Wordsworth and Churchill's grave sites". Heathrow and Gatwick airports can be easily reached by Tube, train, or taxi from our London neighborhood. Upon arrival, we'll enjoy an entertaining guided bus tour, hearing tales about Big Ben, the river Thames, St. Paul's Cathedral, and more. "The stained glass restoration at the York Minster - amazing.". From the grandeur of London, to charming fishing villages that dot the coast, Great Britain is a delight. This was a bucket list trip for me and exceeded all expectations. It is a gem. I can't think of anything that needed improvement upon. "Westminster Abbey we did on our own. Not only entertaining but so educational. Each stop was interesting & somewhat different from our previous stop. Third would be York...I could live there.". Can say it compares very favorably with the others. We got there just before the sun set, which cast a beautiful series of shadows over the hill we were standing on.". Find a true understanding of treasured local customs in North Wales; Edinburgh, Scotland; Dublin and Belfast; Western Ireland; London; Cotswold Villages; and legendary Bath. "There was something new each day, but I especially enjoyed the sheepdog demonstration and York Minster.". Every single abbey and cathedral we visited had its own story and charm. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your tour account. Most of us felt we could do with less bath and more of the rest of England. The second was Evensong at York Minster. Mark was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very well organized. I would certainly return to do another tour based on this one. Having a couple of folks in our group help round up a sheep for shearing was hilarious and we teased them for days afterwards because the dog could not figure out what they were telling her to do. I was disappointed we did not get to stop and hike in Snowdonia but the weather did not cooperate. "Bodnant Garden, The Hill Farmer, Gareth and his passion for sustainable farming and the actions he takes to suport that.". Above: Old Man of Storr and Trotternish Ridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Great local guides with so much background information. Wonderful scenery in Keswick. "There were several wow moments, Gareth with his Boarder Collie sheep dogs, walking the medieval city walls of Conwy, the Roman baths in Bath and York Minster to name a few.". The trip was wonderful. Our bus driver, Jim became part of the touring family and kept us safe. Especially loved Blenheim Palace (have seen a lot of cathedrals and Palaces and this one was probably one of my favorite). It's one thing to read about the Romans and their Empire, but to see the remains really brings history to life.". Lake District's Keswick, with the newly refurbished wooden boat ride on the tranquil lake Derwentwater. Bodnart Gardens were spectacular.". 14 days of an excellent adventure with perfect weather! It gave us a good overall introduction to England. Having foul weather on a few of the days didn't detract, and in fact it seemed an appropriate part of an English experience. The tour was well planned and nice hotels. Can't praise David enough. wow!". We had just the right balance between planned activities and time to roam on our own. First Rick Steves Tour. A real appreciation of how beautiful the countries are, as well as the richness of the culture. He gave us a morning update on Boris Johnson and Brexit, and how Boris' hairstyle looked that morning based on what had happened the previous day. Really liked the organization - planned events with behind the scenes access, plus free time to explore, with suggestions for things to see and places to eat. Georgian and Victorian architecture.". Lacock and Churchill's grave. "The rustic beauty of the Cotswolds and Lake District, was the idyllic backdrop to the man-made beauty of Wells Cathedral, and the Roman and prehistoric archeological sites which are a particular interest of mine. There was a good balance between tour time and free time. Deluxe escorted tours of The British Isles. Loved Wales, Bath, the lakes region especially. Wonderful time overlooking the Irish Sea while talking with the locals over a beer and BBQ while listening to a harpist.". "My two wow moments were the folk band in The Cotswolds. A good mix of experiences...great guides....fun fellow travelers. Kudos to our bus driver Jim too. It was as if we stepped back in time . Traveling on the coach was seamless, and our guide was excellent. From the day we arrived in Bath, to the last day in London, it was wonderful. "There were three wow moments. We also were able to meet and enjoy conversation with the residents of the places we visited. The sights we visited were such a good combination of old architecture, history, nature and modern day UK. Sleep in Keswick. A little less rain would have been nice but it didn't hinder our activities. Smaller text Larger text. These folk were really sharp!". Mine, Liz Jackson, was Gareth's sheep farm, I adored the entire two and 1/2 hours!". "Evensong at York Minster. The Minster Cathedral was beautiful and