'Great Tours of London, Britain & Ireland'
A Magical Week in England (6 nights - 7 days)
The world-traveller and famous writer, J B Priestley wrote "I claim there is a magical element in England and the English scene. The magic starts in the astonishing difference between the geographical size of England and her real size. She is just pretending to be small. Once you have made her acquaintance, letting her see that you find her attractive, you discover there is more and more ..... her variety of scene and landscape in comparatively small areas .... such a lot of history on show ... you wander not only along little winding roads, determined to slow you up, but also down through the centuries, even back to the Romans. In England, there is a wonderful relationship between man and nature .... surely, the most satisfying countryside in the world, and a man must linger here and not go tearing through it thinking he is seeing everything when he is seeing nothing .... do some leisurely exploring at twenty miles an hour and let the magical element work for you ...." So we're taking a leaf out of Priestley's book; this is not a 'pack everything in' tour. Through careful planning, we've tried to ensure that although you will enjoy a wide variety of experiences, you'll not end your vacation needing another. (Hopefully!) And you'll remember the sights, sounds and tastes of the real England for a very long time .... Day 1: Schoolboys, Builders and Writers - We drive out of London towards the West Country. A brief stop at Eton, home to one of the most famous boy's schools in the world. We'll admire the fine views of Windsor Castle from Eton Bridge, then set off to Winchester, with its' fine medieval gothic Cathedral, burial place of ancient kings of Wessex, and more recently, the writer Jane Austen. After a brief tour of the Cathedral, we lunch at a historic inn nearby. Refreshed, we make a short drive to Salisbury, home to another great 13th century Cathedral for a 'photo stop, before visiting the mysterious 'temple' of Stonehenge, where we'll attempt to present known facts, the common legends and theories as clearly as possible.... Leaving Stonehenge, we have an hour's drive or so, to the historic and charming little city of Wells. On route, we'll make a brief visit to a picturesque ruined castle which you may recognize as 'Locksley Castle' from the movie 'Prince of Thieves'. At Wells we'll check into your hotel/guerst house for the next two nights. |
Day 2 - Cavemen, Knights and Kings - We slow the pace down a little today. Now, how about a look at some of the homes of our most distant ancestors? No, not the Romans, Angles, Celts or Saxons, we're talking really OLD! Wookey Hole or Cheddar Caves is our first destination, to see where people lived 50 or 60 thousand years ago. Lots of stalagmite and stalagtite formations and some interesting finds. Then we leave the cool, dark caves to explore the world of folklore. Local legend tells us the Holy Grail is close to here; so too, according to medieval monks, is King Arthur's grave. Later, we'll enjoy a traditional West Country tea with scones and (naughty) clotted cream in our 'home' town of Wells. Anyone for a 'pub-crawl' tonight? After all, it is our last night here! Day 3 - Romans, Shepherds and Playwrights - We're off to the Baths this morning - that's the Roman ones in the unique Georgian city of that name, and after an interesting visit we'll take a brief walking tour. Then on to the lovely Cotswolds, with their honey-coloured stone walls and sheep grazing the green hills. A closer look at some of the charming little villages and surrounding landscapes, should produce a good appetite for lunch at one of the oldest inns in England. After lunch, we'll work our way around some of the 'must see' attractions of Shakespeare's Stratford, including his birthplace and local church. Why not visit the theatre this evening? The RSC's productions are usually excellent. You sample a typical Guest House tonight; good restaurants nearby. |
Day 4 - Ironmakers, Potters and Peaks The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge Gorge is named after the world's first ironbridge, built between 1777 and 1781, which spans the Severn river. The ironmakers, engineers and inventors are the men who made it all happen. The Industrial Revolution possibly contributed more to man's technological advancement than any other single event in history. Then we're off to 'China'. With a short drive to the Potteries, now world renowned, thanks to Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Spode and Worcester. After a fascinating look at one of the factories, with an opportunity for some bargain hunting, our happy group should be ready for a traditional afternoon tea. Our day climaxes with a short, scenic drive to the lovely Derbyshire Peak District National Park and your hotel/guest house for the next two nights. Day 5 - Freemen, Peasants and Aristocrats - You're the freemen! Little joke... have a lie-in folks, you deserve a morning at leisure! (The ladies may wish to discover some Blue John jewellery, try bribing your guide!). This lovely little town just begs to be explored and you can wander to your heart's content, or just enjoy the comforts of your hotel. This afternoon we visit one of the grandest houses in Europe, Chatsworth House. Day 6 - Sheriffs, Outlaws and Fair Maidens - 'Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen'... Our journey is to Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest to see if we can find any trace of the Greenwood Men. Follow that with a look at Lord Byron's home, and lunch, before we head south for the first time. On route, we'll make an afternoon visit to either Rockingham Castle, Boughton Houseor Althorp, where you can see a moving exhibition about the life of Princess Diana (July/August only). Your last night could be spent in style, with a fine dinner in a lovely setting to remember for a long time. Enjoy! Day 7 - Ancestors, Heroes and Farewells... After breakfast, a short journey brings us to the ancestral home of George Washington. We'll 'hear the tale' of the great American leader, followed later, at Woodstock, with the life-story of a great Englishman, at Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace. A brief stop and a short stroll for photographs, followed by lunch. We end your tour of England with a visit to the famous University of Oxford, before making our way back to London, because sadly, it's time to say "good-bye". Or should it be, "Au Revoir"? |
Tour cost is £2800, which covers the cost of your A/C Minivan carrying up to 8 persons, with full driver-guide's service, parking, fuel and all miles driven. Complimentary drinks and occasional snacks are provided along the way. The cost includes your driver-guide's hotel/subsistence expenses. We can arrange guest house/inn/hotel accommodations from £70 per twin or double room, £90 a family room per night including breakfast, or you can go on-line and choose your own with our help. Please note that meals, entry fees to the sites visited and gratuities (discretionary) are not included. Total luggage handling throughout. 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. |
December 1, 2009