(14 hours - Please note this tour is best in May, June, July and August - longer daylight)
Ideal for first timers - see a large part of England in one amazing day!
Ok early-birds, welcome to the biggest day-tour around! I designed this tour around ten years ago 'for those with limited time but plenty of energy' to see as many of England's major sights as were realistically possible in a single day. We don't hit them all of course, but we do see many. If you want a good overview of England this tour is unrivalled, it's often been imitated but has never been bettered!
It's 7 am as we head out of London, so settle down into my big cushions if you don't want to wake up yet; the next hour is a motorway drive to our first destination - the world-famous University City of OXFORD.
A brief walking tour followed by a coffee stop and shopping opportunity for cards, sweat shirts or whatever, should have everyone wide awake and ready to go! On our walk we'll see some of the famous colleges of one of the oldest universities in Europe whilst I share with you some stories of the "great and the good" (and the 'not so good'!) and the famous authors who studied, taught and wrote here. (If there are youngsters in the group we'll toss in some Harry Potter stories too). Photographers will enjoy getting some shots of Oxford's scenes and glorious architecture.
Leaving Oxford we take the short drive to BLENHEIM PALACE, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and the magnificent home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough. A short stroll in the village where Winston is laid to rest will give me the chance to tell you all about the Spencer-Churchills and their American Brides. After getting some views of the fine Palace I'll give you the first of three offers of a littlefreetime to explore the delightful village of WOODSTOCK. Then we're back into the van and onward continuing our northerly heading to the attractive town of WARWICK - and its' famous CASTLE.
WARWICK town deserves some of our time too. It's quirky streets and impressive parish Church will delight, plus any antique hunters in the family will love having the chance to browse one of the best value antique markets in England. I ask the group to make a choice here at Warwick - if you're travelling with youngsters they'll probably make that decision for you though! Time constraints - yes, even with 14 hours at our disposal - mean it would not be practical to enter all the places we'll be passing today. Therefore, your family needs to decide whether it's going to be the Castle and Shakespeare (we've time for two places in Stratford) with no interior Roman Baths tour; or the Castle and Roman Baths, omitting the Shakespeare properties visit, or Shakespeare properties and Roman Baths with just a look and photos of the Castle without entering. I will have discussed this 'two-out-of-three' choice with you on the drive up from Oxford which will hopefully have helped you choose your own preference, but either way we will still see and hear about all that we pass by today, with time for a visit to the shop/photos/walk-by, etc. at any places you've passed on entering.
Shakespeare's STRATFORD UPON AVON follows. If you decided to skip the interior visit at Warwick, you can choose two site visits from: a) Shakespeare's Birthplace b) the home connected with his mother, Mary Arden's house, or c) Anne Hathaway's cottage, Will's wife's childhood home. If you visited Warwick Castle in preference, we can still make a brief talk/photo stop at these properties. Some freetime will be offered here, too.
Stratford's Shakespeare connections include the beautiful parish church where Will was baptised and buried, in fact all his family rest there. The church has a fine window which will interest our American friends particularly.
The shoppers in the group will enjoy the many varied gift shops and boutiques of Stratford, so we may need to keep an eye on them; the shoppers, I mean!
As we drive away from Stratford I'll share with you some of the Bard's best lines and phrases - many are unknowingly used in everyday speech throughout the English-speaking world.
It's early afternoon now, so lunch will probably be on most people's minds, so soon after entering one of England's most pastoral areas, the lovely COTSWOLDS, we'll pause to enjoy a tasty picnic lunch (included) by the side of a brook in a charming little Cotswold village.
Following lunch, we'll continue with a scenic drive across the Cotswold Hills, seeing the charming old market towns of Cirencester and Tetbury along the way.
Any gardeners in the family? We pass by two places of interest: Prince Charles' home, Highgrove House, has wonderful gardens unfortunately not open for general visiting but I'll share some pictures of them with you as we pass by. The other site? Westonbirt Arboretum, hailed as one of the finest in Europe, looks magnificent at any time of the year.
Before you know it, I'll be pointing out the distant Welsh hills as we begin to make a picturesque descent into a valley that holds one of this country's most visited places - the unique City of BATH, - which in its' entirety enjoys World Heritage Site status.
The splendid 18th century neo-classical architecture, fascinating ROMAN BATHS and some good museums will keep you busy here for an hour or two. There is a final opportunity for those who like doing their own thing with some final freetime.
The last leg of our journey takes us past the mysterious structure which for over forty centuries has dominated Salisbury Plain: STONEHENGE, yet another World Heritage Site which is being carefully preserved for future generations to see, admire, and theorise over.
In mid-summer we may arrive inside the opening hours time-frame so you can take a walk nearer the stones, visit the shop, if desired. If not, we'll still be able to get some photos and walk the area nearby from where I'll point out some of the main features. (If you've seen Stonehenge before and don't wish to re-visit it, we'll go to Avebury instead).
You'll soon realise why this place attracts people from all over the world - it's a truly 'magnetic' experience, and for the more inquiring types I'll show you how to find the 'Leys' or energy lines, with a chance for you to try it out yourselves. There are more questions than answers about these ancient structures and tombs, but we'll exchange facts and theories together whilst making the seventy minute motorway journey back to your London base.
Finally, 'Congratulations!' are in order because you'll have all "done the Big One". This experience is a day to remember for a long time to come, and just for fun you'll receive my special Certified Insanity Scroll!
N.B. Price is for the car NOT per person.* Includes : Car, driver-guide, all mileage and an excellent picnic lunchand drinks. Excludes : Entrance fees.
See also TOUR 11B - THE ALTERNATIVE BIG ONE ! - for an alternative route for those who have seen some or all of the above sights).
