London Sidetrip in Salisbury and Stonehenge
London Sidetrip Tours9h | from £165.00
See the ancient wonder of Stonehenge in modern comfort. This tour will show you the ancient English heritage and many sites of historic and cultural interest, including Stonehenge and the medieval city of Salisbury with its famous Cathedral and Magna Carta dating back to 1220. The tour dives into the depths of history and discovers the how, when, where and why of Stonehenge & ancient past of humans, from Neolithic Man to the present day. Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire are among the most famous groups of megaliths in the world. The two sanctuaries consist of circles of menhirs arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. These holy places and nearby Neolithic sites are an incomparable testimony to prehistoric times.The full-day tour starts at 9am from Salisbury train station or Central Car Park Coach Park in Salisbury.
It begins in the Medieval Cathedral City with all of its history and mystique where you enjoy a tour of the City before spending an hour at the Cathedral taking in the tallest spire and the Magna Carta (subject to opening times) before departing at 10.15am for a brief stop at Old Sarum, the original City of Salisbury. This Iron Age settlement became Salisbury after visits from Saxons, Danes, Vikings and Normans. Old Sarum offers wonderful views over the City and the surrounding landscape. This is where King John had his garrisons in the early 1200s before the barons rose up against the King which resulted in the Magna Carta being sealed in 1215.
You will depart Old Sarum at approx. 10.40am and follow a narrow riverside road through a picturesque valley with its own history to tell. Here you can take in the many thatched cottages and begin to learn the history that surrounds Stonehenge.
Arriving at Stonehenge at 11.10am you will spend two hours experiencing the new visitor centre and the Ancient Stones before heading to Avebury.
En route to Avebury you will see the Alton Barnes White Horse (a large chalk carving in the hillside) before passing through Lockeridge (where the Sarcen stones originate that form part of Stonehenge & Avebury). You will also see Silbury hill, the largest manmade mound in Europe and the West Kennet longbarrow (an ancient Neolithic burial mound). If time & weather permit you will walk to the site and actually enter the burial mound.
At 2.15pm you arrive at Avebury where your guide will walk you over the site. Here you will try your hand at divining for spiritual leylines.
Leaving Avebury at 4.30pm you begin your return journey to Salisbury train station, Central Coach Park or a local hotel (if you are staying overnight). The tour will be completed at 5.30pm.
9h | from £139.00
Tour Stratford-upon-Avon, the Cotswolds and Oxford in one day, on this leisurely paced excursion with an expert guide. After departing Oxford by comfortable minivan, visit Shakespeare's Birthplace in the charming town of Stratford-upon-Avon and enjoy a photo stop outside Anne Hathaway’s Cottage: the former home of William Shakespeare’s wife. Then, visit several picturesque villages in the beautiful Cotswolds region before returning to the timeworn university city of Oxford for a walking tour.Meet your guide in central Oxford, and then hop inside an air-conditioned minivan and head to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born. Learn about the town’s famous ex-resident on a minibus tour of Stratford, including his school and the Holy Trinity Church where the playwright and poet was baptized and buried. Hop out of your minivan and head inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace — now a museum — and see a range of exhibits about the beloved bard.
Next, make a brief stop in Shottery for photos of the thatched-roof English cottage of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Then, continue to the Cotswolds, the attractive region that prospered from its wool trade during the Middle Ages. Admire the scenery as you travel along tiny one-track lanes through gently rolling hills, and gaze at the golden-stone villages, green pastures and pretty churches that adorn the landscape. With your guide, walk around the village of Burford, explore the delightful Coln Valley and tour the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter before lunch (own expense) in the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
When the time comes, take a seat inside to your minivan and travel back to Oxford. Upon your return, set off on a walking tour around the genteel city, famed for its prestigious university. Stroll around the city center and look out for the some of the notable university buildings, seeing some of the eminent colleges such as All Souls, Christ Church and Divinity School, and learn about the well-known writers, artists and politicians who studied inside the colleges’ walls.
Hear about the lives of JR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll — who each lived in the city — and see places used as filming sites in the popular Harry Potter movies. Your tour then concludes near Oxford train station, leaving you free to continue exploring the city's narrow streets and lanes as you wish.
8h | from £85.00
A unique opportunity to combine a tour of the Cotswolds with a visit to Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon, with its famous theatres and quaint medieval timber-framed houses. Come and discover idyllic stone villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let us help you to enjoy the English countryside at its best.
Our Cotswolds and Shakespeare Tour combines the beauty of Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon with a drive through some of the breathtaking scenery of the North Cotswolds. We leave Oxford and head north through “the Tews”, a group of delightful ironstone villages. We pass the site of English Civil War Battle of Edgehill and several stately homes, including the beautiful Elizabethan Charlecote Park, before arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon. Our short guided walk of Shakespeare’s home town will take you past charming timber-framed houses, the Shakespeare theatres and the River Avon, finishing with an optional visit of Shakespeare’s Birthplace. After lunch, we leave Stratford, passing by Anne Hathaway’s cottage and head into the Cotswolds. A delightful cross-country route takes us through the village of Ilmington and past the famous Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor Gardens, to our next stop in Chipping Campden – the centre of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds. Here, you can browse in the quaint shops or visit the impressive ‘wool church’ and ruined manor house. We return to oxford, following another scenic route through the stone villages of Broad Campden and Blockley. We stop in the busy market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, with its art galleries and antiques shops and then continue on to Oxford via Chipping Norton and Woodstock the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
(no rating)8h | from £85.00
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let us take you on an unforgettable adventure through the stunning scenery, combining the best of the North and South Cotswolds.
This Cotswold Tour introduces visitors to some of the most enchanting villages of the South and North Cotswolds, starting with a drive to the ancient market town of Bampton, one of the oldest towns in England and now well known as the village of Downton in the popular TV series Downton Abbey. We continue via Kelmscott, the home of the Arts and Crafts founder, William Morris, to Lechlade on the River Thames. From there, our journey takes us through some pretty Cotswold stone villages to idyllic Bibury, with its 16th century cottages and trout farm. Heading up the Coln Valley we travel through a succession of stone hamlets, hidden valleys and breath-taking scenery, arriving in the beautiful town of Winchcombe for lunch. Enjoy lunch in a rustic pub or restaurant or take the time to visit Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Catherine Parr, the 6th wife of Henry VIII. Our Cotswold Adventure continues through more stunning countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds, with its charming cafes and antiques shops. We return to Oxford via the quaint village of Cornwell and the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, passing finally through Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
(no rating)5h | from £65.00
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best. This is an extended half-day tour from Oxford, ideal for those who would love to see some of the Cotswold villages, but cannot spare a whole day.
Your ‘Cotswold Taster’ begins with a drive to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters). Continue through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons, and arrive in Bourton-on-the-Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush.
From there follow a picturesque route through Lower Swell to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here, enjoy exploring the narrow streets with their quaint shops and cafes. Return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, with a final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) before returning back to Oxford.
1 day | from £85.00
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best.
You start your unforgettable Cotswold journey driving to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters).
Continuing through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons to Bourton-on-the-Water (the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush).
From Bourton-on-the-Water your route takes you through some enchanting Cotswold villages to Broadway – the village which inspired artists and writers, such as Frank Millet, J M Barrie and William Morris.
After a lunch stop you continue on to the beautiful market town of Chipping Campden, often considered the centre of the Arts and Crafts movement in the Cotswolds and then on to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here you can browse among the narrow footpaths and the antique shops and art galleries.
You return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton with our final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
1 day | from £35.00
On this full-day tour of Brighton and Portsmouth, you will visit Portsmouth first for a stop for some sightseeing and lunch. You will be located near the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and during a short walking tour you will get to see famous historic British ships such as Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory. You will be able to visit the nearby Gunwharf Quays shopping and entertainment area, which has the Emirates Spinnaker Tower, many designer discounted clothes shops and also lots of places to eat lunch. After the visit to Portsmouth you will be taken to the main destination, Brighton. You will have one hour tour of the best areas and sights and then have a few hours of free time for shops, attractions or visiting the museum or you may wish in good weather to soak up the sun on the beach.Your full-day tour of Brighton and Portsmouth will depart early from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford near the Ashmolean Museum and you will arrive in Portsmouth at approximately 10am.
There will be a short walking tour upon arrival in Portsmouth and then free time until departure at 12 noon to Brighton. You will see the famous historic dockyard and HMS Victory.
You will arrive in Brighton at approx. 1pm and have a 1-hour walking tour followed by free time before departure from Brighton at approx. 5pm. You will see the famous Brighton sites, such as historic North and South Lanes, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Pier and more.
You will return back in Oxford at approx. 8.30pm.
(no rating)1 day | from £40.00
On this full-day tour departing from Oxford you will visit two beautiful and historical sites: the nearby World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace and the charming villages which make up the area of the Cotswolds.
Departing central Oxford in the morning, you will start the day by visiting the magnificent Blenheim Palace located just a short journey north of Oxford. Entrance to the palace, park and the gardens is included in the tour. See one of the most impressive and biggest houses in all of England.
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is the main home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has been the home to the Churchill family for about 300 years and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during World War II.
After plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings you will then continue into a national area of outstanding beauty - The Cotswolds. It is full of quaint small villages with houses and churches that date back around 500 years with most buildings made in local limestone (similar to Bath or some Oxford University Colleges).
After another short journey that shows you some of the Cotswold villages and the natural landscape of fields and gentle rolling hills, you will stop at one of the prettiest of all the villages, Bourton-on-the-Water. After a quick tour you have time for lunch (own expense) and free time to enjoy any of the attractions, sights or events on offer.
Departure will be late afternoon returning to Oxford by 5pm and returning to Bournemouth by 7pm.
1 day | from £55.00
Take in two of England’s famous UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites in one day on this adventurous day trip from Oxford. Travel by coach to the prehistoric site of Stonehenge and learn of the area’s significance via your audio guide. Explore the visitor center, where objects unearthed from the site are on display. Then, follow a guide though the ancient streets of Bath and discover top attractions including Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, and the Royal Crescent. This tour includes guide, entrance fees, and round-trip travel from Oxford.
