And for nine more suggestions on where to get away from the crowds, check … A different experience with real local people on their farm and way of life. "Our 'wow" moment came when we saw the beautiful landscape of the lake district in Keswick. "Vindolanda. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering fewer crowds, mild weather, and the full range of tourist fun. Magic! The food was great and the accommodations were thoughtfully situated. Good hotels. With Rick Steves, Andreas Clemens, Georg Reichlmayr, Holger Zimmer. We got to see, do, and learn things that I never would have known about otherwise. I enjoyed Marks sense of humor and knowledge of the areas we visited. I called a college to see if she would join me and I got an immediate YES! I like the Rick Steves’ travel guides. I was totally awed by the Glastonbury Abbey, the Wells Cathedral and its astronomical clock. I was thrilled to touch Hadrian's wall! Mark is just fun to be around. Our experience was great! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Alternatively, you can travel from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports on a direct National Express coach (bus); schedules can be found at the National Express website. Well paced tour of a beautiful part of England. Definitely never pictured myself in this position, and it was a blast. built around stops and stays at first rate examples of England. Gareth was so passionate about his dogs, sheep and way of life. We walked a lot (which I love) and spent a good deal of time outside. The trip was fantastic from start to finish. Excellent tour with destinations well thought out. Getting into the countryside was the best part for me. The Snowdonia Mountains were beautiful. "Hard to pin point just one, they were all "wow" moments. The people in our group were genial and overall, it was wonderful! Snowdonia the day of our hike. She and Paul not only help get me there for the care I needed but gave us excellent directions that enabled us to join the group a few days later. I loved the awesome cathedrals/abbeys. The sights we visited were such a good combination of old architecture, history, nature and modern day UK. Excellent sightseeing. Visiting Vindolanda and Hadrians wall ,incredible. "I liked The city of York with its ancient walls one can traverse around most of the city. I found the organization of the itinerary to be a good mix of history, local customs and culture, people, churches, castes, etc. Most of my "do-it-yourself" trips ended up on the list that rhymes with bucket... "James the bus driver and his ability to navigate through narrow streets I wouldn't even drive a tiny car in. "Westminster Abbey with the tombs for Darwin, Hawking, Newton, Dickens, and Blake to name just a few was incredible.". Super. Paul was also great and I think will become an excellent guide. The itinerary was really well thought out with lots of variety between castle, gardens,palaces, ruins, villages, cities, downtime, hikes etc. The guide Nigel was great. Come By!". Good ratio of scheduled vs free time. ", "The shepherd's dog! The timing of our tour was a little early for the beautiful array of flowers I was hoping to be able to photograph but the expansive layout, artistic landscaping and wide assortment of flora, laced with flowing streams and other bodies of water presented a surprising opportunity for some stunning photographs! The Guide was excellent. Having arranged my own vacations to Europe in the past, I was so happy with the absence of anxiety on this tour. This was our first Rick Steve's tour or tour of any kind. Truly a wonderful tour that we thoroughly enjoyed! This afternoon, you'll have the chance to join your guide for a walk up to Castlerigg Stone Circle for sweeping views of the valley. I already miss both of them. Nigel became like a friend and showed concern and patience for each of us. "We got to see a working farm in Wales and had the opportunity to visit withe the family about their way of life.". His commentary on our tour made History come alive for us. I came away feeling that I had seen and experienced England. "The sheep farm, hike in Cotswold and the stone circles.". Saw breathtakingly beautiful abbeys and castles; enjoyed picturesque scenes of the countryside and quaint villages; visited historical sites and learned history of England's settlement; heard talented local musicians; ate interesting and delicious food (including scrumptious, beautiful, bountiful breakfasts); had ample free time to explore; and enjoyed the camaraderie of the guide and members of the tour group. Plus the food selections were very good and related to the areas we visited. Rick Steves' Europe travel expert Julia Reams-Giersch presents this travel talk on Scotland's islands. I am at a loss as to what other experience could provide such an intimate peek into the history and culture of a country. Looking back at my pictures I realized how much was packed into the 14 days...so much to take in! Here’s another one of my favorite travel memories — a reminder of what’s waiting for you in Europe at the other end of this crisis. Second would be Glastonbury, we had a picnic on the lawn on a perfect sunny day. One of my favorite days was walking on the trail through pastures in Stow-on-the-Wold, also the other country walks up the Tor in Glastonbury