Spanish
JapaneseDiscovery Tours
These are ideal for the travellers who would like to get an insight into the various regions of Southern England without the expense of a personally designed tour and may be taken on any day of the week, as long as there is availability.
We operate seven different personally guided drive tours all available as an eight hour Full day tour or some as a five hour Short day , in much the same way as our bespoke packages which are more suited to families or larger groups travelling together.
Our Discovery tours are limited to six people per vehicle with a minimum of two people travelling, and will run roughly to the outlined schedule. However there is always room for manoeuvre and if you can agree with your fellow travellers it is normally possible to vary the programme on the day to take in locations not on the original schedule, as long as distances are not prohibitive.
It can also be quite exciting sometimes, and a lot of fun , (Normally on the way home.) to take it in turns to decide which way to go at the next road junction and take you on your own voyage of discovery, don't worry though, the driver will not let you take your fellows into a river or off the edge of a cliff!
Tour A
Stratford–upon-Avon and The Cotswolds.
This can only be taken as a full day tour because of the time taken to reach Stratford, but does allow a nice leisurely drive back through the Cotswolds to Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford on our return journey to your Hotel. Depending on yourselves we can stop at all or any of these locations subject to your own likes and dislikes, great shopping opportunities for the ladies on this tour but don't take too long or we will never get all the way around.
Tour B
Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral
Drive down across the Berkshire Downs into Wiltshire into the historic town of Salisbury to visit the magnificent 800 year old cathedral, with the tallest spire in England. Then just outside of the town we visit the Bronze age site of Old Sarum the original settlement in the area and a truly fascinating experience. From here we head cross country to view Stonehenge, you can go into the enclosure if you wish but we would normally recommend a journey to nearby Avebury Stone circle where you can still actually walk amongst the stones, and there is no entry fee! A different route back to your hotel travelling slightly further West than our outbound trip.
Tour C
Winchester Cathedral and The New Forest.
One of our favourite trips especially in the Spring and Autumn when the colours of the forest are at their most beautiful. Drive over the Newbury Downs into Winchester with its picturesque narrow streets and the magnificent Cathedral which has been altered many times in its existence. The original minster being constructed around 600 AD then rebuilt by the Norman invaders around 1100 AD, and subsequently modified on many more occasions to reflect the current style, until we are left with the structure we have today.
From Winchester we take a short drive to Romsey and then down into the New Forest itself, here we do not normally follow a preordained route but meander through the tiny connecting roads, stopping to stroll through lovely chocolate box villages and woodland paths. There is a large population of wildlife within the forest and hopefully some of the residents will be out on view, you will see almost certainly numbers of ponies and herds of sheep that roam free. A beautiful drive back along the Test Valley, probably the second best trout river in England and very pretty.
Tour D
Chedworth Roman Villa and Cotswold
We drive directly to the site of Chedworth for a fascinating look at the Roman occupation of these Islands soon after they arrived around 100 AD. Here you can see examples of Roman mosaics and building construction with their heating and ventilation systems and bathhouses, also get an idea of the splendour of the mosaic floors and finery that graced these high class dwellings.
From here we drive to Bibury probably the most photographed of all the Cotswold villages and onto the town of Lechlade the furthest navigable point on the River Thames, from here you can sail all the way to London and beyond to the North Sea. The area around Lechlade is noted for the myriad Cotswold Stone villages and tiny winding rivers crossed by ancient Stone bridges, back to your hotel via Burford where we may stop if there is any time available.
Tour E
Fifty miles from Oxford
We literally drive out through the suburbs of the city straight into the heart of the English countryside, we now have five hours to explore at your leisure the surrounding countryside, venturing up into the Cotswold villages of Duns and Great Tew, Rousham and Glympton and then out up to Banbury and beyond. North of Oxford we travel towards Aylesbury and past Waddesdon Manor and up into The Chilterns, another range of hills equally splendid but totally different to the Cotswolds we now take a large loop around to the East of Oxford on our return. This is probably as much of Oxfordshire as you could possibly see in half a day but still not too much of a rush. Picturesque towns and villages - superb natural panoramas making ideal photo opportunities for the David Bailey’s among you.
Tour F
Thames Valley River Route
Leaving Oxford we follow the course of the River Thames via Abingdon and Wallingford, to the lovely town of Henley, home to the annual boating Regatta which attracts rowing teams from all over the world, pleasant walk along the river and back through the town centre.
Drive now to Marlow and over the Victorian iron suspension bridge next to the famous hotel “The Compleat Angler” named after the well known fishing manual written by Isaac Walton and the starting point for the travels of Three Men in a Boat, an equally well read publication. This is a splendid little town and a great place for the ladies, with a wealth of nice shops all on the Main Street within a few hundred yards of the river. Leaving Marlow we climb up into the Chiltern hills for our return to Oxford along tiny leafy lanes only just wide enough for one vehicle at a time past quaint brick and flint cottages with thatched roofs and magnificent Tudor mansions hiding in the woods.
Tour G
Bath and Castle Combe
Today we journey south from Oxford via the exquisite Cotswold villages of Bibury and Arlington, to the magnificent splendour of royal Bath. Originally developed by the Romans around 100 A.D. the natural warm water spring named Aquae Sulis, has had a varied history, the old Roman baths lay undiscovered until the early 18th century when there was a renewed interest in the warm water of the natural spa. It was very fashionable to visit health spas in this period and because this particular spring was naturally warm and full of minerals it was rapidly developed in the early and mid seventeen hundreds, to the magnificent architectural city that we see today.