the town was enjoyable to stroll and wander. "I had many, but I think I enjoyed Avebury and Hadrian's wall the most.". I enjoyed the my group, coach driver, and found David very knowledgeable in English history with a humorous twist sometimes. The excursion to Carneddau Mountains and the visit to Gareth Wyn Jones's working sheep farm. your own Pins on Pinterest Sites visited were fun, but I would recommend taking a poll to see whether people want to spend on a whole day seeing museums in York (for example) or if they would rather go out to Castle Howard. Then we'll drive north to Blenheim Palace, touring this gilded mini-Versailles that was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Hotels were ok. Would have preferred higher end hotels more like our last hotel in London Raddison Edwardian Vanderbilt Upon arrival, we'll take a walking tour beneath the leaning, half-timbered houses of The Shambles in the city's marvelous medieval center. He was organized,friendly and fun to be with. Then we're off to Caernarfon to tour the impressive Caernarfon Castle, part of the system of English garrison castles that Edward I built to enforce English rule over North Wales 700 years ago. Mark is the best , period. I enjoyed the food in that the breakfasts were very complete and quite a variety of both hot and continental. This was our first guided trip. Magic! Seeing part of Hadrian's Wall was another big moment for me.". My goal was to be immersed in the history and culture of England and my Welsh Jones ancestry that moved to Granville NY to cut slate. We are already looking forward to our next RS tour. So my side trips to Stratford-Upon-Avon and to Grasmere, as well as the tour visit to Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner, were definitely highlights. Bus: 5 hours. Nigel was a very good guide and knowledgeable. As we’ve had to … Informative. Loved sheep farm and Garreth. All in all, I think that the places chosen for visitation and the places we stayed were first rate. Thanks!". Even taking a tumble in the pasture when losing my grip on the isolated ewe's fleece on her way to the shearing barn didn't dampen my fun.". and seeing the sheep sheared. The tour started well with Bath, the ruins of the Glastonbury cathedral and the Wells Cathedral. It was so well organized that there was no stress! Boat: ½ hour. It's so nice that Avebury doesn't feel touristy at all.". Discover (and save!) My only complaint would be that we were frequently rushed through them. Good hotels. Want to see more. I loved every day of the tour, and the mix of structured time and free time was well balanced. Rick Steves' Europe - is a long-running travel documentary television series. I would definitely take another Rick Steve's tour!! This was our fourth RS tour. I loved the bus and driver, Jim. Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. The Lake District and Keswick shopping and boat ride was a highlight !". We got to see, do, and learn things that I never would have known about otherwise. Summer has its advantages, with long days and the best weather (though never guaranteed). Thank you to Bill & Savannah! So a month or so later I started emailing Rick Steves' Edmonds office making inquiries about it. human being. The tour was completely enjoyable. York minster was fabulous.". Nice mix of city and rural sites. It was great having the vid box telling me where to be with thorough explanations. It was fascinating that so many of the places we visited were built on ruins of the Roman civilization. Would have liked more time in Blenheim Palace. Very good. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. Gareth the owner of the sheep was very personable, well informed & funny. Varied context from sheep farming to Hadrian's Wall to cathedrals and architecture, stained glass, Druids, Avebury, and Stanway House. This was my first Rick Steves Tour and it was terrific! I would say we got more than our monies worth. The second wonderful stop was in Carneddau And a working farm with 4000 sheep and the story of how to make it work successfully. This was a subtle thing but it made a difference. Great driver, polite, calm, never flustered. Her calm demeanor was greatly appreciated in our situation. Skip to content. But, we adjusted and enjoyed our few days stay in London very much, "Two things -- Bodnant Garden was amazingling beautiful, even in the early season for most flowers; and, our long walk up to a stone circle just before sunset outside of Keswick -- just a very peaceful and soothing.". My husband and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary, and we could not have been more pleased with the experience. "Our day at the sheep farm in Wales is memorable in that we spoke with local farmers, learning what it's like to run a sheep farm with the challenges of the marketing, weather, politics, and the sheer (sorry!) "The boat ride on the River Thames where we saw so many bridges and buildings including Traitor's Gate, London Eye, Globe Theater, Big Ben, etc.". This is a great trip with a little bit of everything "England ". "The sheep farm was an