Hop aboard your coach in central Oxford in the morning, then travel in comfort to the UNESCO–listed site of Stonehenge. Nestled in the beautiful county of Wiltshire, Stonehenge is widely considered among the world’s most mysterious prehistoric sites.
On arrival, explore Stonehenge at your own pace and admire the unique rock monuments up-close. With your audio-guide to hand, gain insight into the site’s fascinating history. Then, head to the visitor centre — home to a world-class exhibition featuring 250 ancient objects from around the area.
Continue onward to Bath, a Georgian spa town hidden in the Somerset hills. During your guided walking tour, take in top attractions including Bath Abbey, Bath Circus, the Jane Austen Centre, and the beautiful Royal Crescent, and learn of Bath’s interesting heritage.
When your time in Bath comes to an end, return to central Oxford to conclude your tour.
1 day | from £30.00
Welcome on our tour to Brighton.
On arrival in the city, your guide will take you on a walking tour through the historic Lanes area with its independent shops and theatres through the old historic centre of the city to the seafront.
Your guide will show you what the seafront has to offer from volleyball and nightclubs to the artist’s quarter and the famous Brighton Pier. In the afternoon, there will be some free time for you to visit the pier and seafront and if the weather is not so good, you could visit the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.Your full day tour will depart from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford at X and you will arrive in Brighton by approximately 10.30am.
Once you arrive in Brighton, you will take part on a 1 hour walking tour in the city, covering the following sights (entrance fees at own expense):
Brighton is one of the largest resorts on the South Coast of England. Brighton is not just popular as a destination in the summer months but at weekends throughout the year. Brighton is also called the City by the sea or London by the sea.
The Royal Pavilion is one of the most unique buildings in Britain. It was built in the fashion of and Indian Palace and the inside is decorated in an oriental style both of which were fashionable during this time. You can go inside and look around, this will cost about £8
Construction of Brighton Pier began in 1891 and took eight years to complete. Brighton Pier is now the only pier left in Brighton after the older West Pier was destroyed in a fire in 2003. The pier offers great views along the coast in both directions and contains many amusement rides, cafes and bars.
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery has many galleries with exhibits about Brighton as well as collections of pottery and porceline, a world art collection, fine art galleries along with many more. Visiting is free of charge.
After the walking tour you have free time until approx. 4.30pm. The tour will return to Oxford at approx. 7pm.
Please note: All times are approximate and may vary on the day depending on circumstances and are given as a guideline.
1 day | from £40.00
Welcome to Warwick Castle and Stratford Upon Avon, home of Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers that ever lived. Discover the fascinating story of William Shakespeare's early years, and see where he spent the first five years with his new wife. See how his father, John, earned his living as a glove maker and explore The Shakespeare Exhibition, before entering the house and its outstanding gardens.You will be picked up for this tour from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and driven to Stratford-Upon-Avon, one of England's most beautiful market towns situated to the River Avon. This small quaint place is full of history, picturesque Tudor buildings, theaters, shops, many attractions and things to see and do.
The tour will take you to the places where Shakespeare lived in Stratford, including his birthplace on Henley Street. It is open to the public with an exhibition center to learn more about this great man and see where he was born and lived in his early years. You will also be shown the King Edward VI School where Shakespeare went to study, the site of his retirement home and place of death, New Place. You can also visit his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.
The tour will return to the original meeting point in Oxford afterward.
(no rating)1 day | from £50.00
Welcome on a student tour to Stonehenge & Bath. On this tour you will visit 2 amazing places: The Stonehenge World Heritage site and the World Heritage city of Bath.The Stonehenge site has the entrance included in your ticket price. You will also get an audio guide given for free as you enter. Toilets, souvenirs plus food and drink is available. Stonehenge is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Europe and is also a UN World Heritage Site. The site was first started in 3100BC and was in use until 300AD, almost 3500 years.
You can walk around the stones and use an audio guide that tells you more about the history of the stones. There is also a new visitor centre exhibition to learn more about this incredible landmark. Please make sure you are back on board the coach at the correct time.
Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK to see and you can learn about its Roman history and the founding of its Roman Bath complex (extra charge), and the citys rebirth in Georgian times and its triumph of architecture in the beautiful Royal Crescent. Also see the only bridge in the UK and one of three in the world that has buildings on both sides.
Many religious buildings such as Bath Abbey are available to visit and free or just ask for donations for entry. There are many street entertainers in the city centre and many shops of all types and of course many restaurants or cafes.
1 day | from £40.00
Welcome on our tour to Cardiff & Wales. On this tour you will explore the capital city of Wales, Cardiff. You will arrive about midday and start with a tour of Cardiff Bay which includes the Pierhead Museum, Millennium Centre and National Assembly of Wales.
In the afternoon you will do the main walking tour of Cardiff city centre which includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park with a "mini Stonehenge", Civic area with impressive buildings such as the National Museum and you will also see the Millennium Stadium, one of the largest in the UK. In your free time you will have the chance to visit the Castle (extra charge) or Museum (free) or do some shopping in the many arcades.You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and be taken for this day tour to explore the capital city of Wales, Cardiff.
Wales is a separate country that forms part of the United Kingdom. Wales has a population of three million with a long coastline of 1,200 km, it’s a largely mountainous region to the north and its main centres of population are in the South with its capital Cardiff. Wales was an independent country until the late 13th century, it still holds on to a strong separate identity from England with its own language and its national sports. During the 19th century South Wales was one of the most industrial and productive places on earth with its vast coal mines, iron works and other associated industries. Modern Wales has been transformed from its industrial past in to a forward looking and vibrant region; Cardiff has had hundreds of millions of pounds spent on rebuilding and is home to the Welsh Assembly as well as its main shopping hubs and national museums.
Cardiff has become one of the UK’s tourist hotspots due to its cultural heritage and also its many shopping opportunities. Next door to the National Museum is the City Hall, this is the site of local government. All around the museum and City Hall you will find one of the most beautiful civic centres in the world surrounding Alexandra Gardens. Nicknamed the City of Arcades, Cardiff is great place for shopping in style and the Victorian arcades are worth a visit in themselves. Queen St, St Marys Street and The Hayes are the major pedestrianised shopping streets which all branch off the castle, so it is easy to walk from shop to shop without fear of traffic, here you will find the massive St David’s shopping centre, all around there a great number of places to eat.
On this tour you will do the main walking tour of Cardiff city centre which includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park with a "mini Stonehenge", Civic area with impressive buildings such as the National Museum and you will also see the Millennium Stadium, one of the largest in the UK. In your free time you will have the chance to visit the Castle (extra charge) or Museum (free) or do some shopping in the many arcades.
The tour will return to the original meeting point.
(no rating)1 day | from £40.00
This full-day tour departing from Brighton gives you the perfect introduction to Cambridge, including a walking tour around some of the finest university buildings, museums and churches in the collegiate town. The 1-hour walking tour will take you along those great monuments of education and give insight into their history. After the tour finishes, you will also have around 3 to 4 hours of free time to sightsee at your leisure.Cambridge is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years, people have travelled from all over the world to study and visit this wonderful city. With its beautiful college buildings, museums and churches, Cambridge is a joy to visit for tourists and students alike. Cambridge is a small city with a population of just 100,000 which includes 23,000 students. Even though the city is dominated by its ancient university, it is also home to some of the most high tech companies in the world and is also home to Microsoft research offices. Whether it’s the history of the university or a chance to visit the market and surrounding shops, Cambridge is a great place to visit.
Why not pop in to The Eagle pub for lunch, see the graffiti left by airmen from WWII (own expense)? This was also the place where Watson and Crick announced to the world they had discovered ‘The secret of life’ or the structure of DNA in 1953. After lunch, take a walk on Parker’s Piece, one of Cambridge’s most significant open spaces. Cambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football where the game’s first set of rules were drawn up by members of the University in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker’s Piece and had a defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules.
There is also the River Cam where you may go punting along (own expense) and other sights include the graduation building called Senate House and on Saturdays the outdoor market stalls.
(no rating)1 day | from £30.00
Welcome to a full day tour to London. You will arrive in London late morning at the first stop near Buckingham Palace and start a walking tour around the center of London including sights such as Trafalgar Square, St James Park, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, Downing Street, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, the River Thames and Westminster Abbey.You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Brighton in the morning and arrive in London by approximately 11:00am. The first stop of the tour is Buckingham Palace where you will start an approximate 1.5 hour walking tour covering the most important sights of London.
Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is full of people, ideas and energy. The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and England, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. Situated on the River Thames in south-east England, greater London has an official population of nearly 9 million people — although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance.
There are so many things to see and do in London you would not even have enough time to do them all if you lived there, there are some highlights. Big Ben, also known as the Elizabeth Tower's or the Great Bell, is one of the best known landmarks in London. The clock tower is part of the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament. Next door to Big Ben is Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned for nearly a 1000 years. It is also where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married.
In Covent Garden Market you will find plenty of places to shop or to sit back to eat and drink and take in some of the world class street entertainment. There are also plenty of opportunities to take bus or boat tours to explore London even further.
(no rating)1 day | from £55.00
Enjoy your full-day tour to Stonehenge & Bath. On this tour you will visit 2 amazing places: the Stonehenge World Heritage site and the World Heritage city of Bath.
Depart in the morning and travel via coach to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Arrival at Stonehenge will be at 11:30am and you will have 90 minutes to see this ancient monument up close and listen to the audio guides provided.
Departure from Stonehenge will be at approx. 1pm and travel to Bath in Somerset to visit this charming Georgian city. Free guided walking tour of the city taking in the sights of Bath such as Bath Abbey, Roman Baths Complex, Jane Austen Centre, Bath Circus, Royal Crescent and much more.
Departure from Bath will be at 4:30pm and travel back to Brighton with arrival back at about 8pm.
1 day | from £40.00
Embark on a tour to Oxford, Windsor and Eton. You will visit Windsor and Eton in the morning before traveling to Oxford at lunchtime where you will spend the afternoon. In the Oxford center you will find a wide range of shops in the Westgate and Clarendon shopping centers and the old Victorian covered market. Or you can alternatively visit some free museums or Oxford Castle.The "City of Dreaming Spires" is home to one of the most famous and oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years it has been a home to royalty and scholars although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Its beautiful architecture, museums and young student population make the city a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. Even though Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city, it is dominated by its ancient university, with each college having its own sense of identity. With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for the visitor to do.
