CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE DEPARTURES

OK so we’re taking a big of dramatic license as our tour is a 10 day ‘week!’

This is an adventure into the world of Jane Austen, places where the author herself lived or visited and places of inspiration for her novels. Enjoy fragrant gardens, thatched country villages and small parish churches. We’ll explore the regal estates used for recent film versions of her works. We’ll sample local favorite dishes, regionally made wines and ales and have lovely experiences off the beaten track, meeting the locals.

Our tour will visit some highlights of the English counties of Hampshire and Heart of England, the region famous for the Cotswolds villages and some of the countries’ best gardens. Both regions offer quite a number of worthy attractions in their own right, our tour adds in the fun bonus of exploring their Jane Austen connections too. Along the way, enjoy literary connections to a few other great British writers and the iconic towns of Stratford-Upon-Avon, Salisbury and Bath. We’ll explore the lesser known area of the Peak District, where we will explore some amazingly regal stately homes and gardens used as film sites for recent film versions of Jane Austen’s works. Imagine yourself in the arms of the BBC’s leading men at Chatsworth (real life home of Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire) and Lyme Park, home to one famed lake!

We hope this is an interesting way to explore several lovely regions of Britain while giving you the opportunity to ‘get inside’ some of your beloved novels. All in all, this is simply a well rounded holiday for the Jane Austen fan as well as their companions!

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE DEPARTURES

Our tour follows the trail of one of the world’s favourite writers. See the places that inspired Jane Austen, where she lived, wrote her most important works and some of the treasure houses captured as settings for recent film versions of her works.

You’ll explore Hampshire, where Jane Austen spent most of her life, including the small parish church in Steventon and Chawton Cottage, now a museum dedicated to her life and works. There’s Winchester, her final resting place, Southampton and the popular holiday spot Lyme Regis and the city of Bath, where you can walk along the Georgian streets in Jane’s as well as her some of her character’s footsteps. We’ll see gardens from the Regency period, classic stately homes and discover real life local connections to Jane Austen and a few films sites from recent popular versions her works.

This is a lovely homes and gardens tour for both hard core and casual Jane Austen fans!

This tour is written for joining special tour leaders/guides, subject to availability. Tour Leaders Richard Mulholland, descendant of the Austen family, and Dr Sophia Hillan, author of "May, Lou & Cass, Jane Austen's Nieces in Ireland," on this special adventure into the cultural landscapes of Donegal and Northern Ireland.

Fans of Jane Austen might not immediately think of Ireland as a destination associated with her life or novels but all the elements are here, waiting for you to discover. Using the real life paths of three of Jane Austen’s beloved nieces, delve into the fascinating history of this area. 'Meet' three of Edward Austen Knight’s children, Marianne (May,) Cassandra (Cass) and Louisa (Lou.) See family homes, places connected to their husbands and children; explore lace, linen, knitting and tweed crafts, visit stately homes, a national park, lovely coastal villages, romantic country estates with sumptuous interiors, meander breathtaking countryside, local parish churches, picturesque harbours; see Belfast and iconic Giant's Causeway. Uncover what life was like in early 19th Century, both ‘upstairs and downstairs.’

As a special treat, again subject to availability, your tour can include a private "Regency style" luncheon at Ballyscullion Park hosted by driver/guide Richard, Jane Austen's seven times grand-nephew, and his wife Rosalind.

MORE ABOUT YOUR TOUR LEADER: “Belfast writer and academic Dr Sophia Hillan, formerly associate director of the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen’s University, has researched the life and times of May, Lou and Cass, their relationship with their famous aunt, how they came to reside in Donegal and, most interestingly, the way their lives came to uncannily resonate with the plots & themes of Austen’s fiction…” Read Joanne Savage’s full article here: http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=4532

"This is a book that keeps on giving and one which I feel Jane Austen herself would have dearly loved to read." Maggie Lane, Jane Austen Society Newsletter (Oct 2012)

"May Lou and Cass, what a marvellous book. It's a wonderful addition to Jane Austen studies. I knew nothing of any of this and I am really grateful for being enlightened." - Patricia Craig

 "An intriguing story, invitingly told." - Hermione Lee

 Austen Only Book Review: http://austenonly.com/category/lou-and-cassjane-austens-nieces-in-ireland/

BUY YOUR COPY of “May, Lou & Cass” here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/may-lou-and-cass-sophia-hillan/1110785369?ean=9780856408687

On this adventure into the 'World of Downton Abbey' we will visit film sites, places immediately recognizable from the show, but also highlight places that would have been a part of the world of the Crawley family. See stately homes, stunning gardens, classical British sites like Oxford and Winchester. Explore what life was like in the time period of Downton, through the Great War, the Suffragette Movement, the rise of 'new American money' families and the emerging art and writing communities like The Bloomsbury group. Along the way, see 'Jane Austen Country' in the lovely county of Hampshire, enjoy sumptuous afternoon teas, country pub meals and time in the ever evolving capital city of London, a favourite of every age!

