Thursday 27 May

NZ & Australia to Dublin, Ireland Emirates

Flights example:

Depart Auckland 9.15pm and arrive 1.20pm the next day in Dublin.

On arrival at Dublin Airport on Friday 28 May the group will be met and transferred to our local Hotel for the next 4 nights. We’ll be able to check-in on arrival and the afternoon and evening are free to explore Dublin.

Friday 28 May – Tuesday 1 June

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Hotel

In Friday 28 May Out Tuesday 1 June 4 nights in Dublin. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included daily.

Saturday 29 May

Day trip to The Curragh

This weekend is the start of the Classics in Ireland with the 2,000 Guineas on the Saturday and the 1,000 Guineas and Tattersall Gold Cup on the Sunday.

We’ll have the morning free to explore Dublin but will have a transfer to The Curragh at 11.30am for 2,000 Guineas day. We’ll have General Admission tickets (there is only 1 enclosure) with a racecard included but the day is our own to explore the course at our leisure and “sort” our own food and beverage. The coach will take us back to Dublin 20 minutes after the last race.

The Curragh is the main racecourse serving Dublin and Ireland and is on the outskirts of the town of Kildare in County Kildare and just 45 minutes west of Dublin. Home to nearly every major flat race in Ireland the winners of some of these major races over the last 50 years provides a list that is nothing short of mind-boggling. Nijinsky, The Minstrel, Storm Bird, Shergar, Sadlers Wells, Rodrigo de Triano, Vintage Crop, Montjeu, Galileo, High Chapparal, Rock of Gibraltar, Dylan Thomas, El Gran Senor, Camelot, Dubawi, New Approach, Yeats, Teofilo, Hurrican Run, Salssabil, Ouija Board and Enable are some of the champions of the turf who have all won at this magnificent venue.

Sunday 30 May

2nd day of The Curragh’s classic meeting

We’re going to replicate Saturday exactly with an 11.30am departure to The Curragh, return transfers and General Admission with racecard. Sunday is 1,000 Guineas day with the Tattersalls Gold Cup the other Group 1 race on the programme. For those who aren’t overly fussed about consecutive days at The Curragh there is plenty of opportunity to view myriad attractions such as the Guinness Brewery, the Jameson Distillery, Trinity College, the Old Irish Parliament, Dublin Castle, City Hall and Temple Bar and its live music. In effect we do have Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday and Sunday mornings and evenings to work through our own “must see” list of Dublin.

Monday 31 May

Day tour to Cashel and Coolmore Stud

A relatively early start as we’re departing our hotel at 8.30am for a full day tour which includes a magnificent included lunch in Cashel and a visit to the stunning Coolmore Stud. Coolmore Stud in Ireland is home to an astonishing 28 stallions including Galileo, Fastnet Rock, Caravaggio, Camelot, Holy Roman Emperor, Mastercraftsman, Pride of Dubai, Rock of Gibraltar and Zoffany. Back to the Hotel around 6pm.

Tuesday 1 June

Dublin to London

We have a 9am transfer to Dublin Airport for our midday flight to London. Departs Dublin: 11.55am Arrives London: 1.30pm On arrival into London’s Heathrow Airport the group are met and transferred straight to our inner-city London Hotel located right in the middle of the West End where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Tuesday 1 June – Sunday 6 June

London

London Hotel In Tuesday 1 June OUT Sunday 6 June 5 nights London. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.

Wednesday 2 June

London

There is no group tour of London as it’s too cumbersome moving the group around. The day is free to explore and with our Hotel smack bang in the middle of the West End it’s incredibly easy to tick off your own “bucket list” of London. Whether you’re into art (National Gallery, the Tate, the Tate Modern), the theatre (25 theatres within 2 km), Chinatown (800m), the London Eye (across the Thames), the Tower and Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey…they’re all within walking distance. And if you’re into shopping Regent St and Oxford St are also walkable or an easy taxi ride away.

Thursday 3 June

London

Another free day to explore London and the surrounds although this evening we have a trip to the theatre with a choice of 2 fabulous London musicals included in the tour.

Friday 4 June

Epsom Oaks Day

We depart late morning for Epsom Downs and a visit to one of the most famous racecourses in the world where we have a hospitality package included. Although not the oldest racecourse (Chester in 1539 holds that title) it’s been the home of the Oaks and Derby for over 240 years. We’ll head back to our hotel 20 minutes after the last race and the evening is free to make merry in London town.

Saturday 5 June

Epsom Derby Day

Another late morning departure for Epsom where we have return transfers and general admission with racecard for the Derby. Won by some of the greatest champions of the turf through the years Lester Piggott with 9 wins is the jockey who has won the most Derbies at Epsom.

 

 

Sunday 6 June

London to Oxford

A leisurely start to the day but we’re in the coach at 9.30am and heading to the stunning Blenheim Palace for an escorted tour and included lunch before heading into Oxford and our stunning hotel (the Macdonald Randolph from “Inspector Morse” and “Lewis” fame) where we should arrive around 3pm after a brief orientation tour of Oxford and the surrounds.

