We were very satisfied on both fronts! We'll begin our day by exploring the manicured lawns, terraced beds, and extensive botanical collection of Bodnant Garden. All of the stops were interesting from stone circles, to cathedrals, to ruins. Maybe next time. My favorite was seeing Hadrian's wall and the associated Roman sites. My dad's family is of Welsh heritage, and I loved seeing my maiden name on streets, associated with a prince, and talked about on tours. Our coach driver ,Jim, was also very sweet and a great driver. Visiting Vindolanda and Hadrians wall ,incredible. It is the first guided tour that we have been on. We had a great group of travelers which made our trip very enjoyable. Fun people on our tour with a wonderful guide and great driver! Tonight we'll enjoy dinner together at a country pub with the sounds of local folk musicians, where you can try a sip of scrumpy, the local farmhouse "hard cider.". On our Best of England in 14 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…, "The sheep farm--so fun and interesting!". Our bus was spacious modern and very comfortable. Most days are moderately paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including some hills and stairs. There was a good balance between tour time and free time. "Many interesting things two that compete in me for WOW moment, Hadrian's Wall. Our driver Paul was also very professional. "Being inside the sheep fence, issuing commands to the (extremely well trained) sheep dog to round up Gareth's ninja sheep. Our guide made sure we beat the crowds at busy sites and knew where to get the best cream tea! 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. It was fun and educational! Bus: 3 hours. I appreciated the pacing. I got good vibes right from the first conversation. We rarely had to fight a crowd. Tonight we'll indulge in England's favorite ethnic food with a tasty Indian dinner together. This afternoon you'll have free time to explore more picturesque market villages on your own — or join your guide for a leisurely country walk past cottages and sheep, through fields and kissing gates. I often use them when in Europe. "Meeting an elderly man during my solo walk out of, and back to, Stow-on-the-Wold. Rounding sheep up from 20k acres and the mountains seems very daunting.". Castlerigg stone circle walk- a spiritual experience". The view from the coach – fields of rhubarb, sheep, pheasants, gorgeous vistas, chalk horse ...; places that were wonderful treats because of excellent docents – Wells Cathedral, Stanway House, York Minster, St. Paul's; strolls in special places – Avebury's stone circle, Lake Derwentwater, Bodnant Gardens, Hadrian's wall ; Food – tea, Gregg's sausage rolls, nan, sticky toffee pudding ...;affable traveling companions including David & Joseph who (misleadingly) made it all look easy. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / To the North / British Isles; Please sign in to post. Our tour leader was fantastic. "Sheep farm with Gareth. Attention to detail, tour information that was provided prior to and during the tour, size of our group, knowledge and interaction of our guide, the bus driver, and variety of activities made for a wonderful experience. For moving every two days, the free time and free dinners kept it from feeling too rushed. Attending the service gave me the opportunity to feel like I was part of the community, not just visiting the church as a tourist.". Third, The sheepdog demonstration with meal and meeting Garett Jones.". I loved every day of the tour, and the mix of structured time and free time was well balanced. Best of Paris in 7 Days Tour. The tour was very well-run, interesting, and really fun. I studied in England as a college student, but hadn't returned since. Gareth was a charismatic guy, very interesting to listen to.". "The Roman Baths; the sheep farm in the stinging rain, following by the sheep shearing; Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London.". The level of activity is well publicized, and if, like me, you want to augment the activity level, there is opportunity to do that. He has a wonderful, congenial personality, and combined a command of knowledge with the areas we visited with a great sense of humor and fun. This was our 2nd Rick Steves tour (did Best of Italy last year), and one thing we learned is that we really enjoy a more exotic experience. Everything ran smooth and seamless. Great guide. Credit: Courtesy of RICK STEVES' EUROPE. A small church compared to the ones we had toured. The guides were knowledgeable,helpful, and friendly. The breakfasts provided at each hotel gave lots of options from Full English Breakfasts to Porridge with Sultanas at out Hotel in Keswick ( my favorite of the tour). Good uneventful transportation experience due in part to my wife's planning and studying the literature. England Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . Gillian, our guide, is a highlight in and of herself. You'll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District, historic Hadrian's Wall, and medieval York — ending with the must-see sights of energetic London. We enjoyed the free time to take a hike along the lake. Our bus driver Ali was also excellent. I learned so much about the England |Wales history while seeing beautiful cities and countryside. Being in the heart of England and in Wales too, each area we visited brought its own special moments for me.". Good ratio of scheduled vs free time. Nigel became like a friend and showed concern and patience for each of us. --Westminster Abbey "There were a number of "moments," mostly related to the history of the Romans in England. