BLETCHLEY
PARK (the Enigma!)
AND "THE UNKNOWN WINSTON"
AT BLENHEIM PALACE
FROM THE MACDONALD
BEAR HOTEL, WOODSTOCK
05 - 07 OCTOBER 2008
(2 nights) |
Bletchley Park,
also known as 'Station
X', was home to
the famous code-breakers
of the Second World
War, and the birthplace
of modern computing
and communications.
We are taking you
for a full day's
private tour of
this fascinating
site. This is combined
with a visit to
'Churchill's' Blenheim
Palace where you
will have a private
talk and tour discovering
more about the "Greatest
Briton" before visiting
the Palace and grounds.
Sunday 05 October:
Arrival for a Welcome
Drink and dinner
at the Bear Hotel
Monday 06 October:
Depart by executive
coach for Bletchley
Park where you will
be greeted with
a cup of coffee
and introductory
talk by your guide
for the day. This
introduction will
provide a real insight
into the work that
went on here in
the famous wooden
code breaking huts.
In the summer of
1939, with the threat
of war looming,
a small team of
scholars-turned-code
breakers arrived
at Bletchley Park,
a country estate
in Buckinghamshire.
Their mission: to
crack the Nazi Enigma
cipher, the backbone
of German military
and intelligence
communications.
The odds against
success were assessed
at a staggering
150,000,000,000,000,000,000
to 1. But succeed
they did, a triumph
that was one of
the greatest intellectual
achievements of
the twentieth century,
helping to shorten
WWII by at least
two years and thereby
saving countless
lives.
After a break for
lunch you will follow
the Cryptology Trail,
which tracks the
journey taken by
a coded message.
The museum depicts
the incredibly complex
process of interception,
decryption, translation,
interpretation and
analysis that were
needed to produce
the vital intelligence.
There will also
be a visit to a
private display
of Churchill memorabilia.
Finish the afternoon
with a cup of tea
before returning
to your hotel for
dinner.
Tuesday 07 October: Set in the middle
of the Oxfordshire
Cotswolds, just
minutes from your
hotel, Blenheim
has been the home
of the Dukes of
Marlborough since
it was built for
John Churchill,
the first Duke,
in 1704. The Palace's
collection includes
famous tapestries,
paintings, sculpture
and fine furniture
displayed in the
magnificent gilded
State Rooms. Blenheim
Palace was the birthplace
of Sir Winston Churchill
and we have arranged
a special talk and
tour drawing upon
the private resources
of Blenheim to reveal
a very new and refreshing
insight into this
great man. The coach
will take you the
short distance from
the hotel to the
Palace for morning
coffee in the Indian
Room, this is followed
by the talk and
visit to the palace.
At the end of the
tour you are free
to explore - occasionally
the Duke's private
apartments are open
and it is possible
to purchase tickets
on the day but there
is also an exhibition
of letters, paintings
and memorabilia
of Sir Winston Churchill
that can be found
in the room where
he was born. The
extensive gardens
and grounds include
the newly opened
'Secret Garden'
conceived by the
10th Duke of Marlborough,
the current Duke's
father. Lunch can
be found in one
of the three restaurants.
Finally back to
your hotel in the
early afternoon
for departure.
Price per person
£385: Single Supplement
£65: Non refundable
deposit £100pp:
Includes:
• 2 nights
dinner, accommodation,
breakfast and welcome
reception
• Private tour
of Bletchley Park
including finger
buffet lunch & glass
of wine
• Special Talk
and Tour
• The Unknown
Winston and entry
to Blenheim Palace
• Professional
guide and executive
coaching
Hotel Access: Rail
Oxford Station 8
miles local taxi:
Road: M40 or A34
then A44 for Woodstock
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