Full day tours from London up to 9 hours

Windsor Castle is about an hour’s drive west of London, situated beside the River Thames. It is the place where the Queen spends most of her time, so see if her standard is flying. It contains a world-class collection of furniture and paintings, plus St George’s Chapel which is the burial place of many of our famous English kings and queens, including Queen Elizabeth’s parents. St George’s Chapel is where, in 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank. Also, view Eton College, on the other side of the River Thames, where Princes William and Harry went to school.

Continue along the valley of the River Thames to Oxford, known as a seat of learning since 1200s. You will have a chance to visit one or two of the colleges and learn about the English education system, wander around the narrow back streets and maybe have lunch where J R R Tolkein and C S Lewis had a drink. You might even try your hand at punting, but be careful not to fall in. For Harry Potter fans a visit to the Divinity School is a must. You will recognise it from the films.

Famous for its ancient university. Visit the college buildings and go punting on the River Cherwell. You will have a chance to visit one or two of the colleges and learn about the English education system, wander around the narrow back streets and maybe have lunch where J R R Tolkein and C S Lewis had a drink. You might even try your hand at punting, but be careful not to fall in. For Harry Potter fans a visit to the Divinity School is a must. You will recognise it from the films. BMW still make the Mini Cooper at Cowley on the outskirts of Oxford.

Continue to the Cotswold village of Woodstock for lunch and a visit to Blenheim Palace. This is the private residence of the Duke of Marlborough. The palace was built by John Churchill in the early 1700s, after he was rewarded for winning a series of major battles in Europe. It was also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill in 1874. He is buried just down the road at Bladon.

Windsor Castle is about an hour’s drive west of London, situated beside the River Thames. It is the place where the Queen spends most of her time, so see if her standard is flying. It contains a world-class collection of furniture and paintings, plus St George’s Chapel which is the burial place of many of our famous English kings and queens, including Queen Elizabeth’s parents. St George’s Chapel is where, in 2018, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank. Also, view Eton College, on the other side of the River Thames, where Princes William and Harry went to school.

Stonehenge is probably the most famous stone circle in the world. It is unique because of its horizontal lintels. It was built over a series of centuries by prehistoric man, probably as a religious or ceremonial site. A new Visitor Centre has been opened which explains more about this fascinating place. It is also possible to wander around the surrounding landscape seeing the burial mounds, Avenue and Cursus. It is unique, which is why it is a World Heritage Site.

Mystical and awe-inspiring stone circle. One of the most well-known prehistoric monuments in the world.

The world famous cathedral, with its soaring spire, is set within a charming Close. It is possibly the finest medieval building in Britain. Salisbury Cathedral is well known from the paintings of John Constable. It has the highest spire in England and houses one of the original Magna Carta’s that still survive from 1215.

Hever Castle was built originally in 1200s and is a moated castle with a large garden in various styles. At one stage it was the home of the Boleyn family and King Henry VIII came to visit Anne Boleyn here. There is a hedge maze and a water maze, which children enjoy. During the summer months jousting events are sometimes held.

Chartwell was the home of Sir Winston Churchill and was where his children were brought up. He even built a brick wall here while out of office as a Member of Parliament. The house is full of memorabilia, and his paintings are on show in his studio. Come and see where he sat by the pond and fed his golden orfe fish.

Chartwell and Hever Castle can be combined to make a day tour from London.

Penshurst Place is still a private family home. The house dates back to 1300s and was visited by King Henry VIII. The poet and courtier, Sir Philip Sidney, was born here in 1554. The 11 acre gardens are worth a visit as they are divided into a series of “rooms”, so there is a nuttery, orchard, Italian garden, peony border, herbaceous borders and a Union Flag garden among others.

Rochester is sited on the River Medway about an hour’s drive from London. It holds a Dickens Festival at the end of May, where people dress up as Dickens characters. Rochester also has a Norman castle and cathedral.

A bit further east is Leeds Castle, started back in 800s and lived in by many English queens through the years. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book survey of 1086, but eventually fell on hard times until it was restored by Lady Baillie. It is the sort of castle you could imagine actually living in. There is a nice walk through the park, a typical English cottage garden, a maze and grotto to keep the children amused. There are sometimes falconry displays, and if you are feeling adventurous, you could try a Segway tour.

