Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

A Wonderful Wiltshire Christmas

Escorted Christmas tour based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, with a heritage steam trip

A Wonderful Wiltshire Christmas, a rail journey with Great Rail Journeys

Great Rail Journeys runs this 7-day, 6-night escorted Christmas holiday from a single base in Salisbury, the cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. There is no changing hotels: every night is spent at the Mercure White Hart Hotel, and a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Days combine coach excursions with one especially festive rail outing, an afternoon aboard the heritage Swindon & Cricklade Railway with mulled wine and Christmas music on day 2. Other days bring a private guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral to see a 13th-century copy of the Magna Carta, a Christmas Eve walk among the ancient stones of Stonehenge, the Longleat Festival of Light, and visits to the Wiltshire Museum and the Avebury stone circle. Christmas Day itself is left free, built around a traditional lunch and an evening buffet. It suits travellers who want a fully organised, low-effort Christmas away from home, with history, festive tradition and one nostalgic train ride included rather than a rail-focused itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most of the tour's travel is by coach; the only train journey is the heritage steam excursion on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on day 2.
  • Christmas Day (day 5) has no organised activity; the day is left free around the included lunch and evening buffet.
  • Salisbury Cathedral tower entry is not included and is payable on entry.
  • UK rail connections from your home station to the tour start are not included; they can be booked separately as an optional extra.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Salisbury

    Welcome to the medieval city of Salisbury

    Your festive holiday begins in the historic cathedral city of Salisbury, our base for the next six nights. Meet the Tour Manager at the welcoming Georgian hotel, perfectly situated in the heart of the city and just a short stroll from the magnificent 13th-century cathedral. After checking in, there's time at leisure to get to know the city – wander the medieval streets, browse the Christmas markets or soak up the festive atmosphere. Regroup this evening at the hotel for the first dinner of the holiday.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Salisbury

    STEAM Museum and festive railway journey

    After breakfast, travel by coach to STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon's historic railway works. Explore the exhibits and discover the stories of the people and engineering behind Britain's rich railway heritage. Continue by coach to Blunsdon to board the Swindon & Cricklade Railway for a festive afternoon journey through the wintry countryside. Welcomed with mulled wine, enjoy a Christmas afternoon tea featuring seasonal sandwiches, savoury treats, prosecco and unlimited hot drinks. On return to Blunsdon, tour the locomotive shed and visit the cinema coach before returning to the hotel. *Trains are steam-hauled where possible; heritage diesel locomotives may run instead.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Salisbury

    Salisbury Cathedral and Longleat Festival of Lights

    After breakfast, enjoy a festive wreath-making workshop using berries, dried flowers, pine cones, eucalyptus sprigs and ribbons, accompanied by mulled wine, Christmas music and hot chocolate. This afternoon, take a private guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral, visiting the Chapter House to see one of the only remaining 13th-century copies of the Magna Carta. Later, drive to Longleat to experience the Festival of Lights, where hundreds of lanterns illuminate the landscaped grounds as the winter sun sets. Return to the hotel for a slightly later dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Salisbury

    A Christmas Eve visit to prehistoric Stonehenge

    After breakfast, take a short eight-mile drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Stonehenge. Explore the museum before boarding a shuttle bus to the Neolithic monument. Walk around and admire the huge sarson stones, weighing in excess of 25 tons each. Return to the hotel in the early afternoon for free time to explore Salisbury – visit the Christmas markets, stroll along the riverside path to Stratford-sub-Castle, or relax in a pub. After dinner, optionally attend Salisbury Cathedral midnight mass or watch the candlelit King's College Carol Service.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Salisbury

    Christmas Day lunch and an evening buffet

    Happy Christmas! With no planned activities today, enjoy the day entirely at your own pace. After a leisurely breakfast and opening presents, take a walk around town or relax in the hotel lounge. Enjoy a traditional Christmas Day lunch, then watch the King's Speech or take a post-lunch nap before indulging in an evening buffet meal including mini desserts.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Salisbury

    Boxing Day visit to the Wiltshire Museum and Avebury

    A slightly later start today. After breakfast, journey to the charming town of Devizes for an exclusive private guided tour of the Wiltshire Museum, followed by time to explore independently. The museum covers Wiltshire's history from Stonehenge and Roman times to a Saxon Gallery and the story of the Kingdom of Wessex. Continue to the World Heritage site of Avebury, home to one of Europe's largest Neolithic stone circles dating back nearly 5,000 years, including a stone-lined avenue and Silbury Hill – the largest artificial mound in Europe. Return to the hotel for a three-course Boxing Day dinner with chocolate treats.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to check out and make your way home. Alternatively, continue exploring Wiltshire independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2The tour boards the Swindon & Cricklade Railway for a festive afternoon journey through the wintry Wiltshire countryside, welcomed on board with mulled wine.
  • Day 3A private guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral visits the Chapter House to see one of the only remaining 13th-century copies of the Magna Carta.
  • Day 4A Christmas Eve visit to Stonehenge, walking around the Neolithic monument's sarsen stones, some weighing more than 25 tons.
  • Day 5Christmas Day itself is spent at leisure, built around a traditional Christmas lunch and an evening buffet with mini desserts.
  • Day 6A private guided tour of the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes is followed by a visit to the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • 1 lunch (Christmas Day)
  • 1 afternoon tea (Swindon & Cricklade Railway)
  • All guided tours and excursions
  • Festive wreath-making workshop
  • Private guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral
  • Entry to STEAM museum
  • Swindon & Cricklade Railway festive journey
  • Longleat Festival of Lights entry
  • Stonehenge visit
  • Exclusive private guided tour of Wiltshire Museum
  • Avebury visit
  • Christmas Day traditional lunch
  • Christmas evening buffet with mini desserts
  • Boxing Day three-course dinner

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Salisbury Cathedral tower entry (payable on entry)
  • UK rail connections from home station (available as optional extra)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, one festive afternoon journey on the heritage Swindon & Cricklade Railway is included on day 2, alongside standard-class rail and coach travel used elsewhere on the tour.
Is this trip escorted?
Yes, it is an escorted tour with a UK Tour Manager from start to finish.
What hotel is used?
The tour stays for all six nights at the Mercure White Hart Hotel in Salisbury, a 4-star hotel.
When does it depart?
There is one departure, in December 2026, timed around Christmas week.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance, Salisbury Cathedral tower entry, and UK rail connections from your home station are not included.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes walking around Stonehenge and guided walking tours of Salisbury and the Wiltshire Museum; no hikes or strenuous activity are mentioned.

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