What makes us different? SGT strives to get you off the beaten track so you can have an authentic experience, the opportunity to mingle with the locals. We do not like 'whistle stops' and it is our goal to have guests off of the vehicle exploring as much as possible.

Your SMALL GROUP day trip accommodates from a minimum of 2 guests to a max of just 16 guests per departure. Travel in (dependant on participant numbers) a standard car, MPV/SUV or mini-coach.

SGT London Day Trips

London Escapes with a Difference! Small Group Touring. Special Themes: Gardens, Literary Heritage, Downton Abbey, Antiques, Tudors, Britain at War...

PRIVATE HIRE DAYS OUT FROM LONDON, ESCORTED BY YOUR PERSONAL DRIVER/GUIDE

SGT DAY TRIPS

Shakespeare Country: Stratford-Upon-Avon & Downton Abbey Cotswolds Villages

Jane Austen’s Hampshire: Chawton & Winchester

Jane Austen’s Bath & Lacock

Cambridge & Duxford Aviation Imperial War Museum

Tudor Day Out - Hampton Court & Hever Castle

Garden of England Sampler: Sissinghurst & Great Dixter (April – September only)

Heroes of WWII: Royal Air Force & Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Royal Gardens/Winter Hothouse Gardens: Kew & RHS Wisley

London Antiques Markets & Shakespeare's Globe London

Spiritual London: Multi Faith City

Dickens' Kent: Rochester and Chatham Historic Dockyards

What makes us different? SGT strives to get you off the beaten track so you can have an authentic experience, the opportunity to mingle with the locals. We do not like 'whistle stops' and it is our goal to have guests off of the vehicle exploring as much as possible.

Your SMALL GROUP day trip accommodates from a minimum of 2 guests to a max of just 16 guests per departure. Travel in (dependant on participant numbers) a standard car, MPV/SUV or mini-coach.

SGT London Day Trips

London Escapes with a Difference! Small Group Touring. Special Themes: Gardens, Literary Heritage, Downton Abbey, Antiques, Tudors, Britain at War...

PRIVATE HIRE DAYS OUT FROM LONDON, ESCORTED BY YOUR PERSONAL DRIVER/GUIDE

SGT DAY TRIPS

Shakespeare Country: Stratford-Upon-Avon & Downton Abbey Cotswolds Villages

Jane Austen’s Hampshire: Chawton & Winchester

Jane Austen’s Bath & Lacock

Cambridge & Duxford Aviation Imperial War Museum

Tudor Day Out - Hampton Court & Hever Castle

Garden of England Sampler: Sissinghurst & Great Dixter (April – September only)

Heroes of WWII: Royal Air Force & Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Royal Gardens/Winter Hothouse Gardens: Kew & RHS Wisley

London Antiques Markets & Shakespeare's Globe London

Spiritual London: Multi Faith City

Dickens' Kent: Rochester and Chatham Historic Dockyards

What makes us different? SGT strives to get you off the beaten track so you can have an authentic experience, the opportunity to mingle with the locals. We do not like 'whistle stops' and it is our goal to have guests off of the vehicle exploring as much as possible.

Your SMALL GROUP day trip accommodates from a minimum of 2 guests to a max of just 16 guests per departure. Travel in (dependant on participant numbers) a standard car, MPV/SUV or mini-coach.

SGT London Day Trips

London Escapes with a Difference! Small Group Touring. Special Themes: Gardens, Literary Heritage, Downton Abbey, Antiques, Tudors, Britain at War...