Sunday 6 June – Wednesday 9 June

Oxford

Oxford Hotel In Sunday 6 June Out Wednesday 9 June 3 nights in Oxford. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, Full breakfast included. Monday 7 June – Oxford We have a guided walking tour starting from the Hotel at 9.30am and taking in the more famous sites of this historic University city. We’ll be finished by lunchtime and the rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure.

Tuesday 8 June

Oxford

A completely free day to continue your exploration of this stunning city.

Wednesday 9 June

Oxford – York

We’re off early at 8.30am and head cross-country and north to York but first we have an included lunch and a wander around the spectacular seaside town of Scarborough. We’re back into York and our inner-city hotel by late afternoon where the evening is free.

Wednesday 9 June – Saturday 12 June

York

York Hotel In Wednesday 9 June Out Saturday 12 June 3 nights in York. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.

Thursday 10 June

York

The day is free to explore this historic and beautiful walled city. Maps and suggestions will be provided to assist in your adventures.

Friday 11 June

York

We have a cracking day trip around the Yorkshire Dales and Ridings with an included lunch in the historic spa town of Harrogate before getting back into York by 5pm.

Saturday 12 June

York – Cambridge

We depart York at 9am and head straight to the UK’s other stunning University city in Cambridge where we’ll be at our inner-city Cambridge Hotel by 12 noon and if we can’t check in we’ll certainly be able to leave our bags at reception. Our choices involve having a wander around or heading out to the races at Newmarket where there is a full afternoon of high-quality horseracing……and Epic Journeys will certainly be available to coordinate transport and tickets.

Saturday 12 June

Cambridge

Cambridge Hotel

In Saturday 12 June Out Monday 14 June 2 nights in Cambridge. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.

Saturday 13 June

Newmarket day

Up early for Breakfast because we’re picked up at 8am sharp in the Hotel foyer for a cracking visit to the home of the thoroughbred – Newmarket. Newmarket is generally considered the birthplace and global centre of thoroughbred racing. It is also the largest racehorse training centre in the UK and the largest racehorse breeding centre in the country. Our day includes watching horses work on Warren Hill, a visit to a local stable, lunch at a local hostelry and a visit to the National Stud.

Monday 14 June

Cambridge to Windsor

We have a mid-morning departure and we’ll have a “tiki tour” around the Buckinghamshire area with an included lunch at a local pub before arriving mid-afternoon at our Windsor hotel. Plenty of time to check in and get ready for a 5.30pm boat trip up the Thames for a twilight meeting at the Windsor races – a spectacular way to start Royal Ascot week.

Monday 14 June – Monday 21 June

Windsor Windsor Hotel

In Monday 14 June Out Monday 21 June 7 nights Windsor. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.

Tuesday 15 June

Royal Ascot

A wonderful opening to Royal Ascot week with the feature race being the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile and we have return transfers, admission and a hospitality package.

Wednesday 16 June

Windsor

It’s Day 2 of Royal Ascot and for those who wish to go we’ll certainly assist in arranging transport and tickets should you wish to go but it’s a long week and we’re only including 3 days of this wonderful event in the tour itself. We’ve had a busy time of it over the last few days so the day is yours to explore and with Windsor Castle across the road – what better way to start the day!!

Thursday 17 June

Royal Ascot

We’re back at Royal Ascot today for Ladies Day, with the highlight being the Group 1 Gold Cup. Our group has general Queen Anne Enclosure tickets giving us the freedom to explore the track, check out the mounting yard, visit the gift shop and perhaps see the Queen up close.

Friday 18 June

Day trip to Bath

It is of course Day 4 of this wonderful Royal Ascot carnival but the group are departing at 9am sharp for a journey down the M4 to Bradford-on-Avon and Bath. It’ll be a full day tour which won’t get back into Windsor until 6pm but an opportunity to have a great view of the “west country” as well as wandering around the beautiful city of Bath. Tickets to the Roman Baths will be included along with maps of the city showing all the major attractions. As per Wednesday, for those who still wish to go to Royal Ascot we’ll assist in arranging transportation and tickets.

Saturday 19 June

Final day of Royal Ascot

It’s the final day of the carnival, highlighted by the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Sprint and we again have return transfers, admission and a magnificent hospitality package.

Sunday 20 June

Windsor

Our epic journey is nearly over and after the excesses of the last 24 days we have a day to take stock, or head into London, or down to Brighton, or ……… or…This evening though we have our Gala Farewell dinner at a local Windsor restaurant which will include our Awards night.

Monday 21 June

London – NZ & Australia

Another completely free day and we’ll need to check out of the tour hotel by 11am although luggage can certainly be left at reception as we have one last day to head back into London or wander around Windsor and Eton. Our coach will depart the Hotel at 6.30pm for Heathrow for our late evening flight home. Emirates Airlines flights example Departs London: 10.15pm Arrives Auckland: 9.50am (Wednesday 23 June)