Bletchley Park, also known as ‘Station X’, was home
to the famous codebreakers 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 an early private tour before it is open
to the public.
Sunday 15 April Arrival for a Welcome Drink
and dinner at the Bear Hotel
Monday
16 April 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
17 April We have arranged a private early morning tour of
the Blenheim Palace State Rooms before they open to the public;
you will also be privileged to visit the Duke’s private
apartments during this tour (subject to availability at the
time). At the end of the tour you are free to explore the rest
of the Palace. 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. An exhibition of letters,
paintings and memorabilia of Sir Winston Churchill can be found
in the room where he was born. There are extensive gardens,
including 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 £375: Single Supplement £60: Non
refundable deposit £75pp:
Includes:
2 nights dinner bed and breakfast
Welcome
reception
Private tour of Bletchley Park including
finger buffet lunch & glass of wine
Private early
tour of Blenheim Palace State Rooms
Professional
guide and executive coaching
MACDONALD BEAR HOTEL, WOODSTOCK
t : +44 (0) 87 0400 8202
f : +44 (0) 19 9381 3380
Monday
16 April 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.
Tuesday
17 April We have arranged a private early morning tour of
the Blenheim Palace State Rooms before they open to the public;
you will also be privileged to visit the Duke’s private
apartments during this tour (subject to availability at the
time). At the end of the tour you are free to explore the rest
of the Palace. 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. An exhibition of letters,
paintings and memorabilia of Sir Winston Churchill can be found
in the room where he was born. There are extensive gardens,
including 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.
