'Great Tours of London, Britain & Ireland'
TOUR 20: Salisbury, Stonehenge & Bath (11+ hrs)
We first visit the historic Cathedral City of Salisbury. Both town and the great church are not to be missed. The cathedral's spire is England's tallest, at 404'; this picturesque scene has inspired many artists over the last few centuries, including the great C18th English landscape artist, John Constable.
The Chapter House contains the best preserved of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta, the first English-speaking people's 'Bill of Rights', plus some fine medieval carvings portaying biblical stories. The glorious interiors of the Cathedral are sufficient to inspire in themselves, but the addition of some interesting models, works of art and a large mechanical clock installed in 1386 - the oldest surviving mechanical clock in Great Britain - will further enhance your visit.
The cathedral's excellent shop and cafe may tempt you to linger too, but the Salisbury market and town areas are equally worthy of exploration. The town has many small shops, a weekly street market (if we're lucky) and many taverns which have been serving pilgrims through the ages.
We're off to Stonehenge next! Where 5,000 years of mystery will intrigue and amaze. I'll share some secrets and debate some mysteries with you...
After an interesting, somewhat thought-provoking forty-five minutes or so at Stonehenge, we'll take an easy drive to the Georgian City of Bath. Holding World Heritage status, it's certainly one of the most interesting towns in England. The Roman Baths here were excavated just over a century ago and the well-presented museum based on those excavations should not be missed.
Those with an interest in Social History will enjoy the Museum of Costume. It beautifully displays one of Europe's best preserved collections of original garments of the last 400 years.
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
Another excellent museum, the C18th interiors at No 1 The Royal Crescent, gives a vivid glimpse of Bath in its C18th heyday; the Age of Elegance.
If you're into the works of Jane Austen the Centre dedicated to portraying her life in Bath is another must for you.
Finally, don't overlook the opportunity to stroll through Bath's attractive streets and riverside and perhaps take that last photo before we take the road home.
DT20: Up to 8 persons - £520
TOUR 21: D-Day Museum, Historic Ships & Winchester (11+ hrs)
First we travel through the county of Surrey to the Hampshire coast for the D-Day Museum at Southsea. It contains the Overlord Embroidery a massive undertaking which is actually longer than the historic Bayeux tapestry. It is beautifully made and depicts all the events up to and including the operations of 6th June 1944, including the main characters involved in planning and carrying out the single largest naval assault and landing in the history of the world which ultimately led to the liberation of occupied Europe. The Overlord's panels are described and interpreted by an excellent audio guide. The adjoining museum contains excellent WWII artefacts and audio-visuals too.
It's a very short journey to the Historic Ships at the Portmouth Naval Dockyard. Here there's lots to see: King Henry VIII's ship, The Mary Rose, one of his favourite ships, which sank during an engagement with the French in view of the King with the loss of 800 lives, and less than a mile offshore. It lay lost, protected by a covering of mud and silt until discovered quite recently by a sport diver and eventually raised and now stored in the special environment you'll visit.
Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship, The Victory lies here in permanent dry dock. From this ship he commanded the great victory over the Napoleonic Franco-Spanish fleet at Cape Trafalgar, near Cadiz. The battle took place on 21st October 1805 and forced the abandonment of Napoleon's planned invasion of England. Thanks to this critical event and his many earlier successes Nelson is regarded as amongst England's greatest heroes. The excellent conducted tour of the ship is not to be missed!
Last, but certainly not least, there's The Warrior, a magnificent warship of the 19th century to be explored.
Lunch can be taken in the Dockyard and there's also the chance to take a short boat trip around the Harbour, which will allow a closer look at the Navy's ships in port.
We end the day at Winchester, with the opportunity to admire both the fine cathedral and its' picturesque precincts. Why not take a stroll around the town's charming historic centre, too? If it's open, the Great Hall of the Norman Castle contains a round table of late-medieval origin which names the knights of the legendary hero of the West, King Arthur.
Leaving Winchester, we return to London with a 90 minute motorway drive.
