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London Tours

See much more of London in one day than you will ever have believed possible. See it, understand it, experience it, the PW way !

If you ask us to provide a one day tour we can achieve the following on top of the panoramic driven overview of some of the sights as below :- personally guided site visits to Westminster Abbey, the Queens ‘Peculiar’ and Coronation Church and Her Majesties Royal Palace & Fortress ‘The Tower of London’ where amongst many other things you will see where prisoners were kept and executions took place and you will also visit the vault where the Coronation Regalia, known as the ‘Crown Jewels’ are safely housed.

Between these two greats, these two ‘must dos’, we will have a small, again personally guided, walking tour from Westminster Abbey, past Horse Guards Parade where you will see the Mounting of the Guard and then on to meet the old Guard from where we progress to Buckingham Palace and, once again, we adopt a unique position to see another movement of the guards, this time the New Guard.

Being in the right place, at the right time and having all of this explained transforms the Guard Change experience, so do it with us and satisfyingly experience and see what you have come from so far away to see.

  • London Eye
  • Tower Bridge
  • Westminster
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Here are lists of some of the most often requested sights of London. Those that are marked with * may be incorporated in a London Private Guided Tour but there will not be time to visit everything in one day!

These are just some of the sights that you are likely to encounter during a one day tour, in which we will have enough time to drive by and talk about the major attractions:

The Tower of London*
The Changing of the Guard*
The Mounting of the Guard*
Buckingham Palace*
Westminster Abbey*
St Paul’s Cathedral*

 

The world renowned Art Galleries that we might encounter on our tour :

The National Gallery
Tate Britain*
The National Portrait Gallery*
Tate Modern

 

Of course, there are also some fascinating Museums to explore, which are always very popular.

The British Museum*
The London Museum*
The Imperial War Museum
The War Cabinet Rooms
The Victoria and Albert Museum

Then, too, I will tell you about those royal parks and how and why they became royal – such as Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James’s Park.

You will not want to miss hearing how and when the royal palaces came to be in central London – and there are more of them than you might expect, for example Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and St. James’s Palace… and this is apart from royal palaces such as the New Palace of Westminster and The Tower of London, both of which although no longer occupied by the Royal Family, are nevertheless held in that special category.

You will also see and hear about historic names and places such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Grosvenor Square, Belgrave Square, Sloane Street, The King’s Road, Oxford Street, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner – as well as the Cities of London & Westminster, as opposed to the Boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Camden.

Many visitors are keen to know about how our political system works and where the government departments are situated – most famously, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing Street. Last but not least there are the legal areas to cover such as The Inns of Court, where the barristers, our trial lawyers, have their offices.

Then too there is the financial district in the heart of the City of London, where The Bank of England, The Royal Exchange, Lloyds and Mansion House all lie. All along you will be shown a multitude of meaningful statues and monuments, the significance of which will be part of your experience.

You know it took 2,000 and more years for London to develop as you see it today and you will only be able to see and understand a fraction of it in a day or two – but rest assured it will be a rather juicy part… 

 

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Kensington Palace

Kensington

A history of Kensington Palace and the Glorious Revolution

At some time, no doubt, upon our travels together, we will pass by this royal palace, where once upon a time a prince and princess used to live in happier days – namely the current heir to the throne and the now deceased Lady Diana, who became the Princess of Wales.

So you may ask, what on earth could be the direct connection between this Royal Palace and a revolution that was known as “Glorious”? Why glorious anyway, you may well ask? Well, there we are – the story gets longer and longer, and eventually disappears into the mists of time.

This royal palace, although nowadays no longer a principal royal residence, is still used by certain members of the royal family even after the recent death of the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, the death of the Princess of Wales on 31st August 1997, and the departure of HRH Prince Charles, following the separation of the couple in 1992.

