A stunning three hour tour around the City of London and the West End , calling at the major points of interest: Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament Square with the House of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminister Abbey, Buckingham Palace, ( stopping for the changing of the guard - morning only), Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Oxford Street, Regents Park and the Zoo, Madame Tussauds, The British Museum, Fleet Street, St. Pauls Cathedral, the Bank of England, London Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
During your visit you will want to take advantage of all that London offers you at night - The Theatres, Concerts, Opera & Ballet, Sports Events, etc. There are Restaurants offering menus from all over the world, (even Britain) , and to suit all pockets.
London's Night-Sports will prove that London still sets the fashion and the pace. We can help to plan your evening out and with one of our cars you can go in style.
Greenwich/Dome
Hampton Court
Britain's maritime heritage, a few miles downstream along the Thames from Central London is Greenwich , whose Royal Observatory marks the Greenwich Meridian.
See the Royal Navel College, the Queen's House and the National Maritime Museum. Visit the old clipper ship 'Cutty Sark' and stop off at the riverside pub.
Built in the early 16th Century by Cardinal Wolsey, the Palace was taken over by Henry VIII when he married Anne Boleyn. Later additions are by Sir Christopher Wren. Visit the State Apartments, the Tudor tennis court and kitchens, the gardens on the banks of the Thames, and the Maze.
You can see the deer in Richmond Park on the way out, and call at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew on the way back.
Windsor and Eton
Start at the Castle, visiting the State Apartments, (when the Queen is not in residence), St. George's Chapel, Queen Mary's Doll's House and the Great Park. See the old town, and cross the Thames to Eaton to visit Britain's most famous school, dating from the 15th century.
Visit the Safari Park and Dolpinarium, and return via Runnymede on the Thames, where King John signed Magna Carta.
N.B. Any two of the above can be combined to make a full day. May we also suggest a boat trip on the Thames at Windsor.
FULL DAY TOURS
Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon
Canterbury, Kent
Naturally, we feel that both Oxford and Stratford are worth a visit on their own, but you may not have the time and with a car at your disposal you can make a real day of it! Drive through scenic old towns in the Thames Valley, (Henley, Marlow) to the University City of Oxford to see the colleges with their quadangles and chaples, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Radcliffe Camera and the Boldleian Library. Go on the Blenheim Place , built by Queen Anne for the Duke of Marlborough.
It is the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill , who is buried at near-by Blaydon. Stratford-upon-Avon is a living museum to the memory of William Shakespeare. Visit his birthplace , his school and his home , as well as Anne Hathaway's cottage and the church where Shakespeare is buried.
Extend your tour to include the modernistic Cathedral at Coventry or the historic Warwick Castle or , if you can face a late return to London , linger on the Stratford where we can get you tickets for a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company's theatre.
Drive through the Southern outskirts of London to the beautiful village of Westerham and visit Chartwell, for many years the home of Sir Winston Churchill. His books can be seen in his study, and some of the painting in his studio. Go onto the 13th Century Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. (and/or Penshurst Place with its ten acres of gardens)
Stop off at Leeds Castle near Maidstone, one of the best preserved setting. On the way to Canterbury, call at the beautifully preserved Canterbury with its Roman remains and narrow streets, and Britian's premier Cathedral with its Royal tombs and the spot where Archbishop Thomas a Becket was murdered.
City of Bath
Stonehenge, Salisbury and Winchester
At the southern end of the Cotswolds is the city of Bath, already a health resort in Roman times. The modern city dates from Georgian times, with its elegance architecture. See the remains of the Roman baths an the Gothic Abbey, and browse among the shops in this paradise of antique lovers.
Nearby is the American Museum at Calverton Manor , and you can extend your tour to take in the Marquess of Bath's home at Longleat House, near Warminster, returning to London via Stonehenge.
Take a two hour drive through scenic countryside to the mysterious pre-historic stone circle at Stonehenge. (Go on to Salisbury , whose Cathedral with its Gothic spire ( the tallest in Britain) features in many of John Norman capital of England. The Castle
contains what is believe to be King Arthur's Round Table.
Chester and Stoke-on-Trent
Historic York
Another full and rewarding day requiring an early start. Chester's mediaeval city centre, with its covered galleries, is one of the best preserved in Europe , and Chester too has its original dating back to Roman Times. Stock-on-Trent is the centre of the Potteries, the 'Five Towns' of Arnold Bennett's novel.
You can visit the pottery museum with its collection of fine china and porcelain, and the factories that make some of the best names - Wedgewood, spode, Royal Doulton, etc.
This is a long and very full day , if you are prepared to make an early start. Drive to Historic York, rich in Roman and Viking history. Visit the magnificent Gothic Cathedral and the old mediaeval centre of the city, the Shambles. See the Roman remains, the Viking museum, and York's famous Railway museum.
Make a side trip to nearby Castle Howard, most stately of 18th Century Stately homes, (setting of the famous TV series of Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited'). If time allows, make the return trip via the romantic ruins of Fountain Abbey, or call in at Lincoln to see the magnificent Cathedral.
Other Attractions
You might like to spend a day visiting the colleges of Cambridge University , or combine the visit with stops at Ely and Newmarket. Many of Briain's best-known Stely Homes are within an easy day's drive from London - Hatfield House, Woburn Abbey, Waddesdon Manor, Blenheim Palace, to name but a few or you might like to visit famous gardens. Regency Brighton is well worth a visit and you might combine a day out on the South Coast with a visit of Arnudel Castle. The possibilities are endless.
Of course, you do not need to limit yourself to any trips, restricting yourself to a London base. We can take you on extended tours of the Country, in any direction. You let us know you want to do, we will arrange it.
Tours
