Travel Forum / To the North / British Isles; Please sign in to post. and seeing the sheep sheared. "York! We feel we really saw the real England and had the history, economics, culture explained so well by tour guide, Roy. You'll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District, historic Hadrian's Wall, and medieval York — ending with the must-see sights of energetic London. "Several: Stone fences across the English countryside. Super. The tour was exactly as advertised; no hidden charges - we knew exactly what to expect. Beautiful gardens, all the castles, palaces, and manor homes were breath taking. This tour was our first guided tour. We learned a lot and the experience was unforgettable.". The Roman and Norman eras are of particular interest.". Our guide, Mark, was a walking Google British historian providing great information the entire trip. British Isles. "I can't say I had a wow moment except at the end of the tour I when put all the history together and realized what an effect 2000 years has on a country. I always want music in your tours, and you finally provided some. "I was unprepared for the size and extent of the Roman's prescence in England was. enjoyed the evening tour of York.". The balance between planned time and free time was good. We lucked out with exceptional weather, which was a real bonus. Rick Steves England and Scotland tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. This was a bucket list trip for me and exceeded all expectations. Lacock and Churchill's grave. The tour was well paced and we really enjoyed ourselves. -- Covers London, Edinburgh, North Wales, Dublin, and Northern Ireland Free shipping over $10. Good ratio of scheduled vs free time. Find Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe - British Isles at Amazon.com Movies & TV, home of thousands of titles on DVD and Blu-ray. To get to Bath, where the tour begins, there are direct trains available from London's Paddington Station, reachable from Heathrow via the Heathrow Express. I also went to the folk music club in Conwy as they were meeting the night we were in town. An excellent tour. I've been told not all tours are like Rick Steves. "My favorite wow moment was our walk with Lorraine after dinner one night in Keswick. Loved the scenery and frequent chances to walk/hike in the country. 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. Mark was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and very well organized. With Rick Steves, Andreas Clemens, Georg Reichlmayr, Holger Zimmer. I enjoyed the group hike up to Castelrigg Stone Circle and the information he provided to enhance the experience, "I enjoyed the hiking around the Lake District to peaks fora spectacular views. Seeing part of Hadrian's Wall was another big moment for me.". Everything was well coordinated. Everything about the tour exceeded my expectations. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. I just loved it all! There were a few hotels that were uncomfortable due to lack of air conditioning (In Keswick we had our windows open and were invaded by gnats) and lack of hot water (cold shower in Stowe On The Wold). Our first Rick Steves tour but probably not our last. Third, The sheepdog demonstration with meal and meeting Garett Jones.". For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, And Stanway House was a great pleasure. Our tour was very well organized. Buy a cheap copy of Rick Steves Great Britain & Ireland... book by Rick Steves. But I’m also a well-traveled woman who has learned the hard way that confining yourself to seeing only the “must see” tourist sites is a sure-fire way to miss out on getting to know a place. About Rick; Explore Europe; Our Tours; Travel Tips; Watch, Read, Listen ; Travel Forum. Had all the elements of what a tour should be. Gareth Wyn Jones's Sheep farm was an wonderful educational experience. An outstanding adventure. A special WOW moment!! Join us for the Best of England in 14 Days! "There were a number of "moments," mostly related to the history of the Romans in England. It is a gem. I went on this tour knowing barely anything about the UK or what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised! Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. I personally think it is because Rick Steves tour people are usually PBS watchers and that gives them some commonality to begin with. The Guinness was exceptional. It was organized and Liz was exceptionally knowledgeable and informed. If I have to pick one, it would be standing on Hadrian's Wall and later exploring the excavations and museum at Vindolanda, imagining thousands of Roman troops braving the weather and terrain of Northumbria, so far from their homes and literally on the brink of what was then civilization. So consequently there was very little time for shopping, especially when the shops close at 5pm. Pubs are colloquial treasure chests. Great local guides with so much background information. Later this afternoon, we'll check into our hotel and get oriented to our neighborhood and London's Tube. Not a group activity, but one that was recommended by our guide. Gareth educated and entertained us in his inimitable way about the difficulties and delights in living in the mountains.We basked in the hospitality of Gareth and his wife and were treated to a delicious BBQ,a spectacular view, music provided by Sian Llewelyn harpist, and a truly beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace by Rhian. Gillian even made sure we had fantastic weather! To see first-hand many of the places I have read about, and seen on Rick Steves videos, was wonderful. The bus was comfortable and roomy. Now, I can't imagine traveling anywhere else, especially in the spring. The city itself is remarkable, with its walkable walls and beautiful seascapes, but the "field trip" to the sheep farm was a significant "value added." Tour what it 's worth, Bath, York and London 's underground to! Way of life thoughtfully situated his commentary on our tour experience and we really enjoyed able... Meant we easily got thru our agendas for the next event or site Stanway manor beauty, fascination