This one-of-a-kind experience allows you to spend time with and learn from Britain’s best artisan cheesemakers all while staying in a beautifully restored English Manor. Meet up in London at Neal’s Yard Dairy (NYD) and Anna Juhl of Cheese Journeys. You’ll be introduced to the team at NYD for an insider’s tour and view of the British cheese world. Travel west for a 7-day stay at the Downtown Abbey-style North Cadbury Court, one of the finest historic properties in Somerset, England. Enjoy chef-prepared meals, tour scenic farms, and witness Cheddar making firsthand. You’ll be guests at a grand dinner party as we host fifteen of England’s top cheese producers at the Court. Enjoy hands-on cooking demonstrations with your favorite British cheesemakers and French Chefs, indulge in a unique golf game off the room of the manor house, walk the historic grounds of Camelot and King Arthur, and explore the exciting food scene in the historic city of Bath.

Itinerary

Day One - Sunday

We begin our British Cheese Odyssey at the London Bridge Hotel, Borough Market. After introductions and a brief overview, we’ll meet up with guide and food expert, Celia Brooks, to enjoy a walking tour of Borough Market - grazing on cheese and some of her favorite international foods as we experience a wonderful piece of central London’s gastronomic scene.

We’ll be welcomed to a private tour of the Neal’s Yard Dairy headquarters and cheese maturing room in Bermondsey, located in the converted railway arches of Spa Terminus, known for its rich history of food production and wholesaling. You’ll enjoy an insider’s glimpse of this fascinating world of selecting, maturating, and the global exporting of Britain’s best farmhouse cheese. See first-hand how retailers and wholesalers work with NYD to select cheese for their customers and enjoy a tasting event featuring some of our favorite British cheeses.  

We finish the day with a free evening – you can catch a late bite and a drink at your favorite London restaurant or reserve a seat at the top of The Shard. Guests stay together at London Bridge Hotel. (Room is included in tour, dinner is not included.)

Day Two - Monday

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for North Cadbury Court in Somerset. This exquisite 25-bedroom English manor will be our home for 7 days. It has great history- linked to Jane Austen, Camelot and King Arthur, and it’s the family home to world-renowned Cheddar maker Jamie Montgomery.

Upon arriving, we’ll enjoy a chef-prepared lunch followed by an overview of our favorite British cheeses through the eyes of our esteemed educator Patrick McGuigan.

We’ll have time to settle in, enjoy a guided tour of this recently restored historic property which was the set location for the 2007 Jane Austen film, “Persuasion”. Have a glass of award -winning British wine with Paddy Magill of Fine Vines, before enjoying British Indian cuisine for dinner prepared by Chefs Sylvain and Milo. Finish the evening with a moonlit walk, a nightcap, or a game of snooker.

Day Three - Tuesday

After breakfast, we break up into four groups.

Group 1
This group will submerge themselves into the world of British clothbound Cheddar - spending a dream morning with Jamie Montgomery. Walk down the road to the Montgomery farm and creamery to experience the making of Montgomery Cheddar or Ogleshield.

Group 2
After breakfast, this group spends the morning with Chef Sylvain. With a classic British commercial kitchen like the one at North Cadbury Court, Chef Sylvain has planned cooking demonstrations: an opportunity to share his favorite recipes highlighting English cuisine, local ingredients, and artisan cheese. Late morning, you’ll be knee-deep in cheese when you have a group chat with Jilly Sitch, a cheese expert, as she demonstrates how to shop for and design the perfect cheese board.

Groups 3
After breakfast, the morning is filled with recreation and fun. Enjoy a relaxing swim, tennis, water volleyball, a long walk or golf off the roof. This beautiful home offers a range of amenities and is a vacation destination itself.

Group 4
After breakfast, this group will enjoy a traditional Montgomery family game of golf, teeing off of the roof of the manor house, down around the lake, over the meadow, and around the cows with Patrick McGuigan.

The groups will rejoin for a Ploughman’s lunch paired with local brews; after lunch, the groups rotate experiences. Late in the day, Patrick McGuigan will host a talk about “The English Cheese and Wine Revolution” in the beautiful and atmospheric North Hall.  Patrick will give a fascinating insight into the cultural and social changes in English cheese and wine making while guests will have the opportunity to taste some delightful examples of both.

Day Four - Wednesday

After breakfast, we break up into 4 groups again.

Group 1
This group spends the morning with Chef Sylvain as they deep dives into the world of chocolate making. Chef Sylvain has spent years working with a chocolatier in London and loves to share his secrets for making decadent ganache. Late morning, this group have a group chat with Patrick as he demonstrates how to design the perfect cheese board.

Group 2
This group will submerge themselves into the world of British clothbound Cheddar - spending a dream morning with Jamie Montgomery. Walk down the road to the Montgomery farm and creamery to experience the making of Montgomery Cheddar or Ogleshield.