Canterbury Cathedral is well known as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican faith. The town started back in Roman times, and there are still a few Roman remains to be seen. The original cathedral was started by St Augustine, but has been extended and rebuilt over the years, so it is now a mix of Norman and Gothic architecture. Nearby is St Augustine’s Abbey, which is where the early Archbishops and Kentish kings are buried. After Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral, it became of greater importance to pilgrims and the place for high status burials.

Leeds Castle, started back in 800s and lived in by many English queens through the years. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book survey of 1086, but eventually fell on hard times until it was restored by Lady Baillie. It is the sort of castle you could imagine actually living in. There is a nice walk through the park, a typical English cottage garden, a maze and grotto to keep the children amused. There are sometimes falconry displays, and if you are feeling adventurous, you could try a Segway tour.

Knole was built in 1400s by an Archbishop of Canterbury. It was later given to the Sackville family by Queen Elizabeth in 1566. It is said to be the largest private house in England, with 365 rooms. It has a wonderful collection of furniture and paintings from 1600s. Vita’s father was the 6th Baron Sackville, but only sons could inherit, so Vita was left out. She lived locally after her marriage to Harold Nicolson, first at Long Barn and then at Sissinghurst.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden is probably the place everyone associates with Vita Sackville-West. It is the garden she created with Harold Nicolson and where they brought up their sons. The garden is divided into various spaces, which Harold designed and Vita planted.

Dover Castle is a place just waiting to be explored. There are the remains of a Roman lighthouse, a Saxon church, a Norman castle and World War II hospital. Dover is still a port city and you can watch the ferries come and go to France. The castle was garrisoned until fairly recently. It is where Admiral Ramsay organised Operation Dynamo, when he sent over the Armada of “little ships” to rescue the soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940 during World War II.

Canterbury Cathedral is well known as the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican faith. The town started back in Roman times, and there are still a few Roman remains to be seen. The original cathedral was started by St Augustine, but has been extended and rebuilt over the years, so it is now a mix of Norman and Gothic architecture. Nearby is St Augustine’s Abbey, which is where the early Archbishops and Kentish kings are buried. After Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral, it became of greater importance to pilgrims and the place for high status burials. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote all about pilgrimages in “The Canterbury Tales”.

Would you like to see something extraordinary? Then visit Brighton. The Brighton Pavilion looks like a cross between a Chinese and Indian palace. It was built for King George IV, while he was Regent, and was always larger than life. Brighton became the fashionable place to be seen and is still a popular resort today. It is fun to walk on the beach, but remember this is England, so it is not sand but pebbles. You could try a quick swim in the sea, but it will be cold, or you could explore the narrow Lanes or the Pier.

Arundel Castle sits majestically above the town of Arundel, beside the River Arun. It has Norman origins, but was rebuilt in 1700s and restored in 1800s to provide a comfortable home for the Duke of Norfolk. It houses a good collection of furniture, tapestries, clocks and paintings. Nearby is the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust with many different varieties of swans, ducks and geese.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden is probably the place everyone associates with Vita Sackville-West. It is the garden she created with Harold Nicolson and where they brought up their sons. The garden is divided into various spaces, which Harold designed and Vita planted.

Great Dixter was the home of the writer and gardener Christopher Lloyd. A 6 acre garden that is a riot of colour, with some interesting colour mixes, especially in the potted plants. The house dates back to 1400s.

Wakehurst Place is the countryside arm of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Over 400 acres of park and garden house several National Collections of plants. The new Millennium Seed Bank aims to preserve seed from all British plant species.

Penshurst Place has an 11 acre garden and garden records date back to 1300s. The house is still privately owned and is open to the public. The gardens are divided into a series of “rooms”, so there is a nuttery, orchard, Italian garden, peony border, herbaceous borders and a Union Flag garden among others.

