Destinations to visit with SHO4 Travel
The following list covers many of the best locations in Southern England, whether you want to visit stately homes, beautiful gardens, historic castles or pictureque villages and towns, we can take you there, however these are only suggestions to help you decide. If you have other locations in mind just let us know and we will build a tour for you around these.
Avebury
A large ritual stone circle similar in design to Stonehenge although the some of the stones are much larger, the beauty of this site is that you can still walk amongst the stones, giving a real feel for the magic. The whole area is rich in Neolithic sites including The Windmill Hill Encampment and Silbury Hill dating back nearly 5000 years and can be taken in with trips to Salisbury and The Wiltshire downs. For more details on Avebury visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-avebury/
Bath
The Roman Invaders to Britain first built magnificent public baths here, known as Aquae Sulis in the 1st century AD. These fell into decline when the Romans left after a stay of around 400 years, and did not resume popularity until the Regency era when bathing in the warm naturally mineral rich waters again became fashionable. Today there is a new spa in operation but it is amazing to visit the old Roman baths and get an insight into the grandeur of their times. The city of Bath is very elegant and a joy to explore with its sweeping Royal Crescent and the Pulteney Bridge by Adam. Bath may be visited in conjunction with Gloucester and the Forest of Dean or Bristol and Slimbridge wildfowl trust.
Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water & Burford
These three famous places to visit in the Cotswolds sum up the overall beauty of the area Burford is often referred to as the gateway to the Cotswolds (but this title could equally be shared by Woodstock or Witney) A beautiful stone built town on the banks of the river Windrush, Burford is the ideal place to do a little shopping or explore the old church built in the 1400s with its magnificent spire and churchyard. On to Bourton on the Water passing through the villages of The Barringtons or The Rissingtons, Bourton is famous for its wide main street which is shared by the road and the river and a lovely grassed area very popular for picnics or just sitting in the sunshine ( Best avoided at weekends when it can be far too popular) Bibury is a classic among Cotswold villages, claimed to be the most beautiful by the poet William Morris, the village lays alongside the crystal clear river Coln and you can take a circular route past the pretty row of Arlington Cottages to the old mill which is now a rural museum, then maybe a cup of tea or feed the fish in the trout farm or in the river, cross over the old stone bridge, to complete your circuit.
Blenheim Palace
Home to the family of the Duke of Marlborough the palace built in 1704 was a gift to John Churchill for his contribution to beating the French Army at the Battle of Blenheim, this was also home to the second world war English Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and you can visit his grave in the nearby village of Bladon. The Palace is probably one of the best maintained and preserved stately homes you can visit and really should not be missed.
Broadway
With its honey-coloured Cotswold stone buildings, Broadway is one of the most picturesque of the Cotswold villages. With a wide range of antique and high quality shops, breathtaking scenery and with lovely places to stay, Broadway is an delightful at any time of the year.
Broughton Castle
The Family seat of the Fiennes family made famous in the rhyme about the town of Banbury “To see a Fyne lady upon a white horse” The Castle is the ideal way to get a picture of a Castle in miniature it was built as a fortified manor house complete with Moat and gatehouse, and the crenallations were added later. Today you would probably link the family name with a famous actor or his arctic exploring brother Rannulph Fiennes.
Chedworth Roman Villa
An extensive site of Roman occupation with mosaics hypocausts and bath houses, over a mile of remains of the original walls survive and there is a museum and audio tour. National trust
Chepstow Castle
Lying across the river Severn and geographically in Wales. Chepstow Castle was constructed in 1067 by William the conqueror to set up his chain of fortified castles across England built to maintain his control of his newly conquered territories. The castle towers over the gorge of the river Wye in a natural position of dominance. This visit is ideal to take in conjunction with The Forest of Dean and Tintern Abbey and/or Symmonds Yat.
Chipping Campden
This is an exceptionally pretty Cotswold market town established on the old Shepherds trail and established during the heyday of the woollen industry as were the majority of these Cotswold Towns. It tends not to be visited as much by the big coach tours so can be a much better choice in peak season.
Chipping Norton
Another town which made its fortune on the sheep's back. The old Bliss tweed mill just outside of the town is an inspiring piece of architecture constructed to look like an elegant country house concealing the textile factory within, this has now been converted to luxury flats. "Chippie" as it is known locally is the highest town in Oxfordshire with a wide market area and gorgeous views. It may be a good idea to visit the Rollright Stone which are only a few miles away on this trip! 77 Stones set up like a Stonehenge in miniature constructed some 3500-4000 years ago as a religious site, said in legend to be the petrified remains of the King's army.
Forest of Dean
Lying between the rivers Wye and Severn The Forest covers 110 sq kilometres on the borders of Wales and Gloucestershire. The Dean Heritage Centre offers an insight into the people who have inhabited the forest, from the peat and coal diggers to the charcoal burners, and farmers who herded their livestock in the forest environment. There are lots of opportunities for some serious walking in the forest which is particularly beautiful in the spring and autumn. There is also a very interesting system of caves which were mined for iron ore and ochre which you can visit, or the railway centre with its collection of old railway memorabilia.
