Classic England

Discover the best bits of this great global city in a classic Mini Cooper with a local Londoner. Chance upon London’s best kept secrets on this urban safari ride as your guide brings the city alive with her passion and local knowledge. Drive over to London’s famous monuments such as the St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, and The Shard. Drop by hidden gems like the street art lining the Leake Street Tunnel, a bustling local antique market, and a guided tour of the eccentric alleyways behind old Covent Garden. Tour London’s hoary financial district, visit its popular pubs, and learn about its monarchy and present royal family as you cross the city’s iconic bridges, collecting priceless travel memories. Depending upon the size of your group, this tour is available for differently abled tourists as well. (Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon; Duration: 2 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness level: Easy; Please wear comfortable walking shoes).

Brace yourself for the quintessential sights, sounds and flavors of the London Bridge area on this guided food tour. After a light breakfast at your hotel, meet your local guide at a designated spot. Prepare yourself for a gastronomic excursion, as you navigate local markets and popular old pubs for a taste of London. Start off with the classic English breakfast of bacon and egg bap at the Borough Market, with its distinctive character and history. Try a traditional fish and chips platter next, arguably the most popular British dish, and sample a freshly baked roll with traditional Cumberland sausages. Explore the bustling old marketplace, soak up the area’s history and walk up to Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind, the Shard, and Southwark Cathedral. Discover a traditional pub in the old neighborhood, and sit back to enjoy a select platter of English cheese with fruit, crackers and chutney, washed down with a tankard of traditional English cider. Wind your way to the Thames, passing by the Battleship HMS Belfast, the London Bridge and Tower Bridge, feasting your eyes on the city’s historic skyline. Call it a day at a cozy little tea room, enjoying a pot of English tea and the tour’s “secret dish”! (Half Day; Time of Day: Afternoon; Duration: 3–3.5 hrs; Times: 11:00 or 3:00; Shared Activity; Transfer not Included; Meals included: Street food, pub fare, cider & tea. Fitness level: Moderate; Please inform of any special dietary needs before tour, and wear comfortable walking shoes).

Discover the UK’s most mystical destination on this day tour of the Salisbury Plains. Return to Britain’s old Celtic world, replete with pagan tribes, druids and sacred rituals with a visit to the mystical monoliths of Stonehenge. This circle of enormous gray stones, surrounded by ancient burial mounds at Salisbury, continues to fascinate and intrigue travelers and pilgrims alike. Leave your London hotel early, accompanied by your local guide cum driver. On reaching Stonehenge, take the bus or walk down the picturesque mile-long stretch from the visitor center to the stones, soaking in the magical ambiance. Return to your waiting vehicle and drive over to one of the world’s oldest and largest continuously occupied royal castles. Windsor Castle has been inhabited by the British nobility as well as its royal family for nearly a thousand years and continues to be the Queen’s favorite weekend residence. Barring the Queen’s private quarters, most of the Castle is open to the public today. Take a peek at the stately halls and lavish rooms hung with chandeliers and grand portraits of royal personages, including St George’s Hall, the Grand Reception Room, and the Waterloo Chamber. (Full Day; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness level: Moderate; Please wear comfortable walking shoes).

Explore the intimate city of Bath, through specialized guided walking tours. The tour starts at your hotel with your guide. Visit the city’s most famous attractions, and learn about Bath’s historical and cultural heritage. Admire the ancient Roman baths, and experience the interactive museum. Soak up the relaxed vibe of Bath’s 18th century boulevards, enlivened by the lively busking scene, thanks to the city’s young university folks. From food to literature, horror and comedy, and films to architecture, there’s plenty to uncover. Take a walk around the shaded plaza of The Circus, a circular complex of elegant townhouses inspired by Stonehenge. Drop by the Royal Crescent, Queen Square, Parade Gardens, and the surrounding parks for people-watching. Laze about the Pulteney Bridge, and its bustling lane, dotted with bars, boutiques, and cafes. Get a glimpse of Bath’s culinary treasures, including historical dishes and artisanal offerings such as the big buns, local cheeses, and Bath Oliver. Finish off with a relaxing dip at the modern Thermae Bath Spa that overlooks the city. (Half Day; Duration: 4hrs; Private Activity; Transfer not required; Fitness level: Moderate; Please wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a light raincoat or umbrella)

Take a peaceful 1 hour drive to visit Avebury henge, a lesser-known ancient monument featuring Britain’s largest stone circles from the Neolithic age. Explore the concentric stone circles amid the village’s farmlands, frequented by grazing sheep. See earth mounds with white horse artwork, before exiting past Silbury Hill. Continuing through the sleepy English countryside, arrive at Lacock, a charming 13th century village protected by the National Trust. Admire the half-timbered houses fringed by geranium blooms, and streets sans electric poles. Step inside the medieval Lacock Abbey, popularized by the Harry Potter’s films as the setting for the movie’s classrooms, corridors, and houses. Learn about the abbey’s former resident Henry Fox Tablot, renowned as a pioneer of photography. Browse the adjoining museum that showcases the world’s first negative image, among other artifacts. Drop by the National Trust tea room for afternoon tea and cream scones. Finally, driving through the Cotswolds, enjoy the quintessential English village of Castle Combe, considered the prettiest in the country! (Full Day; Duration: 8hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness level: Moderate)

