United Kingdom·June 18 - 24 2024

Tea in Cornwall

The Southwest Coast of England

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Overview

Let's embark on an extraordinary trip through the stunning landscapes of Devon and Cornwall. From bespoke shopping in London to lunch on a floating Gastro Shed, you'll indulge and relish unique English experiences. Discover the picturesque cove where "Poldark" was filmed, learn the art of making English Gin, and explore ancient cathedrals, exquisite gardens, and historic Tudor mansions. Savor the delights of traditional English pubs, visit an island and castle only accessible at low tide, and immerse yourself in Dartmoor's folklore. Culminate your journey with a sumptuous tasting menu by a renowned chef. This trip is a celebration of coastal beauty, cultural heritage, and culinary delights, where you'll discover a glimpse into England's captivating past.

Highlights

Eat lunch on a floating Gastro Shed on the river Exe

Eat lunch on a floating Gastro Shed on the river Exe

Discover an island and castle that can only be reached at low tide

Discover an island and castle that can only be reached at low tide

Take a cheese factory tour + cheese tasting  to learn  about English cheeses

Take a cheese factory tour + cheese tasting to learn about English cheeses

Make your own Botanically flavored English Gin

Make your own Botanically flavored English Gin

Explore the artistic center of St. Ives including its famous galleries and museums

Explore the artistic center of St. Ives including its famous galleries and museums

Devour the freshest of seafood as well as hyper-fresh locally grown produce

Devour the freshest of seafood as well as hyper-fresh locally grown produce

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip

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location

Marylebone London

Day 1: Tuesday June 18, 2024

Arrive in London in the early morning. Take a taxi from the airport to our lovely four-star boutique hotel. 

Check into the Mandeville Hotel in Marylebone, London. This is a chic residential area with a village feel, centered around the indie boutiques and smart restaurants of the Marylebone High Street. Check in, rest and relax enjoying lunch on your own.

In the early evening, we will meet for a welcome drink at the hotel bar. After getting to know one another, we’ll cherish an English dinner at the Reform Social & Grill conveniently situated in our hotel -  a Marylebone favorite.

Included

Dinner

Welcome Drink

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Devon

Day 2: Wednesday June 19, 2024

After a full English breakfast, we'll board the train from Paddington Station, London to Exeter in Devon County. Our driver will meet us in his mini coach upon arrival and will stay with us for the entire journey. We’ll drive 20 minutes from the station, then hop onto the Puffin Water Taxi to get to our lunch spot for the day. 

The River Exe café is Devon’s only floating Gastro Shed situated right on the River Exe, upstream of its flow into the English Channel. Mussels are the mainstay here, but perhaps you’d prefer to try the local crab, clams, or scallops washed down with a little English cider.

Save some room in your belly because, after our scenic lunch, we’ll travel from The River Exe to Quicke's Farm for a cheese tasting to learn a little bit about English cheeses. 

After our sampling, we’ll return to beautiful Exeter, an important city dating back to Roman times. Before relaxing at our hotel, we’ll tour the famous Exeter Cathedral. This is one of the great English Cathedrals founded back in 1050. Then, we could pop into an award-winning artisanal chocolate shop if you’d like to pick up some gifts for yourself and others.

We’ll check in and relax at the luxury boutique Southern Hay House hotel located in a beautiful grade II listed Georgian townhouse. It was originally home to Major General William Kirkpatrick from the East India Company. Tonight we will dine at the hotel.

Included

All Meals

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South Devon

Day 3: Thursday June 20, 2024

Today we’ll drive to Galmpton, where we’ll visit the National Trust property of Greenway. Greenway, also known as Greenway House, is an estate on the River Dart in Devon, England which was once the home of the author Agatha Christie. It was left just like it was in Agatha's day and you'll swear she just stepped out. In our opinion, Greenway house and garden is one of the loveliest places in England.

Later, we'll enjoy a quay-side lunch at The Crab Shed in Salcombe. This restaurant's motto is from boat to quay to table.

