TO THE UK AND …...across beautiful Cornwall and the South-West. See Charlestown, a picturesque...

FILM & TV LOCATIONS

HISTORY, HERITAGE & ROYALTY

CHRISTIANITY

GARDEN & CASTLE

MILITARY

LITERARY

LUXURY EXPERIENCES

SPORTS HOSPITALITY

FASHION & SHOPPING

www.tours-international.com

DMCGROUP TOURS

TO THE UK AND EUROPE

2 3www.tours-international.com www.tours-international.com

ABOUT TOURS INTERNATIONAL

Tours International is a DMC for groups, specialising in group tours to Great Britain, Ireland and Europe. Established in 1987, we are a family-run business based in Royal Tunbridge Wells in England, just outside London. We pride ourselves on our professional yet very personal service and our range of special interest tours, which we are constantly reviewing and updating. We are proud to say that travel agents worldwide and private group organisers are returning to Tours International year after year.

OUR SERVICES AND OUR TOURS

We offer a comprehensive ground service for group travel to Great Britain, Ireland and Europe, with an exciting and wide-ranging collection of specialist tour itineraries. Our clients are assured of quality accommodation and transportation, experienced guides, the best attractions and restaurants and excellent local and subject knowledge. Each tour is bespoke, designed and researched specifically to meet a client’s brief - customised with one-off speakers, private visits, surprising destinations and must-do activities – thereby guaranteeing a truly unique experience. As group travel specialists with over 30 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, we are confident that our team can deliver the unforgettable tours you are looking for and a complete group travel service which is second to none.

NEW! For improved tours with our guides, Tours International can provide headsets.

Included here are a collection of our most popular tours and themes, but we welcome the opportunity to discuss any themes you don’t see here. For a wider list of our tours, please visit www.tours-international.com.

CONTACT US WE GUARANTEE A RESPONSE WITHIN 24 HOURS!E: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1892 515825W: www.tours-international.com

CONTENTS PAGE Map of Great Britain & Ireland 3

Film & TV Locations 4-5

History, Heritage & Royalty 6-8

Scotland, Wales & Ireland 9

Christianity 10-11

Gardens & Castles 12-13

Literary 14-15

Military 16-17

Sports Hospitality & Luxury Experiences 18

Fashion & Shopping 19

EDINBURGH

BELFAST

DUBLIN

CARDIFF

LONDON

SCOTLAND

NORTHERNIRELAND

IRELAND

ENGLAND

Kilarney

WALES

FRANCE

PARIS

Limerick

Isle ofSkye Inverness

Isle ofMull

Aberdeen

Perth

Glasgow

Newcastle

Liverpool

York

Bristol

Gloucester

Stratford-upon-Avon

Oxford

Bath

Plymouth

PortsmouthBrighton Dover

Cambridge

FolkestoneIsle of Wight

EbbsfleetCanterbury

Galway

Calais

Caen

Cherbourg

DurhamGretnaGreen

Zeebrugge

Hull

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5

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6

7

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10

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Big Ben © Shutterstock.com/Luciano Mortola

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND

ATTRACTIONS 1. Canterbury Cathedral 2. Leeds Castle 3. Blenheim Palace 4. Dumfries House 5. Battle of Hastings, Abbey & Battlefield 6. Dover Castle 7. Alnwick Castle 8. Stonehenge 9. Tintagel 10. Chatsworth House 11. Highgrove 12. Whitby Abbey 13. Hadrian’s Wall 14. Lindisfarne Priory

EurostarP&O Ferries

Tintagel Castle © English Heritage

Lindisfarne Priory © English Heritage

Highgrove

Alnwick Castle ©VisitBritain/Pawel Libera

TRANSPORT LINKS Ferry Routes

Eurostar Routes

Eurotunnel Route

Buckingham Palace © Andrew Holt Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014

Sissinghurst Castle ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra


DOWNTON ABBEY

Visit the sets where the world-famous TV series was filmed and enjoy exclusive access and a guided tour of stunning Highclere Castle, location of Downton Abbey itself. Visit Bampton, which doubles as the village of Downton, to see the church, post office and Churchgate House, the Crawleys’ home; Basildon Park, which features as the Granthams’ London residence and the location used for Yew Tree Farm. Enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea and a ride on the London Eye with champagne.

WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON – THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER

Step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series. Tread the original stone floor of the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, encounter animatronic creatures and wander down Diagon Alley. Located at the Studios where all 8 films were produced, the Studio Tour showcases the incredible British talent, imagination and artistry that went into making the impossible a reality on screen. Visitors will relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life.

see the Town Hall which appears as Causton Town Hall; Stonor House, one of the oldest manor houses in England and Mapledurham House and Watermill for a traditional cream tea. The tour also includes Henley on Thames, a popular tourist destination; Greys Court, a 16th century mansion which has doubled as a monastery and a priory and Warborough, whose houses, green and pub have all appeared in the opening credits.

