The Churchill Chronicles

Explore the convictions of a man that led this land to freedom, from the war rooms of London to his birth and resting places in Oxfordshire. We will take you on a thought provoking tour and provide you with a glimpse of this amazing man.

Day 1

The tour will start in London with a private viewing of Sir Winston Churchill’s Museum and Cabinet Rooms housed beneath London's streets, where Winston Churchill and his War Cabinet led the country during the Second World War.

From the Cabinet Rooms we will travel on to Parliament Square to visit the impressive statue of Sir Winston and from there on to HMS Belfast, a significant part of Winston’s fleet. HMS Belfast served throughout the Second World War, playing a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. In service with the Royal Navy until 1965, she was saved for the nation in 1971 as a unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage. During the tour we will also take you exclusively to The Cotswold Experience to meet descendents of Lord Ismay. Lord Ismay was made Deputy Secretary to the British War Cabinet, becoming the Chief of Staff to Winston Churchill. More on that later....

The evening will be at your leisure but we would be happy to recommend theaters, restaurants and the like.

Day 2

We will collect you from your hotel and drive to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, birth place of Winston. Sir John Vanbrugh's stunning masterpiece was built for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough. The house and land came to Churchill as the gift from a grateful nation for his victories over the French at Blenheim in 1704.

A must-see is Churchill's birth room. Winston Churchill, one time heir to the dukedom, was born prematurely on November 30, 1874, while his mother was attending a party at the palace. His birth room has personal relics including clothing and locks of his curly hair. "At Blenheim," Churchill once said, "I took two very important decisions: to be born and to marry." (He proposed to his wife in the Temple of Diana on the grounds.) "I am happily content with the decisions I took on both those occasions."
Blenheim palace is steeped in an abundance of history and not that just of the Churchill family, a greater treasure will be hard to find.

From Blenheim we will move on to Bladon the resting place of Sir Winston Churchill, a small village on the edge of the estate. Sir Winston Churchill July 1895 Winston wrote to his mother: 'I went this morning to Bladon to look at Papa's grave . . . . I was so struck by the sense of quietness and peace, as well as by the old-world air of the place that my sadness was not unmixed with solace . . . ' He often visited his parents' graves when he stayed at Blenheim, and expressed the wish to be buried there himself.

He died on 24th January 1965, exactly seventy years to the day after his father, and the funeral service took place at St Paul's Cathedral. It was a very moving occasion, marked with all the splendid panoply of Church and State; it was attended by the Queen together with rulers from all over the world and shared by the whole nation. In contrast, the burial at Bladon was private as Lady Churchill wished, with only close friends and family being present.

Having taken some time for reflection on the deeds of this honourable man we will take you exclusively to met some of Lord Ismays relatives and join them for dinner at Wormington Grange, have your fill and even a cigar as you search further into the history that is, Sir Winston Churchill. Later in the evening we will return you to London or if you prefer stay at the Grange until morning.

This is a private tour for two people and will include all travel, admissions and dinner at Wormington Grange.

Pricing

$1989 for two people, including taxes