EXAMPLES OF FULL DAY LONG DISTANCE TOURS
STONEHENGE, OLD SARUM AND SALISBURY CATHEDRAL
We leave your London Hotel after breakfast and drive to Stonehenge ( World Heritage Site) and probably Britain's most awesome prehistoric monument. Was it built as a place of worship?, or as an astronomical calendar? or both - no one is certain. We do know that it was constructed between 3000 and 1000 BC and that some of the stones (weighing about 4 tons each) were brought all the way from Wales. Other stones weigh upto 50 tons. We walk right around this ancient site each with our own talking guide, to learn about the significance of many of the stones. There is an opportunity to visit the gift shop before leaving.
From Stonehenge we drive to and visit Old Sarum, the ruins of the important hilltop town where William the Conqueror received his copy of the Domesday Book in 1086 (a census for tax purposes of all the citizens in the Kingdom and their assets),
We leave Old Sarum and stop at a traditional country Pub to taste some locally brewed beer whilst eating a light lunch before continuing our drive to the lovely country town of Salisbury. It was from the Cathedral of Old Sarum that Bishop Richard Poore decided to rebuild the town further south in 1219 AD and ordered the construction of the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral which was largely built in just 40 years from 1220 to 1260 AD. At one time, one of Britain's most important towns, it is now famous for it's Cathedral boasting the tallest spire in the Kingdom. With a Cathedral Guide we tour the Cathedral, marvelling at it's possessions including probably the World's earliest large mechanical clock dating from 1386 AD as well as one of the four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215, under pressure from the Country's Barons, restricting the power of the Monarchy thus setting the foundations for Citizens rights in our Kingdom. There are plenty of opportunities for photographing the Cathedral both inside and out and there is a superb visitor shop.
After leaving Salisbury our journey takes us along country roads and through pretty villages back towards London to arrive at your hotel by about 7pm.
At the beginning of the tour you will be presented with a souvenir folder giving background information on the places you will be visiting
The price for this Full Day Tour is just £270 sterling. This is for the fully air conditioned vehicle and driver / guide - NOT PER PERSON
BATH AND THE COTSWOLD HILLS
Following Breakfast at your London Hotel we take the fast motorway route westwards to the Georgian City of Bath, one of Britain's most popular tourist attractions. The town was a Celtic settlement in about 600 BC. The Romans built a temple between 60 - 70 AD. and the construction of the baths on the old hot springs followed. Bath boasts of not only the incredible Roman Baths but also the Poultney Bridge, one of only two Bridges in Europe with shops on it (the other is in Florence), and the Jane Austin Centre. Jane Austin lived in the city from 1801 to 1806, setting two of her novels here.
After arriving in the City we firstly visit the Roman Baths where each person collects their Audio guide. Our tour lasts about 90 minutes taking us through the nearly 2000 year old bathing areas, around the main pool and passing many Roman remains. The tour concludes with a tasting of the genuine Bath Spring Water. Your personal Audio Guide gives as much (or as little) information as you want about each the Spa's highlights.
We leave the baths and walk over Poultney Bridge visiting it's tiny shops. We can visit the Jane Austin Centre and then walk through the distinctive shopping area of the town.
From Bath we drive to the delightful Cotswold Hills, stopping on route at a traditional country pub for a light lunch.
After visiting the popular and busy market town of Stowe in the Wold we journey to the smaller picture postcard towns of Burpham, Bourton on the Water & Billing. We have the opportunity of reaching villages which large Coaches cannot get to, in particular the delightful hamlet of Lower Slaughter.
The last part of the tour is a leisurely drive back towards London, passing through peaceful villages with their thatched-roof cottages and then arrive at your hotel in time for dinner.
At the beginning of the tour you will be presented with a souvenir folder giving background information on the places you will be visiting.
The price for your Full Day Tour is £270 sterling. This is for the fully air conditioned vehicle and driver / guide - NOT PER PERSON.
STRATFORD UPON AVON AND BLENHEIM PALACE
We leave your hotel after breakfast and drive directly to Stratford Upon Avon.
After parking the car we walk through the town visiting Shakespeare's birthplace and the Visitor Centre and then go on to walk around Hall's Croft, the house of his daughter Susanna and her husband Dr. John Hall, seeing where Shakespeare spent his last years. Just down the road is Holy Trinity Church where we visit the last resting places of William Shakespeare and his wife Ann.
This is followed by a drive out of town to visit and walk through the picture postcard cottage where Ann Hathaway (his wife) was brought up and then drive to the house where his mother - Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy landowner, first lived. At these houses we learn not only about William Shakespeare but also about how life was lived in a country town in rural England in the middle and late 16th.Century.
Following our visit to Stratford upon Avon we stop at a traditional country pub for a light lunch and then drive to the magnificent Blenhiem Palace, a World Heritage Site and the ancestral home of the Churchill family. Winston Churchill was born and spent his early years here. The Palace was given to the first Duke of Marlborough by a grateful Nation following his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in August 1704. The superb gardens were landscaped by Capability Brown probably Britain's greatest landscape Gardener. We walk through these superb gardens and then take the tour of the treasure laden Palace led by a Palace Guide.
We conclude by leaving the Palace and driving back to London, arriving at your hotel in time for dinner.
At the beginning of the tour you will be presented with a souvenir folder giving background information on the places you will be visiting
Your Full Day Tour will cost just £270 sterling. This is for the fully air conditioned vehicle and driver / guide - NOT PER PERSON.
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All tours are fully inclusive of your driver / guide, fully airconditioned modern MPV (mini - van), guide's admissions to properties visited and any taxes.
Not included are your admissions to properties visited and your meals on route.