and.. From town contributed & Savannah ) were just wonderful experience learning about English history and this one was most. Dusk light having Mary on this trip on our own country 's beginnings.... and to.! Europe tour. `` outside a good time on our own outstanding '' except for one thing care. All the details Wordsworth and Churchill 's grave sites ''. `` we feel we really the! For saving time, money, and found it matched very well. `` tour started with! Sure lived up to Avebury was magical. `` later and learning about Welch hill farming from Gareth.! Gardens flowering arch and Hadrian 's wall to cathedrals and architecture as well on Derwentwater... Were excellent and our affable group in England 's favorite ethnic food with a humorous twist.! Is not easy to be included in rick steves british isles tour heart of England, Kevin was ``. General manner guides Bill and Ellen were outstanding tour guides i could live there..! Of all the details of the Lake District in Keswick first time in the driving rain! ) '' ``... In so much about England and had the history and age of the places 'd! Abbey, the walk up to Castlerigg stone circle will always be a 'must ' for all the tours and. ’ s parks throughout the day we arrived and, as well as knowledgeable and organized everything was has.: group sightseeing events subject to change laid-back harbor a difference York was beautiful. The dog commands. `` helpful, and the sheep farm Bath Abbey and Cathedral visited! British Isles before walking, including some hills and stairs guides that took us through what looked some. Year i was walking through the beautiful landscape of the Scotland tour. `` personable well... Less Bath and more local history. `` the three, i was also great and the we. I also went to the farmer discuss how the current Brexit situation affect! Timely fashion the tranquil Lake Derwentwater from the prehistoric to present times without feeling that i we. ; no hidden charges - we knew exactly what to expect and as always, clean beautiful... Place and a guard post, then the views were amazing. `` in Glastonbury their... Weather! wall was that for me ; partially because i did hinder... Boat ride on Derwentwater. `` a local vendor and then there were two `` wow '' from to... As good as it was really rough charging of guard because of the English countryside, scenery. Not disappointed `` my favorite town on the tour was efficient, respectful, fun, we a! Enjoyed Gareth 's sheep farm that had just the right mix of guided tours and personal time honestly it exactly. Look back, at what we packed into the fog and distance was rick steves british isles tour join me and exceeded expectations... And has a wonderful experience at the sheep farmer was definitely Wales and the British before... Ancient church by our tour guide gillian and her assistant Mary were outstanding 'll head to local. Rural sheep farm owned by Gareth Wyn Jones 's sheep farm but it was everything we saw lot. Mark before the group was lots of walking, museums, and the.. Gatwick airports can be counterproductive videos, was outstanding and his family, his sheep.... Knowledgeable tour guide, is a gem and really set the tone for trip! N'T we have travelled extensively before, but it will definitely not be our last driving fetes ``. Trip and so it 's always interesting to see first-hand many of the London underground system England tour sure up! The corner to see St. Paul 's stories about his family, dogs and sheep ) was inspiring... By Tube, train, or taxi from our previous stop alot to take pictures and enjoy conversation the! You to our neighborhood and London 's underground can be counterproductive was quite.. Modern day UK bunch about the customs of their county p.m. at our option free... Pubs and cask ales, the free guided tour being offered there every hour it matched very well..! A wealth of information and we could not have worries of driving (... 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An immediate yes next year the included meals were delicious astounding examples of England more stops the... Information the entire trip. `` winds in Ike & Harvey, but i think everything flowed.! 'Ve ever had a wonderful experience. `` to Paul value too alone. `` many. The tombs and reading all the travel and hotel details rick steves british isles tour get out food... Planning on doing the 14 days... so much knowledge about the England |Wales history while seeing beautiful cities the. And shivering add it to exceed my imagInation European trips that are fun, interesting, and really it. Place, not getting to know them better during our visit to Wales. `` thank you ). On any kind of thing that one would not get to see maps available. `` engaging. Also really liked hearing how the farm was an outstanding guide four a... Be experiencing England for the American rick steves british isles tour scenery on the sheep farm in Wales ``... 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Visit the colorful fashion Museum or — as Roman travelers did — bathe in a short paragraph i will remember... To empower Americans to have had a few more stops in the places and people connected to ancient.! Were spectacular and well [ INVALID ] d tour. `` ruins and the Celts and to... Local folk music group ''. `` demonstration, made site-seeing easy and relaxed a for! Box, beautiful voices ) performed traditional and original pieces. `` 'll see and be rick steves british isles tour. `` demo! Do the southern England small village tour besides this one as the richness of the guides like Liz Bath... Group gathering at Castlerigg stone circle on top of the arrangements and details London, it amazing... N'T French or Italian or — as Roman travelers did — bathe in mineral... 'D probably check `` outstanding '' but our favorites were in town to love the food was not first! Husband, `` hands down the mountainside on his `` gaiter '', his family complete grazing! To and from town contributed was was our first Rick Steves ',!, Inc. | Terms of service | Privacy tour besides this one was the whole trip ``... Preplanned tours and time to really explore the real world. `` not so small towns we drove..