Kensington Palace

The idea of this palace came about with the accession of the Prince of Orange, the Dutch Stadtholder, as our William III, who was the son of the eldest daughter, Mary, of the executed (yes executed, in 1649) King of Great Britain, King Charles I. Interestingly, William III was married to an English Princess, also called Mary, who was a daughter of Charles II’s brother the Duke of York, who himself became a King, namely James II. So reader, if you are thinking “but this makes them cousins”, then you are quite correct.

It was the very abdication of James II and the act of fleeing from Great Britain that brought his daughter back home as a Queen in her own right. So again reader, if you have perceived another apparent inconsistency, then you are right again: we did have two monarchs reigning in their own right at the same time! In fact the only time in British History. Thank God they were married – otherwise we would have another revolution and perhaps not such a glorious one. (Remember King Stephen and Matilda in the 11th century? Perhaps you don’t . . .)

Well, why was this revolution so glorious? The new King William III was invited to invade by the nobility, and this invasion and accession was entirely peaceful, as a result of the defection of most of the English army officers, including and especially one John Churchill. This change of leadership in our country lead to our war with France over the question the Spanish succession. This culminated in the Battle of Blenheim, hence Blenheim Palace being gifted, by the next Monarch, Queen Anne, to the newly created 1st Duke of Marlborough, the one and same John Churchill who had changed his allegiance from James II!!

So leadership in those was still as much in the hands of the monarch as Parliament. Incidentally it was from the need and struggle to finance this war that the Bank of England was created. Then, as today, banks seem to have far more to do with lending money than being the keepers of funds. But we digress from our original enquiries. Why was this Palace in Kensington created when there were already perfectly acceptable ones in Westminster?

Well there you are, the story becomes ever more unpredictable. Would you believe it the answer is pollution – yes, pollution. Am I being serious, am I being truthful? No, really I am! There was a very great pollution problem back in those old times 300 years ago. even before the days of the Industrial Revolution. Not from vehicles and modern machines, of course, but in those days every house had quite a number of fires. In fact, open fires were everywhere, causing far dirtier combustion than today’s relatively clean power machines.

So even in those days there was intensive smog in the areas around Westminster, and Kensington was regarded as a country area with wonderful fresh air. In fact the Duke of Nottingham’s house, which is what this was before its purchase in 1689, was probably fairly isolated, before the Court Circle of Ministers, advisers and supporters began building their dwellings around the new royal palace.

You may be surprised to know that the designer of St Paul’s Cathedral was also asked to carry out much modification to the new palace, and this is still in evidence today. So in the middle of his 35-year (1675-1710) supervision of the rebuilding of the Cathedral, this great architect (not that he would have been known as that in the 17th century) was asked to effectively engineer a new royal residence. Wouldn’t be possible in today’s world of Euro laws trying to enforce 35 hour weeks, would it?

So now you are in the know, to a certain extent, about how the Glorious Revolution is connected to Kensington Palace, why the Glorious Revolution was thought to be so, and why Kensington Palace is situated where it is and why it was created in the first place. And if a Blue Badge Guide had not told you these things, would you have been thinking about them as you slid past Kensington Palace? Possibly like may of today’s young, you would only have thought of Kensington Palace in connection with our sad modern Princess of Wales and the carpet of flowers as far as the eyes could see, all around the Palace, in the days leading up to her funeral.

So can you afford not to have the past explained to you as today’s top visual highlights are pointed out?

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

How much do you know about Westminster Abbey? Take a two minute saunter with me . . .

Did you know that the Westminster Abbey that we tell you has been there for 900 years has not really been there, as you see it, for that long at all? The original Abbey, as created by Edward the Confessor, was completely different and was built in the Norman style.

And did you know that this great man was for a long time England’s patron saint? And did you know that Westminster Abbey, as you see it today, took almost 500 years to build? In fact, the famous West Towers designed by Christopher Wren’s pupil, Hawksmoor, in 1745, are actually among the last major structures to be added around the nave and central cross.

So today’s Abbey started life with the idea that Henry III had: in order to properly revere his hero, Edward the Confessor, it was necessary to modify his Abbey and have himself buried next to the saint. This idea rolled on through the centuries, with various kings leaving their mark by making special additions.