PRIVATE HIRE DAYS OUT FROM LONDON, ESCORTED BY YOUR PERSONAL DRIVER/GUIDE

SGT DAY TRIPS

Shakespeare Country: Stratford-Upon-Avon & Downton Abbey Cotswolds Villages

Jane Austen’s Hampshire: Chawton & Winchester

Jane Austen’s Bath & Lacock

Cambridge & Duxford Aviation Imperial War Museum

Tudor Day Out - Hampton Court & Hever Castle

Garden of England Sampler: Sissinghurst & Great Dixter (April – September only)

Heroes of WWII: Royal Air Force & Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Royal Gardens/Winter Hothouse Gardens: Kew & RHS Wisley

London Antiques Markets & Shakespeare's Globe London

Spiritual London: Multi Faith City

Dickens' Kent: Rochester and Chatham Historic Dockyards

What makes us different? SGT strives to get you off the beaten track so you can have an authentic experience, the opportunity to mingle with the locals. We do not like 'whistle stops' and it is our goal to have guests off of the vehicle exploring as much as possible.

Your SMALL GROUP day trip accommodates from a minimum of 2 guests to a max of just 16 guests per departure. Travel in (dependant on participant numbers) a standard car, MPV/SUV or mini-coach.

SGT London Day Trips

London Escapes with a Difference! Small Group Touring. Special Themes: Gardens, Literary Heritage, Downton Abbey, Antiques, Tudors, Britain at War...

PRIVATE HIRE DAYS OUT FROM LONDON, ESCORTED BY YOUR PERSONAL DRIVER/GUIDE

SGT DAY TRIPS

Shakespeare Country: Stratford-Upon-Avon & Downton Abbey Cotswolds Villages

Jane Austen’s Hampshire: Chawton & Winchester

Jane Austen’s Bath & Lacock

Cambridge & Duxford Aviation Imperial War Museum

Tudor Day Out - Hampton Court & Hever Castle

Garden of England Sampler: Sissinghurst & Great Dixter (April – September only)

Heroes of WWII: Royal Air Force & Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Royal Gardens/Winter Hothouse Gardens: Kew & RHS Wisley

London Antiques Markets & Shakespeare's Globe London

Spiritual London: Multi Faith City

Dickens' Kent: Rochester and Chatham Historic Dockyards

There are moments that make your heart pound, scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat, and kisses that cause you to blush. But no matter how thrilling Outlander is, we think the real-life sites are even more emotive.

This is because visiting the locations lets you step back in time and wander through unchanged, ancient villages. It gives you the chance to gaze up in awe at the mighty walls of a 600-year-old castle. And it allows you to venture through the real battlefields of the Jacobite uprising. On this tour, your guide takes you through a fantastic array of Outlander sights while telling you all about the history that inspired the famous show. So, take this time-travelling adventure and discover that the real locations and history are as exciting as the show itself.

You can admit it. When you read Harry Potter you dreamed of becoming a wizard. And who wouldn’t? Casting spells, reading magical books, and flying on broomsticks would be incredible.

And although this dream may never happen, on this tour we can give you the next best thing. We take you to the setting for Hogwarts at Alnwick Castle. It’s a grand castle that’s as magical as it is historically fascinating.

If you’re not into Harry Potter, you’ll still discover gorgeous historic towns, fascinating tales, and beautiful views on this exceptional tour of the borders of Scotland and England.

Lake District As Your Please! Create a holiday break in the English Lake District to suit your schedule.

Package can include accommodation for the appropriate number of nights, rail tickets from London, Manchester or Edinburgh, transfers between your hotel and the rail station, your choice of scheduled day trips or independent free days to enjoy walking, boating or relaxing. SGT will give you recommendations and YOU choose the level of accommodation from small b&b to luxury country hotel, YOU choose your day trips and YOU choose how many days.

Please let us know your details for a specific rate quote for an overall package. So you can get started now, LAKE DISTRICT SCHEDULE DAY TRIPS ARE LISTED HERE…On the ITINERARY tab.

What makes us different? SGT strives to get you off the beaten track so you can have an authentic experience, the opportunity to mingle with the locals. We do not like 'whistle stops' and it is our goal to have guests off of the vehicle exploring as much as possible.

Your SMALL GROUP day trip accommodates from a minimum of 2 guests to a max of just 16 guests per departure. Travel in (dependant on participant numbers) a standard car, MPV/SUV or mini-coach.

SGT London Day Trips

London Escapes with a Difference! Small Group Touring. Special Themes: Gardens, Literary Heritage, Downton Abbey, Antiques, Tudors, Britain at War...