University/Christchurch College:
The University of Oxford is the second oldest surviving university in the world dating back to the 11th century. There is no central campus; the university is all over the city center consisting of 36 colleges and over 100 schools looking after 21,000 students. Perhaps the most well known college is Christchurch, this is the largest college in Oxford, and many of the scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot in various locations around the college grounds.
Oxford Castle:
The castle dates back to the 11th century and although mainly a ruin it does still have its old keep. The castle’s main use was as a prison which remained so until as recently as 1996. Today you can visit it as a tourist attraction, find out about the people who worked there and also about some of the more notorious characters who were locked up inside.
Ashmolean Museum:
The world’s first university museum. The museum opened in 1683 but has since moved to its present building in 1845. Over the last few years the museum has been extensively rebuilt with millions of pound spent on it. The main museum contains one of the finest collections pre-Raphaelite paintings amongst other great collections as well as archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt and Greece.
If you are a keen photographer, or you just like seeing things from a different angle, then why not climb the 13th century tower of St. Mary the Virgin Church opposite the Radcliffe Camera. The church is known as the university church and is the oldest building associated with the university, for a small fee you can climb the steps of the tower for wonderful views of the college buildings.
Oxford has a great collection of museums. The Museum of the History of Science contains scientific instruments from medieval times up to the modern day. The Pitt-Rivers Museum houses the university’s archaeological and anthropological collections. The University Museum is the museum of natural history, situated next door to the Pitt-Rivers Museum.
(no rating)1 day | from £40.00
Embark on a tour to Oxford, Windsor and Eton. You will visit Windsor and Eton in the morning before traveling to Oxford at lunchtime where you will spend the afternoon. In the Oxford center you will find a wide range of shops in the Westgate and Clarendon shopping centers and the old Victorian covered market. Or you can alternatively visit some free museums or Oxford Castle.The "City of Dreaming Spires" is home to one of the most famous and oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years it has been a home to royalty and scholars although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Its beautiful architecture, museums and young student population make the city a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. Even though Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city, it is dominated by its ancient university, with each college having its own sense of identity. With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for the visitor to do.
University/Christchurch College:
The University of Oxford is the second oldest surviving university in the world dating back to the 11th century. There is no central campus; the university is all over the city center consisting of 36 colleges and over 100 schools looking after 21,000 students. Perhaps the most well known college is Christchurch, this is the largest college in Oxford, and many of the scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot in various locations around the college grounds.
Oxford Castle:
The castle dates back to the 11th century and although mainly a ruin it does still have its old keep. The castleâs main use was as a prison which remained so until as recently as 1996. Today you can visit it as a tourist attraction, find out about the people who worked there and also about some of the more notorious characters who were locked up inside.
Ashmolean Museum:
The worldâs first university museum. The museum opened in 1683 but has since moved to its present building in 1845. Over the last few years the museum has been extensively rebuilt with millions of pound spent on it. The main museum contains one of the finest collections pre-Raphaelite paintings amongst other great collections as well as archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt and Greece.
If you are a keen photographer, or you just like seeing things from a different angle, then why not climb the 13th century tower of St. Mary the Virgin Church opposite the Radcliffe Camera. The church is known as the university church and is the oldest building associated with the university, for a small fee you can climb the steps of the tower for wonderful views of the college buildings.
Oxford has a great collection of museums. The Museum of the History of Science contains scientific instruments from medieval times up to the modern day. The Pitt-Rivers Museum houses the universityâs archaeological and anthropological collections. The University Museum is the museum of natural history, situated next door to the Pitt-Rivers Museum.
(no rating)1 day | from £40.00
This day trip departing from Eastbourne gives you the perfect introduction to Cambridge and includes a walking tour around some of the finest university buildings, museums and churches in the collegiate town. The 1-hour walking tour will take you along those great monuments of education and give insight into their history. After the tour finishes, you will also have around 3 to 4 hours of free time to sightsee at your leisure.Cambridge is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years, people have travelled from all over the world to study and visit this wonderful city. With its beautiful college buildings, museums and churches, Cambridge is a joy to visit for tourists and students alike. Cambridge is a small city with a population of just 100,000 which includes 23,000 students. Even though the city is dominated by its ancient university, it is also home to some of the most high tech companies in the world and is also home to Microsoft research offices. Whether it’s the history of the university or a chance to visit the market and surrounding shops, Cambridge is a great place to visit.
Why not pop in to The Eagle pub for lunch, see the graffiti left by airmen from WWII (own expense)? This was also the place where Watson and Crick announced to the world they had discovered ‘The secret of life’ or the structure of DNA in 1953. After lunch, take a walk on Parker’s Piece, one of Cambridge’s most significant open spaces. Cambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football where the game’s first set of rules were drawn up by members of the University in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker’s Piece and had a defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules.
There is also the River Cam where you may go punting along (extra cost) and other sights include the graduation building called Senate House and on Saturdays the outdoor market stalls.
(no rating)8h | from £129.99
Experience authentic, quintessential England. Â We create experiences: Journeys into the English countryside to uncover the history, culture, stories and experiences that make England unique.
Our 'Medieval Marvels & Movie Scenes' experience takes you on a tour of several of the most stunning local towns and villages in England to discover picture perfect scenes, intriguing history and some of the locations used in some of the most famous films made in England: Harry Potter, the BBC's Pride & Prejudice series, War Horse, Downton Abbey and more. Â Discover the stories, history, and characters that make these places more than just filming locations. Â Enter an 800 year old stately home, see the birthplace of photography and uncover the stories of those who came before us.
Travelling in a small group of eight or fewer guests in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle you will...
- Visit Castle Combe, one of the most beautiful villages in England.
- Enjoy a morning coffee in a stately country house.
- Explore Lacock, a gorgeous medieval village and a film location for many features and TV series.
- Visit Lacock Abbey, a stately home and the birthplace of modern photography.
- Enjoy lunch at a charming, country pub that serves superb locally-sourced fare, with a drink included.
- Wander through a Saxon town that features a canal, river and a church that dates back over 1000 years.
- Browse local boutiques and peruse the local crafts.
- Finish the afternoon with a drink in a fine English country pub
(no rating)Flexible | from £129.99
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and most interesting hidden treasures. This tour of the southern Cotswolds and Malmesbury offers you more than just sightseeing: stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and unique experiences. Travelling in a small group (up to eight passengers), led by an engaging, knowledgeable and local guide, discover real, authentic, quintessential England. Your Cotswolds, Saxons and Victuals tour combines a visit to one of the most historic towns in England, with the opportunity to see some of the finest local crafts people demonstrate their skills. Learn how to make sausages with a traditional butcher, discover the traditional art of cask beer brewing and visit a jaw dropping Gothic Victorian Stately home, off limits to the general public. Enjoy stunning Cotswolds scenery and encounter the resting place of a great King. Hear beguiling stories and see intriguing places that are simply not on the usual tourist trail.
This tour will provide you with a taste of real England, not just the usual well, trodden tourist sights. All the tours are small and personable and aimed for discerning travellers wishing to explore authentic England and seeking to experience the land that inspired greats such as Austen, Hardy and Constable.
For your guide, it's not just about sightseeing; it's about the culinary experiences, the history and the characters, the visits to the small, hidden places only the locals know, and the stories and conversations that make every visit unique.
Your guide want you to be surprised and delighted by the places you visit together, so you won't always be told exactly where you'll be going - the surprise is part of the magic - but you are guaranteed that experience of quintessential England you've always wanted.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing from Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee in an old coaching inn in a stunning hilltop town in the Cotswolds.
Once you arrive in Malmesbury, you'll meet a traditional butcher and learn how to make his national award-winning sausages followed by a taster afterwards.
You'll then be taken on a personal, guided tour of Malmesbury, the oldest borough in England (chartered in 880AD) with a history dating back over 2500 years and one of the most important towns in England in the Medieval era, home to the tomb of the first King of England.
You'll then enjoy lunch (included in the tour price) at an award-winning country pub popular with members of the Royal Family.
After lunch, depending on availability, you'll meet a world-renowned swordsmith in his workshop who makes historic swords using the methods that were used at the time.
Finally, you'll visit a local brewery that makes traditional, cask beer and be taken on a tour by the chief brewer before finishing with a taster before heading back to Bath just after 5.30pm.
(no rating)8h | from £129.99
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and prettiest hidden treasures. This tour offers you more than just sightseeing: the stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and conversations make each tour unique. Travelling in a small group of eight guests or fewer, , get beneath the surface and discover real, authentic, quintessential England. This full-day Stonehenge and Secret Somerset tour combines a visit to one of the most iconic ancient structures in the world with a journey into 'secret Somerset', where you'll discover fascinating places and hear amazing stories that you simply will not see on the usual tourist trail or with any other tour.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee at a unique and stunning location on the way to Stonehenge.
Once you arrive at Stonehenge, you get to skip the ticket queues and the audio-guides that most visitors to Stonehenge encounter, and enjoy a personal, interactive tour of the stones.
Departing Stonegenge, you escape the crowds and delve deep into 'Secret Somerset', a land of stunning countryside, hidden villages and quaint cottages. You enjoy lunch at a carefully selected award-winning traditional English Inn that oozes character and serves superb locally-sourced fare. You can also sample local beverages such as locally made and world renowned Somerset cider.
After lunch you will explore some stunning villages - places few other tourists will ever see or even hear about. You will admire archetypal English cottages and hear some of the unique stories that make these places special, enjoying countryside that has inspired writers such as Hardy and Austen and artists such as Turner and Constable.
You will finish the afternoon (if there's time) with the opportunity to enjoy a hidden walled garden and the chance to enjoy (optional) tea and cake in very special location before returning to Bath.
1 day | from £55.00
Check off two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in just one day on this 11.5-hour coach trip from Bournemouth. Explore the mystic stone circle at Stonehenge, then take in the sights of Bath on a guided walking tour with plenty of free time. Tour includes admission to Stonehenge.
Board your comfortable, climate-controled coach at Bournemouth Interchange Coach Station at 8:30am for the hour-long journey to Stonehenge, where the Neolithic stone circle unfurls before your eyes.