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
DT 21: Up to 8 persons - £480
TOUR 22: King Arthur's Wessex (10+ hrs)
Less than an hour away is Glastonbury, sitting on the ancient Isle of Avalon. We'll take a look at the ruins of the fine monastery which claims the graves of Arthur and his Queen, Guinevere. This is quite a mysterious place too, with Biblical legends, stories of miracles and a local population that is swelled during the summer months by many 'pilgrims' and 'searchers after truth'.
An old Pilgrims' Inn will offer a good lunch to tempt us, or you may wish to try the best fish and chips for many miles around at a nationally famous establishment.
Needless to mention that Glastonbury has lots of eccentric shops and stalls offering just about everything 'spiritual' - from books on every subject to crystals to palm readings to healing. The afternoon can be rounded off with a visit to the Chalice Well and/or a climb to the top of Glastonbury Tor. The a view of the 'Somerset Levels' from where some believe King Arthur's defense of his native land was mounted make the effort worthwhile.
Finally, we could round off our day with a brief visit to Stonehenge or Avebury on the way home, if your group wish.
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
DT22: Up to 8 persons - £480
TOUR 23: Stonehenge, Longleat & Bath (11+ hrs)
This tour is deservedly popular, perhaps because it offers an intriguing mix of mystery, grandeur and Georgian elegance.
We journey first to Stonehenge, and if you've not been here yet, you'll be pleasantly surprised that despite all the hype this truly is an amazing structure. We'll explore facts, theories and legends.
Then we visit one of Britain's 'treasure houses', the Marquess of Bath's very grand residence, Longleat House. It's a fine Elizabethan home on a truly palatial scale, housing one of the country's largest private libraries, fine works of art and furniture, plus an eccentric painter-owner, whose work is worthy of inspection. Add Tigers, Lions, African plains species plus monkeys roaming relatively free in the Animal Park, plus a children's zoo, rides and England's largest maze, it's all here!
The day is concluded with a couple of hours to enjoy the offerings of the World Heritage City of Bath. It's an 18th century extravaganza with something for everyone: from Roman Baths to fine architecture, colourful street markets and one of the world's best museums of costume.
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
DT23: Up to 8 persons - £520
TOUR 24: Bath, Castle-Combe, Lacock Abbey & Stonehenge (11+ hrs)
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
DT24: Up to 8 persons £495
TOUR 25: Bath, Malmesbury Abbey & Lower Cotswolds villages (11 hrs)
See details for Bath below. After lunch in one of the Cotswold villages we visit the attractive town of Malmesbury with its splendid Abbey originally founded in the 7th century. With the exception of Bath, this tour will delight those who think they have seen all England has to offer, as we shall visit many places which are definitely not on the popular tourist routes.
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary
DT25: Up to 8 persons - £495
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TOUR 26: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath (11+ hrs)
This tour was introduced in 2010 after many requests to combine these three popular venues. It needs an early 8.30 am start to get the most out of the daylight hours, especially in the shoulder months and is not really suitable for the shorter days from November to February.
Leaving London we head straight to Windsor Castle. I normally accompany you into the Castle preceincts if you're doing it, but if you've already seen the castle and would prefer to explore the town - and it is a charming little spot - we've plenty of time for you to do so.
If you do only wish to see the castle and walk the town for a while without entering the castle, we will easily save an hour or more which can be used to visit either a gorgeous little village near Bath, where the original Dr Dolittle movie was made, or to an equally charming village which has also featured in many films including the earlier Harry Potter movies - so it's your choice! (We'll chat about the options on the initial drive out of London so there's no need to decide at the booking stage). In mid-summer when the days are very long we can comfortably do everything listed here, I just might advise changing the order, that's all.
After Windsor, we're off to Stonehenge with sufficient time to do it justice, grab a snack, if desired, before the short drive to our village choice and then finally to Bath.
I sometimes hear a litttle moan from people who've seen Bath previously with an organised tour, that they were not given sufficient free time to properly enjoy the attractions of this unique place. Worry not, dear reader - on my tours you'll see all that you wish to see, and only then will we take to the Motorway for our journey home!