WOLF HALL

This popular drama used some of the finest medieval and Tudor buildings in Britain to depict Henry VIII’s court and the homes of Thomas More, Wolseley and Cromwell. Visit Lacock Abbey, the exterior of Wolf Hall, the Seymour family seat, which also appears in the Harry Potter films and The Other Boleyn Girl. Montacute House, the location for Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII’s primary London seat and the site of Anne Boleyn’s arrest, as well as the backdrop to spectacular jousting scenes. Barrington Court, which appears as the interior of Wolf Hall; the house used as Cardinal Wolsey’s home and Chastleton House, another interior location for Wolf Hall and where Cromwell’s miserable childhood scenes were filmed. Other important locations include stunning Penshurst Place and Gardens and Dover Castle.

FILM & TV LOCATIONS

Highclere Castle

SHERLOCK

Follow in the footsteps of London’s most famous detective! Visit 221B Baker Street – now the Sherlock Holmes museum, showcasing a recreation of his study and Dr Watson’s bedroom. See the location which features as Sherlock’s home in the TV series Sherlock. Enjoy refreshments in the actual Speedy’s Café or The Sherlock Holmes pub, which appeared in The Noble Bachelors and houses memorabilia including Dr Watson’s old service revolver. Visit the British Museum, frequently used by Holmes for his research and enjoy dinner in one of his favourite restaurants. Panoramic tours will include other key London locations which feature in the series.

MR SELFRIDGE

In 1909 Harry Selfridge opened his dream store, Selfridges & Co, to great fanfare. Today the store is the crown jewel of Oxford Street and the inspiration for an exciting period drama. Step back into Edwardian London and the life of Mr Selfridge. Enjoy a ride around London in the actual vintage cars which appear in the TV series. Visit the flagship store on Oxford Street for the ultimate shopping experience, see the original features as it was in Mr Selfridge’s time and enjoy a ‘Mr Selfridge’s Afternoon Tea’. Visit the main location used for filming the exterior of Selfridges, Mr Selfridge’s London residences in Berkeley Square and Park Lane, his private clubs and the theatres he patronised.

MIDSOMER MURDERS

Characterized by its great country houses, traditional pubs and village greens, the apparently idyllic villages of Midsomer are also the scenes of some of the most evil, ingenious murders screened on TV. Meet an extra who has appeared in over 60 episodes. Visit Wallingford, the original ‘Causton’; Dorchester-on-Thames, whose medieval abbey church, coaching inns and post office have all been locations; Thame, often used as a general backdrop, to

Weasleys’ kitchen © TM & © 2015 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.

Greys Court

OUTLANDER - SCOTLAND

Follow Claire’s extraordinary journey back to the Jacobite rebellions. Visit stunning Doune Castle, the real Castle Leoch, home to the fictional MacKenzie clan; the Highland Folk Museum, used for the MacKenzie village; Culross, the location for Cranesmuir; Aberdour Castle, which doubles as the French Castle Jamie flees to; the stately home which appears as the Duke of Sandringham’s house; a vintage railway station which represents wartime London; famous Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, used when Jamie is imprisoned; the bustling harbour town of Troon, where Claire and Jamie board a ship to France; Falkland, which substitutes for 1940s Inverness and stunning Tulloch Ghru, which features in several key outdoor scenes as well as the opening credits.

POLDARK

This thrilling historical drama, a heady mix of 18th Century mining, smuggling and romance, was filmed in locations across beautiful Cornwall and the South-West. See Charlestown, a picturesque harbour town, which doubles for Truro in Poldark and Church Cove Gunwallow, the location for night-time ship wrecking scenes; beautiful Porthgwarra, a traditional fishing cove and rugged Bodmin Moor, the location for the exterior of Ross Poldark’s cottage, Nampara as well as several scenes featuring the cast on horseback. We go underground into the genuine Cornish mines which appeared as the mines in the series and see the sandy beach which appears as Nampara Cove. Admire the engine houses on a cliff edge, which represent Nampara Valley, part of the Poldark family estate and Chevenage House, Charles Poldark’s home.

Lacock Abbey ©National Trust Images/James Dobson

Linlithgow Palace © Crown Copyright Reproduced Courtesy of Historic Scotland

Levant Mine, Cornwall ©National Trust Images/John Garrett


21ST CENTURY ROYALS

A new generation of royals are dominating the front pages and social media. Visit London and eat at one of Kate and William’s favourite restaurants. Kensington Palace, home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. St James’ Palace, residence of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and where Prince George was christened; Clarence House, official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall; St Mary’s Hospital, birthplace of Prince George and Princess Charlotte; Westminster Abbey where William and Kate were married and St Paul’s Cathedral where the Prince and Princess of Wales got married. See the hotel where Kate stayed before her wedding, the fashion retailer where she used to work and the restaurants and clubs popular with the young royals. Shop where Kate shops in Knightsbridge or at designer shopping outlet, Bicester Village and see the designer who made her wedding dress. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Royal Warrant Holders. Visit Madame Tussauds and the waxwork models of the young royals. Windsor Castle, where the Earl and Countess of Wessex got married. See Royal Lodge, home of the Duke of York, the Registry Office where the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall got married and Eton, where Princes William and Harry studied. On to rural Norfolk and Sandringham, the country retreat of the Queen. Visit the church where the royals attend Christmas service and where Princess Charlotte was christened. Nearby Anmer village, where the Cambridges live; see one of William’s favourite pubs, his local bakery and the quaint boutiques and antique shops in historic Holt where Kate has been seen shopping.