PRIVATE HIRE DAYS OUT FROM LONDON, ESCORTED BY YOUR PERSONAL DRIVER/GUIDE

SGT DAY TRIPS

Shakespeare Country: Stratford-Upon-Avon & Downton Abbey Cotswolds Villages

Jane Austen’s Hampshire: Chawton & Winchester

Jane Austen’s Bath & Lacock

Cambridge & Duxford Aviation Imperial War Museum

Tudor Day Out - Hampton Court & Hever Castle

Garden of England Sampler: Sissinghurst & Great Dixter (April – September only)

Heroes of WWII: Royal Air Force & Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Royal Gardens/Winter Hothouse Gardens: Kew & RHS Wisley

London Antiques Markets & Shakespeare's Globe London

Spiritual London: Multi Faith City

Dickens' Kent: Rochester and Chatham Historic Dockyards

Some people remain in the places that they were born, others meander until they find the place that fits their skin. These places choose the person as much as the person chooses the place. Such is the case with Tennesee Williams and several locations, New Orleans in particular in one of these places. The ancient city of Rome is another.

Tennessee Williams would immediately call Rome “the capital of my heart” when he first visited on holiday in 1948 after he found success on Broadway. This tour will loosely follow his path, taking in all of the ancient and iconic sites but also places of a personal interest of our author.

" “As soon as I crossed the Italian border my health and life seemed to be magically restored,” he wrote in his memoirs. Williams spent much of the next decade in Rome, which became the backdrop and inspiration for one of his most personally and creatively fruitful periods — as well as the setting for his 1950 novella, “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.” Despite recurring bouts of writer’s block, when the sensitive, melancholic playwright found himself “battering my head against a wall of creative impotence,” he wrote many of his greatest works here, in whole or in part, including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Rose Tattoo” and “Baby Doll” during numerous extended visits to the city. To search for Williams in today’s Rome is to explore the vestiges of that heady, messy period after the fall of Mussolini but before the so-called Italian economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s. When he arrived in 1948, the newly open city was the epicenter of a just-dawning golden age of Italian neorealist cinema. The dollar was strong, prices were low, and, as Williams put it, “an Americano could get away with a whole lot.” "-- from The Roman Season of Tennessee Williams By Charly Wilder

Ever wonder about what other authors influnced and inspired your favorite contemporary writers? In this new series of literary heritage tours, we follow the trail of the authors who inspired some comptemporary favorites. Visit real life homes, places of inspiration, quaint villages, amazing landscapes and peaceful countryside.

On this literary adventure, follow two classical writers who inspired Tennessee Williams, Dylan Thomas and William Shakespeare.

For decades, the Raid on Dieppe was considered to be nothing but a general rehearsal for the real thing to come in Normandy. But was that really the only objective to off-set the immense loss of lives? Join us and explore the possibility of the Dieppe raid being a cover for a “pinch” by the Commando’s to steal the German Enigma code machine. Find out about Ian Fleming’s involvement, from the Whitehall offices where he encountered the real life 'characters' that inspired the James Bond stories to the double agents from the XX-Committee that would provide him with the 00-moniker used in the naval department.

On this adventure into the ‘World of Downton Abbey’ we will visit film sites, places immediately recognizable from the show, but also highlight some places that would have been a part of the world of the Crawley family. See stately homes, stunning gardens, quaint country villages – classical British sites all!

Our explorations follow the haunts of William Shakespeare in and around his home town of Stratford-Upon-Avon and London. This is a theatre tour, a literary heritage adventure, a garden sampler and a general interest focus on London and the Midlands. The tour will feature quaint villages, beautiful stately homes, a castle and gardens throughout the Heart of England and around the capital, all stunningly beautiful in their own right and many of which have Tudor connections, some which would have been known to the Bard. Go backstage to 3 of the UK's top theatres, experience a theatre workshop and have opportunity to attend a variety of performances.

Canterbury, Dover, Chawton, Salisbury, Bath, Cotswolds, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Lake District, York

Shakespeare-Dickens-Jane Austen-Wordsworth-James Herriot-Brontes-Tolkien-Lewis Carroll-Beatrix Potter-’Downton Abbey’-‘Harry Potter’

This tour is geared towards visitors who wish to see the classical heritage sites of England. Our goal is to also appeal to fans of classic literature, as we use the country’s rich literary heritage as our theme.