Spend the day pampering your senses with the best of food and drink that Cotswolds has to offer. Start your tour with a drive to visit to an organic dairy farm, which supplies rich milk to the nearby Creamery. Learn all about the process of local cheese making that contributes to the delicious flavors and textures of Cotswold Brie and Single Gloucester before you take a bite of these award-winning artisanal cheeses. Head to the picture-perfect villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter, which despite their dubious names offers exquisite natural views and the experience of walking through winding high streets lined with quaint shops and teahouses. Stop by at a typical English pub to dig into a hearty lunch after which you will be ready to visit a local brewery. Discover the process of brewing beer that has remained unchanged for more than 150 years and wind up your tour by sampling some of the finest ales from their cellar. (Full Day; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer)

On your way to Oxford from the Cotswolds, enjoy a day out at Blenheim Palace, a grand country estate that graces the banks of River Glyme near Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Welcomed by the Hensington Gates and the towering Column of Victory, enter the Great Hall past the lofty colonnaded façade. Marvel at the stunning English baroque architecture of the Dukes of Marlborough’s residence, also famous as Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace and ancestral home. Browsing its ornate guestrooms, dining rooms, and the long library, soak up the sumptuously decorated interiors, which feature tapestries, painted ceilings, family portraits, and delicate carvings. Wandering about the network of corridors, listen to palatial anecdotes and admire the many artifact displays, including the Untold Story exhibition. Taking the miniature train to the Pleasure Gardens, explore the Butterfly House that protects myriad butterfly species, and the tranquil lake surrounds, which are fringed by lavender fields. Strolling about the expansive botanical gardens dotted with statues, fountains, bridges, and mazes, encounter geese, lambs, and other resident wildlife. (En Route Activity; Full Day; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Admission Included; Fitness level: Moderate)

Discover the old medieval city and university town of Oxford on this fascinating walk in the company of an Oxford graduate. Explore the venerable town with its romantic architecture, gathering authentic insights on student life on this entertaining day trip. Stroll among Oxford’s “dreaming spires”, its cobbled streets, domed structures, medieval chapels, quiet cloisters and quadrangles. Glean interesting trivia on the town’s history, heritage and traditions from your student guide. If you’re lucky, you could get to visit a typical college, complete with Gothic elements, quadrangles and an ancient dining hall hung with portraits of its famous alumni. (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 2 hrs; Private Activity; Transfer not Included; Fitness level: Moderate; Please wear comfortable walking shoes)

Experience a short, leisurely river boat ride down the charming Cherwell River with a professional punter. Come abroad your flat-bottomed boat at the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, which stands next to Magdalen College Tower, across the road from Oxford’s Botanic Gardens. If you wish, you could also make a day of it on the river, returning half an hour before sunset. Glide past some of Oxford’s iconic landmarks, including the Botanic Gardens and Magdalen College school fields. Row past the Christ Church Meadows, where Lewis Carroll once taught students and wrote his two great masterpieces – Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Continue traveling past the lovely gardens of St Hilda’s College before returning to the boathouse. If you wish, you could also continue rowing down towards the “Isis”, what they call the Thames in Oxford, and enjoy cruising along this beautiful riverscape. (Duration: 30 mins; Private Activity; Transfer not Included; Fitness level: Easy)

Experience the verdant beauty of the Lake District, which has inspired a host of English poets and writers, especially Romantics like Wordsworth and Coleridge. Arrive at the pretty market town of Keswick and then travel along Derwentwater to Borrowdale and Buttermere, famed for their exquisite natural beauty. If weather permits, you can spot Langdale Pikes in the distance and even Scafell Pike, the tallest mountain in England. Take in the lush greenery dotted with picturesque lakes and the popular Catbells Fell as you pause at ‘Surprise View’. After all that walking, treat yourself to a well-deserved lunch of local specialties at a family owned pub and then set off to feast your eyes on yet more ethereal vistas. Pass through the placid Crummock Water, the scenic Hopeback Road, the panoramic Whinlatter Pass till you reach the iconic Castlerigg Stone Circle, dating back to 5000 years. (Full Day; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer)

Experience the ethereal beauty of the Lake District on this fascinating cruise of Windermere Lake, the largest in England. Set off from Bowness Bay and pass hidden bays, secret inlets, and quiet wooded islands bordered by verdant mountain views all around. Inhale and fill your lungs with pure, country air as you take panoramic views of the lush scenery. Enjoy the stunning contrast of green hills and blue waters on this circular Islands cruise. (Shared Activity; Chauffeur Transfer Included; Duration: 45 mins)