Equipped with an audioguide, you'll have 90 minutes to see this ancient monument up close and marvel at the astronomical wisdom behind its construction. Explore the exhibition at the Visitor's Centre and see how our ancestors lived 4,500 years ago in the Neolithic stone houses.
Then, hop back on the bus for the hour-or-so journey to the UNESCO-listed City of Bath, with its glorious Georgian architecture and heritage dating back to Roman times.
Join your guide for a walking tour of the highlights of the city: you'll see the glorious Gothic spires of Bath Abbey, the exterior of the impressive Roman Baths, 18th-century Bath Circus, the Royal Crescent, designed by John Wood, and the Jane Austen Centre, devoted to the 18th-century novelist who wrote so much about Bath.
After this, you'll have plenty of free time, equipped with a complimentary map. Perhaps you'll choose to return to some of the attractions you've seen and explore them in more depth? (Admission at own expense.) Or perhaps you'd like to enjoy a cream tea, lunch, or a historic English pub?
You'll be back at the bus around 6pm, ready for the journey back to Bournemouth, returning to the coach station around 8pm.
(no rating)9h | from £170.00
This full-day trip from Salisbury introduces you to the medieval city of Salisbury and the beautiful Woodford Valley en route to the world famous prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You also get to learn about the railways and canals before arriving at Avebury, also known as the largest stone circle in Europe.Your day trip starts with a morning pickup from Salisbury Train Station or your accommodation in Salisbury. En route to Stonehenge, learn the wonders of the medieval city of Salisbury before travelling a scenic route to Stonehenge. You will see thatched cottages and learn about the surrounding area.
Once you reach the world famous UNESCO Heritage Site of Stonehenge, marvel at human endeavour which is testament to the sophisticated engineering skills of prehistoric people. Follow in their footsteps as you approach the monument of Stonehenge and explore the many other prehistoric remains across the landscape.
Just after noon, depart Stonehenge and begin your journey across the Wiltshire countryside. You will cross the Kennet and Avon Canal and learn of the transition between the Canals and the first trains before seeing a magnificent chalk carving in the hillside, Alton Barnes White Horse. You then travel through Lockeridge, the home of the Sarcen Stones (the largest of the stones at Stonehenge), and you soon arrive in Avebury where you have free time for lunch (own expense).
In Avebury, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will learn of the true definition of a henge and as your guide takes you around this Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles you will be able to touch and feel the stones themselves. You will try your hand at Divining for the spiritual leylines before leaving Avebury.
Departing Avebury you will travel to West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill, where you can take a short walk to one of the largest, most accessible Neolithic chambered tombs in Britain. Built in and around 3650BC, it was used for a short time as a burial chamber, nearly 50 people being buried here before the chambers were blocked. You will have a great view from here of Silbury Hill, the largest man-made mound in Europe. Mysterious Silbury Hill compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids. Probably completed around 2400BC, it apparently contains no burial.
At around 5pm you will depart Silbury Hill and begin your journey back towards your desired drop off location in Salisbury, where you will return at 6-6.30pm.
(no rating)Flexible | from £135.00
See the ancient wonder of Stonehenge in modern comfort. This tour will show you the ancient English heritage and many sites of historic and cultural interest, including Stonehenge and the Medieval City of Salisbury with its famous Cathedral and Magna Carta dating back to 1220. The tour dives into the depths of history and discovers the how, when, where and why of Stonehenge & ancient past of humans, from Neolithic Man to the present day.Begin your tour from either Salisbury Train Station or Central Car Park Coach Park in Salisbury.
Explore the medieval city with all of its history and mystique, spending an hour at the Cathedral to take in the tallest spire and the Magna Carta (subject to opening times).
Then make a brief stop at Old Sarum, the original city of Salisbury. This Iron Age settlement became Salisbury after visits from Saxons, Danes, Vikings, and Normans. Old Sarum offers wonderful views over the city and the surrounding landscape. This is where King John had his garrisons in the early 1200s before the barons rose up against the King which resulted in the Magna Carta being sealed in 1215.
Depart from Old Sarum and follow a narrow riverside road through a picturesque valley. Here you can take in the many thatched cottages and begin to learn the history that surrounds Stonehenge.
Arriving at Stonehenge, spend two hours experiencing the new visitor center and the ancient stones before heading to a local, family-friendly pub for your pre-booked lunch. You will have an hour at the pub before heading to The Ancestor in Amesbury and the 10th-century Church of St Mary and St. Melor. Here you will discover a fascinating account of the place and uncover the reason why Stonehenge is where it is.
The journey through time to one of Britain's best kept secrets, exploring the oldest continuous settlement in England (as recognized by Guinness World Records). Enjoy exclusive access to a site of recent archaeological discoveries.
Upon leaving Amesbury, return to Salisbury Train Station, Central Coach Park, or a local hotel (if you are staying overnight), where your tour concludes.
8h 30m | from £60.00
Revel in the expansive landscapes of the South Downs on this 8.5-hour small-group hiking and scooter tour – and yes, that's a real, live kick scooter like the one you had when you were a kid. You'll hike from Poynings' Devil's Dyke to Chanctonbury Ring near Washington, scooter down to the River Adur, and finish the day with a Champagne picnic overlooking a beautiful view.
Meet your guide and your small group at Hassocks train station at 9:30am: you'll drive a few minutes to your starting point at Devil's Dyke.
Over the morning, admire the rolling landscapes of the South Downs, soak up the fresh air, and tone your calf muscles as you hike across Devil's Dyke, Edburton Hill, and Truleigh Hill.
Here, pick up kick scooters, and unleash your childlike glee as you whizz downhill to the pretty little River Adur, where you'll break for lunch. Your guide carries sweets and snacks, but lunch is not included in this tour: it's a good idea to bring a packed lunch plus whatever else you need to keep up energy levels over the day.
After lunch, it's back on your feet. The hike continues across the Downs to the Bronze Age hill fort known as Chanctonbury Ring. At 731 feet (438 meters) above sea level, this offers glorious bird's-eye views across Sussex.
Take the time to capture photos and, depending on the time of year, enjoy a sunset, as your guide prepares a Champagne picnic. You'll end the day with a glass of Champagne and some light refreshments, before driving back to Hassocks train station, arriving around 6pm.
(no rating)1 day | from £60.00
For a coastal challenge try this Cuckmere Haven to Eastbourne day tour where you’ll canoe on the Cuckmere River and trek across the Sussex coastline passing the Birling Gap and Beachy Head as you scale the peaks of the Seven Sisters.Meet at Polegate Train Station for a morning pickup and transportation to Cuckmere haven. Start the tour canoeing along the Cuckmere River before the hike along the magnificent Seven Sisters cliffs. Enjoy lunch on the Seven Sisters cliff edge before the trek down to the pebbled beaches of Eastbourne for a champagne picnic as the sun sets over the coast.
At the end of the tour there is a drop-off back to Polegate Train Station at approximately 6:00pm.
Some of the highlights of this tour include Seven Sisters Country Park, Birling Gap, the Belle Tout Lighthouse, breathtaking Beachy Head, not forgetting a champagne picnic watching the sunset.
(no rating)9h | from £295.00
Hop over the River Severn and cross the border from England into Wales with a full-day tour from Bath that takes in several of South Wales's top attractions. You will be picked up from your Bath hotel or accommodation address to begin your journey to South Wales, a day that includes stops at historic attractions such Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey and Caerphilly Castle. Your drivers will provide conversation as they take you on a scenic circuit route through South Wales in one of our modern, air-conditioned vehicles that is exclusive to your family or party.
Your driver will collect you from your Bath hotel or accommodation address at around 8:30am, setting off to South Wales via the Seven Bridge crossings with your first stop at the historic Chepstow Castle, before proceeding on to the stunning ruins of Tintern Abbey. After your visit here you can choose to visit the impressive Raglan Castle or head up the Wye Valley to the pretty market town to Monmouth before moving on in a circuitous route to the next stop, the largest castle in Wales, Caerphilly.
After Caerphilly you will begin the return route to Bath, with an estimated return time of around 5.30pm-6pm.
A visit time of around one hour per stop applies. To make the most of your visit time to the attractions it's recommended you arrange a picnic lunch that can be eaten in the vehicle (cold foods only) or opt to visit Monmouth (as above) for a lunch break.
Entrance charges to attractions visited are not included. Your driver will provide general information and conversation whilst driving only and do not normally enter attractions with clients: most attractions will have their own guides on hand to provide specific information.
8h | from £295.00
Home to picture perfect honey-colored stone villages set among rolling limestone hills, the Cotswolds is the largest designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' in England and Wales making it a 'must-see' destination for visitors to the South West England and a great day out of Bath. This private full-day excursion from Bath exclusive to your family or party, your driver-guide will show you the best of the Cotswold villages and countryside. Sit back and relax in an air-conditioned vehicle and you'll see the beautiful countryside pass by as you make short hops between picturesque villages such as Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and Upper and Lower Slaughter.
At the start of your tour, you will be collected from your Bath hotel or accommodation address for a full-day tour of the Cotswolds villages and countryside, typically visiting villages and towns such as Castle Combe, Bibury, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold before returning back to Bath at approx. 5pm-5.30pm. Reasonable adjustments to the itinerary to meet your requests and interests can be made on the day with your driver.
Transportation will provided in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle seating up to four passengers and is exclusive to your family/party (not a shared bus service). The vehicle will be driven by a friendly and experienced driver who will provide general information and conversation whilst driving. Drivers do not normally enter attractions with clients.
9h | from £139.00
Learn about the lives and love interests of the fictional Crawley family on a full-day 'Downton Abbey' filming location tour! Depart from Oxford and travel to the county of Oxfordshire to explore villages such as Cogges, Bampton, Bladon and Swinbrook where the British period TV drama has been filmed. In the afternoon, tour Blenheim Palace — a UNESCO site not used in the series but magnificent nonetheless — for an insight into the daily lives of upper-crust English aristocracy.Leave Oxford by air-conditioned minivan, and travel out into the glorious countryside that surrounds the city. On the journey, your guide will keep you entertained with tales and trivia about the Downton Abbey TV series that has a fan base spread all over the world.