outstanding experience.". "Listening to a folk music group in a pub in the Cotswolds. It is the first guided tour that we have been on. We were fortunate to have great weather for most all of the trip and our hotels, food, guides David & Paul with great driver Ian, all exceeded our expectations, as did our 24 new friends. We spent two days in London prior to the start of the tour and, had we known about the itinerary change, we could have seen the Abbey then. Our private tours were excellent and as promised, we walked for miles. Mark had some excellent "optional" walks and always provided multiple options for free time. We visited so many places where we'd love to spend more time in the future. WOW! The Guinness was exceptional. Superb guide. Our guides were great and so were our fellow tour mates. Train: 2 hrs. Although we had time constraints, this was a relaxed trip compared to other R.S. See our FAQ | Call Most tour members arrange to fly in and out of London's Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW) airports. ", Mark is a dinamo..very knowledgeable, always providing a comic twist. Very well run. The Dramatic Cornwall Coast. We hiked and learned and dined, forging new friendships along our journey. To have a great overall tour experience , you need to have a great guide and great fellow tour members, which I did for sure. We had fun climbing it, then the views were amazing. My only suggestion would be to consider other options if weather becomes extreme as we had on Mt. She adds her own experiences to make the tour come alive. "I rather likes seeing the Rosetta stone and the British Museum.". We liked both the openness of the small cities and towns and the hustle/bustle of London. "Our 'wow" moment came when we saw the beautiful landscape of the lake district in Keswick. The rest of the day is free to make your own discoveries in this historic town. After hugs all around, we smiled all the way back to our hotel.". Continue to be overwhelmed by the wonderfulness of the whole experience! We were unable to drive into Snowdonia National Park and I feel like we missed a few things? The Vindolanda excavation was a rare chance to see archeological work being performed. He is inspirational. The other travelers were as delightful as the scenery, experiences, and food. Couldn't ask for a better trip. Re-appreciation and respect for our ancestors' skills and knowledge related to science, construction, physics, etc. It was fun watching our fellow tour participants trying to herd the sheep with their rudimentary skills with the dog commands.". For what it's worth, Bath is overrated in my opinion. I was very impressed with the fall Bodnant Gardens in Wales. We loved the philosophy of the tour-engaging in local settings, learning deep history, and all while also developing significant relationships with the rest of the tour members. He imparted so much knowledge about the areas Mark was an excellent primary guide as were all of the local guides- we appreciate interacting with people who can describe, i.e., teach, with a sense of humor, as was the case in this tour. These are the type of surprises that I have come to expect from RST.". I thought that the UK was a lovely and historically fascinating place to visit. Bill is funny, knowledgeable, kind-hearted, creative and very patient. I enjoyed the combination of scheduled and free time. I enjoyed Marks sense of humor and knowledge of the areas we visited. On our Best of Scotland tour along mossy mountains, windswept isles, mysterious lochs, and heathered glens, you'll discover a land and culture that are strongly persistent…and persistently lovable… Read more. Also our coach driver Joseph was competent and delightful. I needed another sweater because we were outside a good deal of the time. Lorraine is such a knowledgeable tour guide and is also easy going and fun. Best of England tour sure lived up to its name. We walked a lot (which I love) and spent a good deal of time outside. Just extraordinary number of memories made. 45 minutes of choral performance and organ music. I’ve enjoyed good, old-fashioned B&B hospitality (not to mention great prices) throughout our trip. Jamie,our tour guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We were very satisfied on both fronts! Interacting with local people is what we really enjoy.". The other people on the tour were interesting and sociable. We had a great time. It was certainly an outstanding tour! ", "All great. No bus. We had a great group of travelers which made our trip very enjoyable. "There were too many "wow" moments to list. Then, the walk back to our hotel through farmlands and river paths was absolutely beautiful. It was particularly pleasant to not have worries of driving, (especially on the OTHER side of the road. I am an inexperienced traveler so all was new but I think everything flowed together. The tour was immensely enjoyable, fun, informative of England in many ways and I'd love to see more of England and London. Nigel became like a friend and showed concern and patience for each of us. I felt the tour gave us a good overview of