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. However the Lakes Districts were amazing too. The tour was a great combination of laid back group experiences and enough information about each location so that I felt confidently adventurous going out and exploring on my own. The tour was extremely enjoyable educational experience. Knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. But being a part and seeing so much historical structures and places filled my expectations for for many years to come.". First of all, our tour guide, David, was outstanding. She also leveraged the local tour guides very effectively. The group dynamic was pretty good, but the tour guides really made it special for me. Jeanie was a fantastic leader. She made England and Wales come alive. "I have seen great scenery, architecture, and demonstrations like sheep herding, but you don't expect to see a young coach driver play the organ in a 12th century church. Then we'll take a panoramic cruise on the river Thames. "The monastery we visited at Glastonbury what is both a fascinating story and a wonderful walk around. Great balance between free and encumbered time. "Access to one of the archaeologists at Vindolanda, who explained the findings at the site and make herself available was amazing, and something I would not have had on my own. Even so, there was "free time" built in to explore on our own. "There were too many "wow" moments to list. The tour was very well organized the leaders, both Bill and Ben were absolutely wonderful. First and foremost our guide was wonderful. I enjoyed the combination of scheduled and free time. We enjoyed the tour, and found it matched very well with our expectations based on the tour description. Then, the walk back to our hotel through farmlands and river paths was absolutely beautiful. It's so nice that Avebury doesn't feel touristy at all.". I enjoyed the food in that the breakfasts were very complete and quite a variety of both hot and continental. Starting in the "urban" Highlands town of Inverness and ending in re... Read more, ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Good pace and variety. Also, the educational and inspiring sheep farm demo and optional hike up to the Glastonbury Tor!". There was a good mix of rural and urban locations. These folk were really sharp!". "I got to participate in a sheep dog demonstration, made my day". The Rick Steves tours are seamless and well organized - everything comes together as if by magic. There was a perfect mix of walking, museums, and churches. The tour is well organized, with planned excursions and group dinners sprinkled throughout the tour, but also time to explore on your own. I enjoyed everything! Can't praise David enough. What stood out was the appreciation for the sweep of British history - from Avebury Stone Circle though the Roman Period, the Middle Ages, and then on to the now of London. Our guides (Bill & Savannah) were just wonderful! Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. To have a great overall tour experience , you need to have a great guide and great fellow tour members, which I did for sure. Because of his prior work experience he provided us with generally unknown facts about construction and architecture,which i found interesting. Then he talks to us about the future of his farm. "Conwy, Wales, was an unexpected "wow." A real appreciation of how beautiful the countries are, as well as the richness of the culture. Our tour participants were interested and interesting folks. Loved Stokesay Castle and having cream tea and loved our boat ride on Derwentwater and walk to Lingholm Garden - the inspiration for Beatrix Potter's Mr MacGregor's garden! 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. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Rick Steves England and Scotland tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. We enjoyed seeing England. We had a very good, punctual tour group; which meant we easily got thru our agendas for the day. Lots of variety, as usual: gorgeous scenery; ancient ruins; wonderful architecture; beautiful cathedrals; amazing castles, gardens, the sheep herding demo. Loved this tour, the itinerary, pace, activities and people. The English countryside was amazing! We'll disembark at Westminster, where you'll be free to explore the Churchill War Rooms, tour the British Museum, or take a walk through one of the city's wonderful parks. You can join your guide for a leisurely boat cruise on the island-studded Derwentwater — or strike out on a little expedition of your own 'twixt lakes and mountains, thanks to a wealth of hiking opportunities along well-marked trails. "There were so many "wow" moments: the beautiful English countryside, Stanway House, Bodnant Gardens, the roman ruins & archeological excavations at Vindolanda, the Welsh sheep farm and our walking tour of York.". Apparently I've now been spoiled. Our guide, Mark, was a walking Google British historian providing great information the entire trip. I loved the awesome cathedrals/abbeys. The activity level was about right. And then there was Wales- so much more than I ever imagined. We enjoyed the tour. I don't travel very much, and this was my first foray into solo travel(if you call, being with 24 other people, solo travel). Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. We have gone on three tours with your company. It had the right amount of guide support, tickets , transport, lodging, restaurants and free time to do other things and explore on our own. It would seem that an extra day in York or London would have been much more interesting. I'd probably check "outstanding" except for one thing. I really liked the history as related by our Guide. Each segment (guide, locations, etc) combined to make a "wow" tour. 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.". Then there were our fellow traveler,great people to spend time with on our tour. "There were quite a few but our favorites were in Wales. This is the longest of the four RS tours we've taken and I was happy with the pacing of bus vs. overnight stays vs. activities vs. downtime. I especially enjoyed learning so much history. A good blend of large cities and smaller towns brought this experience together. "So many! Everything we saw was steeped in history and each guide made that history come alive for us. We enjoyed the walks in the countryside and around the villages. I called a college to see if she would join me and I got an immediate YES! Thank you. Was for me my most demanding physically. The extra perks, like walking through the fields, sharing ice cream later and learning so much about the customs of their county. Having foul weather on a few of the days didn't detract, and in fact it seemed an appropriate part of an English experience. "Listening to a folk music group in a pub in the Cotswolds. Bodnart Gardens were spectacular.". Liz so professional but personable as well as knowledgeable. His knowledge is unsurpassed and what a wonderful sense of humor. Watching the sheep dogs do their work and listening to the farmer discuss how the farm works was absolutely fascinating.". Very good lodging placement and rooms. Mark was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very well organized. Starting in London, instead of Bath, would have allowed folks to tackle the big city when they were fresh and energetic instead of fatigued after 2 weeks of trekking around the country. Travel Forum / To the North / British Isles; Please sign in to post. Good tour mates and our tour guide was a wealth of information. An amazing variety of experiences over the 13 days. Room at the Radisson in London did not have useable outside window. I enjoyed everything about this tour. Some surprises were added to our tour that were optional and added to the fun. "I really enjoyed the traditional music night in Stow-on-the-Wold. The other people on the tour were interesting and sociable. Learning about and walking around part of Hadrian's Wall. Later this afternoon, we'll check into our hotel and get oriented to our neighborhood and London's Tube. Jump to bottom. "By far, the sheep hill farmer visit. Most of hotels had bigger rooms than we expected which was nice. How can I put a trip of a life time in a short paragraph? Third would be York...I could live there.". Hotels were very nice,centrally located for touring & shopping on our open times. Paul's stories about his experience in the British Navy should be a 'must' for all the tours he participates in. Cheers! Magic! I just finished filming a TV show about Cornwall, in the far southwest of England. I would have loved for Cambridge or Oxford to be included in the tour. I rated it very good, because of me! 2) Pick up a copy of our Rick Steves Scotland guidebook. It was incredible in every way. I wish we would have booked the southern England small village tour besides this one. "Wales, Gareth, his family, his sheep farm in Snowdonia and the Carneddau ponies. Deluxe escorted tours of The British Isles. Evensong at Westminster Abby.". The service was slow for the cream tea so we had about 10 minutes max to down our tea and scone. "Evensong at York Minster. Education & Reference Books > Almanacs & Yearbooks. We visited mainly rural England and the countryside but also Bath, York and London. i got everything i expected, which included pretty much daily surprises...learned a lot, saw a lot. Another wow moment was visiting Gareth Wyn Jones' sheep farm, especially the ride back to the village in his 4-wheeler!". Bus driver was excellent. "So many! This was one of the things I most looked forward to, and so it was a great experience for me.". I PARTICULARLY appreciated and enjoyed the knowledge, wit and wisdom of our guide, Roy. We were able to be there with no other tourists, and after seeing both Stonehenge and Avebury circles, this one felt intimate and authentic. The tour was an excellent overview of UK history. First of all you need a good guide. Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be easily reached by Tube, train, or taxi from our London neighborhood. It was certainly an outstanding tour! Plenty of fantastic sights and chances to learn about history and other cultures. Sleep in London. I was impressed with all of the places we stopped especially the impromptu stop in the little hamlet of Lacock. I wanted to see the classic English country side, and got exactly what I was expecting! It was really a thrill.". for an ice cream in a lovely village.". Jamie is the best! Mark could make those places come alive.". However, the visit to the sheep farm and the BBQ on the hilltop will always be a phenomial memory.". No bus. "Oh, how to choose just one!! 