Filmed mostly in and around Oxfordshire, the British period drama of Downton Abbey documents the dramas and scandals of the fictional Crawley family and their servants in the days leading up to and after World War I. Hear insider gossip about characters such as Lady Mary, and discover little-known facts about the shooting locations included on your tour. Stop at a farm nestled in the hills near Cogges and enjoy a hot drink (own expense) in the farm’s rustic cafe before you check out filming locations around the farm.
Continue to Bampton in the Cotswolds. The stone cottages and leafy, twisting streets in this quintessential English village might look familiar; scenes depicting the Downton village are often shot here and appear throughout the entire series. On a walking tour, see the village church — the site of Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley — and the house that was once used as the Crawley family home. Stroll along the main street, spotting shops and the fictional Grantham Arms pub that appear in many episodes.
Travel onward to the historical village of Shilton to explore its center, including a quaint village pub that is surrounded by ponds, medieval bridges and wells. From Shilton, travel to a pub in Swinbrook for lunch (own expense) where Lady Sybil eloped with the family chauffeur Branson; enjoy a quick stop in the village of Bladon to see the graves of Sir Winston Churchill and his wife; and finish the tour at Blenheim Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While not used as a Downton Abbey filming location, one can imagine the palace's stately grandeur that would impress the Crawley family. Take a walking tour that delves into the history of Winston Churchill's ancestral home, originally given to the first duke of Marlborough as a gift from the English Parliament. Wander through the State Apartments, and then explore a section of the beautiful landscaped gardens that feature the Temple of Diana. Finally, return to your minivan and travel back to the start point in Oxford where your tour finishes.
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Multi-day excursions links- Sceptrevacations.com - Long the price champ on self-drive vacations in the British Isles (they provide airfare, rental car, and vouchers for hotels and/or B&Bs, all at a discount; your trip is your own), Sceptre now also offers rail journeys, chauffeur trips, and escorted tours ("Journeys"). Though it covers much of Europe now, Sceptre started with Ireland and Scotland, and still offers a wider range of British Isles itineraries than most, including plenty in England and Wales.
- City-discovery.com - Chief rival to Viator (though with a less spiffy interface and often sub-par text descriptions), representing many of the same tours (at the same prices). However, it also seems to cover more destinations, especially secondary ones. When it comes down to it, City-Discovery and Viator have maybe 70% the same inventory, but then 30% will be completely different (some Viator has City-Discovery does not, other vice-versa) so it pays to check through the offerings from both.Partner
The full-day tour starts at 9am from Salisbury train station or Central Car Park Coach Park in Salisbury.
It begins in the Medieval Cathedral City with all of its history and mystique where you enjoy a tour of the City before spending an hour at the Cathedral taking in the tallest spire and the Magna Carta (subject to opening times) before departing at 10.15am for a brief stop at Old Sarum, the original City of Salisbury. This Iron Age settlement became Salisbury after visits from Saxons, Danes, Vikings and Normans. Old Sarum offers wonderful views over the City and the surrounding landscape. This is where King John had his garrisons in the early 1200s before the barons rose up against the King which resulted in the Magna Carta being sealed in 1215.
You will depart Old Sarum at approx. 10.40am and follow a narrow riverside road through a picturesque valley with its own history to tell. Here you can take in the many thatched cottages and begin to learn the history that surrounds Stonehenge.
Arriving at Stonehenge at 11.10am you will spend two hours experiencing the new visitor centre and the Ancient Stones before heading to Avebury.
En route to Avebury you will see the Alton Barnes White Horse (a large chalk carving in the hillside) before passing through Lockeridge (where the Sarcen stones originate that form part of Stonehenge & Avebury). You will also see Silbury hill, the largest manmade mound in Europe and the West Kennet longbarrow (an ancient Neolithic burial mound). If time & weather permit you will walk to the site and actually enter the burial mound.
At 2.15pm you arrive at Avebury where your guide will walk you over the site. Here you will try your hand at divining for spiritual leylines.
Leaving Avebury at 4.30pm you begin your return journey to Salisbury train station, Central Coach Park or a local hotel (if you are staying overnight). The tour will be completed at 5.30pm.
Meet your guide in central Oxford, and then hop inside an air-conditioned minivan and head to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born. Learn about the town’s famous ex-resident on a minibus tour of Stratford, including his school and the Holy Trinity Church where the playwright and poet was baptized and buried. Hop out of your minivan and head inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace — now a museum — and see a range of exhibits about the beloved bard.
Next, make a brief stop in Shottery for photos of the thatched-roof English cottage of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Then, continue to the Cotswolds, the attractive region that prospered from its wool trade during the Middle Ages. Admire the scenery as you travel along tiny one-track lanes through gently rolling hills, and gaze at the golden-stone villages, green pastures and pretty churches that adorn the landscape. With your guide, walk around the village of Burford, explore the delightful Coln Valley and tour the villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter before lunch (own expense) in the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
When the time comes, take a seat inside to your minivan and travel back to Oxford. Upon your return, set off on a walking tour around the genteel city, famed for its prestigious university. Stroll around the city center and look out for the some of the notable university buildings, seeing some of the eminent colleges such as All Souls, Christ Church and Divinity School, and learn about the well-known writers, artists and politicians who studied inside the colleges’ walls.
Hear about the lives of JR Tolkien, CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll — who each lived in the city — and see places used as filming sites in the popular Harry Potter movies. Your tour then concludes near Oxford train station, leaving you free to continue exploring the city's narrow streets and lanes as you wish.
A unique opportunity to combine a tour of the Cotswolds with a visit to Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon, with its famous theatres and quaint medieval timber-framed houses. Come and discover idyllic stone villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let us help you to enjoy the English countryside at its best.
Our Cotswolds and Shakespeare Tour combines the beauty of Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon with a drive through some of the breathtaking scenery of the North Cotswolds. We leave Oxford and head north through “the Tews”, a group of delightful ironstone villages. We pass the site of English Civil War Battle of Edgehill and several stately homes, including the beautiful Elizabethan Charlecote Park, before arriving in Stratford-upon-Avon. Our short guided walk of Shakespeare’s home town will take you past charming timber-framed houses, the Shakespeare theatres and the River Avon, finishing with an optional visit of Shakespeare’s Birthplace. After lunch, we leave Stratford, passing by Anne Hathaway’s cottage and head into the Cotswolds. A delightful cross-country route takes us through the village of Ilmington and past the famous Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor Gardens, to our next stop in Chipping Campden – the centre of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds. Here, you can browse in the quaint shops or visit the impressive ‘wool church’ and ruined manor house. We return to oxford, following another scenic route through the stone villages of Broad Campden and Blockley. We stop in the busy market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, with its art galleries and antiques shops and then continue on to Oxford via Chipping Norton and Woodstock the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let us take you on an unforgettable adventure through the stunning scenery, combining the best of the North and South Cotswolds.
This Cotswold Tour introduces visitors to some of the most enchanting villages of the South and North Cotswolds, starting with a drive to the ancient market town of Bampton, one of the oldest towns in England and now well known as the village of Downton in the popular TV series Downton Abbey. We continue via Kelmscott, the home of the Arts and Crafts founder, William Morris, to Lechlade on the River Thames. From there, our journey takes us through some pretty Cotswold stone villages to idyllic Bibury, with its 16th century cottages and trout farm. Heading up the Coln Valley we travel through a succession of stone hamlets, hidden valleys and breath-taking scenery, arriving in the beautiful town of Winchcombe for lunch. Enjoy lunch in a rustic pub or restaurant or take the time to visit Sudeley Castle, the burial place of Catherine Parr, the 6th wife of Henry VIII. Our Cotswold Adventure continues through more stunning countryside to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds, with its charming cafes and antiques shops. We return to Oxford via the quaint village of Cornwell and the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, passing finally through Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best. This is an extended half-day tour from Oxford, ideal for those who would love to see some of the Cotswold villages, but cannot spare a whole day.
Your ‘Cotswold Taster’ begins with a drive to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters). Continue through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons, and arrive in Bourton-on-the-Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush.
From there follow a picturesque route through Lower Swell to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here, enjoy exploring the narrow streets with their quaint shops and cafes. Return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton, with a final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) before returning back to Oxford.
The Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has inspired artists, writers and philosophers for many centuries. Come and discover idyllic English villages, nestling in quiet valleys, small stone thatched cottages, majestic castles and manors, and charming high streets peppered with quaint tea shops and antiques shops. Let your knowledgeable guides show you the English countryside at its best.
You start your unforgettable Cotswold journey driving to Burford (the Gateway to the Cotswolds) through Minster Lovell, with its its attractive thatched houses and ruined Hall – and the beautiful villages of Asthall and Swinbrook (home to the Mitford sisters).
Continuing through the quarrying villages of Taynton and the Barringtons to Bourton-on-the-Water (the Venice of the Cotswolds – with its delightful bridges over the River Windrush).
From Bourton-on-the-Water your route takes you through some enchanting Cotswold villages to Broadway – the village which inspired artists and writers, such as Frank Millet, J M Barrie and William Morris.
After a lunch stop you continue on to the beautiful market town of Chipping Campden, often considered the centre of the Arts and Crafts movement in the Cotswolds and then on to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds. Here you can browse among the narrow footpaths and the antique shops and art galleries.
You return to Oxford via the bustling market town of Chipping Norton with our final stop in Woodstock, the site of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill).
Your full-day tour of Brighton and Portsmouth will depart early from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford near the Ashmolean Museum and you will arrive in Portsmouth at approximately 10am.
There will be a short walking tour upon arrival in Portsmouth and then free time until departure at 12 noon to Brighton. You will see the famous historic dockyard and HMS Victory.
You will arrive in Brighton at approx. 1pm and have a 1-hour walking tour followed by free time before departure from Brighton at approx. 5pm. You will see the famous Brighton sites, such as historic North and South Lanes, Royal Pavilion, Brighton Pier and more.
You will return back in Oxford at approx. 8.30pm.
On this full-day tour departing from Oxford you will visit two beautiful and historical sites: the nearby World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace and the charming villages which make up the area of the Cotswolds.
Departing central Oxford in the morning, you will start the day by visiting the magnificent Blenheim Palace located just a short journey north of Oxford. Entrance to the palace, park and the gardens is included in the tour. See one of the most impressive and biggest houses in all of England.
