This was my fourth - I find that the guides and bus drivers make all the difference in the conviviality of each group - Jamie and Jim were outstanding. The tour was great! My gosh please keep terrific guide. All the accommodations were excellent and food was quite enjoyable. There were so many extra benefits, for example, our guide and driver knew just when to get us to locations to avoid crowds. Don't think I'd change a thing. The once-formidable ramparts are now a park-like promenade lined with historic points of interest…mostly ignored by those simply enjoying a refreshing stroll. A visit here leaves you impressed by the resilience of this spot — so holy to so many for so long. The tour was exactly as advertised: small group, great guide and no grumps! Marvel at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, sweeping moorlands of Dartmoor, ancient stone circles, cliff-perched villages, and great sailing ships. Each was amazing. We'll admire Henry II's formidable castle, prowl through Britain's most historic warship, see where the archbishop of Canterbury works, glide on a dreamy stream, holiday on a Victorian pier, marvel at a royal seaside pleasure palace, and hike an unforgettable bluff. Lovely little villages with breathtaking scenery. And somewhere in there we sandwiched in drinks with the entire group at the hotel's pub. The villages, cities, and cathedrals were beautiful. I recommend this tour. Strong people.". However, seeing and experiencing the mystery of Stonehenge for the first time was extremely powerful, as was traversing the sweeping English moors. Upon an earthen mound, originally part of an Iron Age fortress, is a many-layered complex with remnants from each age. It was very atmospheric. I was really pleased with the tour! Tonight is a perfect evening to enjoy an evensong performance at the cathedral. I loved that connection with history. "The special tour with the masons helping to restore parts of Canterbury Cathedral. Imagine England's pre-Victorian elite munching cream cakes and sipping liqueurs under the extravagant, dragon-powered chandelier. Video: Watch Heart of England, an episode of the Rick Steves' Europe TV show. Also, the privilege of seeing Canterbury Cathedral as only God, the pigeons, and stonemasons typically get to see it - from atop scaffolding higher than the roof!". Marion had us all smiling and laughing as we struggled to make our pasties. It is a beautiful area of the country, and I enjoyed soaking in the atmosphere. The tour was very informative, visiting interesting places, teaching history of England, and having lovely tour members and a great guide. Traffic in Southern England as well as the western midlands is heavy. With the open sea beyond and white-chalk cliffs plummeting 500 feet into the surf, this scene thrills hikers. Aug 9, 2016 - Join us on Rick Steves' Best of South England tour! Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. We had a great group of tour members that seemed to "gel" right away. Then we'll take an evening walking tour along Canterbury's colorful lanes and get acquainted over dinner. While Nelson was killed, the British emerged victorious. Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the internet! Mar 21, 2016 - Join us on Rick Steves' Best of South England tour! The result is colorful and exuberant…some would say gaudy. Understanding the great disparity in wealth of the ruling class and the church in the 1000-1800 period. Dan expertly manipulating the full sized coach through the 'New' Forest and all the little, scenic, barely 1 lane roads/streets. The extensive tours of Canterbury and Salisbury Cathedrals were great. Very nice hotels and all of the sightseeing tours were over the top the best. Everything was as I expected, and it was very good.". This was our second RS Tour. early all by ourselves before the " mobs of people " Daily Dose of Europe: Westminster Abbey — The National Soul of England . (If you sneak a peek beyond the guard stations, you can see the British military at work.) As the tour closed, I realized that I had come to an understanding of (aspects of) the British mentality--what it means to be British. ", The trip exceeded expectations. My favorite day was visiting the bakery and learning to make Cornish pasties; followed by our picnic on the beach, and ending our day by visiting St. Michael's Mount. Taste delicious seafood, comforting cream teas, and hearty ales. (Thanks again to Liz! The king's other passion? With the outbreak of World War II, more bombproof tunnels were dug. An Anglo Saxon noble named Harold and a French-born duke of Normandy named William both claimed the throne. The small group of 16 was very cordial. Read More . That is not an official part of the tour, but a great opportunity anyway.". Walking in a field of what looked like random rocks and Tom then showed us the circles of stones like Stonehenge and then the "runway" lined by stones. That was the hotel in St. Ives, which as too far from the center of town. But, after 1870, with the advent of guns on turrets and stronger steam engines replacing sails altogether, the Warrior was mothballed. Stonehenge and the Cliffs of Dover, the quaint villages - all lived up to or exceeded my expectations.". After touring the cathedral (and learning about the dramatic martyrdom of Thomas Becket), we'll meet with conservators who are tasked with preserving some of England's most treasured stone masonry and stained glass. Knowing about the 1000's of people who made the pilgrimage to this place to find a miracle, made it any more so. Please note: There are no triple rooms available on this tour. (I have been on 