SAMPLE TOUR OF ENGLAND
12 nights/ 13 days
Sat, May 3 From Southampton, you will take the rail from
Southampton Central to Oxenholme Departures are every 15 min after
the hour and have one or two changes. I would recommend the 11:15 or 12:15, 1
change in Birmingham. Journey is 5 to 5.30 hours. (Bowness
–on-Windermere
is 5 min by car and 15-20 min walk ). Once you settle into your
accommodations, you can take a walk into Bowness and explore the town.
You can also walk around the Lake.
Overnight Bowness-on-Windermere at The Low
Fell House, a 4 star country b&b within 5 min walk into the town centre and
15-20 min walk to Windermere. First floor double ensuite with lovely views of
the garden. Please note: there is only a 55 year old hostess at the house, who
can help w/ bags but not very large heavy ones. A complimentary transfer from
the station to the house and return can be arranged. This is a bank holiday, so
area will be busy. We can make restaurant reservations for Sat and Sun nights.
Bed and Full English Breakfast included
Sun, May
4 This morning you will take the High Mountain Passes
SpectacularTour. You will be picked up at your hotel by 9:25 am,
returning by 5:30 pm. Sightseeing will include:
·
Hardknott
and Wyrnose Mountain Passes
·
Ravenglass
& Eskdale Steam Railway Ride, in the lovely Eskdale Valley
·
Hardknott
Roman Fort with magnificent views to Scafell and central mountain peaks
·
14th
Century Muncaster Castle - fabulous gardens
·
Internationally renowned World Owls Trust
·
Central and
Western Lakes including Wastwater (England's deepest lake)
·
Coniston
Water - associated with John Ruskin, Arthur Ransome and Donald Campbell
-
Price includes:- Morning
coffee and biscuits, a ride on the La'al Ratty miniature steam
railway, entrance to Muncaster Castle Gardens and Owl Centre.
Overnight Bowness-on-Windermere,
accommodation as above
Bed and Full English Breakfast
included
Mon, May
5 This morning you will take a half day Lake District
Tour. You will be picked up at 9:23 am and will return at 1:30.
Your tour is entitled, “Morning Northern Lakes Grand Tour”. The
highlights include:
·
Central,
Northern and Western Lakeland
·
Wordsworth's Dove Cottage - photo opportunity
·
Grasmere
and Rydal Water
·
Thirlmere
·
Honister &
Newlands Mountain Passes
·
4,000 year
old Castlerigg Stone Circle
·
Derwentwater, Buttermere and Crummock Water
·
Moss Force
Waterfall
Overnight Bowness-on-Windermere,
accommodation as above
Bed and Full English Breakfast
Tues, May 6 This morning you will leave the Lake District. For
breakfast, you will be taken by private transfer to Lindeth-Howe Hotel,
the sister property of Low-Fell House. This is the childhood holiday
home of Beatrix Potter which she later purchased for her mother. From the hotel
you will then be transfer to the rail station. You will take the rail from
Windermere to Liverpool. Depart on the 10:13 train and arrive
Liverpool at 11:52 (one change), main Rail Station (Lime Street)
where you can take a 5 min taxi ride to your accommodation. This afternoon you
can spend time walking around Albert Dock where there are many fine
restaurants (suggestion: Est Est Est or Pan American Club, a
trendy restaurant where many of the stars go).
Overnight Liverpool at the Hope Street
Hotel, a 4 star boutique hotel in the city centre on the Georgian Quarter.
Bed only (breakfast pay at the hotel),
King Standard room
Weds, May 7 After a leisurely breakfast, you can set out to tour the
Tate Gallery. After lunch you will take the Magical Mystery Tour,
a must for anyone who enjoys music - and it’s the perfect introduction to city
of The Beatles. Tour departs at 2:10 from Gower St Bus Stop
at Albert Dock or 2:30 from the Tourist
Information Centre, 08 Place, White Chapel, city centre.
This 2
hour tour visits many of the places associated with John, Paul, George and
Ringo as they grew up, met and formed the band that would take the pop world by
storm. It stops to let you take a closer look at some of their childhood homes
and places that inspired their most memorable songs like Penny Lane and
Strawberry Field. Make sure you bring your camera to record the places you’ll
want to remember on this magical tour.
You’ll be
kept entertained by one of Cavern City Tours professional guides
as you travel around the city and its suburbs and discover the truly remarkable
story of the boys who were to become the world’s best known musicians.
The tour
finishes at the legendary Cavern Club at 4:30 pm where passengers will
receive an exclusive souvenir of their visit.
Overnight Liverpool,
accommodation as above
Bed and Full English Breakfast included
Thurs,
May 8 This morning depart Liverpool at 9:19, arrive
Oxford at 12:13 (1 change). From the rail station you will take a
taxi to your b&b.After you drop off your luggage, you can set out to enjoy some
lunch and begin sightseeing in Oxford.
