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Home>Bridge Holidays>Bridge, Shakespeare and the Gloucester and Warwickshire Rail

Bridge, Shakespeare and the Gloucester and Warwickshire Rail

Future dates to be confirmed

1 days

Explore Shakespeare country and enjoy a nostalgic steam train ride on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway on this Bridge Holiday based in the comfortable surroundings of Warwick.

Bridge directed by Christine MacFarlane and hosted by Stewart MacFarlane
5 nights at the 4* Delta by Marriott Warwick (Formerly the Hilton), half board
Steam train journey on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway
Explore Broadway with free time
Enjoy a tour of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s Birthplace

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Shakespeare and the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway

Join us on another fantastic Bridge and Rail Holiday - this time we add a touch of Shakespeare!

We stay at the 4* Delta by Marriott Warwick (Formerly the Hilton) which is just a 5 minute drive from historic Stratford upon Avon and situated less than 2 miles from Warwick Castle.

An included guided tour takes us to two key properties in Shakespeare’s history – Anne Hathaway’s pretty home and the small cottage tucked away amongst the High Street in Stratford where Shakespeare was born.

Our second included excursion is aboard the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway, a heritage railway run by volunteers. We step aboard the steam train in Broadway and enjoy a nostalgic journey to Cheltenham before returning to Broadway where there’s time at leisure to explore this quaint village.

DAY 1: Arrival & Evening Bridge
Make your own way to the Delta by Marriott Warwick (Formerly the Hilton) and meet our bridge director and host before dining and evening bridge. There will also be a short afternoon session for those who arrive early and wish to play.
DAY 2: Seminar & Evening Bridge
A day to relax in the hotel, explore Stratford-Upon-Avon or enjoy a full day of bridge with our director. There will be a morning seminar followed by afternoon bridge, dinner and evening bridge.
DAY 3: A day of Shakespeare & Evening Bridge
This morning we will be joined by a local guide who will accompany us to visit two key properties in Shakespeare’s history. We’ll travel to Anne Hathaway’s pretty cottage where you can explore the history of the house and the gardens. Then we will go on to Shakespeare’s birthplace, a small cottage tucked away amongst the high street in Stratford. Here you can walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps and explore the house where he was born. He spent the first five years of his marriage to Anne Hathaway living in this house, surrounded by his parents and siblings. We will have free time for lunch and sightseeing before we return to our hotel.

We return to our hotel for dinner and evening bridge.
DAY 4: A Journey on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway & Evening Bridge
Today we enjoy a roundtrip on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway, a heritage railway operated by volunteers which runs along the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire border. It uses part of the route of the former Great Western Railway’s main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham and now operates steam and heritage diesel trains between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds. We board our steam train at Broadway and travel along part of the route to Cheltenham. We return and alight back at Broadway where you’ll have some free time to explore this quaint picture postcard village.

We return to our hotel for dinner and evening bridge.
DAY 5: A Full day of Bridge
Another day of bridge - morning seminar and afternoon bridge followed by dinner and evening bridge.
DAY 6: Departure
After breakfast you are free to check out our hotel and depart at leisure.

Please note we cannot guarantee all our rail journeys will be steam hauled and sometimes it is necessary to change our itinerary around to accommodate any timetable changes.

Included in our package:

Full bridge programme directed by Christine MacFarlane and hosted Stewart MacFarlane, with seminars and varied bridge sessions
Masterpoints and prizes awarded
5 nights in 4* accommodation on a half board basis
Coach transfers for our excursions
Welcome cocktail
Porterage

Plus the following excursions:

Steam train journey on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway
Explore Broadway with free time
Enjoy a tour of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Christine MacFarlane

Christine has been on the EBU panel since 2010 and has assisted with running many congresses over the years; more recently concentrating on the Really Easy and Progressive events to encourage newer players to play competitively. She runs her own Bridge club in Bath and has been teaching Bridge there since 2007. She has introduced many players to this wonderful game. She has experience of running Bridge holidays and working on cruise ships as the Bridge Instructor/Director. She believes Bridge should be both sociable and challenging.

Christine is originally from New Zealand but now lives in Somerset with her husband Stewart. When not directing or teaching Bridge, their new hobby (since lockdown) is exploring the old railway lines of Somerset.

Overview

Placed near the M40 and A46 and close to the market town of Warwick, the Delta by Marriott Warwick (Formerly the Hilton) is a country hotel with all the amenities you need for your stay.

Birmingham is just 30 miles away and Stratford-upon Avon just 15 minutes’ drive. The hotel is situated very close to Warwick Castle – less than 2 miles. Also, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and National Trust’s Charlecote Park are just a few miles away

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

The 360 Restaurant has a menu of International cuisine with an English twist. The Coffee Lounge has a 24-hour bar with lounge chairs/sofas or tables and chairs, whichever you prefer. Guests have free access to the fitness centre.