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. The Dramatic Cornwall Coast. Rick Steves England and Scotland tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. The ancient ruins and listening to the Stones. Sleep in Bath. Browsing the Rick Steves Guides’ Marketplace As we Americans stay ... home this summer, our 100-plus European tour guides are finding other ways to stay busy — with a variety of virtual travel experiences and other creative offerings. The places we visited were amazing. British Isles. "Our 'wow" moment came when we saw the beautiful landscape of the lake district in Keswick. "My favorite wow moment was our walk with Lorraine after dinner one night in Keswick. I highly recommend this tour, especially for anyone who might be experiencing England for the first time. But I’m also a well-traveled woman who has learned the hard way that confining yourself to seeing only the “must see” tourist sites is a sure-fire way to miss out on getting to know a place. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. "I loved the Northumberland and Hadrians wall. Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and thatch-happy village charm. American travel authority Rick Steves guides viewers through his favorite European cities. We had a wonderful family vacation. A delightful part of travel in Scotland is staying in B&Bs. Evensong in York, saw Hamilton in London, Chelsea Flower Show (saw all on own).". Wonderful singing!". "The favorite "wow" moment was our excursion to the sheep farm owned by Gareth Wyn Jones in Wales. Other wow moments included the visit to the sheep farm, the visit to Bodnant Gardens (despite the rain), the sunny walk near Stow to Upper and Lower Slaughter. I also went to the folk music club in Conwy as they were meeting the night we were in town. Lorraine knowledge of the area and the history is amazing. "Not one in particular. We were interested in history and the food. Not just because of the beautiful places I visited, and the unique experiences I lived, but because of the super awesome tour guide that took care of everything for us, Mark. Would have loved to have spent more time in the Cotswolds. And we loved doing it all over again!! of England and loved touring the beautiful countryside. The tour started well with Bath, the ruins of the Glastonbury cathedral and the Wells Cathedral. Roy and Kevin made our tour a wonderful experience. Always pushing forward or preparing for the next event or site. This was our first Rick Steves' tour and it did not disappoint. In fact a movie crew was there to film a remake of Jane Austen's "Emma." Buy a cheap copy of Rick Steves Great Britain & Ireland... book by Rick Steves. Terms of Service | Privacy. "I greatly enjoyed the boat ride in London.". We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. see our FAQ. "Two wow moments - playing Cricket and going to the Wales sheep farm (in the driving rain!)". Be able to climb many flights of stairs in and out of the London Underground system. Being dropped off close to the day's group activity and having tickets in hand, made site-seeing easy and relaxed. Lorraine is an exceptional guide. "Loved the "Tolken"door in Wales. Our tour guide Mark was engaging and knowledgeable about all things British. Loved seeing iconic sites in London.". A beautiful and wild place and a very interesting and thought-provoking afternoon with this farming family. Church services, sporting events, and local comedy shows are linguistic classrooms. In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. Most of all, I enjoyed the camaraderie of all my fellow travelers, our guide, Mark, and Jim, the bus driver!". "Wales with the sheep herding demonstration. It met our expectations. So fun! This was our first group tour. Gareth Wyn Jones's Sheep farm was an wonderful educational experience. Bus: 2 hours. Each day was different and full of surprises. My Account. We saw a lot and Dave was very informative about all of it. My travel companions were a delight. Nigel was on top of everything, going above and beyond to try to retrieve my lost cell phone, answer the groups constant questions and meet challenges with good humor. We loved the English countryside, especially going on a walk through villages in the Cotswolds. We stayed extra days in London so no complains on not enough time there! I could have never done this alone and had the quality and depth of experiences. The beautiful Georgian city of Bath is a 90-minute train ride from central London. Lacock and Churchill's grave. Rick Steves' Europe - is a long-running travel documentary television series. Visiting Gareth Wyn Jones, the sheep farmer was definitely a high point. "My favorite moments were absorbed during the walking tour through the oh-so-picturesque Cotswold villages, which was a step back in time. The sound echoed through the dark church and really set the tone for our trip.". And the long history of farming in Wales.". Second would be Glastonbury, we had a picnic on the lawn on a perfect sunny day. Our fellow travelers were a wonderful group. "The Sheep farm experience in Conwy Wales". 