Group 3
Join Jilly on a short trip down the road, to the newest addition to the Somerset food scene, Teals Restaurant, Café & Food Market. Spend the morning shopping for regional gifts, products, and beautiful specialty items.

Groups 4
After breakfast, the morning is filled with recreation and fun. Enjoy a relaxing swim, tennis, water volleyball, a long walk or golf off the roof. This beautiful home offers a range of amenities and is a vacation destination itself.

The group comes back together for a classic English lunch and a relaxing afternoon as we anticipate the week’s gala event, “A Celebration of Cheese: An Evening with British Cheesemakers.”

Experience a rare opportunity to learn from Britain’s finest cheesemakers while tasting and pairing cheeses with ciders and brandies produced by renowned Somerset Cider and Brandy Co. The 10-year-old Somerset Cider Brandy was featured at Harry & Meghan’s Royal wedding and Somerset Pomona has been featured on the menu at Noma’s in Copenhagen.

Wrap up this dream evening with a chef-prepared dinner and afterwards brandy in the library or a game of snooker with Jamie. A beautiful opportunity to dine and learn from Britain’s best!

Day Five - Thursday

After a classic traditional English breakfast, guests will be shoulder to shoulder in the kitchen with their favorite cheesemakers as they learn to prepare cheesemakers’ family recipes that showcase their cheese. These lovely creations will be featured and enjoyed in the day’s menu.

After a light lunch, and keeping to our groups, guests will depart for either cheesemaking with Jamie Montgomery, ‘Building the Ultimate Cheese board’ with Jilly, more chocolate making with Chef Sylvain, swimming, a game of tennis, or paddleboat races on the lake.

We will end the afternoon with a traditional English Cream Tea and a stroll around the magnificent gardens and St Michaels, the 15th-century church situated on the grounds of the court.

The group join in for cocktails before a chef-prepared dinner. Enjoy a free evening to appreciate the Court’s many amenities.

Day Six - Friday

After breakfast, we’ll travel to meet up with Tom Calver of Westcombe Dairy, the young and dynamic cheesemaker of one of four traditional Cheddars awarded an International Presidia by the Slow Food movement. Tom will jump on the bus to give us a personal tour of the beautiful farm, get a peak of the creamery, and spend time inside the newly built cheese aging caves to see classic farmhouse Cheddars, Duckett’s Aged Caerphilly, and Westcombe Red. You’ll meet “Tina the Turner,” the rock-star robot who spends her days turning cheese! Experience a cheese and charcuterie pairing while we get an inside scoop on Tom’s new charcuterie project. We’ll return to the Court for a chef-prepared lunch.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon, a final run to Teal’s, or a little fishing at the lake, before we finish the day with cocktails and a chef prepared dinner.

Day Seven - Saturday

After breakfast, the group has 3 options for the day;

1) A day in the Roman city of Bath exploring the history and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage City through its happening food culture. Make a stop at the Landrace Bakery, enjoy a spa at the Roman Baths, or a visit to the Jane Austen Museum, or just shopping!

2) A day at “the Newt of Somerset”, an agricultural estate, gardens, and farm shop.

3) Free time to experience the facilities at the Court. Swim, walk, have a work-out in the gym, or just read in the library!

The group rejoins late in the day and its farewell to North Cadbury Court with a Raclette-style dinner made with Ogelshield and served with Westcombe charcuterie.

Day Eight - Sunday

After breakfast, we meet up with Jamie for a fascinating walking tour of the extended area of the Montgomery estate including the dairy, pastures of Jersey cows, and the legendary castle and fortress ruins of Camelot - believed to be the home of King Arthur. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, so bring your camera!  We’ll return to the Court for a light lunch and prepare to depart Somerset for Heathrow airport, at the conclusion of our tour.

Photo credits: Winter Caplanson, Mark Pickthall, and Tenaya Darlington

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

Lodging for seven nights, breakfast provided seven mornings, eight noon meals, and seven evening meals (alcoholic beverages served with meals) and additional food events and tastings. All transportation during the tour (from NYD Borough Market to North Cadbury Court in Somerset, day trips and returning to Sofitel Hotel Heathrow Airport Terminal 5). All classes and /or day tours provided by local hosts, cheese educators and chefs.

TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Round trip transportation to and from London, hotel accommodations before or after the tour, and personal shopping during the walking tours of Borough Market or Bath. During our stay at North Cadbury Court, specific alcoholic beverages, other than those served at meals and tasting events, may be purchased separately from the host or at locations during the tour.

DISCLOSURE

To the best of our ability, this tour itinerary is final. However, if, due to unexpected extreme weather, a schedule emergency with cheesemakers, or limitations due to travel restrictions, etc., Cheese Journeys reserves the right to substitute an event if needed. During the tour, you have the option of declining a particular excursion or tour, but we are unable to make refunds for any missed meals, classes, or events. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details.