You are invited to get off the beaten track, see thatch roofed villages, oast houses and charming market towns as well as the iconic sites, hopefully away from the mad tourist throng. Meander the countryside and enjoy evenings out among the locals.

See ‘big day trip’ destinations Canterbury & Dover, Salisbury & Bath, Stratford & Oxford but also Dickens’ Rochester, Jane Austen’s Chawton and Winchester, Vita Sackville-West’s famed Sissinghurst Gardens and then north to the amazing Yorkshire Dales of James Herriot, the sweeping Moors of the Bronte sisters and the stunning Lake District, home of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. See some Downton Abbey and Harry Potter film sites along the way too.

CLASSIC scenery, CLASSIC tradition, CLASSIC history, CLASSIC authors…join us for a real CLASSIC ROUTE tour experience!

LOGISTICAL NOTE: This itinerary is a ‘sampler’ tour visiting several regions of England so involves a bit more driving than the ‘solo region’ itineraries but is still a Small Group Touring Experience, any longer drives are broken up and balanced by ample ‘off the beaten track’ explorations – and NO back and forth daily to London!

This itinerary is available for private groups, modified to your specific wishes, at the date of your choice – subject to vehicle and guide availability. Great for school groups!

Canterbury, Chawton, Salisbury, Bath, Cotswolds, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon

from the SGT ‘Classic Route’ Collection

This tour is geared towards visitors who wish to see the classical heritage sites of England. Our goal is to also appeal to fans of classic literature, as we use the country’s rich literary heritage as our theme.

You are invited to get off the beaten track, see thatch roofed villages, oast houses and charming market towns as well as the iconic sites, hopefully away from the mad tourist throng. Meander the countryside and enjoy evenings out among the locals.

See ‘big day trip’ destinations Canterbury, Salisbury & Bath, Stratford & Oxford but also Dickens’ Rochester, Jane Austen’s Chawton and Winchester, Vita Sackville-West’s famed Sissinghurst Gardens and of course, lovely countryside.

CLASSIC scenery, CLASSIC tradition, CLASSIC history…join us for a real CLASSIC ROUTE tour experience!

This is perhaps an ideal tour for those who really want to get off the beaten track on the discovery trail, using Ireland’s rich literary heritage as our guide. Not just for the literary minded, as there is much to offer visitors. For lovers of scenery, there are rolling downs, rugged seascapes, lakes and the lush, green countryside that is so representative of ‘The Emerald Isle.’ There’s a wealth of ancient sites, beautiful gardens, lively pubs and the welcome of the local people.

Join us to experience areas of inspiration for Ireland’s great novelists, poets and playwrights such as James Joyce, WB Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and JM Synge. These fun filled days will introduce you to a land of words, to a land of inspiration, to weavers of magic tales. Their words provide us the road map to explore the history and heritage of this rich land. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, some of the Celtic magic might just rub off!

This tour is not just for the literary minded, as this is a region with much to offer visitors!

The English counties of Devon, Dorset, Cornwall and Somerset, collectively known as ‘The West Country,’ offer a rich tapestry of literary heritage. Here are the brooding settings for the mystery stories of 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'Miss Marple,' the sea side intrigue of Rebecca, mystical King Arthur legends and the still charming landscapes of a time gone by.

If you’ve enjoyed the stories of Jane Austen, Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Thomas Hardy and Arthur Conan Doyle then this is the tour for you, taking you through the inspirational landscapes for their novels.

For lovers of countryside there are rolling downs, rugged seascapes, atmospheric moorlands and the lush, green country that is so representative of England. Gourmets will die for the cream teas, real Cornish pasties, freshly caught seafood and farmhouse cooking. You’ll never forget the narrow country lanes where the hedgerows grow higher than the cars, the villages where it’s difficult for bicycles to pass let alone other motorized vehicles, the thatched cottage hamlets and small fishing harbors accessible only on foot. This is a true feast for all of the senses!

This superb, short tour of Wales will introduce you to the very best of South Wales. Focusing on one area of this wonderful country, you’re sure to have a personal, in-depth experience. It’s the ideal tour for those who really want to get off the beaten track on the discovery trail.