For example, during the reigns of Henry V and Richard II, the nave was completed – and Henry VII helped to establish his authenticity by making the Lady Chapel his Henry VII chapel, with a huge mausoleum bronze effigy of himself and his dear lady wife Elizabeth of York.

So finally we have today’s image of our great coronation church which has almost totally destroyed that of Saint Edward! Some way to revere a saint!

Westminster Abbey
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Well at least the Gothic style did lighten things up – literally. Those flying buttresses that you see on the outside, and which are often thought to be ungainly, are what allowed the architects of 500 years ago to have thinner, higher walls, with today’s huge windows that we now take for granted.

But did you also know that today’s cathedrals are not at all like those of 400 and 500 years ago, in entirely another respect? Today, we think of the inside of these places as sombre and dull, and that that must be a reflection of how religion has always been.

This could not be farther from the truth, from the reality. Yesterday’s churches were wonderful bright places blazing with colour with pictographic stories plastered all over the walls and windows. But this is all before the Protestants who took over in Edward VI’s reign (oh, what a great time they must have had running riot during the short time of this sickly boy king’s time in power – and even more so in Oliver Cromwell’s Republican regime – not a misprint, yes Republican – which had even more puritanical leanings). (Did you know that Britain became a republic for quite a few years in the middle of the 17th century – and happily chose to go back and embrace the monarchy with profound joy?)

Did you know that this original Westminster Abbey used to sit on land that was known as Thorney Island? For that is what it virtually was, an island, surrounded by streams and rivers and marshy land.

In fact did you know that the whole of that solid and respectable area that we now call Belgravia was marshy, inhospitable and crisscrossed by villains who used to be called footpads but are now known as muggers?

So why are things so different now? Well because, although people liked to make profits just as much as we do today, they were willing to invest their heart and soul, as well as tremendous vision, energy and drive.

So a man called Cubitt, who was developing St. Katharine’s Dock near the Tower, had the bright idea of moving the sludge up to today’s Belgravia and draining the area so it is now very solid indeed.

And why is this land called Belgravia? At the time and up until today, the Duke of Westminster owned – and still owns – all the streets around Belgrave Square, including London’s longest and most prestigious square Eaton Square. Aristocrats had the amusing habit of naming parts of their city empire after villages and towns on their country estates. So if you think of Chester, Belgrave and Eaton squares as quant little parts of London, you wouldn’t be thinking quite the same way as the dear old Duke himself – as no doubt he believes they are rather quaint little parts of his country estate.

Now reader, if you knew all these things, you really do not need a proper registered London Blue Badge Guide. However if you did not know some of it, and want to hear lots more, then get in touch with one of us and tune in to one of the world’s most fascinating stories.

Windsor Castle

Windsor and Hampton Court

Half day visits to both these royal palaces can be undertaken in one day, although it is quite a tight schedule.

Windsor Castle, which was created at the same time as The Tower of London is not only our Queen’s official home but where heads of state are entertained in the State Apartments.

You will hear how the castle has developed over the last 900 years, changing from little more than a Motte and Bailey stockade in William the Conqueror’s day to its final major evolution in the 1820’s under the patronage of George IV.

Lunch is likely to be taken at a pub on the river Thames which serves one of the best fish and chip meals in Britain.

Hampton Court, by the River Thames like Windsor, is however quite a contrast to Windsor – being primarily a Palace based upon pleasure rather than fortification. You will hear about its first creation as a Palace by Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, through to its redevelopment by Henry VIII and William IV and his wife Queen Mary. This is also, of course, the palace with the famous Maze, the royal gardens of William IV and his Queen Mary, and indoor Real Tennis as played by Henry VIII.

We also pass through Richmond Park possibly seeing Red & Fallow Deer, just as in Henry VIII’s day.

