'Great Tours of London, Britain & Ireland'
The Great British Tour (18 Nights/19 days)
To see all of the UK's best places in one tour, is quite special! If you're one of the fortunate few with time (and the cash!) to spare you will not be disappointed - it's my most ambitious, most satisfying tour. The itinerary has been selected with the greatest care to ensure that nothing has been over-looked. This once in a lifetime experience will bring many, many happy memories that will indeed last for a lifetime!Day 1: Our adventure begins with a drive from London to the old University City of Oxford. A look at a famous college and a short city walking tour, then we'll travel to nearby Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. You're bound to enjoy the ambience at the ancient inn recommended for our lunch at a charming Cotswolds village. Later we will visit some more delightful villages, before ending a very satsfying day at a comfortable guest house in Shakespeare's town, Stratford-on-Avon. The town centre boasts many good restaurants, plus the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, so why not explore a little tonight? (If wishing to visit the theatre, please ask when booking). |
Day 2: After breakfast, we visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare and tour the town, then we're off to make a brief visit to the Ironbridge district to learn all about the impact of this area during the Industrial Revolution. A look at the famous 'Potteries' follows, with a visit to either the Wedgwood, Royal Doulton or Spode factory. (There's time to grab a bargain or two!) Later, afternoon tea will set us up for the short drive to the Derbyshire Peak District National Park, and our hotel or guest house for tonight. 'Dining in' is recommended. |
Day 3: A leisurely start is planned for today! So take an hour or two to wander this charming little town. Alternatively, just enjoy the comfort of your hotel and have a lie-in! A noon departure will allow us to visit the land of Robin Hood, take a good pub lunch, and journey on to York, arriving late afternoon. We'll make an orientation York City tour before settling into our guest house/inn/hotel for the next two nights if time/energy levels allow. |
Day 4: After a hearty Yorkshire breakfast, we head off to Castle Howard, one of Britain's finest stately homes. We'll follow with a drive through the impressive North York Moors National Park, stopping to admire an impressive ruined Abbey on route. Next we'll take a good lunch in one of the local inns and visit Bolton Castle, where Mary, the tragic Queen of the Scots, was once imprisoned. We'll bring the day to an impressive close with a drive through the lovely Yorkshire Dales, beloved by fans of the series of stories by a local vet, Alfred Wight, better known by his nome-de-plume, James Heriot. A short walking tour of York's best attractions is recommended for this evening if we missed it last night. |
Day 5: An early breakfast is recommended as we've quite a big day today! Taking the Great North road to the ancient hilltop market town of Richmond, the fitter members of our party may want to visit the impressive castle which has guarded the town for 900 years. The views from the top of the tower are certainly worth the climb. We leave Yorkshire, sweeping past Newcastle on Tyne and follow a high, lonely moorland road through Northumberland to Hadrian's Wall, where we'll visit some of the recently excavated Roman works. Lunch follows next, at a friendly Northumbrian Inn, before journeying over the border into Scotland. If time and energy permits we can make a brief orientation tour of Edinburgh, Scotland's fine capital city, before checking-in to your hotel for the next two nights. |
| Day 6: A free day in Edinburgh today! I'll give you lots of ideas for things to do in this exciting city. |
Day 7: Begins with a drive over the new Forth Road Bridge and on into the Cairngorms. Visits to a historic castle, woollen mill, and whisky sampling at a working distillery will keep the group busy. (Lunch along the way). Your recommended hotel for the next three nights will prove a fine place to relax - beginning with an excellent table d'hôte dinner tonight! |
Day 8: A morning at leisure, then a lovely drive through some of Scotland's finest scenery into the far north country. We'll take a look at one of her best gardens, warmed by the Gulf Stream, where lot's of exotic plants thrive, despite being further north than Moscow! |
Day 9: A short drive to one of the area's best historic castles where we'll take a brief lunch. Then the choice is yours! Golfers can play one of the excellent local courses; shoppers and museum buffs can spend the afternoon in the attractive historic city of Inverness. |
Day 10: Our direction is southerly for the first time on our grand tour today. We look for Nessie, the monster of Loch Ness, then travel through the pass of Glencoe, with its' tales of treachery and murder, before lunch at an old Drover's Inn. Driving along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond brings us to the fast road to England, where the attractive little town of Keswick in the Lake District National Park is our base for the next two nights. |