The literary heritage in Northern England is plentiful and it’s easy to see how these beautiful surroundings inspired such great works of art! Yorkshire is the area of inspiration for ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ author James Herriot and the Bronte sisters - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights among other novels. DH Lawrence, George Eliot, Bram Stoker, George Orwell and the poet Auden all have northern connections. Then there is the city of York, charming market towns, great cathedrals, country parish churches, magnificent ruined abbeys and monasteries. Filmmakers have used several of the lovely stately homes in the area for recent film versions of classic novels. There’s Harry’s steam train too, for even more fun. Northern England has such a variety of things to see and do!

​Brontes, James Herriot, York, 'Harry Potter' train & Castle Howard

Scotland is a land rich in its distinctive national literature. This tour is a sampling of the best of what this wonderful country has to offer, from the stunning Highlands to Dumfries & Galloway to the Scottish Borders, visiting iconic places plus oft overlooked gems off the beaten track, using the ample literary heritage as a 'road map.'

There are innumerable places to visit associated with great authors and their works - writers’ homes, birthplaces, graves, locations vividly described in novels and poems. These stunning landscapes, inspiration for such great works of literature, are here waiting for you to discover for yourself!

Wales – The hills are alive! With singing and the second oldest language spoken in Europe. On this Welsh adventure, sample the fantastic scenery of three National Parks. Enjoy a heritage coastline, a steam train ride through the mountains, cosmopolitan Cardiff and glimpse the past in a fantastic folk park and down a coal mine, remainders of the industrial heritage. Marvel at prehistoric tombs, meander the seaside, castle walled cities, and beautiful gardens. All in all, this tour is a sampler of the best of what this wonderful country has to offer visitors, something to please all tastes.

See the seaside towns of Brighton & Rye, meander classic countryside, discover 1066 history, relax in the cottage gardens & inspirational homes of some of England’s greatest writers and artists.

This is a feast for the bookworm, the literary-minded and simply those who enjoy seeing and learning about a country, not just ‘photographing the sites’ from a bus window. Here’s the plot: our knowledgeable and entertaining guide takes you through some of the UK’s prettiest landscapes, visiting author’s homes, literary museums, towns and villages where stories are set, and places that obviously inspired the artist’s muse. These are lovely areas that many visitors to the UK choose - this tour option gives the 'extra layer' of using the classic literary heritage as a guide, getting more in depth, with the opportunity of meeting like minded locals!

The county of Kent is known as ‘The Garden of England’ and we will see a variety of properties connected to some well known British writers including Virginia Woolf, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, James Bond's Ian Fleming and some film locations for recent Jane Austen films. See a place or two with a real life connection to our Ms Austen too!

In addition to gardens and the marvelously scenic countryside, dotted with oast houses and sometimes lavender fields, this region offers opulent stately homes, historic castles and a rich history dating from the time England began. This tour is designed to hopefully be a fun twist on the usual stately homes and country gardens tour, to satisfy the literary minded and general interest alike!

All this, plus if you choose a June departure date, the opportunity to meet the locals at the annual Broadstairs Dickens Festival. Note that the Dickens Festival is held annually 3rd week of June, subject to schedules and availability.

.

London acquires a special sparkle around Christmas time. The weather is frosty, the Christmas lights are twinkling, store fronts glisten and shoppers line the streets. One seasonal highlight is the giant pine tree that beautifully adorns Trafalgar Square each year, a gift from the people of Norway. Many traditional markets are on around the capital. Hyde Park is transformed into a ‘Winter Wonderland.’ There’s ice skating, carol services, Nutcracker Suites, pantomimes, mulled wine, hot cider, some ‘wassailing’ to be done!

Each year, early December brings Victorian festivities to Rochester, a ‘real’ Dickensian Christmas where you can experience the entertainments taking place around the charming town, its cathedral and castle.

Get into the Holiday spirit at some well known historical attractions, decked out in the winter finery - Hampton Court Palace, Canterbury Cathedral and Hever Castle. Surely this tour will be a lovely start to a wonderful Holiday season!

Mr Churchill passed away at age 90 on 24 January, 1965. Personal items from Churchill's family including the last photograph of the wartime leader are now on display for the first time in his home of Chartwell. Explore the life and times of this great leader, the man who led Britain through its darkest hours.

On this short tour, see Britain’s Homefront during WWII, amazing countryside, Churchill’s beloved home and gardens of Chartwell, places of Ian Fleming’s inspiration, some James Bond film sites, historic Dover Castle and the charming town of Canterbury with its famed cathedral.