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South East London and Kent

Castles and Gardens in Kent

The Magical world of the Garden of England – Chartwell, Hever and/or Leeds Castle, Penshurst Place, Knole and Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Days out to the Garden of England, always leave one with a special feeling of satisfaction because not only is there a goodly density of stately homes, houses and castles as well as historic, charming pubs but the countryside is so spellbindingly attractive and has a somewhat private feel due to special hedges and woods set amongst the rolling hills of the South & North Downs. One cannot help asking each and every time, why don’t we come here more often and when we are returning ? This is the area that personifies the old traditional, charming and quintessentially English atmosphere. Rich in character, tranquil and one cannot emphasise it enough somehow, personal. Its hard to say exactly why ? Is it the narrow lanes, the frequency of ancient and lovely timber framed pubs that one finds as one wends ones way from one fascinating historical point of interest to another.

So where is the area of beauty, tranquillity and interest in the British Isles ? Its set in around the County of Kent between 30 and 50 miles South and South East of London. Its not far away then ? True, but unfortunately the London suburban sprawl occupies most of that first thirty miles. Never mind, the tedium of breaking out of London’s 609 square mile Metropolitan Area is well worth the effort. The built up area of London extends beyond the London boundary.

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So what do we have here in this huge Garden area?

Chartwell

Churchill’s home, the place to find out about his amazing life. One of the most popular and captivating, delightful and appealing destinations is Chartwell, Churchill’s personal home that he acquired in his wilderness years in the 1920s. Wonderfully and imaginatively restored, expanded and developed by him it is now carefully preserved and sensitively presented to the Nation, indeed the appreciative world, by the National Trust. Did you know just how multi talented Churchill was ? Well you certainly will when you have been there with Private Tours UK. The atmosphere is so alive with the Great mans presence it would come as no surprise if he made an appearance. Here is where he entertained and where his artistic creativity was allowed free flow.

Chartwell

In 1947 , long before The National Trust saw fit to save this shrine the Nation, a group of friends bought Chartwell and leased it back to Churchill at a nominal rent. Why ? , because Churchill had one great failing. As a result of his extravagant life style he could not afford to run his own miniature stately palace ! Those of you that want to come to Kent to see wonderful Gardens will not be disappointed either. So come here to experience not just a property and Churchill’s many chattels but also to see unusual landscaped gardens, illustrating yet again Churchill’ s vivid imagination, there is even a lake and a Rose Garden as well as Churchill’s paintings.

Hever Castle

Nearby to Chartwell is this truly lovely moated Manor House set in beautiful rose gardens and also having a maze Ancestral home of Anne Boleyn. A short and satisfying little drive, there is Hever Castle offering another visit that you won’t regret. Once again it is possible to counter both ancient and relatively recent historical interest as Lord Astor, Churchill’s friend, mentor and painting partner owned this house long after the Boleyns had gone. The Castle, really a fortified Manor House with its own miniature moat is cleverly presented in two parts with a Tudor section and the Astor rooms, which like Chartwell is preserved, just as this man and his family would have occupied this fine residence.

Hever Castle

However history is not for everyone and there is also a large garden which has a wide range of features including an Italianate garden, rose gardens and a lake. Hever began as a country house built in the 13th century . The estate is now run as a conference centre, but the castle is open to the public and is particularly well known for its mazes. The only original part of Hever Castle is the gatehouse. In the castle there are exhibits from differing historical eras, including instruments of torture and a museum of the Kent Yeomanry. There is a yew maze, planted in 1904, as well as a more recent addition, a water maze, which opened in 1987. It was used for the filming of the The Other Boleyn Girl.

Leeds Castle

Its reputation as romantic Ladies Castle is well founded and much aided by the fact that it is still to this day fully moated. Thought of as one of England’s most Romantic scenes and a Castle usually associated with Queens and finally a very fine lady.

One has to visit to appreciate why this is so. It’s yet another beautiful site to visit ; a Castle with a substantial Moat set in wonderfully landscaped grounds.

Leeds is one of many castles once owned by and developed by our monarchs that were finally acquired by, developed by and then used by aristocrats. Leeds Castle was firstly owned by William the Bastard’s half Brother Bishop Odo who was not only a clergyman but also the Earl of Kent.