HISTORY, HERITAGE & ROYALTY ROYAL PALACES OF LONDON

A collection of the most beautiful royal castles and palaces in the world. The Tower of London, an amazing fortress built by William the Conqueror, site of many a royal beheading and home to the stunning Crown Jewels. Visit Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official London residence, to see special exhibitions, the State Rooms and Royal Mews or the gardens of nearby Clarence House, the official home of Prince Charles. See Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s impressive waterside palace with its Great Hall, Kitchens, Royal Bedchambers and royal gossip tours. Or Kensington Palace, home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge where visitors can see the Kings and Queens State Apartments. Windsor Castle, the Queen’s home just outside of London and home to St George’s Chapel, where 10 sovereigns are buried.

HENRY VIII & TUDOR ENGLAND

Henry VIII is known for his six wives and for setting himself up as Head of the Church of England. Tudor England was a fascinating place and Henry was everything a king should be – handsome, richly dressed and a strapping figure excelling at hunting and jousting. This tour visits some of Henry’s most impressive houses, including Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle and Leeds Castle, as well as touching on the darker side of his reign, such as the Tower of London, where he had so many people executed, the homes of his ill-fated wives and the remains of a priory he razed to the ground during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The tour also includes a not-to-be-missed medieval banquet, hosted by Henry himself in traditional Tudor surroundings!

KING ARTHUR – WALES, ENGLAND & FRANCE

The legends of King Arthur have long been shrouded in mystery and tales of the Knights of the Round Table, the wizard Merlin and tragic lovers Guinevere and Lancelot have charmed people for centuries. Did Camelot really exist, who was the Lady in the Lake and did Arthur really pull Excalibur from the stone? Follow in the footsteps of Arthur and his Knights, visiting Chester, reputedly Arthur’s chief city; Wales, home to many Arthurian legends including the lake where Arthur reportedly threw Excalibur; Cornwall, to see Tintagel Castle, Merlin’s Cave and St Michael’s Mount; Glastonbury Abbey, believed to be Avalon, where Arthur and Guinevere were buried; Winchester, home to the famous Round Table and Stonehenge, still the focus of Druidic activity today. We also offer the option of a tour extension into France.

REGENCY ENGLAND

The Regency period - one of the most flamboyant and romanticised eras in British history, made famous by the novels of Jane Austen and the colourful deeds of royals and wartime heroes. Retrace the scandalous steps of the Prince Regent and his cronies through London, Brighton and Bath, visit the extravagant palaces, the Assembly Rooms where dances were held and the notorious gambling clubs. Ride in the fashionable Parks, enjoy Georgian-style afternoon teas, discover the haunts of highwaymen and take part in a fencing, dance or etiquette lesson. This tour guarantees an exciting and genuine insight into the life and unadulterated pleasures of the nobility in Regency England during the early 19th Century.

Sandringham © By gracious permission of H.M. The Queen

Holt in North Norfolk

King’s Bedchamber, Windsor Castle © Mark Fiennes Royal Collection Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014

EXCLUSIVE VISITS & PRIVATE TOURS OF THE ROYAL PALACES

• Tower of London: Opening Ceremony; Yeoman Warder Meet & Greet; evening tours; Private Viewing of the Crown Jewels; Secrets of the Tower.

• Hampton Court Palace: Courtyard & Cloister tours; Ghost tours; Rooftop tours.

• Kensington Palace: Victorian Breakfast & exclusive tour; Eerie Evenings.

*Please contact us for details of more exclusive experiences.

Jousting at Hampton Court Palace © Historic Royal Palaces

Henry VIII’s Great Hall, Hampton Court Palace © Historic Royal Palaces

King Arthur’s Round Table, Winchester Great Hall

Royal Pavilion, Brighton © VisitBritain/Rod Edwards


WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR – FRANCE & ENGLAND

1066 signalled a major crux in the Middles Ages, when Anglo-Saxon England was conquered by the illegitimate son of a Norman Duke. William of Normandy, boasting a very tenuous claim to the throne, landed on the south coast and overthrew King Harold’s army at the famous Battle of Hastings. Follow William’s story from France, taking in key medieval and royal sites, to Bayeux with its world-famous Tapestry depicting his triumph and Battle, Pevensey Bay, Hastings and Dover in the south of England, before finishing with his great Tower of London.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS – SCOTLAND & ENGLAND

A romantic yet tragic figure, famed for her beauty and related to several European royal dynasties, Mary seemed destined for glory. Crowned Queen of Scotland at only 5 days old, she became Queen of France as a teenager and was hailed by many Catholics as England’s true Queen, yet she died a lonely figure, exiled from her country and the son she last saw as a baby. Implication in a series of ill-fated plots resulted in life imprisonment and execution by her cousin Elizabeth I. Visit the Scottish royal palaces of her childhood and the scenes of scandal, passion and tragedy which marked her later life, as well as the English castles where she was incarcerated for over half her life.

