WHRO Downtown Abbey - Masterpiece Trip Itinerary

 

Bert & I dressed up for a
 Downton Abbey-inspired
garden party at Hermitage Museum,
Norfolk, Virginia (USA)

What a joy it has been following the lifestyles of the Edwardian-era upper class and their servants in the PBS TV series Downton Abbey. From the sinking of the Titanic, through foxhunts and fairs, birth and death, taxes and tea parties, not to mention the unpleasantness of being a woman in this time period, the land of my forefathers is quite entertaining, to say the least.

 

We're experiencing the real Downton Abbey this Fall 2014! My hubby Bert Schmidt, President/CEO of WHRO, and I lead a group of anglophiles on a tour of merry old England, the Masterpiece Theater way. We'll visit Buckingham Palace, enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour and private dining at the real Downtown Abby - Highclere Castle, and stroll through the villages and taverns we’ve seen in the TV show, and much, much more.

 

Here's our itinerary:

 

Saturday, September 20
Bert and I arrive a day ahead of the rest of our group. Our flight brings us into Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning...and if all goes well with our travels, we plan to spend the evening with an "Eye" outing, that is, on the giant London Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames!

 

 

Sunday, September 21
Day One: WHRO group arrives, meeting at our hotel, The Rubens at the Palace, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PS London, United Kingdom. (read more)

 

Monday, September 22

Day Two: Downton Touring #1 in the village of Bampton, Devon. (read more)

 

Tuesday, September 23
Day Three: London Touring starting with the Churchill War Rooms, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, SW1A 2AQ London, United Kingdom. (read more)

 

Wednesday, September 24

Day Four: Downton Touring #2 at Highclere Castle, Highclere Park, RG20 9RN Newbury, Berkshire. (read more)

 

Thursday, September 25 - Sunday, September 28
The WHRO portion of the trip is at an end, while Bert and I continue on to Paris through the Chunnel (English Channel Tunnel) via the Eurostar rail line and plan to explore Paris on our own, from our headquarters at Radisson Blu Champs-elysees.