Portrait of Lady Baillie, last owner of Leeds Castle

Portrait of Lady Baillie, last owner of Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle grounds and moat.

Leeds Castle grounds and moat.

The origins of today’s Castle extend back to Henry I but the Castle also became a Royal Palace in 1278 in Edward 1st reign, very much with his dearly loved wife Eleanor of Castile in mind. It was at this time that there major improvements including the Barbican ( an outer smaller fortification guarding the entrance). Lady Baillie was last owner of Leeds Castle in Kent.

Richard 11 also loved this Castle and installed his wife Anne of Bohemia there. Henry VIII also adored this castle and installed one of his wives Catherine of Arogan, there in the good years. Luckily the Castle escaped destruction by Oliver Cromwell’s army in our Civil War as the owners at that time; the Culpeper family were Parliamentary supporters.

Finally The Hon. Olive Lady a daughter of Almeric Paget, 1st Baron of Queensborough and his wife Pauline Payne Whitney, an American heiress, bought the Castle in 1926 who then set about restoring and beautifying to the way that you see it today.

The castle was opened to the public in 1976 and has now passed into Medical Foundation Trust. The Castle and grounds remain favourable for use with security in mind even today and is therefore used by the Government when this is an issue. In 1978 the Castle was the site for a meeting between the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and the Israeli Foreign minister Moshe Dyan. In 1999 Sir Elton John played two sold out conferences here.

Penshurst Place

Famous for its Hammer Beamed Baronial Hall. Ancestral home of the Sidney family stretching back to the Elizabethan era. Penshurst is another delightful possibility within the Garden of England area combining a stately Palace and home with quite exquisite gardens. Penshurst place is the ancestral home of the Sidney Family who descendants still own it today. Whilst being an impressive stately home starting life in 1341 it is best known for and famed for its Baronial Hammer beamed Hall.

Penshurst Place

The house was enlarged in 1552 when Henry VIII’s son , Edward VI granted the house to Sir William Sidney who had been a courtier to the Kings Fathers. Sir William’s son, Henry married Lady Mary Dudley whose family became implicated in the Lady Jane Grey affair which was an attempt to usurp Mary I, better known as Bloody Mary. Robert Sidney inherited Penshurst after his brother, Philip died prematurely from war wounds at the battle Zutphen in 1586. The Sidney family inherited the Earldom of Leicester and the Earl of Leicester is famed as being Queen Elizabeth’s favourite suitor.

Knole

Another gem in the Garden of England is the amazing Calendar House of Knole with its 365 rooms, 52 Stair cases, 14 entrances and 7 courtyards and its 1,000 acre deer park. The house starts life in 1456 and was used by various Archbishops of Canterbury until in 1538 it was taken from Thomas Cranmer by Henry VIII presumably as another expression of his displeasure in regard to the failure of his marriage with Anne Boleyn and the Archbishops help in arranging the divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

Knole House

In 1566 the house was granted to Thomas Sackville whose descendants the Dukes of Dorset and Barons Sackville have lived here since 1603. Most notably these include the writer Vita Sackville West.

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Lastly, but not least, on the possibilities and list of beauties in the part of England known as the Weald of Kent, is the creation of Vita Sackville West in the 1930’s. Now this really is a garden lovers paradise rather than an historical visit although there are interesting associations. At one stage this “hurst” or Anglo Saxon Wood was a 700 acre deer park owned by one of Henry VIII’s privy councillors who no doubt allowed his Lord and Master to indulge his passion, hunting deer.

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Over the centuries the buildings had many uses including as a prisoner of war camp for French prisoners during the European Seven Years war in the 18th century. As far as we are concerned though the estate was a labour of love by Vita Sackville West whose gardens were a poignant and romantic substitute for Knole – which as the only child of Lionel the 3rd Lord Sackville, she would have inherited had she been male – but which had passed to her Uncle as the male heir.