After lunch we will board our own private cruise boat to learn more about the Salcombe Estuary and its wildlife. While onboard we will toast to our wonderful time together so far with a glass of bubbly. 

Afterward, with our driver at the helm, we’ll travel to The Boringdon Hall Hotel, our home for the next two nights. After unpacking, (if time allows) we’ll sit down to a proper English Devon cream tea at this elegant manor house that once belonged to members of the British Royal family. Read about its history here. Boringdon Hall is now an award-winning 5-star hotel and spa. Take time this afternoon to walk the manicuedl grounds and relax at the spa and indoor pool. Tonight we'll have dinner at Boringdon’s Brasserie.

Included

All Meals

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Tavistock

Day 4: Friday June 21, 2023

This morning we’ll discover the  ancient Pannier Market in Tavistock situated at the heart of the historic town. The Market was granted its Royal Charter in 1105 and has survived without a break for over 900 years. It’s a shoppers' paradise and one of the hidden gems of Tavistock.

While at the market we will gather scrumptious bites to have a relaxing picnic at The Meadows Gardens. 

This afternoon we’ll have the opportunity to visit another National Historic Trust property, the Tudor mansion, Cotehele which dates back to 1353. It's just down the road yet over the border in Cornwall. This property is known for its extensive gardens and world-class tapestry collection.

Tonight, we’ll venture back to our hotel for an elegant meal you will surely remember. Àclèaf’s chef Scott Paton will whip up a four-course tasting menu using the finest local ingredients with wines to match.

Included

All Meals

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Cornwall

Day 5: Saturday June 22, 2024

After a hearty breakfast we will check out of our hotel and drive for an hour and a half to St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall. There is much to explore in this idyllic seaside town, the jewel of the Cornish coast and a haven for artists dating back to the era of portrait and landscape painter, J M W Turner.

We will start our adventure at gin school. The English and gin have had a close relationship for many hundreds of years dating back to 1689 when Dutchman William III was made King of England and introduced the Dutch-made alcohol Genever to the English. Tarquin's Gin is a distillery creating uniquely crafted gin using botanicals sourced from around the world. At gin school we will get a chance to create our own gin recipes choosing from an extensive range of citrus, herbal, floral and spice botanicals.

After class we will dine at the seaside Portminster Kitchen where we can relish Cornish cuisine.  

Then we will begin with an art-filled afternoon, with a visit to the Tate Gallery of St. Ives, a hub for the important post-war modern artists of Cornwall. We’ll follow this with a visit to the sculptor Barbara Hepworth’s home and garden. Ms. Hepworth was an artist of extraordinary stature, working for over 50 years on the cutting edge of abstract sculpture and one of the first well-known female sculptures.

Check in and settle for the next two nights at the utterly charming Boskerris Hotel St Ives.

Tonight’s meal is at the cozy gastro pub, the Halsetown Inn. Today is a couple days past the summer solstice, so it should be light until 9:30 pm.

Included

All Meals

Gin School

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Cornwall

Day 6: Sunday June 23, 2024

The tides will determine where we head first today. An early rise is important so we can pack in all the beauty around us. On order is the medieval castle of St Michael’s Mount, a national trust property. It is set on an island linked to the mainland by a causeway path and is only accessible at low tide. St. Michael’s oozes history from the Norman Conquest through to the War of the Roses in the 15th century. It is said that four miracles happened here between 1262 and 1263, once you've heard the tales you can judge. The St Aubyn family has made this rock their family home all the way back to the 17th century. Here we will enjoy a simple refreshing lunch at St. Michael's Mount Island Cafe

Later we will explore exceptional English Gardens near Falmouth. Trebah Gardens are subtropical Cornish gardens. They lie directly on the southern coast and they're steeped in heritage and creativity. No wonder these gardens are listed as one of the great gardens of Cornwall. 