Blenheim Palace is a monumental country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is the main home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal country house in England to hold the title of palace. The palace was built between 1705 and 1722. Blenheim Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It has been the home to the Churchill family for about 300 years and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during World War II.
After plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings you will then continue into a national area of outstanding beauty - The Cotswolds. It is full of quaint small villages with houses and churches that date back around 500 years with most buildings made in local limestone (similar to Bath or some Oxford University Colleges).
After another short journey that shows you some of the Cotswold villages and the natural landscape of fields and gentle rolling hills, you will stop at one of the prettiest of all the villages, Bourton-on-the-Water. After a quick tour you have time for lunch (own expense) and free time to enjoy any of the attractions, sights or events on offer.
Departure will be late afternoon returning to Oxford by 5pm and returning to Bournemouth by 7pm.
Take in two of England’s famous UNESCO World Heritage–listed sites in one day on this adventurous day trip from Oxford. Travel by coach to the prehistoric site of Stonehenge and learn of the area’s significance via your audio guide. Explore the visitor center, where objects unearthed from the site are on display. Then, follow a guide though the ancient streets of Bath and discover top attractions including Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Centre, and the Royal Crescent. This tour includes guide, entrance fees, and round-trip travel from Oxford.
Hop aboard your coach in central Oxford in the morning, then travel in comfort to the UNESCO–listed site of Stonehenge. Nestled in the beautiful county of Wiltshire, Stonehenge is widely considered among the world’s most mysterious prehistoric sites.
On arrival, explore Stonehenge at your own pace and admire the unique rock monuments up-close. With your audio-guide to hand, gain insight into the site’s fascinating history. Then, head to the visitor centre — home to a world-class exhibition featuring 250 ancient objects from around the area.
Continue onward to Bath, a Georgian spa town hidden in the Somerset hills. During your guided walking tour, take in top attractions including Bath Abbey, Bath Circus, the Jane Austen Centre, and the beautiful Royal Crescent, and learn of Bath’s interesting heritage.
When your time in Bath comes to an end, return to central Oxford to conclude your tour.
On arrival in the city, your guide will take you on a walking tour through the historic Lanes area with its independent shops and theatres through the old historic centre of the city to the seafront.
Your guide will show you what the seafront has to offer from volleyball and nightclubs to the artist’s quarter and the famous Brighton Pier. In the afternoon, there will be some free time for you to visit the pier and seafront and if the weather is not so good, you could visit the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.
Your full day tour will depart from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford at X and you will arrive in Brighton by approximately 10.30am.
Once you arrive in Brighton, you will take part on a 1 hour walking tour in the city, covering the following sights (entrance fees at own expense):
Brighton is one of the largest resorts on the South Coast of England. Brighton is not just popular as a destination in the summer months but at weekends throughout the year. Brighton is also called the City by the sea or London by the sea.
The Royal Pavilion is one of the most unique buildings in Britain. It was built in the fashion of and Indian Palace and the inside is decorated in an oriental style both of which were fashionable during this time. You can go inside and look around, this will cost about £8
Construction of Brighton Pier began in 1891 and took eight years to complete. Brighton Pier is now the only pier left in Brighton after the older West Pier was destroyed in a fire in 2003. The pier offers great views along the coast in both directions and contains many amusement rides, cafes and bars.
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery has many galleries with exhibits about Brighton as well as collections of pottery and porceline, a world art collection, fine art galleries along with many more. Visiting is free of charge.
After the walking tour you have free time until approx. 4.30pm. The tour will return to Oxford at approx. 7pm.
Please note: All times are approximate and may vary on the day depending on circumstances and are given as a guideline.
You will be picked up for this tour from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and driven to Stratford-Upon-Avon, one of England's most beautiful market towns situated to the River Avon. This small quaint place is full of history, picturesque Tudor buildings, theaters, shops, many attractions and things to see and do.
The tour will take you to the places where Shakespeare lived in Stratford, including his birthplace on Henley Street. It is open to the public with an exhibition center to learn more about this great man and see where he was born and lived in his early years. You will also be shown the King Edward VI School where Shakespeare went to study, the site of his retirement home and place of death, New Place. You can also visit his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.
The tour will return to the original meeting point in Oxford afterward.
The Stonehenge site has the entrance included in your ticket price. You will also get an audio guide given for free as you enter. Toilets, souvenirs plus food and drink is available. Stonehenge is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Europe and is also a UN World Heritage Site. The site was first started in 3100BC and was in use until 300AD, almost 3500 years.
You can walk around the stones and use an audio guide that tells you more about the history of the stones. There is also a new visitor centre exhibition to learn more about this incredible landmark. Please make sure you are back on board the coach at the correct time.
Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK to see and you can learn about its Roman history and the founding of its Roman Bath complex (extra charge), and the citys rebirth in Georgian times and its triumph of architecture in the beautiful Royal Crescent. Also see the only bridge in the UK and one of three in the world that has buildings on both sides.
Many religious buildings such as Bath Abbey are available to visit and free or just ask for donations for entry. There are many street entertainers in the city centre and many shops of all types and of course many restaurants or cafes.
In the afternoon you will do the main walking tour of Cardiff city centre which includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park with a "mini Stonehenge", Civic area with impressive buildings such as the National Museum and you will also see the Millennium Stadium, one of the largest in the UK. In your free time you will have the chance to visit the Castle (extra charge) or Museum (free) or do some shopping in the many arcades.
You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Oxford and be taken for this day tour to explore the capital city of Wales, Cardiff.
Wales is a separate country that forms part of the United Kingdom. Wales has a population of three million with a long coastline of 1,200 km, it’s a largely mountainous region to the north and its main centres of population are in the South with its capital Cardiff. Wales was an independent country until the late 13th century, it still holds on to a strong separate identity from England with its own language and its national sports. During the 19th century South Wales was one of the most industrial and productive places on earth with its vast coal mines, iron works and other associated industries. Modern Wales has been transformed from its industrial past in to a forward looking and vibrant region; Cardiff has had hundreds of millions of pounds spent on rebuilding and is home to the Welsh Assembly as well as its main shopping hubs and national museums.
Cardiff has become one of the UK’s tourist hotspots due to its cultural heritage and also its many shopping opportunities. Next door to the National Museum is the City Hall, this is the site of local government. All around the museum and City Hall you will find one of the most beautiful civic centres in the world surrounding Alexandra Gardens. Nicknamed the City of Arcades, Cardiff is great place for shopping in style and the Victorian arcades are worth a visit in themselves. Queen St, St Marys Street and The Hayes are the major pedestrianised shopping streets which all branch off the castle, so it is easy to walk from shop to shop without fear of traffic, here you will find the massive St David’s shopping centre, all around there a great number of places to eat.
On this tour you will do the main walking tour of Cardiff city centre which includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park with a "mini Stonehenge", Civic area with impressive buildings such as the National Museum and you will also see the Millennium Stadium, one of the largest in the UK. In your free time you will have the chance to visit the Castle (extra charge) or Museum (free) or do some shopping in the many arcades.
The tour will return to the original meeting point.
Cambridge is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years, people have travelled from all over the world to study and visit this wonderful city. With its beautiful college buildings, museums and churches, Cambridge is a joy to visit for tourists and students alike. Cambridge is a small city with a population of just 100,000 which includes 23,000 students. Even though the city is dominated by its ancient university, it is also home to some of the most high tech companies in the world and is also home to Microsoft research offices. Whether it’s the history of the university or a chance to visit the market and surrounding shops, Cambridge is a great place to visit.
Why not pop in to The Eagle pub for lunch, see the graffiti left by airmen from WWII (own expense)? This was also the place where Watson and Crick announced to the world they had discovered ‘The secret of life’ or the structure of DNA in 1953. After lunch, take a walk on Parker’s Piece, one of Cambridge’s most significant open spaces. Cambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football where the game’s first set of rules were drawn up by members of the University in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker’s Piece and had a defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules.
There is also the River Cam where you may go punting along (own expense) and other sights include the graduation building called Senate House and on Saturdays the outdoor market stalls.
You will be picked up from a centrally located meeting point in Brighton in the morning and arrive in London by approximately 11:00am. The first stop of the tour is Buckingham Palace where you will start an approximate 1.5 hour walking tour covering the most important sights of London.
Noisy, vibrant and truly multicultural, London is full of people, ideas and energy. The capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and England, it is also the largest city in Western Europe and the European Union. Situated on the River Thames in south-east England, greater London has an official population of nearly 9 million people — although the figure of over 14 million for the city's total metropolitan area more accurately reflects London's size and importance.
There are so many things to see and do in London you would not even have enough time to do them all if you lived there, there are some highlights. Big Ben, also known as the Elizabeth Tower's or the Great Bell, is one of the best known landmarks in London. The clock tower is part of the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament. Next door to Big Ben is Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned for nearly a 1000 years. It is also where Prince William and Kate Middleton were married.
In Covent Garden Market you will find plenty of places to shop or to sit back to eat and drink and take in some of the world class street entertainment. There are also plenty of opportunities to take bus or boat tours to explore London even further.
Enjoy your full-day tour to Stonehenge & Bath. On this tour you will visit 2 amazing places: the Stonehenge World Heritage site and the World Heritage city of Bath.
Depart in the morning and travel via coach to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Arrival at Stonehenge will be at 11:30am and you will have 90 minutes to see this ancient monument up close and listen to the audio guides provided.
Departure from Stonehenge will be at approx. 1pm and travel to Bath in Somerset to visit this charming Georgian city. Free guided walking tour of the city taking in the sights of Bath such as Bath Abbey, Roman Baths Complex, Jane Austen Centre, Bath Circus, Royal Crescent and much more.
Departure from Bath will be at 4:30pm and travel back to Brighton with arrival back at about 8pm.
The "City of Dreaming Spires" is home to one of the most famous and oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years it has been a home to royalty and scholars although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Its beautiful architecture, museums and young student population make the city a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. Even though Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city, it is dominated by its ancient university, with each college having its own sense of identity. With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for the visitor to do.