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Day 11: At leisure in Keswick, and it is an easy walking town. Feeling more energetic? Let me take you for a hike on the mountains, or would you prefer to hire a boat and cruise on Derwentwater, the 'Queen of the Lakes'? The new local theatre is well worth a visit this evening. Please ask me when booking the tour. |
Day 12: We explore the English Lake District National Park, a really beautiful region which has attracted artists, writers, poets and philosophers for centuries, and you'll soon realise why. Our tour will include visits to homes of local writers and poets, a scenic lakes boat trip and an excellent lunch. Then we'll have an hour or so shopping time before leaving the lakes and heading south to Chester for the night. |
Day 13: How about an easy wall-walk of Chester? Alternatively, you can stroll the town centre with its' black and white Tudor-style architecture, creating possibly the most unique shopping centre in the UK. Then, around noon, we'll depart for the short drive to the border. "Passports please!" Only joking, but yes, we are entering another country: Wales! And a GREAT little country it is too. Croeso y Gymru! That's 'Welcome to Wales!' in Welsh, but don't worry, we'll have you speaking it like a native in no time. Afternoon tea on route to your hotel for the next two nights - where a fine table d'hôte dinner await....Enough said. |
Day 14: We're going mining today! On with your helmets and let's see what a slate miner's life was like ... if the group wish. Then we'll either visit a castle or take the mountain railway to the summit of the highest peak on this tour, Mt Snowdon, again, as the group wish. After lunch we spend the rest of the day at the eccentric but lovely Italianate-style village of Portmeirion. There are yet more good shopping opportunities for those who are so inclined. Recommended dinner? Either at the hotel, or an excellent local inn with good atmosphere and friendly locals. |
Day 15: Today's journey takes us from North to South Wales, with time to visit a historic royal castle, a Spa town, and enjoy a pub lunch. Later we'll tour the Royal Welsh Crystal factory, with a chance to purchase a crystal glassware bargain. Our day ends at the historic Georgian City of Bath. You've two nights, and you'll enjoy them! |
Day 16: A free day in Bath. Why not visit the Roman Baths, the historic Costume Museum, and take an open-top bus tour of this fascinating town. Whatever you decide, you're sure to fall in love with the unique atmosphere of this World Heritage City. How about the theatre tonight? There are also many good restaurants in Bath to tempt you. |
Day 17: We're heading south-west today - to the glorious county of Devon. On route we'll stop at the historic city of Wells, admire one of the finest Cathedrals in the world, then make a visit to Glastonbury Abbey and see King Arthur's tomb and lunch in the town. Our hotel for your last two nights won't disappoint, and a good table d'hôte dinner await. |
Day 18: A coastal extravaganza is planned today. You will soon see why this region attracts so many visitors in the summer. Fine beaches, wonderful little fishing villages and glorious coastal views. Into Cornwall next for lunch at an old pirates-haunt. The afternoon is free - to give you the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of one of Cornwall's most-loved villages, now an artists' colony. It's also a good place to enjoy a tasty West-Country style cream tea. Truly scrumptious! |
Day 19: Finally, we return to London with a brief visit to 'Locksley' Castle and the mysterious wonders of Stonehenge on route.
Before reaching London we'll pause for a last meal together, and see Windsor and its famous castle (if time allows) before bringing our tour to a close and saying 'goodbye' at your London accommodation, or airport hotel if you're flying home next morning. Tour cost is £6600, which covers the cost of your A/C Minivan carrying up to 8 persons, with my full driver-guide service, parking, fuel and all miles driven. Complimentary drinks and occasional snacks are provided along the way. The cost also includes my hotel/subsistence expenses, but not your own. I can arrange guest house accommodations from £80 per twin or double room, £100 a family room per night including breakfast, to luxury style hotels, king beds, for £150 to £300 per room per night including a good three or four course dinner and breakfast. You can go on-line and choose your own accommodations or let your usual travel agent take care of them for you, if you prefer. However, I am very happy to make all the accommodation bookings for you, once I know your average nightly budget; it's part of the service. Please note that meals, entry fees to the sites visited and gratuities (discretionary) are not included, but total luggage handling throughout certainly is! IMPORTANT! Before trying to book an AWAY tour with me please first check availability with my online diary, then email me to have your tour dates/details/prices confirmed. |
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