London and the British Countryside

Gather this afternoon with fellow travelers and take a guided tour of the Tate Britain. Return to the hotel for a welcome reception and dinner.

Venture outside the city this morning to visit the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Hertfordshire. Examine the life and work of Henry Moore through his publications, correspondence, and photographs. Tour the sculpture gardens, where more than 20 of his iconic sculptures are on display. After lunch, return to London for a back-stage tour of the National Theatre. Ahead of attending a performance here later this evening, we learn how they create their world-class productions and explore the design and unique features of this renowned building.

Today, we museum hop, walking from the National Gallery to the Portrait Gallery and on to the Transport London Museum. Enjoy lunch at a local pub, then enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Regroup for dinner followed by a musical or theatre production in the West End.

We spend today in South England. Our first stop is Farleys House and Gallery, where we take an in-depth look at the lives and work of surrealists Lee Miller and Roland Penrose and the circle of friends who visited them including Picasso, Miro, Dorothea Tanning, and Leonora Carrington. After lunch at a local pub, continue to Charleston, the modernist home and studio of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Return to London for an evening at leisure.

This morning, hit the London museum circuit. Begin with a private tour of the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace before opening hours. Next, venture to Leighton House to marvel at art, interior design, architecture, and Victorian culture. Originally conceived as a purpose-built studio house, this private palace of art is the embodiment of how a great artist should live. Enjoy lunch at leisure at Borough Market, then head to the Tate Modern for an expert-led tour. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.

Depart the city for the rolling hills and valleys of Surrey, where we visit the Watts Gallery–Artists Village. Founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist, Watts Gallery offers a unique insight into the life and work of George Frederic Watts. Stop at nearby Wisley, a Royal Horticultural Society garden, before returning to London for an evening on our own.

We spend our final morning touring the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then, after lunch and the afternoon at leisure, gather for exclusive after-hours access to the Sir John Soane’s Museum. The extraordinary house and museum of one of the greatest English architects, the museum has been kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837 and displays his vast collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models, and paintings. Following a candlelight reception and tour, continue to the Savoy Grill to toast our journey at a traditional British dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to London Heathrow airport for homeward flights.