Nymans is a 30 acre garden created by Ludwig Messel in 1800s. He collected plants from around the world. Various gardens include rose, heather, walled and sunk, plus a pinetum. The house was partially destroyed by fire in 1947.

Sheffield Park Garden is a magnificent landscaped garden of 120 acres with 4 lakes and an arboretum. It is probably at its best when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in flower.

High Beeches is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The estate was once home to the Loder family, known for their rhododendrons. The 25 acre garden is set on a hillside and is a well preserved example of a landscaped woodland garden.

Borde Hill Garden is 200 acres of parkland and gardens surrounding the house, which is not open to the public. Plants were collected during the great plant hunters expeditions of 1800s to China and the Himalayas.

Cambridge University is younger than Oxford University. The students left Oxford after some riots and founded a new University on the River Cam. It has a similar feel to Oxford, with colleges interspersed among the town, with a market square in the centre. There are connections with the American military from World War II in the town, plus the American war cemetery at Madingley just outside Cambridge.

Ely was the home of Oliver Cromwell, ruler of England after King Charles I was beheaded. It also has a cathedral on the site of a Benedictine Abbey. A stained glass museum is housed in the cathedral.

Duxford is an old Battle of Britain airfield with several hangers housing historic planes. It also has a hanger dedicated to the USAAF’s role in World War II and 20thc.

Flatford Mill is where John Constable painted “The Haywain” and Willy Lot’s house still exists. John Constable was born in East Bergholt and his father owned a mill at Flatford.

Nearby is Lavenham, which is an unspoilt medieval market town with many half-timbered houses. Go and see the signatures of US airmen in the bar at the Swan hotel.

Capital of King Alfred’s Wessex and an early capital city of the Norman kings. Winchester Cathedral dates from 1079 and is the burial place of pre-Norman English kings. Learn how William Walker saved the Cathedral and why Jane Austen moved to Winchester for the final few weeks of her life, died and was buried there.

Chawton is a village in the scenic South Downs National Park, where Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life. The house gives you some idea how she lived with her mother and sister, what her brothers did in the navy, and where she did her writing.

HMS Warrior was the world’s first ironclad armoured warship. She was a frigate powered by both steam and sail. She is built of 5” thick iron plates backed by teak, which made her invulnerable to artillery and the most advanced ship of her time.

HMS Victory was Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in1805. You can wander all over the ship, though you may have to bend down to avoid hitting your head. You can see the actual spot on deck where Lord Nelson fell after being shot and, down below, the Orlop Deck where he died. On display is one of the original sails that HMS Victory used at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Mary Rose was a warship that sank in front of King Henry VIII with great loss of life. In 1980s the ship was raised from the bottom of Portsmouth Harbour and is now displayed in a new museum. We have learned much about Tudor life from this ship.

Take the high speed lift for a bird’s eye view of the Historic Naval Dockyard. On a clear day you can see up to 23 miles. Are you brave enough to walk on the glass floor and look at the humans over 300’ below? Allow time to wander in Gunwharf Quays, the Shopping and Leisure venue surrounding the Tower.

Oxford sits astride the River Thames and has been a centre of learning since 1200s. You will have a chance to visit one or two of the colleges and learn about the English education system, wander around the narrow back streets and maybe have lunch where J R R Tolkein and C S Lewis had a drink. You might even try your hand at punting, but be careful not to fall in. For Harry Potter fans a visit to the Divinity School is a must. You will recognise it from the films. BMW still make the Mini Cooper at Cowley on the outskirts of Oxford.

The Cotswolds are a range of hills between Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon. The houses are built of the local limestone, with stone roofs. Villages have strange names like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh. Spend time exploring the little villages down narrow country lanes, which can only be reached on a car tour. There are good antique shops in some of the Cotswold villages.

The Roman Baths Museum tells some of the history of the baths, but be careful, as you will be walking on Roman paving stones. You can try a glass of the water. Charles Dicken’s Sam Weller thought it tasted of “old flat irons”.

Walk up the hill to see the Georgian architecture of the Circus and the Royal Crescent, or get your driver-guide to drop you off there and then walk down the hill. The Fashion Museum in the Assembly Rooms is a must for those who are interested in clothes.