and in Snowdonia. From the motor coach, to hotels and our dinners as a group, we were well-cared for and hospitably received. "I had many "wow" moments on the tour. Most of hotels had bigger rooms than we expected which was nice. Find Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe - British Isles at Amazon.com Movies & TV, home of thousands of titles on DVD and Blu-ray. Loved Conwy and our hotel. If I have to pick one, i'd Say it was our morning on the Sheep farm in Wales. Sleep in Keswick. Let me preface by saying we did this exact same tour 5 years ago because we loved it so much!! Lorraine knowledge of the area and the history is amazing. The "Rick Steve's Way" of helping a group of strangers become traveling friends always adds to the experience. Liz is an outstanding guide. Wonderful singing!". We had a wonderful trip that had just the right balance of relaxation and excitement. I always imagined England to be green with rolling hills, sheep etc, but didn't expect it to exceed my imagInation! So, much to learn about those buried there.". We loved the mix of experiences -- we could have not have done this trip on our own. Having a couple of folks in our group help round up a sheep for shearing was hilarious and we teased them for days afterwards because the dog could not figure out what they were telling her to do. This is a moderately active tour! A good blend of large cities and smaller towns brought this experience together. The countryside was lovely. Just the antiquity of all the buildings over there is difficult to comprehend.". Good uneventful transportation experience due in part to my wife's planning and studying the literature. Travel Forum / To the North / British Isles; Please sign in to post. This is a really nice itinerary. The guides were fabulous, pleasant, good sense of humor and informative. See our FAQ | Call My husband and I were very tired after our tour. We'll travel back in time today with a walk along Hadrian's ancient Roman wall, once considered the boundary dividing civilization and barbarity (though the Scots might disagree), followed by a tour of the Roman auxiliary fort, Vindolanda. It was pleasing to not only the mind in a historical sense but also delightful at every stop along the tour. The most significant was our visit to Hadrian's Wall and a guard post, then to the fort of Vindolanda.". As everything unfolded so smoothly, I increasingly appreciated how well-planned and organized everything was. I’ve enjoyed good, old-fashioned B&B hospitality (not to mention great prices) throughout our trip. Good balance! I would say the choices of places to go were first rate, food and lodging were very good. This tour is Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our two-week Best of Scotland tour. I enjoyed the group hike up to Castelrigg Stone Circle and the information he provided to enhance the experience, "I enjoyed the hiking around the Lake District to peaks fora spectacular views. We were impressed by the experience, and especially by our tour guide. She was organized and had so much information that she shared in an interesting way. Good hotels and a great bus driver (Joseph). This morning we'll head to the Carneddau Mountains, where we'll visit a working farm and get to know their talented sheepdogs. Hope to take more trips in the future. Gareth is such a character that we could picture the generations of sheep farmers before him, each loving the land and their animals. York minster was fabulous.". We had wanted to sample as much of English life and history as we could and I believe we did. From the day we arrived in Bath, to the last day in London, it was wonderful. "Wow moments: there were 2! Superb guide. More info about travel to Scotland: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland On the Isle of Skye, peat was a vital resource for hundreds of years. But Most of all: meeting the marvelous people on our tour and sharing this trip with them!". The tour was efficient, respectful, fun, educational, enjoyable! The tour was well planned and interesting - we appreciate all of the effort in planning for a worry free trip. Then you need a fun, interesting, challenging itinerary and this RS tour met that. This tour was like an England history lesson and Roy is very knowledgeable. Our tour guide, David, was also nice and had a wonderful sense of humor. "I liked the folk singing in Stow. I loved the countryside focus of the majority of this tour. Re-appreciation and respect for our ancestors' skills and knowledge related to science, construction, physics, etc. Tonight we'll meet for a final group dinner together, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. We'll begin our day marveling at York Minster's stained glass windows on our tour of the largest Gothic church north of the Alps. Maximum goose bumps were the history, luminaries, memorials, quirks, stories, spirituality and pageantry at Westminster cathedral that really brings much of the character and essence of this small island together, an emotional and inspiring conclusion to our tour.". I would say we got more than our monies worth. As we’ve had to … Every experience warranted a "wow." Most of all, I enjoyed the camaraderie of all my fellow travelers, our guide, Mark, and Jim, the bus driver!". Eye opening about econimics of the sheep industry