Overnight Oxford at the Burlington House,
a 4 star b&b 10 min bus from the centre of town.
Bed and English Breakfast included
Fri, May 9
After
a leisurely breakfast, set out to explore Oxford.
The best way to see Oxford is to take the hop on hop
off bus tour, departing every 20-30min, lasting
1 hour.
No need to book, just pay the driver or sales staff, your ticket is valid all
day and you can get on and off at any of the 20 stops on the tour. Keep hold of
your ticket for reboarding and discount offers at local attractions and in other
"CITY SIGHTSEEING" locations worldwide. On the tour you will see Magdalen
College, The site of William Morris's first workshop, University Science Area,
the City Walls, Sheldonian Theatre, Ashmolean Museum, Martyr's Memorial, Christ
Church College, River Cherwell, Carfax Tower, Alice's Shop, Radcliffe Infirmary,
Bodleian Library, The High, Broad Street and the University Parks.
The tour also stops at various points
for visits to University Colleges, Museums, Shops, Restaurants and The Botanic
Garden.
If
the weather is cooperative, you can take punt down the River Cherwell
(this is self punted—rentals are GBP 10-12). For a birds-eye view,
you
can climb the Carfax Tower which is located in the city center. You can
visit
Oxford
University,
The Bodleian Library (Sanatorium Scenes, Divinity school, and Duke
Humfrey’s Libarary) and Christ’s Church College (referred to as “The
House”).
Overnight Oxford,
accommodation as above
Bed and Full English Breakfast included
Sat, May 10 This morning you will pick up your rental car from
Avis/Hertz at 9:00 am and set off for the Cotswolds. Enroute, you
can stop to visit Blenheim Palace, childhood home of Winston Churchill.
Blenheim
is a
treasure—you can spend hours exploring the castle and grounds. Afterwards, take
time to stroll through the lovely town of Woodstock (you can walk to it
from Blenheim—ask for directions). From here you will make your way to
Broadway
Overnight Longborough (Near
Morton-on-Marsh and Stow-on-the-wold) at Windy Ridge, a 5 star manor house.
Desmet room has been reserved.
Bed and full English Breakfast
Sun, May 11
After a leisurely
breakfast, you will enjoy a day in the Cotswolds visiting the villages
and shops of the quaint towns such as, Stow on the Wold ,
(the highest village in the Cotswolds)
Burford, Bourton on the Water, Chipping Camden
and
Upper and Lower Slaughter
(“Sloh”
means “marshy place”). Lower Slaughter is one of the
water villages, with the Slaughter Brook running down the center of the
road. If you wish to see some gardens, you can go to Snowshill Manor,
just southeast of Chipping Campden, an eccentric Cotswold’s Arts and
Crafts House with gardens that resemble outdoor rooms!(open 12:-5:30You can also
visit Hidcote Manor (opens at 10:30 am; Weds-Sat) where you can wonder
around the extensive gardens (or rooms) which have a variety of hedges, roses,
rare shrubs and trees
Overnight Longborough,
accommodation as above
Bed and Full English Breakfast included
Overnight,
accommodations as above
Bed and Full English breakfast included
Mon, May 12 Today you can take an excursion to Shakespeare
Country. In Stratford, you can visit the buildings associated with William
Shakespeare, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and his mother’s home
(Stratford, however it is a bit touristy). From Stratford you will go to
Warwick Castle, one of the finest examples of a medieval castle in England.
This evening at 7:00 pm you can see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in
the Courtyard Theatre (tickets must be booked in
advance).
Overnight Longborough, accommodations
as above
Bed and Full English breakfast included
Tues, May 13 This morning you will make an excursion south and
southwest to visit Stonehenge, Avebury and Lacock Village. You will stop
at Avebury first where you visit the small village and stone circle which has
unrestricted viewing of the stones (yes, you can touch them!). The circle is 16
times bigger and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge! From Avebury you will
travel to Stonehenge,which has an excellent personal audio presentation
for use while you walk around marked off perimeter of the stones. Afterwards
you will make your way north to
Lacock Village,
an 18th
c. village owned by the National Trust of England. The village
has architecture dating back to the 13th-18th centuries.
You can visit the Abbey (location for films, Harry Potter, Pride and
Prejudice, Moll Flanders and Emma), the Fox Talbot Museum (a
medieval barn). If timing is right, you can have your evening meal at The
George Inn which serves excellent food in a very unique (and OLD) building.
Reservations are suggested. You may pop in when you arrive into Lacock
and put in your reservation or plan to eat early.
From Lacock make your way back to
Clapton on the Hill.
Overnight Longborough, accommodations
as above
Bed and Full English breakfast included
Weds, May
14 After a leisurely breakfast, you will depart Clapton-on-the-Hill
and make your way to Birmingham. This is a 1 hour drive.
Your flight departs on Aer Lingus at
2:40 pm, connection via Dublin, arrival into JFK at 7:30
pm
Bed
and full English Breakfast