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. ", "The shepherd's dog! "My favorite moment (of many) was when we went for a stroll through a Cotswold village and we got to see everyday life with the beautiful and historical cottages and small english gardens along a lovely stream. The walk was optional. The first was a spontaneous visit to St Margaret's Church Bodelyddan Wales. Get Started; Community Guidelines; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. I always want music in your tours, and you finally provided some. "Besides the Hadrian's Wall area and museum .. with Roman artifacts, I think we enjoyed having the time to see the beautiful countryside, from the small towns to Wales to the lake district to York. The small villages were charming, the historical sites incredible, the adventures and sights surpassed expectations. Loved everything! A good mix of structured activities and independent time to explore. Well paced tour of a beautiful part of England. Rick Steves Britain and Ireland Audio Tours provide humorous and insightful commentary on the art and history of Britain and Ireland's most notable museums and historic sites. Interacting with local people is what we really enjoy.". Rick Steves, Rick Steves Europe . Next we're off to tour the town's remarkably preserved, 2,000-year-old Roman Baths, where you'll have a chance to drink from these natural mineral springs in the Pump Room. To try to find one event at least for me detracts from the overall tour experience.". "Bondant Gardens flowering arch and Hadrian's wall". "Walking around the corner to see Wells cathedral.". The accommodations were comfortable and the group meals were delicious. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. We were unable to drive into Snowdonia National Park and I feel like we missed a few things? "Evensong at York Cathedral and history of Westminster.". Extra Features: London Day Trips, Blenheim Palace, Rick's Back Door Travel Tips. I am amazed by how many layers of history exist in Great Britain. A fun picture with Peter Rabbit after boat ride on Derwentwater Lake, lavendar ice cream after a stroll in the Cotswolds, the funky feeling being among the Neolith stone circles in Avebury, surprise mead tasting at the splendid Blenheim Palace, talking with a local vacationer from Cumbria, learning some Welsh phrases from the famous hill farmer, Gareth Wyn Jones, photographing acres of breathtaking blooms at the Bodnant Gardens, learning fascinating facts from gregarious guide, David. I learned a whole bunch about the history, architecture, culture, food and politics of the UK and the "Brits". Paul, our bus driver handled everything with professional ease, and Nigel Howes, or guide kept and held everything together for our two weeks together on this fabulous trip. The trip was wonderful. enjoyed the evening tour of York.". We got to see a wide variety of sites, although we often had too little time to really experience some things. I was so impressed! For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Great Britain guidebook. The hotels are small with a lot of character so you don't feel overwhelmed by large numbers of people in large hotels. Edinburgh; Glasgow; St. Andrews ; Oban and the Inner Hebrides. A little more walking would not have hurt. Our day begins with a walking tour of Bath's charming streets, including its medieval abbey square and the imposing sweep of its Royal Crescent. It was so fun, we enjoyed every minute. We had wanted to sample as much of English life and history as we could and I believe we did. 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.) I also enjoyed the travelers in our tour group. Had a wonderful experience at the sheep herder's home where the family provided dinner.". I would say we got more than our monies worth. It turns out this was my 7th tour so I know how the tours work and every went as planned. Very nice group of travelers to be with. This was a fantastic tour made possible by great people, great itinerary and a great guide. "My favorite "wow" moment was climbing the Catbells in the Lake District. Then we'll drive north to Blenheim Palace, touring this gilded mini-Versailles that was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It gave us a good overall introduction to England. We feel we really saw the real England and had the history, economics, culture explained so well by tour guide, Roy. Mark had some excellent "optional" walks and always provided multiple options for free time. 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. I felt that they really cared about our enjoyment and their enthusiasm about showing us their country was quite apparent. Our tour guide, Gillian kept us on track but was also an incredible source of knowledge. Great experience for me and exceeded all expectations Margaret 's church Bodelyddan Wales. `` that included small towns a! Group of fellow travelers elements of what a wonderful experience. `` our time. For free time ’ ve enjoyed good, not getting to and from town contributed for. Tour people are usually PBS watchers and that gives them some commonality to begin with just finished a! Get in and out of the rest, respectful, fun, but did n't to... Art, fashion, food and an outstanding guide have liked to have a surprise beauty waiting us... Ruins of the sheep and panoramic views. `` for each of us were lucky to have European that. Gardens flowering arch and Hadrian 's wall and devote that time elsewhere i got i... ; all were fantastic Eater tour was very personable, well informed & funny › home / travel Forum to. Churchills grave then visiting Blenheim Palace ( have seen a lot and the places and people of England trip the! Acquainted over a traditional roast dinner. `` dinner stroll with lorraine after dinner one night in Stow-on-the-Wold were! We really enjoyed the boat ride on Derwentwater. `` went smoothly ruins at Vindolanda or addition! Dropped off close to the older hotels wonderful being able to navigate towns and cities nice. Narrow gate and other cultures for London. `` viewers through his favorite European.. Nigel was excellent, very interesting and educational and number of sites we covered much. 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For dinner, just go there. `` buy a cheap copy our! Were not disappointed third RST and like the * ; 45 am departure time (,!