CHARLES II: FUGITIVE KING & MERRY MONARCH

Driven into exile on the Continent after the execution of his father at the end of the English Civil War, Charles II is a romantic figure, famed for his hedonistic court. After losing the Battle of Worcester to Oliver Cromwell, he was on the run and forced to hide several times as he made his way to the south coast. Eventually restored to the throne after nine years, Charles’ rule was tarnished by the Great Plague, Great Fire of London, religious strife and doubt over the succession. This tour traces his escape route through England, his triumphant return to power and his flamboyant reign.

STONEHENGE & BATH

Stonehenge, one of the wonders of the world and the most well-known prehistoric monument in Europe. An impressive circle of symbolic stones, which people originally believed were an ancient Roman temple or built by the Druids for their worship. See the new visitor centre, housing hundreds of prehistoric objects from the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. On to the beautiful city of Bath, the most fashionable resort in 18th Century England. See the stunning architecture and famous Crescent streets, the Roman Baths, the Jane Austen Centre, Pump Room and Assembly Rooms.

Battle of Hastings Annual Event © English Heritage

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh © VisitScotland/ Scottish Viewpoint/ P.Tomkins Stonehenge

SCOTLAND, WALES & IRELAND SCOTLAND: THE HIGHLANDS, THE ISLANDS, STUNNING CASTLES & WHISKEY DISTILLERIES

Scotland is the ultimate cultural fusion of dynamic cities, beautiful castles and breath-taking scenery. Glasgow is a must-see destination for shopping and nightlife. Visit Edinburgh to see magnificent Edinburgh Castle and picturesque Holyroodhouse Palace, home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Explore Stirling Castle, where Mary was born; Scone Palace, the site of the coronation of the Kings of Scotland; Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the reigning monarch and the ruins of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, supposed home of the famous Loch Ness Monster! Away from it all in the spectacular Highlands or remote Isle of Skye, visitors discover an inspiring region of extraordinary landscapes, mountains, glens and dramatic coastlines. Finally, a trip to Scotland would be incomplete without a visit to one of the country’s fantastic whiskey distilleries.

LIVE LIKE A KING IN A SCOTTISH CASTLE

Scotland has an abundance of luxurious castles in stunning scenery which are available for private hire and exclusive use. Please ask us for more information.

WALES

A country of contrasts with a vivid history. Explore ancient castles, including Pembroke, Powis and Caernarfon; discover the legends of King Arthur and Caerleon; travel through the beautiful National Parks of Snowdonia or Brecon Beacons, home to stunning landscapes, villages and heritage sites. Visit the capital city of Cardiff, which promises fantastic shopping, museums and entertainment, as well as the impressive Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Castle and the National History Museum of St Fagans. On to the lovely Isle of Anglesey, boasting unspoilt coastlines, vast stretches of sandy beaches, picturesque towns and villages and charming Beaumaris Castle. See the Cistercian abbey of Tintern, one of Wales’ greatest monastic ruins; St David’s Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Wales and the pretty tourist village of Portmeirion.

IRELAND

The Emerald Isle…home of St Patrick and leprechauns! Visit Dublin, Ireland’s lively capital, with a wealth of culture and something happening on every corner. See St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191; Temple Bar, a riverside nightlife hotspot and bustling Grafton Street, an essential stop for fantastic shopping. Explore the roots of Celtic Christianity and the famous saints of St Patrick, St Kevin and St Ciaran. Visit the fascinating monastic sites of Glendalough and Clonmacnoise, the burial chamber at Bru Na Boinne dating back to 3200BC and the Knock Shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1879. The country offers outstanding beauty and magnificent scenery, such as the famous Ring of Kerry in the south and the awe-inspiring Giant Causeway in the north. Unmissable attractions include the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction in Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast; stunning Malahide Castle; the medieval Book of Kells in the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin and Old Bushmills Distillery – Ireland’s oldest working distillery.

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland ©VisitBritain/Britain on View

Cardiff Castle, Wales © VisitBritain/Simon Winnall Causeway Coast, Ireland © Arthur Ward

www.tours-international.fr10 11www.tours-international.com www.tours-international.com

CELTIC CHRISTIANITY – IRELAND, SCOTLAND & ENGLAND

Start in Dublin, where St Patrick baptised his converts, home to the magnificent Old Library at Trinity College. Visit the monastery at Glendalough, the Hill of Tara and the ancient capital of Ulster. On to Whithorn, Scotland’s earliest recorded Christian settlement, Iona in the Hebrides and royal Edinburgh. In England we visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Durham where monks hid St Cuthbert’s body from Vikings and we follow in the path of St Bede.

ITALIAN PILGRIMAGE

Italy offers unimaginable riches in terms of its churches and culture. Visit the beautiful Vatican City and Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, the Pope’s official private chapel and the legendary Basilica of St Peter. Other must-do visits include Ancient Rome and the Colosseum and Catacombs of San Sabastiano. We visit Pisa and its iconic Leaning Tower and Field of Miracles; breathtaking Florence and a 15th century Palazzo, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi courtyard and the art gallery, home to Italy’s greatest art collection; Venice and the Basilica di San Marco and Assisi, home of St Francis.

