With Tosca, Il turco in Italia & L'Orfeo at Glyndebourne; Le nozze di Figaro & Anna Netrebko in recital at Covent Garden; Il barbiere di Siviglia at Grange Park; La traviata and Der Rosenkavalier at Garsington; Grand Hotel Brighton; Firmdale Covent Garden Hotel London; Danesfield House (Oxford-Garsington).
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 more expensive tours, yes, but it is also one of our most luxurious--with black tie "garden operas," posh dining and superb 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 2025. Our accommodation will be the luxurious, “Old World” Grand Hotel Brighton, where we enjoy Ocean View rooms.
London is one of our favourite cities, with so much history and majesty in every direction. We will attend two performances at the Royal Ballet & Opera: Mozart's beloved Le nozze di Figaro with a superb cast featuring Alex Esposito and Louise Alder, and a recital by THE diva of our time, Anna Netrebko. We also include a West End play (TBA). Our hotel is the Firmdale Covent Garden, a true gem, just a short walk from ROH. Touring will include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The British Museum, the Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey.
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. Our hotel is the majestic Danesfield House (Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons is closed in 2026), set on a 65 acre estate of formal gardens on the banks of the Thames, with the Chiltern Hills providing a stunning backdrop.
Space is limited to 12 members. Click here to register now.
ITINERARY
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Independent overnight flights to London.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to the Grand Hotel Brighton.
18.30 Gather in the lobby for introductions and a Welcome Dinner in the hotel.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
10.00 After breakfast, included daily, gather in lobby and walk to the Royal Pavilion for a guided tour.
16.00 Depart for Glyndebourne for a performance. A luxurious picnic with table service is included at the long interval.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
09.30 Depart for a tour of Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Back by 14.00.
16.45 Depart for Glyndebourne (performance TBA). Dinner is included at Mildmay during the long interval.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Enjoy the morning at leisure in Brighton.
14.30 Depart early for Glyndebourne to explore the gardens before our performance (TBA). Dinner is included at Middle & Over Wallop during the long interval.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
09.00 Baggage collection. Please have yours ready outside your door. Keep items needed during the journey with you.
09.45 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.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
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 recital by superstar soprano Anna Netrebko, with piano accompaniment by Pavel Nebolsin. 19.00 curtain.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
11.00 After a morning at leisure, we depart on an opera excursion to Grange Park, stopping first in Wimbledon to tour the grounds and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. 15.00 Late lunch/early dinner (silver service) at Grange Park prior to Rossini's beloved Il barbiere di Siviglia at Grange park Opera. 17.00 curtain.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
10.00 Depart for the British Museum for a private, guided tour. Back by 13.00. 16.45 Meet in lobby and walk to the Royal Ballet & Opera for pre-curtain dinner in the lovely Balconies dining hall.
18.45 Curtain for Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. Conducted by Giedrė Šlekytė; cast includes Alex Esposito, Louise Alder, Andrey Zhilikhovsky, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Svetlina Stoyanova.
22.30 Walk back to the hotel.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
09.15 Baggage collection. Please have yours ready outside your door. Keep items needed during the journey with you.
10.00 Depart for Danesfield House, halfway between London and Oxford, stopping first to tour Hampton Court (90 mins; there will be time to grab a bite at the palace).
15.00 Check in at the hotel, with free time to explore the estate.
18.30 Meet for a cocktail in the hotel bar before dinner in our gorgeous private room.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Enjoy the morning at leisure.
17.00 Depart for Garsington Opera for a performance of La traviata. 18.05 curtain. Dinner is included in The Boundary Room during the long interval.
22.15 Return to the hotel.
MONDAY, JUNE 29
10.00 Depart for a guided tour of Oxford. Back by 15.00.
17.00 Depart for Garsington Opera for a performance of Der Rosenkavalier. 18.05 curtain. Farewell Dinner is included in The Boundary Room during the long interval.
22.15 Return to the hotel.
TUESDAY, JUNE 30
Transfers (airport/rail/London) are included. LHR is 35 mins. Details will be imparted a few days prior.
TOUR INCLUDES
Top Category seats for 8 operas and one recital
11 nights Deluxe accommodations (4 at the Grand Hotel Brighton, 4 at the Covent Garden Hotel London, 3 at Danesfield House)
Full breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 8 dinners and 1 reception
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 for arrival on June 19, return on June 30.
TRANSFERS
We provide airport/rail station—hotel transfers to Brighton for arrivals and on departure, within 3 days of the start/end of our tour from the cities listed above. We also provide transfers for group meals and performances that are beyond a 10 minute walk.
MOBILITY
There is minimal walking with some stairs and cobblestones 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.