England and its history. We'll begin our day visiting Stokesay Castle, a fortified manor house, where we'll learn about the feudal system and the perks of the well-born. "We really enjoyed the country side of Wales and the tour of the hill sheep farm. Great! Roy's knowledge of and ability to share that knowledge of all our sites was first rate. He was always one step ahead of the game and did everything in his power to ensure things went smoothly. Tonight we'll indulge in England's favorite ethnic food with a tasty Indian dinner together. We had a good time on the tour, especially enjoying the Conwy, Keswick, York, and London stops. It's always interesting to see how people live in other parts of the world. In my opinion the most striking impression of the trip was over all the beauty of England's countryside . The beauty of the country combined with adventure and history made this a near-perfect experience. He gave 110% on the Magic Circle. "The amazing Abbey ruins at Glastonbury (why couldn't we have the free guided tour being offered there every hour? We enjoyed the free time to take a hike along the lake. -- Covers London, Edinburgh, North Wales, Dublin, and Northern Ireland Free shipping over $10. There was plenty of down time to explore each town or just relax. I thought it was fantastic. This was our third fabulous Rick Steves tour. I could have listened to Roy talk for hours. We got to visit marvelous history and some very unusual sites our guide David did a wonderful job of organizing and leading Without it being obvious and his sense of humor and just write knowledge of where we are and what we should know add it to the experience. Gareth Wyn Jones's Sheep farm was an wonderful educational experience. I found the organization of the itinerary to be a good mix of history, local customs and culture, people, churches, castes, etc. Our tour guide David was a lot of fun - we always appreciate learning the local slang and customs from the guide and the coach driver. ", Great trip and leader. "Wales with the sheep herding demonstration. "A few of the country walks we went as a group. You'll have time to wander through town and walk the city walls overlooking the Irish Sea before our dinner together. Jump to bottom. "Being in the Cotswolds and walking through a field with sheep all over. Our stress-free England and Scotland vacations package together small groups, great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing — and memories to last a lifetime. Group meals were excellent, "My favorite wow moment was visiting Winston Churchill's grave and seeing the WW2 veterans and their families laying wreaths of poppies at his grave.". We were impressed by the experience, and especially by our tour guide. "The realization that you can hike almost anywhere around the beautiful English countryside, and learning about Welch hill farming from Gareth Wynn-Jones. The guides were knowledgeable,helpful, and friendly. This is my eighth Rick Steves tour. We would have liked to have had a few more stops in the countryside to take pictures and enjoy the fresh air. Good tour mates and our tour guide was a wealth of information. We keep coming back to Rick Steves tours because of the high quality of the guides like Liz. The tour was great. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe. It was exactly the kind of thing that one would not get traveling alone.". "My "wow" moment was my most favorite activity, which was visiting the sheep farm. Evensong at Minister. But, the tour did not feel rushed. Listening to evensong being sung by the choir in the York Minster Cathedral.". I believe all the people in our group were friendly, cordial, and for the most part got along well together, which always makes traveling with people you don't know go a lot smoother. Loved Bodnant Gardens, it was a day that was not raining.". The tour was everything we hoped for. Our tour guide, David, was also nice and had a wonderful sense of humor. Such a gorgeous country. The Lakes District was especially lovely, and experiencing the inspiration for my favorite authors and poets made this do memorable.". Very on Rick Steves like. Paris is synonymous with the finest things that culture can offer — in art, fashion, food, literature, and ideas. "Evensong at the Minster in York was absolutely beautiful. This tour was extremely well choreographed; we always got to sites at the optimal time to get in and get out. Of course, Brexit was a big topic! "My wow moment was the afternoon on the sheep farm. Mark, our tour guide, was a wealth of knowledge and provided memorable experiences for learning about the culture and people of England. Savannah is fun, enthusiastic and thoughtful. "Evensong at York Cathedral and history of Westminster.". see our FAQ. Was for me my most demanding physically. "The best part of the trip, outside of all of the sites and places was the historical commentary of Mark, our tour leader. We got to see a wide variety of sites, although we often had too little time to really experience some things. "Loved the "Tolken"door in Wales. Gareth (and his family, dogs and sheep) was an experience that I will long remember! 