LUTHER – GERMANY

Christian beliefs were fundamentally changed when Martin Luther launched the Reformation in 16th Century Wittenburg. Visit Berlin and key sites such as the Reichstag, Berlin Gate, Topography of Terror and Potsdamer Platz. Luther’s home in Wittenburg, where he posted his 95 Theses, his Birth House, Death House and church where he was baptized. Tour the 300 year-old ‘Francke Foundations’; see Erfurt, where Luther worked, the Cathedral where he worked and the Castle where he lived in protective custody.

CHRISTIANITY PILGRIM FATHERS

The Mayflower Pilgrims sailed from England to the New World in 1620, hoping for new beginnings and religious tolerance. Explore the origins of their remarkable story – Nottinghamshire, where Separatist philosophy took hold and inspired the first leaders of the Pilgrim Movement and Plymouth, where they set sail. Visit churches across England, monuments and museums of importance to those early American settlers.

JOHN WESLEY

As spiritual leader of the 18th Century ‘Methodist revival’, Wesley touched the hearts and minds of the masses at the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Explore his life, including his formative years with the Holy Club in Oxford; his evangelical conversion on Aldersgate Street and his first experience of open-air preaching in the slave-trade city of Bristol. We also visit other important locations crucial to the development of Christianity in Georgian England.

ST AUGUSTINE

Sent by Pope Gregory to re-establish Christianity in England after the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, Augustine founded the Christian Church in southern England and was first Archbishop of Canterbury. Follow his route, back then fraught with danger, along the south coast, taking in Canterbury, a picturesque city of cobbled streets dominated by the Gothic Cathedral on the site of Augustine’s original Cathedral. St Augustine’s Abbey, which he designed as the burial place for Kings and Archbishops of Kent and St Martin’s Church, where he met King Ethelbert. We also visit Rochester Cathedral, the medieval churches of the Romney Marshes and pretty Chilham, believed to be his final resting place.

THE EARLY ENGLISH PILGRIMAGE

Explore the very roots of English Christianity, from St Augustine and his converts and the various Abbey, Priory and Church communities, through to the great Kings of England and the nobility. Visit London and Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Chapel of St George and the English Martyrs and the official home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Aylesford Priory, a 13th Century religious house and the ruins of a priory destroyed by Henry VIII; Canterbury and its stunning Cathedral and the Abbey founded by St Augustine and the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, commemorating the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to the lady of the manor.

Glendalough monastic site, Ireland © Chris Hill Photographic 2010

St Peters Basilica - Copyright Fototeca ENIT

Wittenberg & Luther monuments, Germany

Pilgrims Point, above the Mayflower Steps, Plymouth© VisitEngland/Visit Plymouth/Andy Fox

John Wesley’s statue

Canterbury Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral, LondonPotsdamer Platz & Berlin Wall, Germany

Rialto Bridge, Venice - Copyright Fototeca ENIT


GARDEN OF ENGLAND AND CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW - MAY

Join us on a springtime tour to one of the most charming and beautiful corners of England. Visit Godinton House Estate, a superb ancient estate with stunning formal gardens; Great Dixter House and Garden, a cottage garden on a grand scale; Goodnestone Park, a private garden in parkland encircling a Palladian-style mansion and Sissinghurst Castle, a romantic garden nurtured around a slender castle tower. Picturesque Hever Castle, a fairy-tale moated castle with lake, fountains and magnificent Roman and Italian statuary. Explore Canterbury with its Gothic Cathedral, pretty Rye and elegant Royal Tunbridge Wells before proceeding to London and the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, showcasing magnificent floral displays, show gardens and a host of unique garden structures and artefacts. We finish at stunning RHS Garden Wisley.

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW – MAY

Arguably the world’s greatest Flower Show, this iconic event is the highlight of the UK gardening calendar and a truly unforgettable social occasion, attended by royals and celebrities alike. Enjoy show-stopping garden designs and an explosion of art and colour in the most fashionable part of London.

THE CASTLES AND GARDENS OF KENT

The picturesque county of Kent, with its stunning gardens, story book castles and quirky oast houses. Begin in Royal Tunbridge Wells, the spa town popular with royalty, with its colonnaded Pantiles and collection of independent boutiques, antique shops, bookshops and cafes. On to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, comprising 10 beautiful gardens and a moated Elizabethan manor house and tower. Visit Great Dixter House with its topiary, long border, orchard and wild flower meadow and beautiful 14th Century Hever Castle, before exploring nearby Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill’s home. Exquisite Leeds Castle, a favourite of Henry VIII, surrounded by a lake, parkland and water gardens and finally, the Kentish Gardens with orchards, Oast House and Vintage Village.

