualified crew.  The chef on board can whip up delicious meals using local produce including plenty of seafood.  Email andrew@ltrcastles.com for more information.

The Henley Royal Regatta is one of the sporting highlights of the British summer.  During a 5 day period there are over 200 races including rowers of international and Olympic standard.  Founded in 1839, Henley is full of tradition and is famous as a sporting event as well as a social occasions.  Find out more about the Henley Royal Regatta.

Taking place in June every year, on the Queen’s Official Birthday, this tradition is carried out by her personal troops, the Household Division on Horse Guards Parade.   This historical event dates back to Charles II in the 17th Century when the Colors of a regiment were trooped in front of the soldiers so that every man could recognize his own regiment’s colors.  From when George IV became King, this was carried out every year (with the exception of the two World Wars) to mark the occasion of the Sovereign’s Official Birthday.  A more traditional and patriotic event is difficult to find and Trooping the Colour is well worth watching if you’re visiting London at the time.

Images of champagne, strawberries and glorious English sunshine spring to mind when picturing Wimbledon, and of course World Class tennis.  The Championships have been held every year since 1877 and draw crowds of tennis fans from around the World.  Center Court tickets are in hot demand and the excitement of watching the greatest tennis stars is evident from the cheers in the crowds.