With Idomeneo, Carmen & La Cenerentola at Glyndebourne; early arrival Aida at Covent Garden; Die Walküre at Grange Park; Der fliegende Holländer at Garsington; Grand Hotel Brighton; Firmdale Covent Garden Hotel London; Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire (Garsington). Tours of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Churchill Cabinet War Rooms and more.
Our annual trek to the UK is one of our most popular tours—almost always sold out, and always eliciting superlative feedback. It is one of our most luxurious experiences--with black tie "garden operas," posh dining and glorious manor home hotels--yet somehow it is also a relaxed, fun and unpretentious experience. This truly special tour is always a highlight of our year.
Tickets for the Glyndebourne Festival are notoriously difficult to get, and it is easy to understand why: the productions, singing and playing are truly world-class, the venue—a lovely dedicated opera house on the Christie Estate in the East Sussex countryside—is unique and welcoming, and the overall experience is one of the finest to be had at any festival, anywhere. It is posh without being pretentious, and the sublime music, superb cuisine (especially the formal picnic with butler service!) and even the friendly and extremely helpful Festival volunteers make for an unforgettable opera experience. We hear three performances at the Festival in 2027: new productions of Mozart's Idomeneo and Rossini's La Cenerentola, and a revival of the 2024 production of Bizet's Carmen. Our accommodation will be the “Old World” Grand Hotel Brighton, where we enjoy spacious Ocean View rooms. Touring will include Hever Castle and Monk's House.
London is one of our favourite cities, with so much history and majesty in every direction. Although performances here are TBA, we will certainly include one night at the Royal Ballet & Opera, one West End or national Theatre play, and one concert. Touring will include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and a day in Greenwich. Our hotel is the Firmdale Covent Garden at Seven Dials, a true gem, just a short walk from ROH in Covent Garden.
The Garsington Festival is held each summer on the grounds of Wormsley Estate, a 2500-acre park which includes an 18th century country house once owned by Sir Paul Getty. Getty purchased the property in 1986 and spent several years restoring the house and estate back to its former glory. Our performances and meals here are always a highlight of the tour, and this year we see two operas: Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer and Mozart's late masterwork La clemenza di Tito. We will also attend a performance of Wagner's Die Walküre at the charming and refined Grange Park Opera. Touring will include Blenheim Palace and an optional morning in Oxford. Our hotel is the stunning Four Seasons Hampshire.
ITINERARY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9
Departures from your country of residence for overnight flights to London. Early arrivals in London for those wishing to attend an optional performance of Aida at Covent Garden. Contact the office for details.
THURSDAY, JUNE 10
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to the Grand Hotel Brighton.
19.00 Gather in the lobby for introductions and a Welcome Dinner in the hotel’s Cyan Restaurant.
FRIDAY, JUNE 11
10.30 After breakfast, included daily, gather in lobby and walk to the Royal Pavilion for a guided tour.
15.45 Depart for Glyndebourne for Mozart's Idomeneo. 17.00 curtain.
New Production
Director: Stephen Langridge
Conductor: Robin Ticciati
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Cast includes: Ian Koziara as Idomeneo, Deepa Johnny as Idamante, Katharina Konradi as Ilia and Golda Schultz as Elettra
A luxurious picnic dinner with table service is included at the long interval.
SATURDAY, JUNE 12
09.30 Depart for a tour of Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Back by 14.00.
16.15 Depart for Glyndebourne for a performance of Carmen. 17.30 curtain.
A revival of the Festival 2024 production
Director: Diane Paulus
Conductor: Ben Glassberg
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Cast includes: Danielle de Niese and Rihab Chaieb as Carmen, Atalla Ayan as Don José and Elsa Benoit and Vuvu Mpofu as Micaëla
Dinner is included at Mildmay during the long interval.
SUNDAY, JUNE 13
10.00 This morning we visit Monk's House, the tranquil 17th-century weatherboarded cottage inhabited by Virginia & Leonard Woolf from 1919 until Leonard's death in 1969.
13.45 Depart early for Glyndebourne to enjoy the grounds before La Cenerentola.
New Production
Director: Max Webster
Conductor: Enrique Mazzola / Tess Jackson
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Cast includes: Svetlina Stoyanova as Angelina, Levy Sekgapane as Don Ramiro, Mikhail Timoshenko as Dandini, Marco Filippo Romano as Don Magnifico and Michael Mofidian as Alidoro
Dinner is included at Middle & Over Wallop during the long interval.