HIGHGROVE AND THE GARDENS OF THE COTSWOLDS

Visit Highgrove, home of HRH The Prince of Wales. Since 1980 when Prince Charles first arrived at Highgrove, His Royal Highness has transformed the gardens around the house into one of the most creatively inspired gardens of today. A series of interlinked areas, each with their own character, weave magically around the garden. The tour also passes through several pretty Cotswold villages and includes other famous gardens. Choose from Abbey House Garden, Hidcote Manor Garden, Bourton House, Stone House Garden or Sudeley Castle, a beautiful castle once home to Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth wife.

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW – JUNE/JULY

The world’s largest flower show and a high point in both the social and gardening year, held at Henry VIII’s stunning waterside palace. This Show offers a mix of glorious show gardens, planting and country crafts, fine dining with dazzling floral displays, live music with fabulous shopping, fashion and food. A unique day out in a truly majestic setting.

RHS WISLEY FLOWER SHOW – SEPTEMBER

A floral extravaganza featuring over 60 plant nurseries and trade stands, the National Dahlia Society Show, floral displays, expert advice and the chance to enjoy stunning late summer colour throughout the breathtaking Wisley garden.

BLENHEIM PALACE FLOWER SHOW – JUNE

Featuring the UK’s favourite floral and gardening exhibitors, the Grand Floral Pavilion, Show Gardens, Country and Home Pavilion and Pleasure Gardens. Browse large shopping areas, including a fantastic range of stylish outdoor furniture or wonderful food and drink stalls. Choose from fine dining, the champagne bar or afternoon tea and enjoy floral art and lively entertainment. All in the grounds of beautiful Blenheim Palace.

GARDENS & CASTLES GARDEN & FLOWER SHOWS

Leeds Castle Hidcote Manor Garden © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Magnolias at RHS Garden Wisley

Hever Castle

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2015 © RHS/Neil Hepworth

Blenheim Palace Water Terrace

Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 © RHS/Hannah McKay

The Queen attends RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 © Royal Horticultural Society Media Image Collection

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 © Bethany Clarke/RHS


CHARLES DICKENS

Recurring themes including the plight of the poor and vulnerability of women and children reflect Dickens’ concerns about divisions in Victorian society. This tour is a journey through Charles Dickens’ England - London, where so many of his great novels take place; the Dickens House Museum; the Kent countryside which inspired him; Dickens World, a themed attraction which brings Dickensian England to life and historic Rochester, his home town, where Dickensian characters give us a guided tour. Along the way we stop at hotels and pubs frequented by Dickens himself.

THOMAS HARDY

Hardy’s poetry and novels celebrate all that is quintessentially English. This tour visits the locations which inspired Hardy’s fictional county of Wessex, such as Dorchester which was the basis for Casterbridge; Sturminster Newton, which gave rise to Stourcastle ; Oxford, the original Christminster and Shaftesbury and Salisbury which both influenced Jude the Obscure. Also see important places in Hardy’s own life, such as Hardy’s Cottage where he was born, Riverside Villa, the Dorset County Museum with its Hardy memorabilia and the churchyard where his heart is buried.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Generally thought of as the greatest English writer of all time, certainly the greatest playwright and poet, Shakespeare brought theatre to the masses with masterpieces such as Hamlet, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet. Visit picturesque Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare’s Birthplace and the Shakespeare Centre, his schoolroom and the church where he was baptised and is buried. See Anne Hathaway’s pretty Cottage and Gardens; Hall’s Croft, his daughter’s house and New Place, his final home. In London, visit The Globe, on the site of Shakespeare’s first Globe theatre and reconstructed to resemble the original playhouse, for a backstage guided tour, exhibition on Shakespeare’s world and riverside tour on theatre in the time of the bard. Watch a performance of a Shakespeare play at either the RSC or the Swan Theatre in Stratford or The Globe.

JANE AUSTEN

Against a nostalgic backdrop of stately homes and country dances, Jane Austen’s novels take her readers back to an idyllic 19th Century England. Take a trip through toll gates and old coach roads to houses such as Haddon Hall, Chatsworth and Sudbury which inspired the grand homes in her novels and key locations used in film and TV adaptations of her works, including picturesque Lacock. Retracing Austen’s own steps we take in Steventon, her childhood home; Chawton, where she finalised her most famous works; Winchester where she died and is buried and the beautiful city of Bath with its splendid Pump Room, Assembly Rooms and Jane Austen Centre.

THE BRONTËS OF HAWORTH

In a small Yorkshire village surrounded by windswept moors, three sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë produced some of the most widely read novels in the world. Visit Thornton, where they were born and the Brontë Parsonage, where they lived and their father was Vicar. Nearby St Michael and All Angels Church, where all the Brontës apart from Anne are buried in the family vault and the Brontë School Rooms where Charlotte taught. Discover picturesque Haworth with its cobbled streets and quirky vintage and gift shops and The Black Bull pub, frequented by Bramwell Brontë. See the moorland farm of Top Withens, believed to be the site of Emily’s Wuthering Heights and Ponden Hall, inspiration for Thrushcross Grange. Follow in the sisters’ footsteps and walk on the moors, then explore the houses which inspired the grand homes in their novels including Shibden Hall, the Red House and Oakwell Hall.

