New

Cambridge to Oxford: WWII & Colleges - Private Group Adventure

Activity

Culture

Overview

Explore the highlights of two illustrious English cities, delving deep into their Second World War history

Discover the highlights of Cambridge and Oxford, two of the most prestigious cities in England. Known globally for their world-leading universities, they are also surrounded by Second World War history, which we explore in depth on this culture-rich adventure. Recount the heroics of the Bloody Hundredth US airman, explore the once-secret Bletchley Park (home of the Codebreakers), and visit Sir Winston Churchill’s magnificent Blenheim Palace. There’s also time to tour university colleges and dig further into the history and heritage of these illustrious cities.

This tour is specially designed as a private departure and can be operated on a date of your choice. Please contact our sales team for prices and more information, or visit our Private Group Adventures page.

Key Information

Trip Code: AEC
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: United Kingdom
Carbon Footprint: 18.4kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 6 Superior nights (hotels)
All breakfasts and two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport (private air-conditioned minibus or van) and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas.

Highlights

Discover two of the most renowned cities in England, with a focus on WWII history
Uncover the rich heritage of Cambridge and Oxford on guided walking tours
Relive the heroics of the Bloody Hundredth US airmen at the ‘Fields of Little America’
Explore the secret world of Bletchley Park, home of the Codebreakers
Tour the Rothschild family’s ornate Waddesdon Manor and its manicured gardens
Marvel at Sir Winston Churchill’s Blenheim estate, home to one of the UK’s greatest palaces

Itinerary

First Destination: Cambridge
Next Destination: Oxford

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Cambridge
Next Destination: Oxford

The trip starts in historic Cambridge, home to one of the most prestigious universities in the world. There is a welcome meeting at 4pm in the hotel reception; if you arrive earlier, consider a light walk around the city, perhaps visiting the Cambridge University Botanic Garden or taking a punt boat on the river, before our more extensive tour tomorrow. There is a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening, a great chance to get to know each other before our adventures together.

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Cambridge to Oxford: WWII & Colleges – Private Group Adventure

The day starts at 9am with a transfer into the heart of Cambridge for a guided walk around the city, visiting some of the famous colleges along the way. Around midday, we head to the Imperial War Museum Duxford, where we can walk in the footsteps of the men and women who served here during the Battle of Britain and see battle-worn aircraft. We then transfer back to our hotel in the afternoon.

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we learn all about the 100^th Bomb Group. Nicknamed the Bloody Hundredth, these 350 airmen became one of the most famous US Air Force units in the Second World War and the inspiration behind the Apple TV series Masters of the Air. Visiting their former airfield (a one-hour transfer away), we learn all about their heroics with a private guided tour. Our exploration includes a visit to the original control tower and a recreation of the teleprinter room, plus a chance to see documents, photographs, uniforms and service equipment. After, we return to Cambridge for the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation:Hilton Cambridge City Centre (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer (approximately one hour) to Bletchley Park this morning, the former top-secret wartime headquarters of the Codebreakers, who cracked the Enigma code. View interactive displays, immersive films and explore recreated WWII rooms, all of which are designed to take you on a journey through history.

Then transfer (45 minutes) to Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family in the 19th century. Take a guided tour and marvel at the French Renaissance architecture and immaculately manicured gardens. After, we transfer (approximately 40 minutes) to Oxford.

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy a full day in Oxford, where we take a two-hour guided walking tour, visiting world-renowned university colleges and filming locations for Masters of the Air. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Consider a walk along the Thames, an exploration of the open-to-public colleges (such as Magdalen or Christ Church – extra cost), or visit the Grand Café, which stands on the site of the first coffee house in England.

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we visit Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and considered by many to be England’s greatest palace. Here, we visit various state rooms, plus an exhibition on Churchill’s life. You can also explore the immaculate Capability Brown-designed gardens, plus there’s the option for an afternoon tea lunch in The Orangery.

In the afternoon, we have a gentle walk around nearby Charlbury, a quintessential Cotswolds market village with beautiful honey-stone buildings. We then return to Oxford for a farewell dinner at the hotel, a chance to relive some of our top moments from the trip.

Accommodation:Voco Oxford Spires (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Our tour ends after breakfast and there are direct trains from Oxford station to London Paddington. However, why not extend your stay and spend more time in this fascinating part of the world? Speak to your sales representative to book.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Four-star hotels in Cambridge and Oxford

On this culture-packed adventure, we split our time between the two great university cities of England, Cambridge and Oxford, staying in contemporary four-star hotels.

Cambridge: Hilton Cambridge City Centre (nights 1-3)

Cambridge to Oxford: WWII & Colleges – Private Group Adventure

Within walking distance of the Grand Arcade shops, university colleges and the River Cam, this Hilton branch is well-located for our adventures. We stay in contemporary rooms with complimentary Crabtree & Evelyn bath amenities, while the hotel also has the Piano Bar for speciality coffees, cocktails and beer (plus a performance on four nights of the week from the resident pianist). There’s also the Bull & Bass restaurant, which serves seasonal specials.

Oxford: voco Oxford Spires (nights 4-6)

Cambridge to Oxford: WWII & Colleges – Private Group Adventure

Also well-located, Oxford Spires is an easy stroll from many Oxford colleges and one-minute from the Thames. Rooms are contemporary and come with free access to the leisure club and spa. The in-house restaurant, Deacons, is run by executive chef Claudio Costea, one-time contestant on MasterChef: The Professionals, and serves a fine-dining menu and drinks at the bar.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 1 (Easy). All walking is gentle and at a leisurely pace. For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Key information

Start hotel: Hilton Cambridge City Centre, 20 Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DT
Phone: +44 1223 464491
Recommended arrival time: Meet at the start hotel at 4pm for the main welcome briefing

Getting to the start point

There are direct trains from London to Cambridge from several stations but the quickest (50 minutes) is from London King’s Cross and they run every hour. If coming from London Heathrow, take the Elizabeth underground line and change at Farringdon to reach King’s Cross station.

Return journey

We finish in Oxford, where there are direct trains to London Paddington. For more information, please speak to your sales representative.

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US, Canada, and the EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom, but do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (or ETA), which you can apply for at www.gov.uk/eta/apply.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

All breakfasts and two dinners are included.

Temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the high 20Cs (around 80F-85F) or above in September. Like most of the UK in recent years there have been some hotter days in the middle of summer. Rain can come at any time of year.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.