Description
Join this special autumnal weekend away, not too far from home, with some top-class entertainment from a fabulous Elvis tribute act. Enjoy a day out in charming Canterbury - perhaps an opportunity to start that Christmas shopping or just soak up the history and heritage of this spellbinding city. A visit to magnificent Leeds Castle & Gardens is also included at a time when this captivaitng historic estate should put on a breath-taking display of autumn colours. Sunday night is time to rock 'n' roll with a nostalgic tribure to a great musical icon. It's now or never!
Itinerary
It's Now or Never - Elvis Tribute
Day 1 - Start your holiday at your chosen point, onto interchange and head eastwards to Kent. Rochester makes an excellent break in the journey with time to explore. Rochester has a unique William and Mary period High Street and 75% of the buildings that you see today would have been known to Charles Dickens and 50% to Oliver Cromwell, as many facades received a make-over following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Enjoy time for lunch in one of many High Street eateries before setting off to the Orida Hotel Maidstone to arrive late afternoon for the next 3 nights with breakfast & buffet dinner on Friday and Saturday and a sit-down dinner served in a private room with entertainment on Sunday night\n\nDays 2 - 3 At leisure with two included excursions.\nOn Sunday evening, enjoy a night of musical nostalgia with one of the country's top tribute acts - a salute to Elvis, the legendary performer. Afterwards a disco will get you up and dancing. Nostalgic fun for everyone!\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nLeeds Castle & Gardens\nJust a very short drive this morning takes you to magnificent Leeds Castle, often considered one of the world's most beautiful and romantic castles. Rising majestically from the still waters of its moat, surrounded by 500 acres of parkland and gardens, Leeds Castle has always been a palace to impress. Today's interiors are the result of the massive refurbishment by top European designers throughout the 1920s and 30s for its last private owner, high-society hostess Lady Baillie who entertained the likes of Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks and John F Kennedy in this princely family home and party pad. Enjoy a free flow visit through the castle rooms with an informative multimedia guide to take you through its history spanning over 900 years. Take a stroll through the mesmerising historical estate and parkland to capture the vibrant autumn hues and as you walk on the crunching leaves beneath your feet, you'll encounter various gardens, each with its unique theme, design, and species.\n\nNB There is a 5-minute walk from the coach park to the Visitor Centre and then another 5 minute walk onto the castle (complimentary mobility bus subject to availability). As a historic building there are some accessibility restrictions and the upstairs of the castle as well as the Maze and Grotto are not accessible to wheelchair users. There are accessible paths (some slopes) around the gardens\n\nCanterbury\nEnjoy a relaxed start this morning to enjoy the hotel facilities before heading off to Canterbury, the beautiful medieval walled city which been hosting visitors for more than 1,000 years - a warm welcome for any 'pilgrim' is guaranteed! It certainly tops the charts for English cathedral cities, with its World Heritage- listed cathedral one of Europe's finest (entrance not included - approx. £17 pp in 2024). Explore the town's narrow medieval alleyways, riverside gardens and ancient city walls as well as its bustling centre full of independent and high street shops and plentiful restaurants and cosy cafés.\n\nDay 4 - Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the hotel, before checking out today. Set off this morning and time permitting, a stop will be made in Royal Windsor, crowned by stunning Windsor Castle (entrance not included), the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world and an official residence of His Majesty The King. Then later on this afternoon, it's back to interchange and onwards to your home towns.
Weekend Highlights
- Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner (2 nights buffet dinner / 1 night sit-down dinner in a private room)- Tea / coffee after dinner- Porterage- En-route visits to Rochester & Windsor (time permitting)- Entrance to Leeds Castle with multimedia guide- Visit to Canterbury- Sunday night Elvis tribute act & disco
Venue Information
Orida Hotel Maidstone
This 4* modern, low-rise hotel is located just off the M20 just outside Maidstone and just 5 miles from Leeds Castle. Warmly furnished, traditional guestrooms provide TV, hairdryer, Wi-Fi desk an dtea / coffee making facilities. The hotel features a relaxed restaurant as well as a lounge bar and Starbucks cafe. The Health Club amenities include an indoor pool, a gym, a sauna and steam room. NB there is no lift but there are plenty of ground floor rooms. Singles are doubles for sole occupancy