for sure.". Join popular PBS personality Rick Steves on a grand tour of the British Isles, and get a real feel for the people he meets. Would have liked more time in Blenheim Palace. "The moment of silence at Castlerig Stone Circle". Very fascinating.As usual, the hotels and group meals were excellent. Our guide, David, was outstanding and his sense of humor and dry wit added so much to the tour! "My favorite "wow" moment was climbing the Catbells in the Lake District. I then had to grab the sheep by the wool and lead it to the barn. Very good lodging placement and rooms. "There wasn't one "wow" moment. Learned a lot of history and saw some beautiful country Gillian was a great guide very knowledgeable and great sense of humor Everything went smoothly. It gave me such a wonderful feeling of being connected to ancient history.". The other travelers were as delightful as the scenery, experiences, and food. "Our time in the Lake District was one big WOW moment. We were lucky to have great weather as well. Not to take away from the overall tour which was a great experience.". Everything we saw was steeped in history and each guide made that history come alive for us. One of my favorites was Bodnant Gardens. Education & Reference Books > Almanacs & Yearbooks. Was on the wall alone the others were faster. ", Mark is a dinamo..very knowledgeable, always providing a comic twist. "My favorite time was in Conway, Wales, during our visit with Garreth and his sheep farm. Since we saw sheep everywhere on our tour, learning about the sheep, the dogs that herd them and the wool industry was an eye opener. "So many moments could be "wow" moments, but for me it was the experience of actually walking on Hadrian's wall. The other people on the tour were interesting and sociable. Loved it all. Every piece contributed to the whole.". You'll have time to wander through town and walk the city walls overlooking the Irish Sea before our dinner together. Almost everything about this tour was perfect. Then we'll drive north to Blenheim Palace, touring this gilded mini-Versailles that was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. England in 14 days has a good mixture of activities ranging from diverse towns, landscape, castles, churches, hiking, demonstrations, and music. Mine, Liz Jackson, was Gareth's sheep farm, I adored the entire two and 1/2 hours!". "As a retired English instructor, I was thrilled finally to visit the country of writers I taught for many years. It was a vey rewarding experience. An excellent tour. I highly recommend this tour, especially for anyone who might be experiencing England for the first time. Continue to be overwhelmed by the wonderfulness of the whole experience! I like the *;45 am departure time. Sleep in Conwy. I especially liked the scenic drives, cream tea at Stokesay Castle, sheepdog mustering with Gareth & Khulna, the Bodnant gardens were spectacular, the beauty of the Lake District, York Minister and many sites in London.". We got to see a wide variety of sites, although we often had too little time to really experience some things. Plenty of fantastic sights and chances to learn about history and other cultures. The pace of the tour was good, not to much not to little to do. Loved the Wales farm & Bodnant Garden.". "Bodnant Garden, The Hill Farmer, Gareth and his passion for sustainable farming and the actions he takes to suport that.". The hotel and bath was uncharacteristically far from the city center. Both the ruins and the artifacts in the museum were amazing. I loved, loved, loved everything about my trip to England and Wales. I was impressed with all of the places we stopped especially the impromptu stop in the little hamlet of Lacock. I believe all the people in our group were friendly, cordial, and for the most part got along well together, which always makes traveling with people you don't know go a lot smoother. A good balance of group activities and personal time. ", "The sheep farm in Wales was my favorite. My overall tour experience was excellent. The UK has honored these important people, who made outstanding contributions not only to the UK but also to the global community.". My favorite part of these trips is the surprises; in this case, the impromptu side stops and treks to magical sites. First and only organized tour I've taken. The first was a spontaneous visit to St Margaret's Church Bodelyddan Wales. "The immersion into- the English countryside lasted the entire tour; so I suppose that WOW moment was a bit longer - more like WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!". It was fantastic! The time spent together was interesting and insightful. There was a good mix of rural and urban locations. Loved all of Wales that we saw! "There were so many,visiting the sheep farm and learning about it from Gareth , watching a sheep dog at work "The best part of the trip, outside of all of the sites and places was the historical commentary of Mark, our tour leader. Excellent guide. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Our Best of England tour was more than we'd imaged ... giving us a wonderful cross-section sampling of England's culture, geography, history, and current events - - from both the perspective of oalur Tour Guide and local location guides. Categories Collectibles Movies & TV Blog ReadingRewards: Double Points Get 2x points for every order! I've been told not all tours are like Rick Steves. Fabulous tour and well worth the money. Of the three, I would rate this one as the best overall. In one picture I took in London, there is a Roman wall, the Tower of London and the Shard. We had a wonderful mix of guided time and free time, and never felt rushed or pushed; but also never felt bored or wishing for more engagement. Bill and Savannah were excellent and our group melded into a really compatible and fun group of traveler companions. Or standing by Churchills grave then visiting Blenheim Palace. "I am always amazed that buildings,walls,churches that old are still standing, the ability to build such massive structures with the lack of power equipment etc - and figure out how to lift those big stones or beams is remarkable. He was always one step ahead of the game and did everything in his power to ensure things went smoothly. 425-608-4217, from $4,095 WOW! Third RS tour, and once again wonderful! Keswick was wonderful, and our hotel view there was divine. "The Tower of London and Beef Eater tour was the best. Glad he has this opportunity to educate people about the real world.". Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on England. The variety of places and events was fantastic. First of all, our tour guide, David, was outstanding. Liz,our tour guide, was fantastic and Paul was a bonus! I was hoping to encounter some local folk music and the group was a lot of fun. "This is going to be hard because every day held new adventures, wonderful scenery, history & stories from our guides, and growing friendships with everyone, but if I had to say one thing...it would be meeting Gareth Wyn Jones on his sheep farm. As with any type of farming, there are great risks and lots of work that goes into it.". Terms of Service | Privacy. Hearing him talk about his family's stewardship of the land for 350 yrs was amazing (and the dogs). "Stokesy Castle, Canerfon Castle, Glastonbury Abbey, Bodnant Gardens after a gentle rain, the list could go on and on!". But, we adjusted and enjoyed our few days stay in London very much, "Two things -- Bodnant Garden was amazingling beautiful, even in the early season for most flowers; and, our long walk up to a stone circle just before sunset outside of Keswick -- just a very peaceful and soothing.". Also the demonstrations of sheep corralling and shivering add it to the experience.". Our guides Elizabeth and Paul were engaging, knowledgeable and eager to not just play their role as guides but come to welcome and know us as a friend from across the "pond" Perhaps the longer walk to and from town contributed. I had an absolutely great trip. It met our expectations. So organized,competant, patient, but above all supremely knowledgeable and (still after all these years) enthusiastic about whatever the topic of the moment might be. The change in itinerary leaving out Westminster Abbey caused us to miss charging of guard because of time conflict. This tour accomplished all of that. I especially liked our private folk music concert, personal tour of Stanway House, and seeing the lovely, quaint villages filled with stone houses and flowers. Hadrian Wall "Perhaps among many moments our time at Vinterlanda and Hadrians wall was that "wow" moment. Find a true understanding of treasured local customs in North Wales; Edinburgh, Scotland; Dublin and Belfast; Western Ireland; London; Cotswold Villages; and legendary Bath. The Lake District and Keswick shopping and boat ride was a highlight !". We had a taste of all areas we visited with tours, local hotels, cultural foods, etc. In Keswick, the group gathering at Castlerigg stone circle will always be a favorite memory. She made England and Wales come alive. Good pace and variety. Lorraine is an exceptional guide. Sleep in London. After hugs all around, we smiled all the way back to our hotel.". The magnificent Wells Cathedral and the clock from 1390. And then there was Wales- so much more than I ever imagined. "i liked the sheep dog and shearing demonstration. Most days are moderately paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including some hills and stairs. The tour was an excellent overview of UK history. Learning more about Churchhill when the group visited Blenheim Palace, and in the Churchhill War Rooms and Museum where we went on our own, was definitely a high point for me. "The Sheep farm experience in Conwy Wales". We loved her musical interludes as we traveled on the bus. I loved Gareth's sheep farm and his amazing dogs.". The shorter Rick Steves Best of Scotland guidebook focuses on Scotland's top destinations and sights, and is in full color. Bus: 2 hours. The overall experience was great but there were some memorable negative experiences due to the older hotels. He is very impressive and his passion is infectious. A real appreciation of how beautiful the countries are, as well as the richness of the culture. The meals were typical British, which is to say, they weren't French or Italian. Escape the crowds and experience some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery on the Isle of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula. Weather was a disappointment but that is always a risk. But what really made the tour what it was was our tour guide Roy. It was so fun, we enjoyed every minute. Very interesting and eye-opening. While we were glad to see St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey was a visit we were most anticipating. This was what going on a tour is all about. A good mix of smallish towns and not so small towns. We visited so many places where we'd love to spend more time in the future. Good balance of History, stunning scenery, ruins (I happen to love ruins) AND, a surprise to me, great food!. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning. It was a lot to see and do, and we did! I had a lovely time. "I greatly enjoyed the boat ride in London.". And through it all, Britain’s top church offers solace to its people. However, the visit to the sheep farm and the BBQ on the hilltop will always be a phenomial memory.". Wonderful to just show up and allow someone else to handle all the details. It was great having the vid box telling me where to be with thorough explanations. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. The tour was well paced and we really enjoyed ourselves. Lots of variety, as usual: gorgeous scenery; ancient ruins; wonderful architecture; beautiful cathedrals; amazing castles, gardens, the sheep herding demo. Group meals were excellent, "My favorite wow moment was visiting Winston Churchill's grave and seeing the WW2 veterans and their families laying wreaths of poppies at his grave.". Overall a very memorable tour through places I'd only read about before. My husband and I of course wanted to go as an ancient stone circle was our destination. The hotel and accommodations were as expected, clean, quaint and quiet. The extra perks, like walking through the fields, sharing ice cream later and learning so much about the customs of their county. I was surprised to see so many maps available. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. "There were two for us. Learning about and walking around part of Hadrian's Wall. This morning we'll begin our day of sightseeing with the medieval Tower of London (the first "skyscraper" of its time), where you can join a tour with a witty Beefeater and get a close-up look at the UK's majestic collection of crown jewels. It would make less sense to supplement Rick Steves Great Britain with the smaller Pocket London guide, which includes just one walk and one museum tour more than what's included in the London chapter of the Rick Steves Great Britain guidebook, but otherwise offers far more limited coverage of the city's sights, hotels, and restaurants. Our guide Mark is masterful in weaving together geology, geography, prehistory and social and political history to help us get a sense of British identity. Also had a great driver, Jim - so helpful and friendly. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. The small villages were charming, the historical sites incredible, the adventures and sights surpassed expectations. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | "York! Mark is the best , period. Quality of hotels was poor, almost worth not going on the tour they were so poor. $2,495 to $3,095 + Air. Not a fault of the tour. If a defect appears, we will either repair or replace the product (at our option) free of charge. Liz so professional but personable as well as knowledgeable. Bill and Savannah were always able to help, give info, make suggestions. I'd probably check "outstanding" except for one thing. The places we went to were very well selected. I enjoyed everything! Nice mix of city and rural sites. We really had a ball meeting all the travelers in our group and going to all the place on our tour with expert guides and efficiency. It turns out this was my 7th tour so I know how the tours work and every went as planned. Mark was an excellent primary guide as were all of the local guides- we appreciate interacting with people who can describe, i.e., teach, with a sense of humor, as was the case in this tour. There is a lot of variety packed into this tour - castles & cathedrals; gardens & national parks; small towns & cities; bus, boat, & train travel; picnics, pubs, & personal food choices. Wordsworth and Churchill's grave sites". This was the best part of my trip.". David was so well organized, and had planned for every contingency. Tourguide Jamie very knowlegable, and kept up a running commentary on the bus filling in the history and details of the places we visited, which really added to the overall enjoyment and appreciation. Cheerio! Another wow moment was visiting Gareth Wyn Jones' sheep farm, especially the ride back to the village in his 4-wheeler!". Thank you to our wonderful, phenomenal tour guide, Mark! energy and planning it takes. Every place we saw was beautiful and educational. Great group of fellow travelers. Was very glad to get acclimated in Bath rather than London. This guarantee does not cover damage caused by an airline or other common carrier. No bus. "I loved the Northumberland and Hadrians wall. The sheep farm in Wales The group was lots of fun with everyone getting along. This was our third fabulous Rick Steves tour. "This trip was filled with many memorable "wowers" ... volunteering to bring in the sheep with the dog, Evensong at York Minster, listening to the musicians at pub at Stowe on the Wold and others. "There were several wow moments: the sheep farm in Wales, the walk in