LITERARY

Dickens World

Jane Austen Festival, Bath © VisitEngland/Owen Benson

Chatsworth House

Hardy’s tomb, Dorchester

Nash’s House & New Place

Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon

Top Withens, Haworth Moors © VisitEngland

Parlour at the Red House

Dickens characters, Rochester


AIRSHOWS AND USAAF (UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE) AIRFIELDS (WORLD WAR 2)

In 1942 mainland Europe was under Nazi control and Britain was fighting desperately for survival. Help arrived with the United States’ entry into World War II and the deployment of USAAF into Britain. The farmlands of East Anglia were replaced by hundreds of airfields, housing the 60 heavy bomber groups who fought so heroically in the skies over Europe. Take a trip back to the old USAAF airfields and the nearby villages with their memorials, control towers and private museums. Visit the Duxford Air Museum with its amazing aviation collections, world-famous Airshow, American Air Museum, Normandy Experience, Battle of Britain Exhibition and Operations Room. On to RAF Hendon with is impressive collection of German aircraft and the US Military Cemetery at Madingley where over 3500 are buried.

BATTLE OF THE BULGE - BELGIUM (WORLD WAR 2)

In 1944 Hitler was facing defeat and made a desperate attempt to regain the offensive, announcing a counter-attack to take place in the Ardennes forests of Belgium. In the early hours of 16th December 1944, the Battle of the Bulge began. The Nazi plan to split the Allied line in half and capture Antwerp failed, but the Battle (described by Winston Churchill as ‘an ever-famous American victory’) was the single bloodiest that US forces experienced during WWII. Visit the key sites of the Battle, the headquarters used by Generals Patton and Bradley, military cemeteries and monuments commemorating all US units who served in the Battle.

ENGLAND IN WORLD WAR 2

Visit the Churchill War Rooms and underground bunker under London, the warship HMS Belfast and the Imperial War Museum with its various WW2 exhibitions including Turning Points: 1934 – 1945 and The Holocaust Exhibition. Bletchley Park, where specialist Codebreakers worked night and day cracking the Nazi codes and ciphers. On to Beaulieu, a secret training establishment for agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the D-Day Museum Portsmouth, showcasing all aspects of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born and his Kent home of Chartwell with its Churchill memorabilia. Dover Castle and Operation Dynamo, conducted from secret underground tunnels.

NORMANDY (WORLD WAR 2)

The Normandy Landings in June 1944 signified a major turning point in World War 2. D-Day (known as ‘Operation Overlord’) was an extremely large and complex undertaking. The successful coordination of American, British, Canadian and Free French troops, as well as the landing of infantry and armoured divisions, remains one of the greatest victories in history and the largest invasion of troops by sea. Tour highlights include Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, Airborne drop zones and military cemeteries. Visit Saint-Mere Eglise, the famous church with its Airborne stained glass window; the artificial harbour at Arromanches; ‘Pegasus Bridge’ and Gondrée Café, the first building to be liberated.

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Fifty years on from his death, we are still commemorating this extraordinary man. Prime Minister of Britain during World War II, Sir Winston’s ability as a leader rallied a nation during its darkest hour. Visit the important sites from where Churchill led the war effort, including the Churchill War Rooms under London, the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street. We also explore his early career and personal life, visiting stunning Blenheim Palace where he was born, his weekend retreat at Ditchley Park and Chartwell, his beloved home deep in the Kent countryside.

WORLD WAR 1 - ENGLAND, FRANCE & BELGIUM

Start in London with the Imperial War Museum and its famous WW1 Galleries and the Cenotaph. Over to France and visit key battlefields, museums with battle plans, photographs, military exhibits and personal artefacts, war graves and monuments. See the famous Somme battlefields, the Bellicourt American Monument and American Cemetery. See the sites of the Battles of Argone, St Mihiel Salient, Verdun and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest undertaking by the US Army during WW1, with the Cemetery and Memorial, where rests the largest number of US military dead in Europe. Visit Ypres Salient and a preserved bunker complex used by the British Army as a medical dressing station, the Bayernwald German Trenches and three German bunkers in Tyne Cot cemetery. French Flanders, home of the poppy fields. Finally, see where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, signifying the end of the War.

MILITARY

McAuliffe Square, Bastogne © OPT/JLFlemal

American Air Museum at Duxford © VisitBritain/Rod Edwards

Bastogne Monument © OPT/Joseph JeanmartBletchley Park

Telephone Exchange at Dover Castle © English Heritage

Pegasus Bridge

Chartwell ©National Trust Images/Robert Morris

75th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY: JUNE 2019

Contact us for information on our 2019 tours commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day!

First World War Galleries, Imperial War Museum © IWM


PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL HOSPITALITY

Watch the game from the best seats, enjoying the ultimate in VIP corporate hospitality. Meet a footballing legend, tour the stadiums and enjoy the ultimate in corporate hospitality at the home grounds of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool Premiership Football Clubs.

RUGBY

Enjoy corporate hospitality at either Twickenham or the Millennium Stadium. Packages include private suites, corporate boxes and premiere seats with first-class dining and entertainment.