Stonehenge at Dawn

Stonehenge & Bath

This is a classic and highly fascinating combination of historic locations, ideal for a full day of touring.

On the one hand there is the ancient stone circle – Stonehenge – created by a still only partially understood civilisation, the reasons for its existence being mysterious and long debated – and on the other hand we visit a beautiful city with real personality, which whilst being motivated by speculation has resulted in an elegant and distinguished 18th recreation of a Roman City.

Furthermore, in Bath one can explore the luxury the Romans enjoyed in their bathing spa. There are also special little highlights to the day such as a visit to a preserved and restored house displayed exactly as a family in the period of the society of Jane Austen’s day would have enjoyed.

Time allowing, we can drop in on one of two villages which still exist exactly as they were from the 14th-16th centuries.

Stonehenge Tour Group
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Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

Come and see Downton Abbey – actually Highclere Castle in reality – with us!

Booking well in advance is advised. Highclere is open for between 60 and 70 days each year. Highclere is open for two weeks over Easter, for each of the May Bank holidays, and for two months (Sunday to Thursday) over the summer months. Highclere is also open for a few days in early December and these December days are already sold out.

As seen in the famous series, the Cotswold village used as Downton village and the external view of the home of Mathew Crawley and the Church can additionally be visited on the same day. Also where the village fair and hospitals scenes were made. There is a possibility of having tea at Byfleet Manor, the scene of Dowager Violets house. The tea session is expensive, has to be arranged well in advance and is to be purchased as an extra item.

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)
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Mary Arden Cottage Stratford

Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle

All about our tours to Stratford Upon Avon & Warwick Castle

Once again an amazing combination of different periods in our history.

In the case of Warwick Castle, we see one of Britain’s most dramatic castles and within, we see wonderful displays developing room by room, illustrating the Earls of Warwick who can be thought of as Royal movers and shakers, and by total contrast a Royal Weekend Party at the turn of the 19th century.

More about Warwick Castle
  • Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Warwick Castle

Stratford Upon Avon is entirely about the life and times of William Shakespeare, which can be discovered at five different sites centred around the place of his birth.

Peter West illustrates Anne Hathaways Cottage

More about Stratford-upon-Avon
Peter West sitting in the replica of William Shakespeare's chair at New Place

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Cotswolds

The Cotswolds

All about our tours to The Cotswolds

Tours purely to the Cotswolds are suitable for people who want to have a leisurely day, seeing beautiful towns and villages without heavy historical interest.

Cotswold Architecture & Buildings are unique and rather beautiful, in the way that they use a particular type of Limestone known as Oolitic Limestone from the Jurassic period which is quite unique and beautiful , please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolite .

The skill used to make dry stone walls and the way that even roofing tiles are sliced out of the stone is quite astounding and very labour intensive. We are likely to see places like Chipping Camden, Chipping Norton, The Slaughters, Stow- on-the-Wold & Burton-on-the-Water at least on this day.

Please see www.cotswold.gov.uk/ for more information.

The Cotswolds

On these tour days there are several character places I have in mind for your enjoyment for quality pub lunches or we could go, at the top end, to a particularly lovely Restaurant ~ see www.bucklandmanor.co.uk which is also a Hotel and is set in beautiful surrounding fields & woods with sheep roaming around the area.

The Wool from the Sheep in this region is the reason for the areas wealth and fabulous buildings right through from the 12th century through to the 18th century. Think of this wealth as being equivalent to today’s oil industry. Think about the fact that even tapestries were made from wool and the Flemish skill in making those tapestries. Our cooperation with the Flemish in this trade and wars with the French, as a consequence, are legendary. With the advent of the industrial revolution labour became more expensive and new clothing materials came about, for example cotton, which meant that that wool was less in demand.

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Paris 02

France

Tours in France are available for a minimum of four days at £3,000 GBP.

Further days are available at £700 per day

Our tours in France are perfect for a chance to see the D Day museums, landing grounds and memorials, experiencing the  Normandy, Paris, the Riviera and The Vineyards.