10 previous guided tours with various tour companies.). Don't worry, when I remembered I was even more excited about it. Also, seeing the White Cliffs at Beachy Head was another wow moment as well as the Canterbury, Salisbury, and Wells Cathedrals!". The town center is enclosed by old city walls and cut in two by its main drag. But an impressive gentrification is under way. You provided the tickets and off we go. The accommodations were lovely and i enjoyed each one. London. I'm not comfortable with heights, so was not looking forward to the trip up to 13th level in the construction lift. The hotels were all quite comfortable and I loved the included breakfasts. Friendly and knowledgeable docents, many who were once seamen, are found throughout the complex, happily answering questions and telling tales of the sea. This tour was absolutely superb! As a secondary "wow" experience, I enjoyed hearing about Brexit from our guide and locals that we met. I found the tour group very congenial and our guide "Liz" lovely.Southern England offered many new interesting people and places around every turn in the narrow road. Then he hikes the trails that top the towering chalk cliffs of the South Downs, wander into the beachy resort of Brighton (England’s Coney Island), and push on to Portsmouth. We'll return to our home village with time for some exploration and dinner on your own. Also enjoyed a few beautiful hikes along the way. Our driver, Dan, was such an expert besides being a friendly guy. I loved St. Ives and enjoyed some of my fellow traveling companions more than I expected I would.". Just being in the moment at that perfect spot.". I loved this tour even more than I thought. "My favorite moment was punting in the pouring rain in Canterbury with our skilled punter Jacob.". This was our 4th RS tour and as usual it was another excellent trip! But the big draw remains its pleasure pier. Was hoping for a more "village" experience - towns were bigger than expected. The Victory bristles with cannon lining several gun decks. "There's several WOW moments! Sitting atop those cliffs is the impressive Dover Castle. White cliffs at Beachy head. there were some things that could have been better, but nothing that distracted me from having a great time. It was well organized and thought out with a wide variety of places visited. Many of the sites; Stonehenge, Canterbury Cathedral, Cliffs of Dover, Cornwall, St. Ives and St. Michael's Mount were all places I have heard about for years, but never had seen personally. Built in 1860, it never saw a day of battle. Thankfully, more than 70 years after the war, this bluff oversees not bullets and bombs, but trade and tourism. Another standout was visit to St Michael Mount. Liz Boardman was our tour guide and proved to be the best guide I have ever had. My list includes lodge on grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, visiting the caves which served as headquarters during Dunkirk, walking around Stonehenge again after a previous visit 50+ years ago, and taking 2+ hours to explore the Roman Baths in Bath.". The Norman conquest of England established a strong centralized government and propelled what had been an isolated island of Britain into the European mainstream. Doing Stonehedge when it first opened in the morning was first rate -- I can't imagine doing it at any other time of day (due to crowds! Traveling with a smaller group of like minded people was our goal and it sure met that goal. The tour also gave me a new perspective on world war II.". Taste delicious seafood, comforting cream teas, and hearty ales. The shipyard offers visitors a glimpse of maritime attractions new and old. Southern England sits upon a foundation of chalk, and there are miles of white cliffs towering above its beaches. Enjoy the extra behind the scenes special tours that being on a Rick Steves Tour offers. I found the perfect solution with Rick Steve's Tours. Three fun-loving, student-run companies compete for your business. About 200 years ago, the most important British ship ever, the HMS Victory, changed the course of world history. Traveling across the south of England, we'll ponder the military underpinnings of a maritime society that hasn't been invaded in a thousand years. 2)Seeing the moors in Dartmoor National Park. "I had no "wow" moment. This was a very busy itinerary. So,so fun. Bus: 4 hours. This was one of the best tours I've done with Rick Steves or other tour companies. Local guides and fellow tour member great.". "Being allowed to put on hard hats, ride the construction hoist to the roof and having a guided tour of the restoration work on Canterbury Cathedral. We enjoy a RS Tour. From these tunnels, Winston Churchill and Allied commanders defended a battle zone nicknamed "Hellfire Corner." Strolling the moors of the "Hound of the Baskervilles" When our bus pulled over we were alone on the moor. We'll explore the Great Tower and Medieval Tunnels before entering the WWII-era Secret Wartime Tunnels (from which the British directed the perilous evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940). Explore England! After visiting a resort town, England's natural beauty provides a delightful contrast. Our guide, Mark, was knowledgeable and organized. Another "wow" were the narrow roads and hedge rows.". By far he was energetic, helpful, kind and was an Angel when I hurt I knee. Mark made the mystery of the ancient people who created these unique formations come alive for us. Our tour guide, Roy, was so knowledgeable, professional, yet "one of us." From the moment of arrival at our hotel, only steps from the Cathedral, and orientation with our delightful guide, Liz, till our final farewell dinner every day eclipsed my expectations. Loved the sights and activities. We spent an extra day in Bath, and I'm glad we did. In 1840, the train connected London with Brighton. Post questions and answers about travel in England. I would have liked one more night in Bath with the tour taking in some of the highlights. It had lots of history, architecture, landscapes, and even the White Cliffs of Dover. Fun surprises. St. Michael's Mount. Create custom playlists with more than 400 educational clips featuring the best of European history, art, culture, and experiences (plus topics beyond Europe). Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. "My "wow" day was the visit to Dover and touring the WWII tunnels.". The banter between the bus driver Paul & Tom was soooo much fun. England at its finest.". The bus driver was very smooth. Enjoy the sales pitches along the bridge near the Old Weavers House, among other places. His king-sized kitchen was one of the most innovative of its time. It was wonderful to see the unique sites and villages of southern England. There were a many sites to see and plenty of time to roam on our own. English Breakfast Porn. The sights and excursions were excellent with good variety. The hotel accommodations and provided meals were excellent as were recommendations for restaurants on the days when dinners were not provided. She was a wealth of knowledge with a wonderful sense of humor. We were one of the first coaches at Stonehenge. Marvel at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, sweeping moorlands of Dartmoor, ancient stone circles, cliff-perched villages, and great sailing ships. We saw many things that we would have missed traveling by ourselves. As tensions rose, King Henry complained bitterly about Becket. "Getting to see some of the places that I read about in novels or if not "the" place at least one very similar. "It was nice to get access to Canterbury Cathedral construction zone and the Geevor Tin mine.". I was extremely impressed with the quality of the hotels, the expertise and knowledge of guide Roy Nichols, and the balance of free and planned exploring time. Our group seemed to "gel" almost immediately and everyone got on fabulously. A golden plaque on the deck marks the spot where Nelson fell. I appreciate the convenience of not having to drive and the flexibility of having some free time and opportunity when we are at a site to focus on things we have an interest in, versus being herded around in a large group the whole time. We've seen that with its love of nature, with its knack for family fun, its appreciation of heritage, and at its convivial pubs. The pier, opened in 1899 and long known as Palace Pier, has gone in and out of fashion; in recent years, it's come back to life, thanks to an expensive restoration. "I have made pasties for most of my like but really enjoyed making pasties with the group at the Portreath Bakery. We could touch them and sort of feel the mystery surrounding them. You learn to bake a pasty and how to wear a hard hat. Marvel at the modern-day warships anchored on the docks, then explore the fantastic collection of historic naval memorabilia and well-preserved ships. Punting student: This is the great one. "The wow moment for me would be our stay in Canterbury. Bus: 3 hours. The group was a friendly bunch who were up upbeat and kind to each other. The English love to ramble and enjoy historic points along the way. I had toured extensively around the world with my husband. Tour guides very knowledgeable and helpful, "The cliffs of Dover..even though it was freezing cold!! ", "Walking up the hill and looking over the Dover Cliffs. We all got acquainted with each other and got along quite well. We're starting in the Cotswolds, two hours west of London. My 17th RS tour was just as good as the earlier one. The handy hamlet of Birling Gap has an inviting visitors center. Jun 2, 2018 - Join us on Rick Steves' Best of South England tour! Nicknamed the "Hot Walls," it's out of the wind and retains warmth from the unreliable English sun. The centrally located hotels encourage us to explore the areas. Mark was a great tour guide. Our tour guide Tom was very informative and could not have made the trip any better. Imagine Nelson and his officers hunched over charts to plan an attack. First, standing up on the scaffolding above the roof of the Canterbury Cathedral with the restoration folks looking at their work. Our tour guide Tom, a true English treasure, Assistant Jen and our driver Paul were a fantastic trio. "3 way Tie: (1) 6 of us visiting with the pub owner in Chagford where many of the regulars brought in large dogs, and the owner's large dog was resting its head on a tour member's lap. "For me it was seeing the actual Magna Carta in Salisbury.". "I had two "Wow" moments: first, standing on the top of Canterbury Cathedral for its unique perspective on restoration and for its views of the Kent countryside. "My favorite moment came early one morning in Chagford, walking from the village square to the outskirts of town. Roy Nicolls was our tour guide. Often, sailors slept right where they fought. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate around places on your own. What an awesome tour this was! The tour was loaded with sights and experiences, however this left little time to explore Canterbury and Penzance on our own. Wild Ponies, Dartmoor, Corfe Castle, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Canterbury, Battlefield (Battle of Hastings), the Battle of Britain Memorial. 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