Gloucester Docks
At the mouth of the River Severn and the embarkation point for thousands of early settlers to the new world, the waterways museum is well worth a visit followed by a boat trip around the docks themselves many of which have now been converted into luxury apartments and offices. Gloucester Cathedral was recently used in the filming of some scenes for the Harry Potter movies but has its roots as an Abbey founded in 681 AD dedicated to St Peter. This tour can be combined with a visit to Bristol as well if you fancy the full maritime experience, where there are several restored ships and a replica of an old galleon.
The New Forest
It is agreed that many areas of this beautiful woodland have been inhabited since Neolithic times and there is plenty of evidence of bronze and iron age settlements in the area but I think that today the pure natural beauty of the forest with its herds of wild deer and abundant birdlife and areas of rolling heath land and woodland is its biggest selling point and this can be enjoyed together with a tour to Salisbury or Stonehenge or a visit to the south coast Christchurch or Sandbanks,( the most expensive property area in Britain today) info@Newforestnationalpark.
Portsmouth Historic Docks & HMS Victory
The dock area at Portsmouth is now a huge area of museums and displays including Horatio Nelsons Flagship, The Victory, and the Tudor battleship the Mary Rose which was lifted from Portsmouth harbour complete with ancient weapons and artefacts. A fabulous day out if you are interested in all things nautical. This can be combined with a scenic roundabout route including areas of The New Forest, The Berkshire Downs and The Test Valley, making a wonderful day out, but only suitable for an extended day tour.
Salisbury & Old Sarum
Sarum was the original bronze age settlement from which Salisbury later grew, it was abandoned around 1200 Ad and now makes a fascinating site to visit if you are interested in ancient history and civilization. Info at English Heritage. Salisbury Cathedral can be seen for miles around having the tallest church spire in England at 404 ft. The cathedral was started in 1220 and completed in record time of only 38 years, an impressive achievement when you consider they had no power tools or machinery, the spire being added later in 1334. Apparently the building has no solid foundations as we know them today but was built on great bundles of wood which have to remain wet to give support, if they ever dry out there is a good chance that the cathedral could collapse! This can easily be combined with Stonehenge and rural villages tour.
Stonehenge
Possibly the most famous of all the stone circles. Stonehenge was constructed some 4000-5000 years ago with some sort of religious and timekeeping function of which there are numerous theories. This classed as one of the wonders of the world and now a world heritage site and a mecca for sun worshippers and druids at the summer solstice, on the 21st of June. However one theory suggests that to the ancients who built it the winter solstice would have been much more important, to herald the return of the longer days and the coming of spring and a new growing season. It would be best to combine this with another tour possibly Salisbury or Glastonbury, it is not permitted to enter the stone circle and touch the stones without special permissions.
Stow
This picturesque town is situated on the Roman Fosse Way and has a long history dating back to a prehistoric fortified settlement on top of a hill. Today it is famous as a centre for antiques and has a large market square surrounded by houses, shops and inns all built in the local Cotswold stone. At nearly 800ft Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns.
Waddesdon Manor
This is a truly impressive example of upper class extravagance, built by the Rothschild family as one of a string of fabulous country houses. Built in the style of a 16th century French Chateau, Waddesdon has magnificent gardens and is home to a collection of art treasures and exotic furnishings which reflect the ostentations of its owners. Situated high on a hill close to Aylesbury and set in stunning grounds this house is now operated by The National Trust. It is a good idea to pre-book tickets if you would like to visit the house as this is done on a rotational basis and can be very busy at peak times.
Warwick Castle
Built on the banks of the River Avon the castle is one of the best preserved in the country and ranks alongside Windsor Castle having a great many attractions to be explored in your visit, rated Britain's top attraction by some tourist guides. For more information got www.warwick-castle.co.uk
Windsor Castle
Originally constructed by William the Conqueror soon after he arrived with the Norman conquest in 1066 the castle is now one of the homes of the English Royal family and contains a wealth of paintings, porcelain, armoury and statuary. The castle itself will take at least half a day to see properly so can only really be included on a full day tour but can include a visit to Dorney Court and the town of Windsor and Eton, home to the famous boys' school. The roundabout journey to Windsor includes drives through the back lanes of the Chiltern Hills with a snapshot of some of the wonderful styles of houses, some very large and some so small it does not seem possible they were constructed as residences at all. Take in the riverside towns of Henley, Marlow, and Maidenhead on the journey back to your hotel.
This list although quite comprehensive contains only a tiny fraction of the locations Britain has to offer , so if there is anywhere else you discover do not hesitate to tell us, we will take you anywhere you want to go if at all possible.
Other possibilities
Beachy Head and the South Downs
Bletchley Park
Cambridge
Canterbury
Chatsworth House
Glastonbury
Hever Castle
Kenilworth
Leeds Castle
Lulworth Cove and Lyme Regis
Malmesbury Abbey
Silbury hill
Sudeley Castle
Woburn Abbey
And of course if you would like to visit any of the London sites these are particularly varied but all can be accommodated if you desire, it may be possible to include Hampton Court, Kew Gardens or Syon House with a Windsor trip if you wanted.