On our way back to St. Ives we’ll stop to drool over the turquoise waters of Kynance Cove. Once used in the filming of Poldark, this is considered the most beautiful bay in England.

Tonight’s meal will be at the Seafood Café back in St. Ives where you can choose your own fish at the fish counter before the chef creates a delicious meal of it for you.

Included

All Meals

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Departure Day

Day 7: Monday June 24, 2024

After breakfast, we’ll check out and head to Newquay to catch the 11:18 am train back to London’s Paddington station enjoying a simple lunch aboard. We’ll arrive back in London by approximately 4:30 pm where we will say our sad goodbyes. You can hop on a night flight back home or stay a while longer in London town.

Included

Breakfast

You'll Be Staying Here

The Mandeville Hotel

The Mandeville Hotel

Quirky yet elegant, progressive whilst old school, blissfully quiet yet centrally located, The Mandeville Hotel provides the ultimate London experience.

Southernhay House

Southernhay House

The Southernhay House is a luxury boutique property in central Exeter, combining East India Company heritage with modern city savvy. 

Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa

Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa

Located on the outskirts of Dartmoor, Boringdon Hall sits as a luxury 5-star manor house hotel with an award-winning spa and 4 AA Rosette and Michelin Star 

Boskerris Hotel

Boskerris Hotel

Located in Carbis Bay, with sweeping views across the bay from St Ives to Godrevy Lighthouse, Boskerris Hotel is a relaxing oasis.

Hosts

Kathy Machnik

Kathy Machnik

While Montréal is where Kathy calls home, she views the world as her oyster. Kathy is a former commercial and private flight attendant who revels in the adventure of travel and the opportunity to immerse herself in diverse cultures.  Whether with her husband and three daughters, with a group of girlfriends or by herself, she delights in discovering hidden gems off the beaten path. Whenever possible, her feisty rescue dog Frankie tags along!  A lover of all things food and wine, Kathy is also an avid tennis player, yogi, Ayurvedic enthusiast and gardener who is passionate about wellness and art.  She loves to entertain, put together a beautiful meal and gather with family and friends to celebrate all the good things life has to offer.


Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room!

FROM$7,775.00/pp

Shared Room

Shared Room

Share a room with a friend or family member

FROM$7,175.00/pp

Indulge in a Scenic Journey of Taste and Tradition

Cornish Delights

Discover the captivating allure of Cornwall in South England. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of Exeter, Devon, South Devon, Tavistock, and Cornwall. From the ancient charm of Exeter's streets to the rugged beauty of Dartmoor National Park, and the dramatic cliffs of Cornwall, this journey promises unforgettable tea experiences and warm hospitality. Indulge in Cornwall's rich tea traditions and savor the essence of South England's enchanting locations.

Cornish Delights

What's Included

What's Included

Everything specified in the itinerary

All meals (except where indicated), including beer & wine with dinner

Accommodations at unique, 4-star or better hotels

All transportation during the trip (except where indicated)

Expert guides and trip leaders

A small group experience

A gin-making experience

All tastings and teas mentioned

Roundtrip airfare to England

Additional wine, beer, and/or spirits beyond what’s offered at meals

All personal souvenirs

Any spa treatments desired

Travel insurance  (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age)

FAQs

The trip officially starts the afternoon of June 18th, but if you’re traveling across an ocean to get to England consider arriving a day or two early, so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone. If you do decide to arrive early, just let us know and we’ll help you with arrangements if you need it. 

You are going to want to fly into any of the London airports. 
London is well-connected with various international airports that offer a wide range of flight options. The major airports in London include Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), London City Airport (LCY), Stansted Airport (STN), and Luton Airport (LTN).

Airport transfers are not included. It is very easy to grab a taxi from the airport to your destination in London. All transportation in England and South England is included.

The weather is nice in June. High temperatures will be around 68F and low's will be around 55F.

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

Inquire about this trip

Tea in Cornwall

United Kingdom· June 18 - 24 2024· 6 nights

FROM$7775/pp