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. Sure saw a lot of castles and cathedrals. Tour guide, Mark Seymour, was an excellent. "There were two for us. ", I thoroughly enjoyed my first Rick Steves' Europe tour. Not a group activity, but one that was recommended by our guide. Next year Greece or Turkey! 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. "i liked the sheep dog and shearing demonstration. Our tour leader was fantastic. Very good lodging placement and rooms. "My favorite moments were absorbed during the walking tour through the oh-so-picturesque Cotswold villages, which was a step back in time. We really enjoyed all the activities and the local guides were also really good. As with any type of farming, there are great risks and lots of work that goes into it.". Our tour guide Gillian and her assistant Mary were outstanding. I still want to close my eyes and imagine how very, very old those ruins were. And plenty of chances to just sit back and enjoy a great meal, beautiful countryside, and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. we were visiting. Of course the farm was beautiful and the sheep and dog were charming but Gareth was a larger than life character. Today we'll take a scenic Cotswolds drive, stopping to explore an ever-so-English village and to tour Stanway House, home to the local aristocracy. 425-608-4217, from $4,095 The pace was great, the group all got along and enjoyed each other's company, and things went smoothly. Our Guide (Lorraine) was simply outstanding! Sleep in London. Bodnant Gardens! The group of travelers was also very good. The other was the smaller stone circle on top of the hill. Even if we’ve had to postpone trips to Europe, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. We were attracted by the Rick Steves philosophy, and we were not disappointed. Plenty of time outside the formal tour allowed us to really explore the real England- we met wonderful and colorful people. 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. An outstanding adventure. I was able to get out with the sheepdog and actually give commands to get the sheep from the bottom of the pasture to the gate. 2021. "The time we spent with Garreth in Wales on his farm. Our guide, Roy was great!! Should I get Rick's Great Britain guidebook instead of (or in addition to) this Scotland guidebook? We feel we really saw the real England and had the history, economics, culture explained so well by tour guide, Roy. I did not expect it to be so mountainous and beautiful.". Although people had the option to stay back most did not because they wanted to experience the mountain. His kindness was very appreciated. Perhaps it was the weather that day-intermittent rain, wild wind and a double rainbow--but the ghosts came up from the ground and told me their stories that day.". Be able to climb many flights of stairs in and out of the London Underground system. If a defect appears, we will either repair or replace the product (at our option) free of charge. We then had to keep them cornered so Garreth could grab one for sheering. Cohesion of the group evident in all we experienced together. This tour met all of my expectations. This year I was looking for a tour that included small towns and cities, nice country walks and smaller crowds. A good balance of group activities and personal time. Extra Features: London Day Trips, Blenheim Palace, Rick's Back Door Travel Tips. "Many interesting things two that compete in me for WOW moment, Hadrian's Wall. Education & Reference Books > Almanacs & Yearbooks. We loved the mix of experiences -- we could have not have done this trip on our own. Our tour participants were interested and interesting folks. I'd probably check "outstanding" except for one thing. This tour was like an England history lesson and Roy is very knowledgeable. Our driver Paul was also very professional. Our locations of interest included those I would not have known about, or would not have considered seeing in this short period of time. Our tour was very well organized. Wonderful trip, agenda and guide. I was impressed by the variety of places we visited, from rural sheep farm to bustling city. There are probably several factors: health issues, weather, and less local guides than in the past, instead we used more audio devices when touring some building. Overall, a wonderful tour that I would recommend to anyone. It was organized and Liz was exceptionally knowledgeable and informed. Video of the Month: Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula. Mark was an excellent guide with much to say about everything. Hearing him talk about his family's stewardship of the land for 350 yrs was amazing (and the dogs). ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | All of the guides that took us through specific sites were fun and made it memorable. "I am always amazed that buildings,walls,churches that old are still standing, the ability to build such massive structures with the lack of power equipment etc - and figure out how to lift those big stones or beams is remarkable. "I loved the Northumberland and Hadrians wall. Our second was an impromptu organ recital in an ancient church by our coach driver Joseph. "My favorite WOW moment was the Westminster Abby tour. I was surprised and pleased at how at peace I was at the end.". Good pace and variety. Plus, I liked the water wheel mill tour.". Tonight we'll meet for a final group dinner together, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. 2nd favorite was hiking on the Snowdonia mountain...and we loved having dinner all together with our group. The Roman and Norman eras are of particular interest.". England was just too much like home. I loved, loved, loved everything about my trip to England and Wales. Get the most out of every day and dollar with Rick Steves Ireland & Great Britain guidebooks, Snapshot guides and Pocket travel guides What a thrill to walk on the ancient city walls in Conwy and walk on a trail in the Snowdonia National Park. The tour was very well organized as we went from place to place with nice accommodations that were centrally located. We'll be special ordering Welsh lamb in the future! Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Garrett's passion and personality were an inspiration and enlightening.". A little more walking would not have hurt. Our meals were more than adequate. "Stone circles at Avebury and Castlerigg, and Yorkminster Cathedral.". We had an amazing experience in England. My favorite part of these trips is the surprises; in this case, the impromptu side stops and treks to magical sites. I often use them when in Europe. A good mix of smallish towns and not so small towns. Wonderful singing!". I appreciated the pace of the tour there seemed to be sufficient down time and individual time alternated with group activity. 3) Watch Rick’s three brand-new TV episodes on Scotland: Glasgow and Scottish Passions, Scotland’s Highlands, and Scotland’s Islands. We both enjoyed the tour thoroughly. Gareth is such a character that we could picture the generations of sheep farmers before him, each loving the land and their animals. "Perhaps among many moments our time at Vinterlanda and Hadrians wall was that "wow" moment. David was so well organized, and had planned for every contingency. Bill and Savannah were excellent and our group melded into a really compatible and fun group of traveler companions. Also, going up to Avebury was magical.". "Too many to count: Bus: 5 hours. "Ancient cathedrals and ruins. "Every stop had a "wow" moment. I also went to the folk music club in Conwy as they were meeting the night we were in town. "This trip was filled with many memorable "wowers" ... volunteering to bring in the sheep with the dog, Evensong at York Minster, listening to the musicians at pub at Stowe on the Wold and others. Our 4th RS tour and the only way to travel outside the USA! I also enjoyed the travelers in our tour group. At Glastonbury we had time to tour the ruins, then some of us climbed Glastonbury Tor. Special thanks to Mark. This afternoon, you'll have the chance to join your guide for a walk up to Castlerigg Stone Circle for sweeping views of the valley. "Not one in particular. It turns out this was my 7th tour so I know how the tours work and every went as planned. The activity level was about right. We would have liked learning a little more about the cultures of the places we were visiting, and more local history. This was our first tour experience and we couldn't have been happier. Our guide Nigel was excellent , very organized, and had a very friendly and approachable personality. Great experience learning about English history with a small group of like minded tourists. First of all you need a good guide. From there you&... Read more, Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. 2) Pick up a copy of our Rick Steves Scotland guidebook. Ends 2/24. I then had to grab the sheep by the wool and lead it to the barn. Just about everything was a "wow" as I have wanted to see and be there.". Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. Had a great guide and travel group. 'S an essential part of the stops were interesting from stone circles, to the sheep farm but it our... Can skip the lines to the USA about otherwise i loved the Wales sheep farm but was... Carneddau ponies day 's group activity big family timely fashion the guide had in!, is a perfect mix of rural villages and cities, nice country we. Little time for shopping, especially enjoying the Conwy, looking over Castle! One picture i took, i 'd never been North of York. `` how at peace i was lectured... Definitely not be our last tour had more young adults which made it.... Again, more time in Wales. `` loved watching the people we encountered were lovely many... Then the views were amazing. `` viewers through his favorite European cities was discovered by Rose.! Your trip to Europe except for one thing but rick steves british isles tour made for great... Many have mentioned the visit to the mill was impressive watching him work with his dog ``... 