Seven Days. One Remarkable England.
From our country manor in the Cotswolds to the historic streets of Arundel and Bath, each day has been designed around something we value deeply: people, place and the stories that connect them.
There will be history, food, wine, castles and beautiful countryside. But there will also be time to wander, laugh, linger and discover something we never could have scheduled.
Here’s where the story takes us.
DAY ONE | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21
Welcome Home to the Cotswolds
Our journey begins in the village of Lower Slaughter, where Slaughters Manor House becomes our home for the next four nights.
We’ll arrive to a proper English afternoon tea — our first chance to settle in, meet one another and ease into the rhythm of the Cotswolds.
And then, there is nowhere we need to rush off to.
Unpack. Wander through the village. Have a drink. Explore the gardens. Then we’ll gather around the table for our first dinner together.
Here’s where the story takes us.
Tonight, we simply arrive.
DAY TWO | THURSDAY, APRIL 22
A Castle, a Queen & the Cotswolds
Today we step into another England — one shaped by kings, queens and stories that have survived for centuries.
At Sudeley Castle, we'll explore the beautiful house and gardens and discover its extraordinary connection to Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII, who lived here and is buried on the estate.
But the day isn't only about looking backward. We'll leave room for the Cotswolds themselves — the villages, countryside and unhurried moments that make this part of England so captivating.
As afternoon gives way to evening, we'll make our way into the village for dinner — settling in around the table for good food, conversation and a taste of Cotswolds life after the day's visitors have begun to disappear.
History brought us here. The Cotswolds make us want to stay..
DAY THREE | FRIDAY, APRIL 23
Secrets of the Slaughters
This morning, the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter become our playground.
In small teams, we'll set off with a handful of clues, a little local history and one important instruction: talk to people. There will be stories to uncover, photographs to capture and perhaps even someone you'll need to find along the way.
This isn't a race. It's an excuse to wander, laugh and discover the Cotswolds through the people who live here.
We'll reunite over lunch before returning to the Manor with time to relax and dress for a very different kind of evening.
Tonight: Blenheim Palace.
We'll travel to one of England's great country houses for an extraordinary evening at Blenheim — an elegant celebration of history, conversation and hospitality in a setting few will ever experience this way.
From village secrets to palace doors — this is a day you'll remember.
DAY FOUR | SATURDAY, APRIL 24
Tradition, Taste & a Little Shakespeare
Today is about traditions that have endured — and the people who keep them alive.
We'll spend part of our day in the Gloucestershire countryside discovering the craft of traditional English cheesemaking, meeting the people behind it and, naturally, tasting along the way.
Then we'll return home to the Manor, where something rather unexpected awaits.
Tonight, Shakespeare doesn't stay on the stage. He comes to us.
With drinks in hand, we'll gather for an intimate, playful performance created especially for our small group — actors moving among us, bringing Shakespeare's words, wit and characters wonderfully close.
No distant stage. No crowded theatre. Just Shakespeare, laughter and the wonderful possibility that you may suddenly find yourself part of the story.
All the world's a stage. Tonight, ours happens to be a Manor in the Cotswolds.
DAY FIVE | SUNDAY, APRIL 25
Castle Walls, English Bubbles & a Night in Arundel
After breakfast, we say goodbye to our Cotswolds home and travel south to Arundel, a beautiful market town watched over by its magnificent castle.
We'll step inside nearly a thousand years of English history at Arundel Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes of Norfolk, before turning our attention to something considerably more effervescent.
At Digby Fine English, we'll gather for a private tasting of English sparkling wines and a specially arranged lunch, hosted by Trevor Clough, co-owner of Digby Fine English. Trevor will reach into the cellar to share some of Digby’s older vintages with us, giving us a rare opportunity to taste how these remarkable English wines evolve with age — and to hear the story from one of the people who helped create them.
Then we'll check into our hotel in the heart of town and leave the formal itinerary behind.
Tonight is about finding a great local spot, sharing food around the table, ordering a pint or a glass of wine and, with a little luck, finding some live music.
One castle. A few bubbles. And a Sunday night in an English town.
DAY SIX | MONDAY, APRIL 26
Bath: Beautiful, Brilliant & Ours to Explore
After a leisurely morning, we’ll leave Arundel and make our way to Bath, where we’ll settle into our hotel before meeting our private culinary guides for an afternoon devoted to discovering this remarkable city through its food, history and people.
Beginning at 1:00, we’ll wander Bath’s honey-colored streets, tasting our way through favorite independent cafés, artisan bakeries and specialty food shops while discovering the stories behind a city whose appreciation for good food and gracious living stretches back centuries.
This isn’t a traditional sightseeing tour. It’s Bath the way we love to discover a place — one delicious stop, one story and one local character at a time.
And when our culinary adventure ends, the evening is entirely yours.
Perhaps surrender to Bath’s famous thermal waters. Find a table somewhere wonderful. Have a pint in a centuries-old pub. Wander without a destination. Or simply enjoy the luxury of having absolutely nowhere you need to be.
After six days together, Bath gives us permission to disappear for a little while.
DAY SEVEN | TUESDAY, APRIL 27
One Last Morning Together
Our final morning comes a little earlier than the others as we say goodbye to Bath and begin our journey to London Heathrow.
We’ll take a little taste of Bath along with us — perhaps coffee or tea and a breakfast bag filled with a few goodies inspired by the bakeries and food shops we discovered the day before.
By now, the people who arrived in England together a week ago have shared castles and country lanes, glasses of English bubbles, a little Shakespeare, wonderful meals, unexpected conversations — and probably more than a few laughs.
So somewhere between Bath and London, there will be time for one last cup of coffee, one last story and one last laugh together.
And then it’s time to say goodbye — at least until the next adventure.
Because the best journeys don’t really end when we leave. They come home with us.
What’s Included
• Six nights of accommodations in the Cotswolds, Arundel and Bath
• Daily breakfast and selected lunches and dinners
• Private visit to Sudeley Castle & Gardens
• Secrets of the Slaughters, our private village discovery experience
• An extraordinary evening at Blenheim Palace
• Private Gloucestershire cheesemaking experience
• Intimate after-dinner Shakespeare performance
• Visit to Arundel Castle
• Private English sparkling wine tasting with Digby Fine English
• Privately guided culinary walk and progressive lunch in Bath
• All scheduled ground transportation throughout England
• Private round-trip transportation to and from London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
A Few Things To Know
International airfare to and from England is not included. Guests are responsible for arranging their own flights to and from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Personal purchases, optional activities during leisure time, spa treatments in Bath, and travel insurance are also not included.
Travel Insurance — Travel insurance is strongly recommended and is the responsibility of each guest. A Culinary Society does not endorse or recommend a specific insurance provider. Guests are encouraged to compare coverage and select a policy appropriate for their individual needs.
Once you arrive at London Heathrow, we’ll take care of the rest.
Reserve Your Place!
A $3,000 per person deposit reserves your place.
England: A Seat at the Table is intentionally limited to just 12-14 Guests, allowing us to create the kind of experiences, conversations and access that simply aren’t possible with a larger group.
Journey Investment: $9650 per person, based on double occupancy
Your deposit secures your seat at the table. Payments details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.
All reservations are subject to A Culinary Society’s Terms & Conditions and Cancellation Policy.