University/Christchurch College:
The University of Oxford is the second oldest surviving university in the world dating back to the 11th century. There is no central campus; the university is all over the city center consisting of 36 colleges and over 100 schools looking after 21,000 students. Perhaps the most well known college is Christchurch, this is the largest college in Oxford, and many of the scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot in various locations around the college grounds.
Oxford Castle:
The castle dates back to the 11th century and although mainly a ruin it does still have its old keep. The castle’s main use was as a prison which remained so until as recently as 1996. Today you can visit it as a tourist attraction, find out about the people who worked there and also about some of the more notorious characters who were locked up inside.
Ashmolean Museum:
The world’s first university museum. The museum opened in 1683 but has since moved to its present building in 1845. Over the last few years the museum has been extensively rebuilt with millions of pound spent on it. The main museum contains one of the finest collections pre-Raphaelite paintings amongst other great collections as well as archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt and Greece.
If you are a keen photographer, or you just like seeing things from a different angle, then why not climb the 13th century tower of St. Mary the Virgin Church opposite the Radcliffe Camera. The church is known as the university church and is the oldest building associated with the university, for a small fee you can climb the steps of the tower for wonderful views of the college buildings.
Oxford has a great collection of museums. The Museum of the History of Science contains scientific instruments from medieval times up to the modern day. The Pitt-Rivers Museum houses the university’s archaeological and anthropological collections. The University Museum is the museum of natural history, situated next door to the Pitt-Rivers Museum.
The "City of Dreaming Spires" is home to one of the most famous and oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years it has been a home to royalty and scholars although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Its beautiful architecture, museums and young student population make the city a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. Even though Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city, it is dominated by its ancient university, with each college having its own sense of identity. With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for the visitor to do.
University/Christchurch College:
The University of Oxford is the second oldest surviving university in the world dating back to the 11th century. There is no central campus; the university is all over the city center consisting of 36 colleges and over 100 schools looking after 21,000 students. Perhaps the most well known college is Christchurch, this is the largest college in Oxford, and many of the scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot in various locations around the college grounds.
Oxford Castle:
The castle dates back to the 11th century and although mainly a ruin it does still have its old keep. The castleâs main use was as a prison which remained so until as recently as 1996. Today you can visit it as a tourist attraction, find out about the people who worked there and also about some of the more notorious characters who were locked up inside.
Ashmolean Museum:
The worldâs first university museum. The museum opened in 1683 but has since moved to its present building in 1845. Over the last few years the museum has been extensively rebuilt with millions of pound spent on it. The main museum contains one of the finest collections pre-Raphaelite paintings amongst other great collections as well as archaeological pieces from ancient Egypt and Greece.
If you are a keen photographer, or you just like seeing things from a different angle, then why not climb the 13th century tower of St. Mary the Virgin Church opposite the Radcliffe Camera. The church is known as the university church and is the oldest building associated with the university, for a small fee you can climb the steps of the tower for wonderful views of the college buildings.
Oxford has a great collection of museums. The Museum of the History of Science contains scientific instruments from medieval times up to the modern day. The Pitt-Rivers Museum houses the universityâs archaeological and anthropological collections. The University Museum is the museum of natural history, situated next door to the Pitt-Rivers Museum.
Cambridge is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. For over 800 years, people have travelled from all over the world to study and visit this wonderful city. With its beautiful college buildings, museums and churches, Cambridge is a joy to visit for tourists and students alike. Cambridge is a small city with a population of just 100,000 which includes 23,000 students. Even though the city is dominated by its ancient university, it is also home to some of the most high tech companies in the world and is also home to Microsoft research offices. Whether it’s the history of the university or a chance to visit the market and surrounding shops, Cambridge is a great place to visit.
Why not pop in to The Eagle pub for lunch, see the graffiti left by airmen from WWII (own expense)? This was also the place where Watson and Crick announced to the world they had discovered ‘The secret of life’ or the structure of DNA in 1953. After lunch, take a walk on Parker’s Piece, one of Cambridge’s most significant open spaces. Cambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football where the game’s first set of rules were drawn up by members of the University in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker’s Piece and had a defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules.
There is also the River Cam where you may go punting along (extra cost) and other sights include the graduation building called Senate House and on Saturdays the outdoor market stalls.
Experience authentic, quintessential England. Â We create experiences: Journeys into the English countryside to uncover the history, culture, stories and experiences that make England unique.
Our 'Medieval Marvels & Movie Scenes' experience takes you on a tour of several of the most stunning local towns and villages in England to discover picture perfect scenes, intriguing history and some of the locations used in some of the most famous films made in England: Harry Potter, the BBC's Pride & Prejudice series, War Horse, Downton Abbey and more. Â Discover the stories, history, and characters that make these places more than just filming locations. Â Enter an 800 year old stately home, see the birthplace of photography and uncover the stories of those who came before us.
Travelling in a small group of eight or fewer guests in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle you will...
- Visit Castle Combe, one of the most beautiful villages in England.
- Enjoy a morning coffee in a stately country house.
- Explore Lacock, a gorgeous medieval village and a film location for many features and TV series.
- Visit Lacock Abbey, a stately home and the birthplace of modern photography.
- Enjoy lunch at a charming, country pub that serves superb locally-sourced fare, with a drink included.
- Wander through a Saxon town that features a canal, river and a church that dates back over 1000 years.
- Browse local boutiques and peruse the local crafts.
- Finish the afternoon with a drink in a fine English country pub
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and most interesting hidden treasures. This tour of the southern Cotswolds and Malmesbury offers you more than just sightseeing: stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and unique experiences. Travelling in a small group (up to eight passengers), led by an engaging, knowledgeable and local guide, discover real, authentic, quintessential England. Your Cotswolds, Saxons and Victuals tour combines a visit to one of the most historic towns in England, with the opportunity to see some of the finest local crafts people demonstrate their skills. Learn how to make sausages with a traditional butcher, discover the traditional art of cask beer brewing and visit a jaw dropping Gothic Victorian Stately home, off limits to the general public. Enjoy stunning Cotswolds scenery and encounter the resting place of a great King. Hear beguiling stories and see intriguing places that are simply not on the usual tourist trail.
This tour will provide you with a taste of real England, not just the usual well, trodden tourist sights. All the tours are small and personable and aimed for discerning travellers wishing to explore authentic England and seeking to experience the land that inspired greats such as Austen, Hardy and Constable.
For your guide, it's not just about sightseeing; it's about the culinary experiences, the history and the characters, the visits to the small, hidden places only the locals know, and the stories and conversations that make every visit unique.
Your guide want you to be surprised and delighted by the places you visit together, so you won't always be told exactly where you'll be going - the surprise is part of the magic - but you are guaranteed that experience of quintessential England you've always wanted.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing from Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee in an old coaching inn in a stunning hilltop town in the Cotswolds.
Once you arrive in Malmesbury, you'll meet a traditional butcher and learn how to make his national award-winning sausages followed by a taster afterwards.
You'll then be taken on a personal, guided tour of Malmesbury, the oldest borough in England (chartered in 880AD) with a history dating back over 2500 years and one of the most important towns in England in the Medieval era, home to the tomb of the first King of England.
You'll then enjoy lunch (included in the tour price) at an award-winning country pub popular with members of the Royal Family.
After lunch, depending on availability, you'll meet a world-renowned swordsmith in his workshop who makes historic swords using the methods that were used at the time.
Finally, you'll visit a local brewery that makes traditional, cask beer and be taken on a tour by the chief brewer before finishing with a taster before heading back to Bath just after 5.30pm.
Discover some of England’s oldest secrets and prettiest hidden treasures. This tour offers you more than just sightseeing: the stunning locations, amazing food, history, stories and conversations make each tour unique. Travelling in a small group of eight guests or fewer, , get beneath the surface and discover real, authentic, quintessential England. This full-day Stonehenge and Secret Somerset tour combines a visit to one of the most iconic ancient structures in the world with a journey into 'secret Somerset', where you'll discover fascinating places and hear amazing stories that you simply will not see on the usual tourist trail or with any other tour.
Your tour starts in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle departing Bath at around 9am. Next you can enjoy coffee at a unique and stunning location on the way to Stonehenge.
Once you arrive at Stonehenge, you get to skip the ticket queues and the audio-guides that most visitors to Stonehenge encounter, and enjoy a personal, interactive tour of the stones.
Departing Stonegenge, you escape the crowds and delve deep into 'Secret Somerset', a land of stunning countryside, hidden villages and quaint cottages. You enjoy lunch at a carefully selected award-winning traditional English Inn that oozes character and serves superb locally-sourced fare. You can also sample local beverages such as locally made and world renowned Somerset cider.
After lunch you will explore some stunning villages - places few other tourists will ever see or even hear about. You will admire archetypal English cottages and hear some of the unique stories that make these places special, enjoying countryside that has inspired writers such as Hardy and Austen and artists such as Turner and Constable.
You will finish the afternoon (if there's time) with the opportunity to enjoy a hidden walled garden and the chance to enjoy (optional) tea and cake in very special location before returning to Bath.
Check off two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in just one day on this 11.5-hour coach trip from Bournemouth. Explore the mystic stone circle at Stonehenge, then take in the sights of Bath on a guided walking tour with plenty of free time. Tour includes admission to Stonehenge.
Board your comfortable, climate-controled coach at Bournemouth Interchange Coach Station at 8:30am for the hour-long journey to Stonehenge, where the Neolithic stone circle unfurls before your eyes.
Equipped with an audioguide, you'll have 90 minutes to see this ancient monument up close and marvel at the astronomical wisdom behind its construction. Explore the exhibition at the Visitor's Centre and see how our ancestors lived 4,500 years ago in the Neolithic stone houses.
Then, hop back on the bus for the hour-or-so journey to the UNESCO-listed City of Bath, with its glorious Georgian architecture and heritage dating back to Roman times.
Join your guide for a walking tour of the highlights of the city: you'll see the glorious Gothic spires of Bath Abbey, the exterior of the impressive Roman Baths, 18th-century Bath Circus, the Royal Crescent, designed by John Wood, and the Jane Austen Centre, devoted to the 18th-century novelist who wrote so much about Bath.
After this, you'll have plenty of free time, equipped with a complimentary map. Perhaps you'll choose to return to some of the attractions you've seen and explore them in more depth? (Admission at own expense.) Or perhaps you'd like to enjoy a cream tea, lunch, or a historic English pub?