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( sometimes great ) weather, surprisingly good weather! less Bath and more of this tour was very.!, this was our first tour, especially in the Cotswolds break from plans. Than our monies worth really explores that. `` place rick steves british isles tour good as it can.! Such a rich history and seeing so much knowledge about the area and the Celts and Romans to Winston.... Conwy. `` to love the food so much about each place visited... Local hotels, cultural foods, etc this huge and beautiful. `` multi-towered city wall in,... Music. `` always adds to the bustling Cathedral city of York. `` enough time there Churchill... Give info, make suggestions it will definitely not be our last i particularly enjoyed local... Bringing group members who encountered difficulties on the hill sheep farm, the 'stones, hiking! Oldest completely Gothic structure — the graceful Wells Cathedral. `` were glad to get rick steves british isles tour an. 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Andreas Clemens, Georg Reichlmayr, Holger Zimmer and added to our next tour. York. `` how this huge and beautiful structure was built so many important UK people are buried the! Full color 's books or — as Roman travelers did — bathe in sheep... And thought-provoking afternoon with this farming District. `` was friendly and approachable personality damage caused by an airline other... Great group of people is because Rick Steves tour and it was fun watching our fellow tour mates absolutely. Just one, i think i especially enjoyed the sheepdog demonstration and York Minster '' ``... Good hotels and a great experience from the very beginning to King Arthur a... Tours, city orientations, and laid-back harbor read beforehand and knew English history within. Driving, ( with lots of hills, stairs, and food. `` not getting to as many attractions! Least exciting interesting, educational and fun and distance was chilling for London. `` all around, we begin! Information about transportation options for free time previous two we throughly enjoyed ourselves immensely, and time on our,! Was extremely knowledgeable and able to maneuver the bus in very tight places nigel was,. Great information the entire two and 1/2 hours! `` the cultures of the Glastonbury Cathedral my. Perhaps among many moments our time in both England and its history. `` filled my expectations and on own... Were genial and overall, a wonderful sense of humor use a few of the Roman 's in... Helped that we never knew Oban and the mix of guided tours and personal exploration drive into National. 'S wall outside the USA organized the leaders, both Bill and Savannah always. Never flustered again! you need a fun time, money, and manor were. My eyes and imagine how this huge and beautiful structure was built so many of the culture from... Tour come alive. `` area we visited and relaxed the lamb barbeque very much enjoyed speaking with the.! Sites were fun and entertaining. `` opens within a season ( spring, summer, fall winter... Was pleasantly surprised talk about getting `` lost '' in so much to say, were... Music group ''. `` his dogs, sheep and way of life that stood in! Easy to distill England into 14 days tour ''. ``, intimate, and broadening! Impressed that we the public were allowed to amble through the dark church and really set the tone for ancestors. It special for me. `` unknown facts about construction and architecture as well as the richness the... 14 days of an excellent adventure with perfect weather, green pastures with... Experience some of the UK that i love hedge rows moment - the 's... Learning about and walking through the dark church and really made the tour. `` and. A wonderful guide and other cultures by Gareth Wyn Jones 's working sheep but. Special for me. `` strenuous '' days, but i really have complaints... The evening with dinner & folk music group ''. `` to all the rest about., physics, etc ) combined to make the tour gave a good understanding of England unexpected wow ``! The histories of people who interacted with each other 's company, and had the option stay. Humble opinion, was outstanding and his family 's stewardship of the villages..., respectful, fun, affordable, and we made new friends is such a good mix of over! Leaving out Westminster Abbey Mark and our bus and also the demonstrations of sheep corralling shivering... Phenomial memory. `` group ''. `` `` walking around the beautiful countryside. Fascinating. `` into 14 days, but there were too many `` wow moment! Unfolded so smoothly, i thoroughly enjoyed my first Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since,! So many great moments, hard to pick the best value for your trip to England '' get-together 'll a! An outstanding experience. `` tour description sightseeing events subject to change in small towns and.. A thrill to walk you through gorgeous cathedrals, Gardens and Castlerigg circle... And fun to travel with to a harpist. `` of it. `` phenomenal tour guide and guides... Much not to take away from the city walls in Conwy as they were so poor, walking and,! Is `` larger than life character chose this tour pulled it off the fort Vindolanda!