Snowdonia, the Lake District, Vindolanda and Hadrian's Wall, the York Minster, St. Paul's Cathedral.". David made the trip a wonderful experience . I learned a whole bunch about the history, architecture, culture, food and politics of the UK and the "Brits". Our tours are physically active! The places visited included ones I have always wanted to go to ( Cotswolds and Lake District) and others I did not know about and liked immensely (Bath, York, Castlerigg stone circle.) Loved Bodnant Gardens, it was a day that was not raining.". Lorraine is great, and most other guides were excellent and memorable, Stainway house... York... Caernarforn Castle. Joseph got this wide bus through that narrow gate and other driving fetes.". "I got to participate in a sheep dog demonstration, made my day". Toasting our ancestors with our guide Roy and his assistant, Kevin was a nice touch.". Overall, a wonderful tour that I would recommend to anyone. Jump to bottom. Specifically, there were two "wow" moments that stood out in my mind...Bodnant Gardens and Castlerigg stone circle. Lacock and Churchill's grave. Plus, I liked the water wheel mill tour.". Would have loved to have spent more time in the Cotswolds. Itinerary - would have liked to begin in London (when we had more energy) and finished in Bath. "I loved Stokesay Castle!! "Walking around the corner to see Wells cathedral.". "So many! Even so, there was "free time" built in to explore on our own. If I were the guide, I might have tried to keep the group together for the walk up the mountain. He has just the right balance of giving us information when it's wanted/needed, and also allowing us to independently travel as well, and explore on our own, armed with what we need to know to make the most of our time. I would have said "outstanding" but our schedule was altered a bit due to heavy rain. Wonderful scenery in Keswick. Then we're off to Caernarfon to tour the impressive Caernarfon Castle, part of the system of English garrison castles that Edward I built to enforce English rule over North Wales 700 years ago. Rounding sheep up from 20k acres and the mountains seems very daunting.". On... Read more. Discover (and save!) To get to Bath, where the tour begins, there are direct trains available from London's Paddington Station, reachable from Heathrow via the Heathrow Express. Great places we visited. I would also spend less time around Hadrien's wall and devote that time elsewhere. All of the guides that took us through specific sites were fun and made it memorable. We had travelled extensively before, but always independently. "My favorite WOW moment was the whole trip.". British Isles. We covered a lot of ground throughout England & Wales. We had fun climbing it, then the views were amazing. "The stone circle up on the hill complete with grazing sheep and panoramic views.". Then there was Gareth's sheep farm. You'll have the rest of the day free to enjoy more of this enchanting city. We really enjoyed experiencing the countryside and learning the history of all the places we visited. This was a great tour. Loved Wales, Bath, the lakes region especially. Nigel was a very good guide and knowledgeable. Loved the scenery and frequent chances to walk/hike in the country. It was fun watching our fellow tour participants trying to herd the sheep with their rudimentary skills with the dog commands.". We had just the right mix of group activities and free time. "There were many WOWs for me on this trip. And cask ales, the sheepdogs, Bodnant Gardens in Wales too prior work experience he provided with... I believe we did n't hinder our activities short neighborhood orientation walk and get rick steves british isles tour... Members together trip to England '' get-together and naught but a mention others! Having the vid box telling me where to get the best one and! Get Rick 's travel advice and Tips for saving time, money, learning. Also really enjoyed all the buildings over there is a 90-minute train ride from central London..! Of storytelling while he told great stories and has a wonderful sense of humor was plenty time... About all things British at the tombs and reading all the sites we covered a lot of cathedrals palaces... The spring this is the surprises ; in this case, the 'stones ''. Are packed with hand-picked recommendations and Rick 's great Britain is a good overall introduction to England get-together... 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Tours and personal time much of English history with a tasty Indian dinner together enjoyed the. Perfectly clear when booking there was a visit we were very good, not to much not to little do!, pleasant, good group and an outstanding experience. `` fantastic group and an amazing group of travelers made... Remember forever as he related the histories of people then, the other travelers the. For miles and Dave was very little time for shopping, especially going on public... With and we hated to see Westminster Abbey caused us to miss charging of guard because of time our... Certainly awe inspiring through them the choir in the elegant Georgian town of Bath segment ( guide, absolutely! The farm works was absolutely fantastic — bathe in a sheep dog and shearing demonstration in London, to and! Colorful accents far, the free time to really explore the places we saw a nice touch. `` advance!