Normandy – a possible seven day tour itinerary

a. Visit Aldershot Airborne Forces Museum: the true heroes of the day!
b. Southwark House/HMS Dryad: final planning was in the Map Room;
c. Free time for lunch in one of the historic pubs around this village;
d. D-Day Museum in Southsea, with the excellent Overlord Tapestry;
e. Optional visit to Portsmouth Cathedral followed by Evensong at 6.00;
f. Drinks and included dinner at a typical historic Portsmouth hostelry!
g. Overnight Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Caen

a. Visit the Pegasus Bridge Museum, opened by Prince of Wales in 2000;
b. Visit Bavent Ridge, the vital eastern flank of the Allied Invasion Force;
c. Ranville Cemetery: our earliest casualties are buried in this churchyard;
d. Merville Gun Battery, captured by 6th Airborne, to protect the beaches;
e. Included coffee break at café across Pegasus Bridge from the Museum;
f. Follow the British and Canadian Landing Beaches: Sword, Juno, Gold;
g. Visit the new Canadian Centre by Juno, at Courseulles-sur-Mer, lunch;
h. Continue to Bayeux, where we shall stay at the *** Hotel de Brunville.

a. Arromanches-les-Bains, the Mulberry Harbour and 360o Panorama;
b. Return to Bayeux with optional visit to Bayeux’s Battle of Normandy Museum, illustrating various aspects of this crucial part of the war;
c. Enjoy Bayeux with its famous Tapestry and Cathedral Bayeux, the first major city to be liberated, without damage, is a beautiful ancient town, with many lovely half-timbered and fine stone buildings.

a. Omaha Beach, US Armed Forces Landings, with its two Museums;
b. Colleville-sur-Mer, American Military Cemetery, so heart-breaking;
c. Ste. Mere Eglise, with its lovely church and US “Private John Steel”;
d. Free time for lunch and to visit the Musee Airborne 6 Juin, 1944;
e. Return to Bayeux. Evening at leisure.

a. Caen with its enormous Peace Memorial Museum, totally amazing;
b. Afternoon at leisure in Caen. An opportunity to visit William the Conqueror’s chateau, and the Abbaies des Hommes and des Dames;
c. Return to Bayeux. Evening at leisure.

a. Visit La Cambe’s German War Cemetery, originally a US cemetery;
b. Utah Beach and its museum; more US troops drowned than were shot;
c. French Museum about the Occupation at Quineville, with archive film;
d. Visit St.Vaast La Hougue, where King James II’s last hopes were lost;
e. Included dinner at La Barcadere, overlooking this attractive harbour;
f. 11.45 board Brittany Ferries overnight ferry to Poole.

a. Drive by the Lulworth Firing Ranges, nearby Tyneham MOD Village;
b. Visit ARF Bovington Tank Regiment Museum to review vital tanks;
c. See Moreton Church, where Lawrence of Arabia aka Ross, is buried;
d. Visit Weymouth and Portland, two of the main scenes of war action;
e. Time at leisure for lunch in this charming part of beautiful Dorset;
f. Visit Nether Wallop Army Air Corps Museum, to see their vital role;
g. Return to London.

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  • Airborne Forces
  • American Memorial
  • Battlefield
  • Fortification
  • Memorial
  • Minesweeper Tank

Normandy

Normandy 01
Normandy 02

Rouen and Honfleur

Rouen 01
Honfleur

 

The wonderful sights of Paris…

See the amazing Boulevards of Paris, visit the legendary Louvre, mount the incredible Eiffel Tour feel as if you are on top of the world and then descend to ground level and relax at some of those renowned cafes. Day tours of Paris available from £450 GBP

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Here are a few pictures of what you will see on the Riviera

For those interested in touring the Riviera we have a downloadable PDF file with suggested routes along with the cost of enjoying these tours…

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The vineyard tour

Lets get to really know the famous wine regions from the Loire Valley, through the Champagne region around Reims – then down to Burgundy and over to Bordeaux whilst we experience visits to Vineyards and wine tasting.

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