You'll be back at the bus around 6pm, ready for the journey back to Bournemouth, returning to the coach station around 8pm.
Your day trip starts with a morning pickup from Salisbury Train Station or your accommodation in Salisbury. En route to Stonehenge, learn the wonders of the medieval city of Salisbury before travelling a scenic route to Stonehenge. You will see thatched cottages and learn about the surrounding area.
Once you reach the world famous UNESCO Heritage Site of Stonehenge, marvel at human endeavour which is testament to the sophisticated engineering skills of prehistoric people. Follow in their footsteps as you approach the monument of Stonehenge and explore the many other prehistoric remains across the landscape.
Just after noon, depart Stonehenge and begin your journey across the Wiltshire countryside. You will cross the Kennet and Avon Canal and learn of the transition between the Canals and the first trains before seeing a magnificent chalk carving in the hillside, Alton Barnes White Horse. You then travel through Lockeridge, the home of the Sarcen Stones (the largest of the stones at Stonehenge), and you soon arrive in Avebury where you have free time for lunch (own expense).
In Avebury, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will learn of the true definition of a henge and as your guide takes you around this Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles you will be able to touch and feel the stones themselves. You will try your hand at Divining for the spiritual leylines before leaving Avebury.
Departing Avebury you will travel to West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill, where you can take a short walk to one of the largest, most accessible Neolithic chambered tombs in Britain. Built in and around 3650BC, it was used for a short time as a burial chamber, nearly 50 people being buried here before the chambers were blocked. You will have a great view from here of Silbury Hill, the largest man-made mound in Europe. Mysterious Silbury Hill compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids. Probably completed around 2400BC, it apparently contains no burial.
At around 5pm you will depart Silbury Hill and begin your journey back towards your desired drop off location in Salisbury, where you will return at 6-6.30pm.
Begin your tour from either Salisbury Train Station or Central Car Park Coach Park in Salisbury.
Explore the medieval city with all of its history and mystique, spending an hour at the Cathedral to take in the tallest spire and the Magna Carta (subject to opening times).
Then make a brief stop at Old Sarum, the original city of Salisbury. This Iron Age settlement became Salisbury after visits from Saxons, Danes, Vikings, and Normans. Old Sarum offers wonderful views over the city and the surrounding landscape. This is where King John had his garrisons in the early 1200s before the barons rose up against the King which resulted in the Magna Carta being sealed in 1215.
Depart from Old Sarum and follow a narrow riverside road through a picturesque valley. Here you can take in the many thatched cottages and begin to learn the history that surrounds Stonehenge.
Arriving at Stonehenge, spend two hours experiencing the new visitor center and the ancient stones before heading to a local, family-friendly pub for your pre-booked lunch. You will have an hour at the pub before heading to The Ancestor in Amesbury and the 10th-century Church of St Mary and St. Melor. Here you will discover a fascinating account of the place and uncover the reason why Stonehenge is where it is.
The journey through time to one of Britain's best kept secrets, exploring the oldest continuous settlement in England (as recognized by Guinness World Records). Enjoy exclusive access to a site of recent archaeological discoveries.
Upon leaving Amesbury, return to Salisbury Train Station, Central Coach Park, or a local hotel (if you are staying overnight), where your tour concludes.
Revel in the expansive landscapes of the South Downs on this 8.5-hour small-group hiking and scooter tour – and yes, that's a real, live kick scooter like the one you had when you were a kid. You'll hike from Poynings' Devil's Dyke to Chanctonbury Ring near Washington, scooter down to the River Adur, and finish the day with a Champagne picnic overlooking a beautiful view.
Meet your guide and your small group at Hassocks train station at 9:30am: you'll drive a few minutes to your starting point at Devil's Dyke.
Over the morning, admire the rolling landscapes of the South Downs, soak up the fresh air, and tone your calf muscles as you hike across Devil's Dyke, Edburton Hill, and Truleigh Hill.
Here, pick up kick scooters, and unleash your childlike glee as you whizz downhill to the pretty little River Adur, where you'll break for lunch. Your guide carries sweets and snacks, but lunch is not included in this tour: it's a good idea to bring a packed lunch plus whatever else you need to keep up energy levels over the day.
After lunch, it's back on your feet. The hike continues across the Downs to the Bronze Age hill fort known as Chanctonbury Ring. At 731 feet (438 meters) above sea level, this offers glorious bird's-eye views across Sussex.
Take the time to capture photos and, depending on the time of year, enjoy a sunset, as your guide prepares a Champagne picnic. You'll end the day with a glass of Champagne and some light refreshments, before driving back to Hassocks train station, arriving around 6pm.
Meet at Polegate Train Station for a morning pickup and transportation to Cuckmere haven. Start the tour canoeing along the Cuckmere River before the hike along the magnificent Seven Sisters cliffs. Enjoy lunch on the Seven Sisters cliff edge before the trek down to the pebbled beaches of Eastbourne for a champagne picnic as the sun sets over the coast.
At the end of the tour there is a drop-off back to Polegate Train Station at approximately 6:00pm.
Some of the highlights of this tour include Seven Sisters Country Park, Birling Gap, the Belle Tout Lighthouse, breathtaking Beachy Head, not forgetting a champagne picnic watching the sunset.
Hop over the River Severn and cross the border from England into Wales with a full-day tour from Bath that takes in several of South Wales's top attractions. You will be picked up from your Bath hotel or accommodation address to begin your journey to South Wales, a day that includes stops at historic attractions such Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey and Caerphilly Castle. Your drivers will provide conversation as they take you on a scenic circuit route through South Wales in one of our modern, air-conditioned vehicles that is exclusive to your family or party.
Your driver will collect you from your Bath hotel or accommodation address at around 8:30am, setting off to South Wales via the Seven Bridge crossings with your first stop at the historic Chepstow Castle, before proceeding on to the stunning ruins of Tintern Abbey. After your visit here you can choose to visit the impressive Raglan Castle or head up the Wye Valley to the pretty market town to Monmouth before moving on in a circuitous route to the next stop, the largest castle in Wales, Caerphilly.
After Caerphilly you will begin the return route to Bath, with an estimated return time of around 5.30pm-6pm.
A visit time of around one hour per stop applies. To make the most of your visit time to the attractions it's recommended you arrange a picnic lunch that can be eaten in the vehicle (cold foods only) or opt to visit Monmouth (as above) for a lunch break.
Entrance charges to attractions visited are not included. Your driver will provide general information and conversation whilst driving only and do not normally enter attractions with clients: most attractions will have their own guides on hand to provide specific information.
Home to picture perfect honey-colored stone villages set among rolling limestone hills, the Cotswolds is the largest designated 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' in England and Wales making it a 'must-see' destination for visitors to the South West England and a great day out of Bath. This private full-day excursion from Bath exclusive to your family or party, your driver-guide will show you the best of the Cotswold villages and countryside. Sit back and relax in an air-conditioned vehicle and you'll see the beautiful countryside pass by as you make short hops between picturesque villages such as Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Castle Combe and Upper and Lower Slaughter.
At the start of your tour, you will be collected from your Bath hotel or accommodation address for a full-day tour of the Cotswolds villages and countryside, typically visiting villages and towns such as Castle Combe, Bibury, Upper and Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold before returning back to Bath at approx. 5pm-5.30pm. Reasonable adjustments to the itinerary to meet your requests and interests can be made on the day with your driver.
Transportation will provided in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle seating up to four passengers and is exclusive to your family/party (not a shared bus service). The vehicle will be driven by a friendly and experienced driver who will provide general information and conversation whilst driving. Drivers do not normally enter attractions with clients.
Leave Oxford by air-conditioned minivan, and travel out into the glorious countryside that surrounds the city. On the journey, your guide will keep you entertained with tales and trivia about the Downton Abbey TV series that has a fan base spread all over the world.
Filmed mostly in and around Oxfordshire, the British period drama of Downton Abbey documents the dramas and scandals of the fictional Crawley family and their servants in the days leading up to and after World War I. Hear insider gossip about characters such as Lady Mary, and discover little-known facts about the shooting locations included on your tour. Stop at a farm nestled in the hills near Cogges and enjoy a hot drink (own expense) in the farm’s rustic cafe before you check out filming locations around the farm.
Continue to Bampton in the Cotswolds. The stone cottages and leafy, twisting streets in this quintessential English village might look familiar; scenes depicting the Downton village are often shot here and appear throughout the entire series. On a walking tour, see the village church — the site of Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley — and the house that was once used as the Crawley family home. Stroll along the main street, spotting shops and the fictional Grantham Arms pub that appear in many episodes.
Travel onward to the historical village of Shilton to explore its center, including a quaint village pub that is surrounded by ponds, medieval bridges and wells. From Shilton, travel to a pub in Swinbrook for lunch (own expense) where Lady Sybil eloped with the family chauffeur Branson; enjoy a quick stop in the village of Bladon to see the graves of Sir Winston Churchill and his wife; and finish the tour at Blenheim Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While not used as a Downton Abbey filming location, one can imagine the palace's stately grandeur that would impress the Crawley family. Take a walking tour that delves into the history of Winston Churchill's ancestral home, originally given to the first duke of Marlborough as a gift from the English Parliament. Wander through the State Apartments, and then explore a section of the beautiful landscaped gardens that feature the Temple of Diana. Finally, return to your minivan and travel back to the start point in Oxford where your tour finishes.
- Sceptrevacations.com - Long the price champ on self-drive vacations in the British Isles (they provide airfare, rental car, and vouchers for hotels and/or B&Bs, all at a discount; your trip is your own), Sceptre now also offers rail journeys, chauffeur trips, and escorted tours ("Journeys"). Though it covers much of Europe now, Sceptre started with Ireland and Scotland, and still offers a wider range of British Isles itineraries than most, including plenty in England and Wales.
- City-discovery.com - Chief rival to Viator (though with a less spiffy interface and often sub-par text descriptions), representing many of the same tours (at the same prices). However, it also seems to cover more destinations, especially secondary ones. When it comes down to it, City-Discovery and Viator have maybe 70% the same inventory, but then 30% will be completely different (some Viator has City-Discovery does not, other vice-versa) so it pays to check through the offerings from both.Partner