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary DT26: Up to 8 persons - £520 |
New for 2011! TOUR 29: An Introduction to Wonderful Wales! (14 hrs)
Summer Only - for maximum daylight.
This tour begins with an early (7 am!) pick-up from your London hotel. If you don't want to wake up yet just snuggle down with my nice big cushions - I'll wake you when it's time for breakfast! We will be heading along the main East-West motorway towards the West of England, then crossing a long suspension bridge into Wales. Half way is the perfect time to get everyone up for breakfast, but our early start means that we will achieve much more with the day. A 20 minutes or so 'refuel' here should be enough because everyone will want to get to our destination - Cymru - that's Wales to you and me - so on with our journey westward!
Crossing a two-mile suspension bridge over the Severn estuary brings us into Wales by mid-morning - and now we will slow the pace for a delightful drive along the picturesque Wye Valley.
Our first stop in this wonderful little country is at the beautiful ruins of Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131. We'll take a short walk here and talk about the history of Britain's monastic communities, whilst giving you the opportunity to get some great photographs of both the Abbey and the River Wye.
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Our adventure continues with a riverside valley drive to the delightful border town of Monmouth, birthplace of one of England's greatest warrior Kings, Henry V, and close to the ancestral home of the Rolls family - one son, Charles went into partnership with Henry Royce a man who began making cars in the early 20th century and as a result the company produced one of the world's finest motor cars - the Rolls Royce.
There are two small, but very interesting free museums in the little town of Monmouth and we'll take a brief visit to both in our hour or so introductory walking tour of the town centre.
The first, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers Museum is housed in a 19th century stable wing attached to Great Castle House, within the precincts of the heavily ruined Monmouth Castle - this is where King Henry V was born in 1387. It tells the story of the Regimental history and its' local connections and contains many fascinating artefacts in little more than two large rooms.
The Monmouth Museum contains a fantastic collection of Nelson memorabilia which was gifted to the town almost 100 years ago by a wealthy local lady. Here you can find out about the origins of that collection, and learn all about the life, loves, death and commemoration of the great admiral through displays of weaponry, pictures, fine ceramics, silver and glass, ships models and some of his letters. The museum also charts the development of Monmouth over the centuries.
After my short walking tour introduction to the town and its museums you can enjoy some free time. The chance to shop (much lower prices than London!), to enjoy a good lunch or just stroll, mix with the natives and perhaps listen in to some gossip in the Welsh language.
Meeting up again at our van, we'll journey up into the wild and beautiful Black Mountains and the picturesque Brecon Hills which lead us into the South Wales Industrial area, known locally as 'the Valleys' - you'll hear about the importance of Welsh coal, steel and slate which was exported all over the world.
This area is the birthplace of the internationally renowned singer Sir Tom Jones, the great actors Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins and beautiful actress, Catherine Zeta Jones. There must be something in the air ...
The little town of Caerphilly is the next stop on our trip. It's famous for the cheese which bears its name and for one of the most impressive medieval Castles in Europe. One of the features that make this castle so famous is one of the towers which appears to defy gravity and leans more acutely than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Our final Welsh treat is the Capital City of Wales - Cardiff, birthplace of one of Wales' most famous divas - Dame Shirley Bassey (if you're not sure who she is, think of the Bond movie song, Diamonds Are Forever).
We'll take a drive through this vibrant City which has undergone quite a renaissance over the last 25 years or so and follow with a stroll around the newly restored old Docks and Bay area, with a final chance for you to stretch your legs, explore, grab a snack in your last period of free time.
The day draws to a close when we leave Cardiff around 7 pm and take the road Eastbound to England, arriving in London by late evening.
An ambitious day? Sure, but if you have the energy and want to get a quick taste of the wonderful little country that is Wales in just one day - this has to be your tour!
IMPORTANT! Before booking this tour and paying your deposit please check my availability using my online diary DT26: Up to 8 persons - £640
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Copyright © Ruddick Tours - 2005 - All rights reserved - Last up-dated: July 15, 2011