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.
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
Key Information
Accommodation: 6 Superior nights (hotels)
Guided visits and sightseeing on foot
Private Group size 6 to 16
Travel by private air-conditioned minibus or van
Option to travel by train to your adventure
What's Included
All breakfasts and two dinners
All accommodation
Tour leader throughout
All transport and listed activities
What's Not Included
Flights and rail journeys
Visas
Insurance
Single supplement
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice hereand find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People: How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
Places: How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100sqm (1,075sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.
Planet: How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.
Itinerary
Cambridge
Oxford
Day
1
Start Cambridge
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
Day
2
Guided walking tour of Cambridge; visit to the Imperial War Museum Duxford
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
Day
3
Visit the Fields of Little America to learn about the heroics of the Bloody Hundredth US airmen
Today we learn all about the 100th 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
Day
4
Visit Bletchley Park and Waddesdon Manor
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
Day
5
Guided walking tour of Oxford
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
Day
6
Guided tour of Blenheim Palace; gentle walk around the Cotswolds town of Charlbury
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
Day
7
Depart Oxford
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
Essential Info
Is this trip for you?
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.
Joining Instructions
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.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Cambridge Location end: Oxford
Vaccinations and Health
United Kingdom
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Passport
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Visa
United Kingdom
Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. 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.
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.
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)
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)
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.
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