WIMBLEDON

Experience world class tennis with first class hospitality: reserved seats at Centre Court or No 1 Court, exclusive private suites on Centre Court or hospitality with an exclusive club atmosphere. Enjoy the Wimbledon traditions of afternoon tea, strawberries and cream, Pimms, champagne and first class dining.

London is the ultimate shopping destination, perfect for any budget. Enjoy the best of the highstreet on Oxford Street. Groups get special discounts in stores on and around Regent Street with the Regent Street Privilege Card. Visit famous department stores Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Liberty of London; Saville Row, for made-to-measure menswear and quality tailoring; Bond Street, Mayfair and Knightsbridge for luxury brands and upmarket designer labels or Westfield Shopping Centre with 265 luxury, premium and high street retailers.

BICESTER VILLAGE

Just outside London, offering designer outlet shopping in a chic, upmarket setting. Enjoy exceptional savings of up to 60% at over 130 of the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle brands.

HIGH-END FASHION TOURS

High-End Fashion Tours can include:

• Personal Shopping Appointments at luxury department stores and designer boutiques.

• VIP Corporate Hospitality at London Fashion Week, to view the new season’s collections as they appear on the catwalk.

• London Fashion Weekend, the ultimate fashion treat, with irresistible shopping at exclusive prices from over 150 brands and catwalk shows from London Fashion Week designers.

• Trend presentation by a luxury, glossy magazine.

• A Royal Warrant Tour - shop how the Royals shop with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Royal Warrant holders including Penhaligon, Berry Bros & Rudd, Garrard & Co., Fortnum & Mason and other prestigious retailers. View usually secret archive material, treasured brand assets and heritage pieces and meet ‘By Royal Appointment’ craftsmen.

GOLF

Enjoy corporate hospitality at all the major golf tournaments including The Open. We also organise corporate golf tours to some of the UK’s greatest golf courses such as St. Andrews and Gleneagles.

ROYAL ASCOT

For centuries Royal Ascot has been a highlight of the British social calendar. Fine Dining at the Royal Meeting offers an experience like no other.

MOTOR RACING

Combine the thrill of motor racing with the best race day hospitality at events such as the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a range of major events at Brands Hatch near London and Goodwood Revival or Festival of Speed. We also organise corporate premium driving days and track days.

HIGH-END ENTERTAINMENT & CORPORATE HOSPITALITY IN LONDON

Our corporate hospitality and luxury group travel experience can include any of the following but please contact us for a bespoke quote and to discuss your specific requirements:• Accommodation at 5 star hotels• Dinner cruises on the Thames • Private capsules on the London Eye with champagne

and canapes• World-class dining experiences at restaurants such as

The Shard or London Altitude, with stunning views over the city

• VIP private tours and exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ experiences at the London palaces

• Helicopter and hot air balloon rides• James Bond ride in a speed boat on the Thames• Luxury afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason or hotels such

as Browns, Claridges or The Ritz• Private appointments at boutiques, antique shops,

jewellers and the Royal Warrant stores• Private hotel suites or penthouses for drinks receptions• Limousine cars and luxury motor coaches • Spa days• Upscale courses including cookery, perfumery and

flower arranging • A ride through London in vintage cars

SPORTS HOSPITALITY & LUXURY EXPERIENCES FASHION & SHOPPING

Millennium Stadium in Cardiff © VisitBritain/Britain on View

Gate at Anfield, Liverpool stadium

• The V&A, an amazing museum of art and design, to see the various Fashion Collections and current Fashion Exhibitions.

• Fashion-themed afternoon teas or cocktails at luxury London hotels.

THE FASHION CAPITALS TOUR: LONDON AND PARIS

Shop in two of the world’s fashion capitals! Cross the English Channel to Paris, the centre of all things couture and arguably the city where fashion began. Highlights of the Paris Fashion Tour:

• Shop like a chic Parisian accompanied by a Paris personal shopping guide. Armed with your Paris shopping list, discover “must see” fashion destinations, designer boutiques and private sales and enjoy private appointments.

• The Museum of Fashion of the City of Paris, in the Palais Galiera, for fashion, couture and photographic exhibitions from the 18th Century through to the present day.

• The Fashion & Textile Museum in the Louvre Palace, showcasing over 81,000 costumes, fashion accessories and pieces of textile, as well as collections from designers including Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Madeleine Vionnet and Paul Poiret.

Bicester Village

Regent Street, London

Harrods, Knightsbridge © Visit London

Tours InternationalPO Box 45, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9XY, United Kingdom.E: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1892 515825W: www.tours-international.com

The Queen’s Guards at Windsor Castle

Red telephone box in front of the London Eye © Visitlondonimages/Britain on View

Shopping in London © London on View Bastogne Monument © OPT/Joseph Jeanmart

www.tours-international.com

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TO THE UK AND …...across beautiful Cornwall and the South-West. See Charlestown, a picturesque...

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Transcript of TO THE UK AND …...across beautiful Cornwall and the South-West. See Charlestown, a picturesque...