British theater has a rich history, from playwrights like William Shakespeare to actors like Laurence Olivier who stir the emotions and challenge the status quo with new ideas. Stately homes and gardens often have a drama all their own, from their fascinating histories to their stunning exteriors. This tour combines special visits to impressive architectural gems, like Hatfield House & Garden, Knole House, and Penshurst Place, with performances at historical theaters like Shakespeare's Globe and the National Theater in London. Begin with four nights in London in the heart of the theater district, enjoying backstage tours and plays, dining at the private Phoenix Artists' Club, visiting Middle Temple Hall where Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was performed, and touring the Victoria and Albert Museum's impressive theater collection. Overnight in Kent to experience 700 years of history and award-winning gardens at the romantic double-moated 13th-century Hever Castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Conclude in the famed university town of Oxford, with two nights at the stately Macdonald Randolph Hotel, exploring the second oldest university in the world, walking among the lush gardens and scenic landscape of Oxfordshire, and discovering Shakespeare's Stratford, his childhood home.