MONDAY, JUNE 14
09.00 Baggage collection. Please have yours ready outside your door. Keep items needed during the journey with you.
10.00 Depart for London, stopping on the way to tour Chartwell House, Winston Churchill’s country estate.
15.00 Arrive in London and check in at the Covent Garden Hotel.
19.00 Meet in the lobby and walk to dinner at nearby J. Sheekey.
TUESDAY, JUNE 15
10.00 This morning we meet guide Rick Jones for a highlights tour of the area near Trafalgar Square, with an inside visit at Westminster Abbey.
17.00 Depart for the Royal Opera House for dinner in the Crush Room before a performance (TBA).
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16
10.00 Join Rick Jones again for a wonderful day in Greenwich, including the Greenwich Royal Observatory, the recently-renovated Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Naval College. A traditional pub lunch is included overlooking the River Thames.
PM Tonight we include either a concert or a play (TBA).
THURSDAY, JUNE 17
10.00 Depart for an exclusive private tour at Buckingham Palace.
PM Early dinner is included before tonight's performance (TBA).
FRIDAY, JUNE 18
10.00 Baggage collection. Please have yours ready outside your door. Keep items needed during the journey with you.
11.00 Check out and depart for the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, a luxurious 18th-century Georgian manor set on 500 acres of rolling countryside in Dogmersfield Park.
13.00 Check in at the hotel, with time to settle in and cghange for the opera.
15.30 Depart for Grange Park Opera in time for a refreshing cocktail prior to Wagner’s Die Walküre. 17.00 curtain.
WOTAN ∙ JAMES RUTHERFORD
FRICKA ∙ CHRISTINE RICE
SIEGMUND ∙ GWYN HUGHES JONES
SIEGLINDE ∙ GISELLE ALLEN
HUNDING ∙ JULIAN CLOSE
BRUNNHILDE ∙ RACHEL NICHOLLS
CONDUCTOR ∙ HARRY SEVER
DIRECTOR & SET DESIGN ∙ CHARLES EDWARDS
Orchestra of English National Opera
Dinner included during the long interval.
SATURDAY, JUNE 19
10.00 This morning we tour stately Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
17.00 Depart for Garsington Opera for another Wagner opera: Der fliegende Holländer. 18.05 curtain. Dinner is included in The Boundary Room during the long interval.
22.15 Return to the hotel.
SUNDAY, JUNE 20
10.00 Either enjoy the day at leisure at the Four Seasons or join Rick Jones for an optional guided tour of Oxford. Back by 15.00.
17.00 Depart for Garsington Opera for a performance of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito. 18.05 curtain. Farewell Dinner is included in The Boundary Room during the long interval.
22.15 Return to the hotel.
MONDAY, JUNE 21
Transfers (airport/rail/London) are included. LHR is a 42 minute trip.
Details will be imparted a few days prior.
TOUR INCLUDES
Top Category seats for at least 6 operas, at least 1 concert and at least 1 play
11 nights Deluxe accommodations: Grand Hotel Brighton (5-star); Firmdale Covent Garden Hotel London; Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire (Garsington; 5-star)
Full breakfast daily, 8 dinners, 3 lunches, multiple receptions
Private tours as listed
Airport-hotel transfers
On-site Tour Direction
Comprehensive Tour Guidebook
FLIGHTS
Flights are not included in tour pricing. Return flights should be booked to London (any airport) for arrival on June 10, departure on June 21.
TRANSFERS
We provide airport/rail station—hotel transfers for arrivals and departures within within 3 days of the start/end of our tour. We also provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
MOBILITY
There is minimal walking with some stairs during the guided tours. As for all of our tours, we are happy to accommodate you regardless of your mobility level. Please make clear your mobility concerns at the time of registration. We provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
INSURANCE
We strongly recommend that all tour members purchase cancellation insurance upon registration. We can assist you with this, though you are welcome to purchase a policy at your own discretion. For more information about our travel insurance, click here.
Your Tour Director
Peter Camara
Peter is a professional guide with 35 + years experience who has provided engaging cultural, historical, and educational tours on all seven continents. Calling Santa Fe home since 1998, Peter was drawn here by the deep richness of people, cultures, traditions, history, art, architecture, and cuisine. It is through this passion that Peter shares and showcases Santa Fe – weaving a true understanding of Santa Fe today from the past we have journeyed.