In the recent meantime Bath again fell into decline but today a whole new spa and hotel resort has been completed, the dilapidated stonework of the city has been renovated for the pleasure of the many thousands of tourists who visit the ancient ruins and splendid Georgian terraces and arcades making the city one of the wonders of modern Britain.
Depending on your preferences you may wish to visit or just view a number of places within the city of Bath, of prime importance for most people is the pump room, where you can see the extensive remains of the Roman Baths and steam rooms, topped by the later Georgian and Victorian alterations, it is suggested you visit here first as they can be very busy, and it will take around one hour to do the tour. Your tour will start by crossing over Pulteney bridge designed by Robert Adam around 1770, this bridge is one of very few remaining in Europe that has a shopping arcade on the bridge itself, a fact that is not always obvious that you are actually crossing the river until after you have left the bridge.
From here it is just a short walk to the Pump rooms and the Abbey begun in 1499, Bath Abbey is the last of the great medieval churches of England. The West Front is unique
as it depicts the dream that inspired the Abbey's founder, Bishop
Oliver King, to pull down the ruined Norman cathedral and raise the present building on its foundations.
Over the past twelve and a half centuries, three different churches have occupied the site of today's Abbey: An Anglo-Saxon Abbey
Church dating from 757, pulled down by the Norman conquerors of England soon after 1066. A massive Norman cathedral begun about 1090. It was larger than the monastery could afford to maintain and
by the end of the 15th century was in ruins. The present Abbey church founded in 1499, was ruined after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by order of Henry VIII.
Some of you may also want to visit the Jane Austen centre, a depiction of Georgian living in this city, home to Jane Austen and many of her literary works. We will now drive around the city to view the magnificent Georgian architecture much of which was designed by John Wood and his son of the same name, the Circus , inspired by the Roman coliseum and the fabulous terraces high above the city give the architecture here a wonderful feeling of grandeur and richness. The most famous terraces being the Royal and Lansdowne giving superb views out over the city and surrounding areas.
The Circus is an example of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath, begun in 1754 and completed in 1768. The name comes from the latin 'circus', which means a ring, oval or circle.
Divided into three segments of equal length, the Circus is a circular space surrounded by large townhouses.
Each of the curved segments faces one of the three entrances, ensuring that whichever way a visitor enters there
is a classical facade straight ahead.
The Circus, originally called King's Circus, was designed by the John Wood the Elder, although he never lived
to see his plans put into effect as he died less than three months after the first stone was laid. It was left to his
son, John Wood the Younger to complete the scheme to his father's design. The initial leases for the south west
segment were granted in 1755-67, those for the south east segment in 1762-6, and those for the north segment
in 1764-6.
Our time in Bath is now at an end and so we will travel eastward to the
historic village of Castle Combe, once the site of a Norman castle but this is
only a ruin now. The village itself claims to be the most beautiful of all the Cotswold villages and has featured in many big screen film sets, such as Dr
Doolittle. We can walk through the village alongside the By brook once used in the preparation of wool and woollen garments manufactured in the village
up to the historic market cross and Manor house, although only tiny, the
village will live on in your memory for a very long time.
All of these tours are subject to availability and tour days may be changed or added if demand dictates. So if you would like a specific tour on a different day to normal do not hesitate to ask as we will accommodate if at all possible.
Full Day tour per person £65
Half Day tour per person £40
Short day tours
The Cotswolds to include Stratford on Avon and Bourton-on-the-Water.
The Chiltern Hills, beech woods and Waddesdon Manor.
Thames Valley, Henley, Windsor and Marlow.
Fully day tours
The Cotswolds can include Warwick Castle and Stratford on Avon or both and an extensive Cotswold Village tour.
Salisbury and Stonehenge. Drive over the beautiful Berkshire Downs and into the valley of the River Test, visit Salisbury Cathedral and Bronze and Iron Age settlements.
The New Forest. The largest uncultivated area of Britain with stunning scenery and fantastic walks in the forest and villages.
Thames Valley. Windsor Castle and town, then explore the beautiful towns and villages alongside the River Thames. A boat trip can also be included on this tour.
Naval History. Choose between the historic ports of Gloucester, Portsmouth or Bristol to see a fantastic portrayal of English naval history and embarkation point for thousands of early settlers on their way to the New World. Plus a scenic journey both to and from your chosen destination.
All our vehicles are designed to enable you to travel in spacious luxury for up to six people, and are of course air conditioned, a coolbox is fitted and stocked with complimentary drinks. Complete picnic hampers can be provided with 48 hours prior notice.
Standard full day tours cost from £300 per day.
Pick-up 08.30 return 18.30.
Short Day tours from £200 per day.
Pick-up at 10.00 back to hotel by 17.00.
If you are thinking of visiting just one major attraction in a day, and would like to include a sightseeing journey it is possible that this could be priced individually as a short day tour with waiting time, giving you a better price than for a full days driving tour. Waiting time will be charged at £20 per hour!
If you would prefer an hourly rate, the first two hours would be at £45 and subsequent hours at £35.